Studying the Ethno-Pharmacological Basis of Antiepileptic Activity of Medhya Rasayanas- A Nootropic Package From Ayurveda

Ayurveda prescribes the use of Medhya Rasayanas for the prevention and management of brain disorders like epilepsy, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease. Medhya Rasayanas are a group of nootropic herbs that improve cognition, memory, intelligence, creativity, learning skills, and executive functions. Additionally, these supplements also boost immunity. These herbs have an intrinsic nature to exert these effects on the human brain. This review is an attempt to study and correlate the ethno-pharmacological basis of Medhya Rasayanas with their antiepileptic potential. Medhya Rasayanas, either alone or in combination, are prescribed to manage epileptic patients in Ayurveda. These herbs are time-tested and also possess scientifically proven pharmacological effects. In this review, detailed pharmacognostical, phytochemical, and pharmacological investigation on Medhya Rasayanas like Centella asiatica, Convolvulous pluricaulis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Tinospora cordifolia, Acorus calamus, Bacopa monnieri, Celastrus paniculatus, Benincasa hispida, Nardostachys jatamansi, mineral-like Swarna Bhasma (Gold Calyx) and few herbal formulations like Panchgavyaghrita, Brahmi Ghrita, Mentat, Asthamangal Ghrita, Sarasvata Churna, Sarasvata Arishta, and Samvardhan ghrita which contains Medhya Rasayanas was performed using various search engines like Google Scholar, Scopus, SciFinder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Bentham Science and other online and print journals and scientific databases on medicinal plants. The rigorous review of the literature proves that each Medhya Rasayana acts with different mechanisms of action to offer neuroprotection. The review strengthens the ethno-pharmacological claim of Medhya Rasayanas for their use in the treatment and management of epilepsy and other brain disorders.