A REVIEW ON SHADANGA GHRITA: AN AYURVEDIC FORMULATION FOR COMMON DIARRHOEA CAUSING ENTEROPATHOGENS

Atisaar is a very commonly found disease in all age groups. It is colloquially called diarrhoea, a prevalent clinical feature of acute and chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The line of treatment depends on the type and stage of the disease. In Ayurveda, Atisaar is classified based on the vitiation of Dosha, while in modern medical science, it is based on the type of causative organism. There are so many formulations used to treat diarrhoea in Ayurvedic texts. Lipid-based formulations of Shadanga Ghrita include ingredients such as Kutaj (Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall), Daruharidra (Berberis aristata DC), Pippali (Piper longum Linn), Shunthi (Zingiber officinale Rosc), Katuka (Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth), Laksha (Laccifer lacca Kerr.) and Go-ghrita. Different fractions of extracts of each drug and isolated phytochemicals have potent anti-bacterial and anti-diarrhoeal activities, as proven by many studies. Thus, a literary survey helps to understand the mode of action of this formulation and might be helpful in the calculation of dose for pre-clinical studies and clinical trials.