T h e r a p e u t i c I n d e x 71 Pharmacological Actions of Principal Ingredients 1. Digestive action: Zingiber officinale (an ingredient of Trikatu), Foeniculum vulgare, Curcuma longa, and Coriandrum sativum have significant influence on the activities of intestinal lipase and amylase, and thus have a stimulatory effect on digestion. Zingiber officinale stimulates the secretion of gastric juices and helps in digestion. It is commonly used as a household remedy for indigestion. 2. Cholagogue action: Cuminum cyminum and Coriandrum sativum significantly increase the flow of bile, which improves the metabolism of fatty acids. Piper nigrum (an ingredient of Trikatu) increases the bile flow and decreases bile solids (hydrocholagogic effect), which promotes biliary discharge and improves metabolism of fatty foods. 3. Carminative and antispasmodic actions: Mentha arvensis, Apium graveolens, and Foeniculum vulgare exhibit carminative and antispasmodic actions. Piper nigrum is a carminative, and is used in dyspepsia, flatulence, diarrhea, and various other gastrointestinal (GI) ailments. Zingiber officinale is a carminative and stimulant to the GI tract. Elettaria cardamomum exerts its antispasmodic action through muscarinic receptor blockage. 4. Assimilation-enhancing action: Piperine from Piper nigrum is absorbed rapidly across the intestinal barrier, and acts as an apolar molecule that forms an apolar complex with drugs and solutes. This modulates membrane dynamics due to its easy partitioning, thus helping in efficient permeability across the barriers, and these membrane modulations help in better bioavailability of nutrients and medications. 5. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions: Piperine from Piper nigrum has the potentiality to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Zingiber officinale suppresses prostaglandin synthesis through inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2, and thus shows to be a potent anti-inflammatory agent. 6. Antioxidant action: Functional GI diseases such as non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) are correlated to inflammatory processes, where reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role. Piper nigrum, Cuminum cyminum, Coriandrum sativum, Zingiber officinale, and Mentha arvensis are potent antioxidants, which control the damage by ROS and thereby contribute to the anti-inflammatory action. 7. Renormalization of intestinal transit time: Zingiber officinale contains a-phellandrene, b-pinene, and terpinolene that reduce contractions in the intestine, Gasex® (syrup)
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