This document reviews research on Ayurvedic drugs for reducing obesity or "medohara". It summarizes studies showing that Cyperus rotundus (Musta), Curcuma longa (Haridra), Allium cepa (Palandu), Allium sativum (Lasuna), and Saussurea lappa (Kushta) were effective in animal and some human studies at reducing weight, blood lipids, and other obesity indicators with few side effects. It concludes these Ayurvedic drugs show promise based on early research and should be further explored clinically for obesity treatment given risks of chemical drugs.

2. Dr M. Paramkussh Rau
M.D.(D.G),Ph.D.
P.G.Professor& H.O.D.
Department of Dravyaguna
S.V.Ayurvedic
college,Tirupati,
Andhra pradesh
By
Dr K.RAGHU RAMUDU,
2 nd year P.G Scholar,
Department of Dravyaguna,
S.V.Ayurvedic college,Tirupati,
Andhra pradesh.
A REVIEW STUDY ON ADVANCE
RESEARCHES OF MEDHO HARA
AYURVEDIC DRUGS

3. INTRODUCTION
Obesity is a penalty of the modern era, the world
wide latest report on prevalence of obesity according to
W.H.O states that around 250 million cases of obesity are
being reported every year.
Many medical research institutions are making
efforts to find out a reliable remedy for this burning
problem, so many modern medicines are find out for
treatment of obesity.
They give damaging side effects. This failure made
the people to look anxiously towards the Ayurveda for
better management.

5. Medodhatu
Poshaka Poshya
(Mobile in nature) (Immobile in nature)
Which is circulated in whole body Which is stored in Medodharakala
Along with gatiyukta Rasa-rakta dhatu in its sites. i.e Udara,Sphik and
For nourishing the poshya meda dhatu Stana
According to modern science, it can be According to modern science, it
Correlated with Cholesterol and Lipids can be correlated with Adipose
Which are present in circulating blood. tissues/fat

6. Cyperus rotundus Linn. (Musta)
The study with Cyperus rotundus on the
obese patients clearly indicates that this drug
definitely helps in the reduction of weight in
the obese subjects
It was also observed that this drug
decreased the blood pressure of hypertensive
obese and brought it to normal level, where as
no changes were observed in normotensive
subjects.
The probable mechanism may be by either
suppressing an appetite centre in the brain or
affecting the carbohydrate metabolism.
(Bambhole VD and Jiddewar GC,1984, Evaluation of
Cyperus rotundus in the management of obesity and blood
pressure in human subjects, Nagarjun, 27(5), 110-113.).

7. While experimenting on clinical action
of various medicinal herbs, it was observed
that tribals in Western Ghats never suffered
from obesity. They use tubers of Cyperus
rotundus in their food and it was found that
the herb reduces fat.
The herb showed no side-effects, nor it
revealed any toxicity in animal experiments.
Bambhole, 1988, found in animal studies
that water and alcoholic extracts of Cyperus
rotundus exhibited lipolytic action to
mobilize fat from adipose tissues and helped
in the reduction of obesity.

8. Curcuma longa Linn. (Haridra) :
Curcuma longa's derivative curcumin, besides
lowering serum cholesterol and blood sugar level;
also acts as anti-oxidant to scavange serum
peroxides to prevent atherosclerotic changes.
(Soni KB et al, 1992, Indian J Physiol and Phannacol, 32, 273-
275; Shinde S and Rao SS, 1991, Indian JPharmacol 23,31.)

9. as well as the 12-lipoxygenase & cyclooxygenase
activities in human platelets.
In a cell-free peroxidation system curcumin exerted
strong antioxidative activity.
(Ammon HPT et al. Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Tubingen,
Germany, 1993, Journal of Ethnopharniacology, v38(2-3), 113-119.)
Curcumin from
Curcuma longa inhibited
the 5-lipoxygenase
activity in rat peritoneal
neutrophils

10. The turmeric anti-oxidant protein (TAP) has been
isolated from the aqueous extract. The protein showed a
concentration inhibitory effect on the promoter-induced
lipid peroxidation.
(Selvarn R et al, 1995,J Ethnopharmocology,. v47(2), 59-67.)

11. Mechanism of antioxidant activity of curcumin was
discussed during 207th National meeting of the
American Society held in March 1994 in San
Diego, California. According to an Anglo-American
team, curcumin, isolated from turmeric, proved an
excellent scavanger, continuously removing
damaging radicals.
(Burke M, curcumin's duel defence against disease.
Chemistry & Industry, 8,289.)

12. Allium cepa Linn. (Palandu) :
Besides influencing the lipid metabolism onion
prevent atherosclerosis and isoprenaline induced
myocardial necrosis. (Kumar A et al, 1979, Indian J Pharmacol, 11,61;
Saxena KK et al, 1980, Indian J Physiol and Pharmacol, 24, 233.)
Continuous consumption of onion for 5 months (80 g
daily) decreased serum cholesterol below normal in
healthy humans. (Indian Med Gaz, 1977, III, 378.)

