Phytother Res. 2001 Mar;15(2):177-9.
Effects of concomitant administration of Processed Shilajit in Swiss mice
were evaluated on the development of tolerance to morphine induced analgesia in
the hot plate test. Chronic administration of morphine
to mice over a duration of 10 days resulted in the development of tolerance to
the analgesic effect of morphine. Concomitant administration of
Shilajit with morphine, from day 6 to day 10, resulted in a significant inhibition of
the development of tolerance to morphine induced analgesia. Processed Shilajit
per se, in the doses used, did not elicit any significant analgesia in mice; nor
did the chronic concomitant administration of Processed Shilajit alter the
morphine-induced analgesia. These findings with Processed Shilajit indicate its
potential as a prospective modifier of analgesic tolerance to morphine.
Systemic administration of defined extracts from Withania somnifera and
Shilajit differentially affects cholinergic but not glutamatergic and
GABA ergic
markers in rat brain.
Neurochem Int. 1997 Feb;30(2):181-90.
Sitoindosides VII-X, and withaferin-A, isolated from aqueous methanol extract
from the roots of cultivated varieties of Withania somnifera, as well as
Shilajit, a pale-brown to blackish brown exudation from steep rocks of the
Himalaya mountain, are used in Indian medicine to attenuate cerebral functional
deficits, including amnesia, in geriatric patients. The present investigation
was conducted to assess whether the memory-enhancing effects of plant extracts
from Withania somnifera and Shilajit are owing to neurochemical alterations of
specific transmitter systems. Therefore, histochemistry to analyse
acetylcholinesterase activity as well as receptor autoradiography to detect
cholinergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic receptor subtypes were performed in
brain slices from adult male Wistar rats, injected intraperitoneally daily with
an equimolar mixture of sitoindosides VII-X and withaferin-A (prepared from
Withania somnifera) or with Shilajit, at doses of 40 mg/kg of body weight for 7
days. Administration of Shilajit led to reduced acetylcholinesterase staining,
restricted to the basal forebrain nuclei including medial septum and the
vertical limb of the diagonal band. Systemic application of the defined extract
from Withania somnifera, however, led to differential effects on AChE activity
in basal forebrain nuclei: slightly enhanced AChE activity was found in the
lateral septum and globus pallidus, whereas in the vertical diagonal band AChE
activity was reduced following treatment with sitoindosides VII-X and withaferin-A. Treatment with Shilajit or the defined extract from Withania somnifera
affected neither GABAA and benzodiazepine receptor binding nor NMDA and AMPA
glutamate receptor subtypes in any of the cortical or subcortical regions
studied. The data suggest that Shilajit and the defined extract from Withania
somnifera affect preferentially events in the cortical and basal forebrain
cholinergic signal transduction cascade. The drug-induced increase in cortical
muscarinic acetylcholine receptor capacity might partly explain the
cognition-enhancing and memory-improving effects of extracts from Withania
somnifera observed in animals and humans.
Antiulcerogenic and antiinflammatory studies with shilajit.
Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Apr;29(1):95-103.
In folk medicine, shilajit has been used to treat diverse clinical conditions
ranging from peptic ulcer to bone healing. The present study was conducted to
evaluate the possible antiulcerogenic and antiinflammatory activities of
shilajit obtained from the rocky mountains of Zarlek, Badekshan, Afghanistan.
Shilajit increased the carbohydrate/protein ratio and decreased gastric ulcer
index, indicating an increased mucus barrier. Shilajit was found to have
significant antiinflammatory effect in carrageenan-induced acute pedal oedema,
granuloma pouch and adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. The results of the
present study thus substantiate the use of shilajit in peptic ulcer and
inflammation.
Emails
Q. Do penis enlargement pills work? Many of them have
sex herbs in them. One of them had shilajit. Does shilajit increase penis size?
A. See
penis enlargement
for information. We don't believe shilajit increases penis size.
Q. am a consultant geologist in the oil and gas industry and whilst
working in Pakistan, came to hear of Salajit (as it is spelt in Urdu) . Also
known as Shilajit and Shilajeet. Your webpage suggests shilajit is an exudate of
the plant Styrax officinalis Linn with important mineral constituents related to
the bedrock. In contrast some vendor websites (particularly Indian ones) state
it is a juice of the rocks, an exudates form the rock itself. Would you be
please be so kind and to point me to some research on the origins of shilajit
particularly any that clearly confirms that is formed by the plant Styrax
officinalis lin.
A. We, too, have had difficulty finding out exactly
where shilajit comes from, and we can't seem to find a definitive answer, we get
different responses from different raw material suppliers when we ask them about
the source of the shilajit. So, we are still searching ourselves for the right
answer.
Q. Dear Dr. Sahelian, Since writing to you from Islamabad (consulting
geologist in Pakistan) a couple of years ago I have continued to explore Salajit
origins and have collected some 20 kgs of raw material from several sites in the
NWFP of Pakistan. I am now semi-retired and will dedicate more time to writing
up an article perhaps for Nature or some similar magazine or journal. Without
exception all published material I have collected was based on samples bought on
the street/market and not collected from source. My studies of the process chain
shows laboratory samples are likely to be contaminated since the raw material is
mixed with rock dust ( to increase sales weight) and additives such as honey and
apricot juice to sweeten the taste. My raw material was collected from the rock
outcrops and thin section petrology shows it it is not an exudate but merely a
surface deposit. Chromatography shows it to be of waxy organic origin. I have
observed and recorded the surrounding flora and fauna and have concluded the
deposit is excreta mixed with urine from mammals including the Afghanistan Pika
and the Giant Wooly Flying Squirrel. Since the habitat of these creatures is
limited, and the distribution of various forms of salajit more widespread, I can
only conclude that other mammals also contribute to the source. The sites are
needless to say spectacular... being rocky ledges on cliffs and steep hill
slopes at high altitude. On average it took me 2-3 days to get in and out from
each site guided by local hunters. I have developed a 90 minute lecture which I
have presented to scientific gatherings in Islamabad and my home town Melbourne
and everyone agrees the story should make a fine National Geographic type
documentary. Accordingly I am seeking organisations that may jointly sponsor
such an expedition/project. The topic covers geology ( my specialty of course)
medicine, biology, botany, human sociology and conservation as these mammals are
an endangered species being adversely affected by both Salajit hunters and
deforrestation. Would you please give your consideration to the potential role
you could provide in such a project and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours Sincerely, Dr George Carman. geodirect@optusnet.com.au
A. This is very interesting. However, we are not closely enough
involved in this area to find the time for it but we will post your email on our
shilajit web page in case others come across our website and wish to contact
you.
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