title: Amrita Bindu--a salt-spice-herbal health food supplement for the prevention of nitrosamine induced depletion of antioxidants.
abstract: Ayurveda, practised in India, identified a large number of plant components to be used in the diet for the prevention or the delayed development of degenerative disorders. They include some of the commonly used spices, namely pepper and ginger. The Materia Medica includes both naturally occurring and artificially produced salts, as a partial substitute for common salt. Health promoting herbs and spices which are classified pharmacologically as rejuvenating, nourishing, invigorating, cleansing, wound-healing, etc., are used as food additives. Amrita Bindu is a salt-spice-herbal mixture based on these principles and was tested for its effect in maintaining antioxidant defense systems in blood and liver when exposed to a carcinogenic nitrosamine, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Amrita Bindu supplementation prevented MNNG induced depletion of the antioxidant enzymes and the scavenger antioxidants glutathione and vitamins A, C and E. Amrita Bindu provides protection against free radical and reactive oxygen species induced tissue lipid peroxidation and the resultant tissue degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, India.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Shanmugasundaram
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramanujam
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Shanmugasundaram
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005503:Food Additives; D005609:Free Radicals; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine / Q000633:toxicity*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005503:Food Additives; D005609:Free Radicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014801:Vitamin A; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D014810:Vitamin E; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid