Browsing by Author "Samanweera, W.G.N.S."

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A scientific literature review on antimicrobial activity of coconut oil as the base oil of indigenous medicinal oil preparations used in wound healing
(Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Samanweera, W.G.N.S.
Coconut is historically significant and most famous food item in Sri Lankan society from the centuries of past. The ancestral wisdom on utility of coconut explicitly demonstrated in cultural heritage of diversified usages in many aspects. Most of indigenous medicinal oils used for wound healing contain coconut oil or coconut milk which mostly appear as the only base oil of such preparations. The objective of this study is to review scientific findings on the antimicrobial activity of coconut oil and demonstrate the rationale of using coconut oil as the base oil for medicinal oils used for wound healing. Since this is a literature review the materials were extracted from the scholarly papers and academic articles published in scientific journals. Coconut oil is a rich source of lauric acid and monolaurin which have statistically revealed significant in vitro broad-spectrum sensitivity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial isolates from superficial skin infections. The antimicrobial spectrum includes fungal species such as Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Cladosporium sp., Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Candida albicans, Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Cryptococcus neoformans. In different concentrations coconut oil has exhibited bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis and Propionibacterium acnes. Also lauric acid, monolaurin, lactic acid alone and in combination has exhibited in vitro antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus which is involved in a wide variety of infections. These findings support the conclusion of efficacy and therapeutic utility of coconut oil based medicinal oils in proactive treatments of wound healing due to the presence of antimicrobial properties like lauric acid and monolaurin in coconut oil.
Utility of Nirgundi leaves in medicinal oils prescribed in the treatment of Karna Roga in indigenous medicine
(Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Samanweera, W.G.N.S.
Nirgundi is botanically known as Vitex nigundo. According to all classical texts, it is a reputed medicinal plant used for various preparations prescribed for different disease conditions. The leaves are specially reputed for wider range of applications in treating diseases of ear and contain many active principles which are scientifically proven to have analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory activities. According to Ayurveda, Nirgundi has vēdhanā sthāpana, shōthahara, vruna shōdana, vruna rōpana properties and is used in karna srāwa condition. The aim of this study was to analyze the availability of Nirgundi leaves as a common ingredient of medicinal oils used in treatment of ear diseases in indigenous medicine. Since this is a literature based study for the primary data collection indigenous classical texts Sarartha Sangrahaya, Yogarnavaya, Varayogasaraya, Besajjamanjusa, Yogaratnakaraya, Sarasankshepaya, Vaidyacintamani Baisajya Sangrahava were used. The data were analyzed in comparative method and demonstrated the availability of leaves of Nirgundi as a common ingredient in the selected formulas. All the texts have mentioned 18 formulas in the chapters dedicated for treatments of ear diseases and leaves of Nirgundi was the only ingredient commonly found in all of them. Sarasankshepaya has 5 formulas and Vaidyachintamani Bhaisajya Sangrahava 4, Prayogaratnavaliya has 3 and Sarartha Sangrahaya 2 while each of Yogarnavaya, Bhesajjamanjusa and Varayogasaraya mentions 1 formula. Except two formulas found in Vaidyachintamani Bhaisajya Sangrahava and Sarasanskhepaya all other formulas are exclusive. Another formula prescribed for ear diseases in Taila Pancashatakaya contains four ingredients with Nirgundi leaves which can be considered as an effective remedy in the fresh form. The formula of Nirgundyadi taila found in Ayurveda pharmacopeia is mostly similar with one of the formulas of Sarasankshepya but not identical. Nirgundi leaves are reputed as an ingredient with an exclusive therapeutic effect on wider range of ear diseases and not commonly found in formulas of similar category in classical Ayurveda.
Verification of botanical source of Arimeda: a textual based study .
(Department of Shalya Shalakya,Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute,University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka, 2017) Samanweera, W.G.N.S.; Jayakody, J.T.R.
Arimedadi Taila is one of the Ayurvedic medicines used for a wide range of oral and dental diseases and named after the main ingredient Arimeda. The original formula of this oil is mentioned in Chakradatta and has later been included in Sri Lankan texts too. In Sinhala translation of Chakradatta, Arimeda is translated as Guranda which is different and not even used as a substitute for Arimeda. The aim of this study was to verify the botanical source of Arimeda in Sri Lankan ora and investigate the textual references for its pharmaceutical utility in indigenous medicine. The primary data were collected from Ayurvedic classics and Nighantus and secondary data were gathered from Ayurverda Pharmacopeia of India and other literary research published by various scholars. The data were analyzed comparatively based on check lists and were critically reviewed on the basis of scholarly opinions. A eld survey was carried out to nd out the sources of Arimeda in market and raw material used to prepare Arimedadi Taila in Sri Lanaka. As ofcially declared in Ayurveda Pharmacopeia of India, the botanical name of Arimeda is Acacia leucophloea. The botanical name of Gurenda is Celtis timorensis which is botanically different, bearing no morphological or pharmacological similarities with Arimeda. Acacia leucophloea is naturally grown in dry zone of Sri Lanka and locally known as Katu Andara which has been included in the National Red List of 2012 published by IUCN. The Sinhala translation of Ashtangahradya has mentioned Gurenda for the synonym Vitkadira which gives a partly similar meaning with Gurenda. At present only four companies manufacture Arimedadi Taila in Sri Lanaka and only one company uses Acacia leucophloea as Arimeda for the product and others use Gurenda for the oil. The raw material used as Arimeda should be further veried through pharmacognostic methods on the market samples and standerdize Arimedadi Taila.