| Introduction: |
|
|
| Shilajit is a Sanskrit word meaning "conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness." It is a pale brown to blackish brown exudation from layers of rocks especially from Himalayan ranges of the Indian subcontinent. From our ancient times, Shilajit, has been used as a traditional medicine for many pharmacological actions, such as for rejuvenation, diabetes, nervous disorder, anemia etc. It is considered to have a potent aphrodisiac activity. The major active chemical constituents of Shilajit are dibenzoalpha-pyrones, humic acid and fulvic acid. |
|
| Pharmacological Actions |
|
Spermatogenic activity:1
The effects of Shilajit on spermatogenesis and ovogenesis were studied using male and female rats. Shilajit was administered orally to 7-week-old rats over a 6-week period. In the male rats, the number of sperms in the testes and epididymides was significant higher than in the control. Over a 5-day, ovulation was induced in seven out of nine rats in the Shilajit administration group and in three out of nine rats in the control. It was estimated that Shilajit had both a spermiogenic and ovogenic effect in mature rats. |
|
|
Aphrodisiac activity: 2
According to our ayurvedic scripture and the proper administration of Shilajit would produce rejuvenating and aphrodisiac effects. It is been used as ayurvedic traditional medicine for the aphrodisiac activity from ages. |
|
|
| Herb Drug interactions: |
|
| There are no known herb drug interactions. |
|
| Safety: 3,4,5,6 |
Shilajit was found to be safe at doses of 0.2g/kg and 1g/kg when used chronically. Oral LD50 was found to be >2000mg/kg |
|
| Reference |
| 1 |
Jeong-Sook Park, Gee-Young Kim, Kun Han The spermatogenic and ovogenic effects of chronically administered Shilajit to rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 107 (2006) 349–353 |
|
|
| 2 |
Sharma, R. K. and Bhagwan Dash, trans. Caraka Samhita. Vols III, Chap I:3 pg 50-54. Varanasi, India: 2000 |
|
|
| 3 |
Ghosal, S. Lal J, Sing SK Dasgupta G Bhaduri J, Mukhopadhyay M and Bhattacharya,S.K (1989) Mast cell protecting effects of shilajit and its constituents. Phytotherapy Res 3: 249-252. |
|
|
| 4 |
Acharya SB, Fortan MH, Goel RK, Tripathi SK, Das PK (1988) Pharmacological actions of Shilajit. Ind J of Exp Biol 26(10): 775-777. |
|
|
| 5 |
Anisimov VE, Shakirzyanova RM (1982) Application of Mumie in therapeutic practice. Kazan Med J 63: 65-68. |
|
|
| 6 |
Al-Hamaidi AR, Umar M (2003) Safe use of Shilajit during pregnancy of female mice. Online Journal of Biological Science 3(8): 681- 684. |
|
|
|
