Musta:

It is found throughout India also known as Nut Grass. It acts as carminative,

astringent, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, hepato-protective, diuretic, analgesic,
hypotensive. Also used for irregular menstruation and painful periods and acts as
nervine tonic. It is used for intestinal problems, indigestion. Along with other
therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated its use
in rheumatism, post-delivery diseases and obesity. Its tuber is rich in Cu, Fe, Mg
and Ni. Beta-sitosterol, isolated from the tubers, exhibits significant antiinflammatory activity. The tubers possess lipolytic action and reduce obesity by
releasing enhanced concentrations of biogenic amines from nerve terminals of the
brain which suppress the appetite center. Presence of sesquiterpene alcohol
Isocyperol is said to play an important role in lipid metabolism. Extracts of the
plant exhibit liver-protective activity also.
Guggul:
It is commonly known as Indian Bdellium or Gum Guggul or Guggulu. It is
prevalent in drier parts of India like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Andhra
Pradesh, and Karnataka. It is a fragrant resin oozing out from the damage/cut made
to the bark. Guggul resin contains steroidsgugglsterones Z and E, guggulsterols
IV, diterpenoids, volatile oil including other constituents. Traditionally guggul
lipid has been used to treat arthritis, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, urinary disorder,
obesity, skin diseases and high cholesterol. Guggul is effective as a weight-loss and
fat burning agent cause of its deep penetrating actions and its antiseptic properties.
WHO also recommends its use in the treatment of hyperlipidemia,
hypercholesterolaemia and obesity.
In 1986 Guggul was approved as
Hypolipidemic drug in India. In the middle 1990s, Guggul was introduced as a
remedy for hypercholesterolemia and other cardiovascular diseases into the
western medical world. . It has been established that Guggul is an antagonist at
receptor FXR, which is a key regulator for the maintenance of cholesterol and bile
acid homeostasis. Recent studies demonstrated that it up regulates the bile salt
export pump which is responsible for removal of cholesterol metabolites, bile acids
from the liver.
Arjuna :
It is found throughout the greater part of India, also grown as an avenue tree.
Its bark is used as a cardioprotective and cardiotonic in angina and poor coronary
circulation. Also used as a diuretic in cirrhosis of liver and for symptomatic relief
in hypertension. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the powder
of the stem bark in chest diseases, cardiac disorders, lipid imbalances and other
diseases. The bark extract contains arjunolic acid, terminic acid, various glycosides

and strong antioxidantsflavones, tannins, oligomeric proanthocyanidins.

Arjunolic acid exhibited significant cardiac protection in myocardial necrosis
cases. A study demonstrated that the extract of Terminalia arjuna bark augmented
endogenous antioxidant compounds and prevented myocardial ischemic
reperfusion injury. Cardiac lipid peroxidation was reduced due to extracts of the
bark. Oral administration of bark powder produced significant increase in
circulating histamine, a little increase in 5-HT, catecholamines and HDL
cholesterol, and decrease in total lipid, triglycerides and total cholesterol.
Kaaravellaka :
It is cultivated all over India for its fruits. It is commonly known as Bitter
Gourd or Karelaa. Its seeds or fruits or both improve diabetic condition. Its fruits
are stomachic, laxative, antibilious, and anthelmintic. Hypoglycaemic effects of the
fruit have been demonstrated by blood tests. The fruits and seeds yielded a
polypeptide, p-insulin, which is considered similar to bovine insulin.
Pippali :
It is found in Warmer parts of India, from Central Himalayas to Assam,
lower hills of West Bengal; Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Western Ghats from
Konkan southwards to Trivandrum. It is often cultivated also. It is commonly
known as Indian Long Pepper. Its fruits are used for diseases
of the respiratory tract like cough, bronchitis, asthma; in obstruction of bile duct
and bladder, used for irregular menstruation and painful periods, as digestive,
appetizer and carminative in indigestion; as general tonic and haematinic and also
for improving intellect. Piperine is the major alkaloid. Piperine is antipyretic,
hypotensive, analeptic, CNS stimulant. It has been reported to exert significant
protection against hepatotoxicity. It improves drug availability and enhance
bioavailability. Piper longum oil constituents inhibit the increase in serum total
cholesterol.
Shilajit :
It is a pale-brown to blackish-brown exudates of variable consistency,
exuding from layers of rocks in many mountain ranges of the world, especially the
Himalayas and Hindu Kush ranges of the Indian subcontinents. It is having a bitter
taste and its odor resembles to cows urine. It consists of a complex mixture of
organic substances such as humus, fulvic acid and organic plant materials which
are compressed by layer of rocks. Humus consists of 60-80 % of organic materials.
It is an important drug mentioned in Ancient Ayurvedic text and being used for
treatment of obesity along with many other ailments. Shilajit has been also used as
a rejuvenator and adaptogen.

Obesity results because of imbalance in energy generation to energy

consumption, energy consumption plays pivotal role in obesity development. In
obesity engery consumption is reduced. Shilajeet facilitate energy production and
its consumption and therefore is helpful in reduction of body weight.
In process of development of obesity adipose tissue expansion eventually
reaches a point where the development of local vasculature is insufficient so cant
meet the oxygen demands of distant enlarged adipocytes and leads to scarcity of
oxygen. It stimulates inflammatory pathways in macrophages and also enhances
lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in pre-adipocytes which in turn
are accountable for development of obesity. Shilajit enhances the oxygen-carrying
capacity of the blood and helps in improving blood circulation hence diffusion of
oxygen take place into tissues and maintains the necessary oxygen supply in the
body so that cells can get sufficient oxygen and their metabolism shifted from
anaerobic to aerobic environment. This leads to decreased lactate concentration
and release of proinflammatory cytokines (causative factors of obesity). So,
Shilajit shifts anaerobic respiration to aerobic in adipose tissue and thus checks the
pathogenesis of obesity.
Trace elements are essential for regulation of immunological and antioxidant
functions. It was observed that serum iron concentration is inversely related to
obesity i.e. low serum iron concentration is found in obese persons. Shilajit have
high iron concentration along with other trace elements and also contains fulvic
acid, which enhances absorption of iron so that serum iron status improves and
become helpful in management of obesity.
Shallaki:
It is commonly known as Indian Olibanum and found in the drier parts of
Peninsular India. Its Gum-resin also known as Kunduru is antiseptic, antiinflammatory, antiatherosclerotic, emmenagogue, analgesic, hypotensive. It is
mainly used in obesity and osteoarthritic conditions., Also recommended in
diarrhoea, dysentery, piles, urinary disorders, scrofulous affections.
Vidanga :
It is found throughout India. It is commonly used as carminative, diuretic,
astringent, anti-inflammatory. Its active principles are found to be oestrogenic. Its
seeds are oxytocic, diuretic. The plant is also used for its blood purifying
properties. It is an ingredient in cough syrups, preparations for anaemia,
genitourinary tract infections, and diseases of the liver.