13. Addition of onion in the breakfast of 5 male
volunteers significantly reduced serum cholesterol,
checked rise in serum triglycerides, B-lipoprotein
and phospholipids and increased clotting time and
fibrinolytic activity.
( J Asso Physicians India, 1979,27,79.)

14. Dr Radhkrishnan N, Principal of Trivandrum
Medical College, and Dr Madhavan Kutty K have
established in 1988 after seven years of research
that to get rid of the disorders due to coronary
disease or blood pressure, 100 g of onion should
be taken per day. This will assist the functioning
of the heart by correcting thrombosis besides
reducing cholesterol.
(Cf Herbs that heal, Bakhru HK, 1992, 134.)

15. Fibers from the outer skin of onion lowered total
lipids, total cholesterol and glyceride levels of plasma and
tissues in rats. The fibers from onion skin are potently
anti-atherogenic, as evidenced by increased high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol/low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol ratio .
(Vadhera S et al, 1995, Hypocholesterolemic/hypolipidemic effect of dietary
fibres of outer skin of garlic and onion. Journal of Food Science and Technology,
v 32(1), 62-64.)

16. Onion can be used as a hypocholesteraemic agent both
as a preventive and as a therapeutic measure. Onion
produces a sustained hypocholesteraemic and fibrinolytic
enhancing effect on a long-term basis in experimentally-
induced hyper cholesteraemia in rabbits. In induced
alimentary lipaemia in man, onion raw or boiled, prevents
the rise in serum cholesterol. The effect is evident on
taking onion after 2 hours of taking a fatty meal.
(Sharma et al, 1975, India J Med Res, 63, 1629; Indian} Nutr
Dietet, 12,288, 388. CfWealdi of India, Vol I rev. 1985, 178.)

17. Allium sativum Linn. (Lasuna) :
Besides influencing the lipid metabolism garlic prevent
atherosclerosis and isoprenaline induced myocardial
necrosis.
(Kumar A et al, 1979, Indian J Pharmacol, 11,61; Saxena KK et al, 1980,
Indian J Physiol and Pharmacol, 24, 233.)

18. Addition of garlic in the breakfast of 5 male
volunteers significantly reduced serum cholesterol,
checked rise in serum triglycerides, B-lipoprotein
and phospholipids and increased clotting time and
fibrinolytic activity.
( J Asso Physicians India, 1979,27,79.)

19. Fibers from the outer skin of garlic lowered total
lipids, total cholesterol and glyceride levels of plasma
and tissues in rats. The effect was prominent in case of
garlic skin fibers..
(Vadhera S et al, 1995, Hypo cholesterolemic / hypolipidemic
effect of dietary fibres of outer skin of garlic and onion. Journal of
Food Science and Technology, v 32(1), 62-64.)

20. Supplementation of garlic to cholesterol-fed rabbits
revealed significant lower levels of total, free, ester
cholesterol and phospholipids resulting in a lower degree
of atherosclerosis. The hypolipidemic activity of garlic is
supposed to be brought about by the increased excretion
of cholesterol end-products in the faeces, and by the
diminished endogenous synthesis of cholesterol.
(Jain, 1976, Indian J Med Res,64, 1509; Bordiaet al, 1974, J Assoc Physns
India, 22, 267; Sharma et al, 1976, Indian J Nutr Dietet, 13, 7. Cf Wealth of
India, rev Vol 1, 1985, 184-185.)

21. Saussurea lappa C B Clarke
(Kushta) :
A study on hypolipidaemic activity of Saussurea lappa
was undertaken by Upadhyay OP et al, on 27 rabbits of
either sex (wt. 2.5 to 3.0 kg).
The dietary hyperlipidaemia was produced by
cholesterol feeding for 4 weeks. The drug response was
evaluated on biochemical parameters and
histopathological study of heart and liver tissues. The
aqueous extract of Saussurea lappa –was administered
orally (2g/Kg body -weight) and the effect –was compared
with a known hypolipidaemic agent Clofibrate (200mg/kg
body weight).

22. Apart from this, atherogenic plague, portal vein
congestion along -with fatty changes were noted in rabbits
of control and Clofibrate treated groups, whereas this
effect had almost disappeared in the animals treated with .
Saussurea lappa
(Upadhyay OP et al, 1994, Journal of Res Ayur Siddha,
Vol XV, 1-2, 52-63.).

23. CONCLUSION:
Scholars like Padmabhushan Dr B M Hegde are
repeatedly saying that not to use chemical drugs
frequently contemporary researches are clearly proving
that every carcinoma is associated with chemicals.
Obesity has became an entity to be alert with the
chemical drugs introduce obesity are causing severe
problems therefore it will be safer side for humanity to
promote the medho hara drugs mentioned in ayurveda
Guggulu stands for first in this category drugs like
Musta, Kusta, Haridra, Palandu, Lasuna are showing
encouraging at laboratory levels we have all freedom
offered by ayurveda heritage to use such drugs clinically
un like our counterparts.

24. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am thankful to TTD, Principal S.V
Ayurvedic college, Tirupathi my guide &
Professor Dr M. Paramkussh Rau, all my
teachers & my friends for kind support.