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Background: The prevalence of obesity is rising worldwide. Due to the side effects associated with modern drugs, there is a need for an alternative treatment for obesity management. Triphala (TP), a polyherbal formulation from Ayurveda, is used by Ayurvedic physicians for weight loss. Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of TP on obesity at the biochemical, histological, and molecular levels. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats (125–150 g, 6–7 weeks old) were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for total of 48 days. From day 24 to day 48, along with HFD, rats were given an aqueous extract of TP (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day) or atorvastatin (1.2 mg/kg/day). Biochemical parameters were estimated in serum. Histopathology was done for the liver and adipose tissue. Levels of the genes involved in lipid metabolism were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Monoamine levels were estimated from the brain tissue. Results: At the end of the study (day 48), compared to only HFD receiving group (DC), all TP-treated groups showed a significant decrease in body weight, serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, leptin, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, malondialdehyde, and noradrenaline levels. High-density lipoprotein, adiponectin, superoxide dismutase, serotonin, and dopamine levels were found to be increased compared to DC rats. Expression of various genes involved in lipid metabolism was found to be down regulated only in TP 100 group compared with DC. Additionally, all TP groups showed a reduction in adipocyte size and restored monoamine levels. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of TP had shown an anti-obesity effect as demonstrated by lowering inflammation and oxidative stress, adipocyte size, and modulation of expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Clinical study for immunity. Aims: The present study aimed to assess the effect of proprietary polyherbal formulation (PPHF), labelled as Kofol immunity tablets (KIT) on innate and adaptive immune responses in healthy individuals, on the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic. Settings and Design: Single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, exploratory study in institutional setting. Materials and Methods: Post Ethics Committee permission, screened healthy individuals of either sex aged 18-35 years were randomized to PPHF/Placebo for 2 months. Major assessment variables included peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), questionnaire-based immune status, perceived stress, and quality of life (QOL) with immune-specific cell counts (CD4+, CD8+), cytokines (interferon gamma [IFN-?], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-a], interleukin 10 [IL-10]), and oxidative stress in red blood cells (RBCs) (malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase [GPx]), done at day 60. Statistical Analysis Used: Mean ± standard deviation and paired/unpaired t-test for parametric data analysis while median (range) and Wilcoxon Rank sum test/Mann-Whitney test for nonparametric data analysis, were done. Categorical data was analyzed using Chi-square test. GraphPad InStat software, version 9 was used with p < 0.05, as the level of statistical significance. Results: Of 52 recruited, 28 individuals completed the study. PPHF significantly increased PEFR, improved immune status along with QOL compared to baseline. It also decreased perceived stress from moderate and severe grade to mild. Serum IFN-? levels remained almost constant post-PPHF treatment. PPHF significantly decreased MDA and increased GPx in RBCs. Significant decrease and increase in TNF-a and IL-10, respectively, were seen in PPHF group. The safety parameters post-PPHF treatment remained within normal reference ranges. Conclusions: PPHF is an efficacious and safe formulation with immunomodulatory potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]