E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Anti-cancer Potential

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2025 Volume 10 Number 4 APRIL
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Exploring the Anti-cancer Potential of Amrutham Ghrita: A Review

Shrimal U1*, Revathy2, Patil S3
DOI:10.21760/jaims.10.4.22

1* Unnati Shrimal, Under Graduate Scholar, RMD Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Wagaldhara, Valsad, Gujarat, India.

2 Revathy, Assistant Professor, Department of Agada Tantra, RMD Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Wagaldhara, Valsad, Gujarat, India.

3 Sandip Patil, Professor and HOD, Department of Agada Tantra, RMD Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Wagaldhara, Valsad, Gujarat, India.

Cancer, a leading cause of mortality worldwide, is largely attributed to modern lifestyles and environmental toxins. Current treatment options, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are expensive and associated with adverse effects. In the context of Ayurveda, the concept of management of Dushivisha (i.e., cumulative toxicity) offers a promising approach to cancer management. This review focuses on Amrutham Ghrita, a classical Ayurvedic formulation, and its potential anticancer properties. Our analysis of various research papers reveals that the constituents of Amrutham Ghrita, exhibit immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and works against complications arises due to chemotherapy. The results suggest that Amrutham Ghrita may be a novel, cost-effective, and safe adjuvant therapy for management caused by complications aroused due to chemotherapy. This review provides a foundation for future research in this area highlighting the potential of Ayurvedic medicine in addressing the global burden of cancer.

Keywords: Cancer, Ayurveda, Dushivisha, Amrutham Ghrita, immunomodulatory, antioxidant

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Unnati Shrimal, Under Graduate Scholar, RMD Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Wagaldhara, Valsad, Gujarat, India.
Email: 		Shrimal U, Revathy, Patil S, Exploring the Anti-cancer Potential of Amrutham Ghrita: A Review. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2025;10(4):152-157.
Available From
https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/4155/

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2025-03-09 2025-03-27 2025-04-07 2025-04-17 2025-04-27
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
None Nil Not required 12.41

© 2025 by Shrimal U, Revathy, Patil S and Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

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Unnati S et al. Exploring the Anti-cancer Potential of Amrutham Ghrita

Introduction

Cancer is a major concern, officially labelled the most dangerous diseases by the World Health Organization. Only 5-10% of all cancer cases can be attributed to genetic diseases or defects, whereas the remaining 90-95% rapid increase is tied to our modern lifestyles.[1] In today’s lifestyle individuals are frequently exposed to numerous toxic substances, primarily those with carcinogenic properties. Air pollutants due to harmful chemicals and diverse range of environmental toxins such as occupational exposure and lifestyle choices, play a significant role in inducing the risk of cancer. Minimizing exposure is crucial for prevention and public health, but up to some extend prevention of exposure is not possible. Cancer is caused by changes to certain genes that alter cellular functions. It’s the result of environmental exposures that mutate DNA. These exposures may include substances, such as the chemicals in tobacco smoke, radiation, or other carcinogenic substances, infiltrate the body via air, water, radiation, drugs, and cosmetics and gets deposited in body.[2]

Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy are only line of treatment for cancer in modern science, which is expensive as well as associated with various adverse effects on health that may in turn causes various forms of cytotoxicity. In context of Ayurveda and modern science after analyzing and studying etiological factors and pathology of cancer, these contexts can be considered under term Dushivisha (i.e., cumulative toxicity). Carcinogen accumulated in body may not manifest immediate symptoms but rather lay dormant within body, enveloped by kapha, for numerous years. Over time, this leads to gradual viti. of all Doshas (fundamental energies) and Saptadhatus (Seven essential dhatu).[3]

Management of cancer will be efficient, cost effective as well as with minimum adverse effects by following treatment protocol of Dushivisha (i.e., Cumulative toxicity) Under Vishachikitsa, various Agada Yogas are mentioned by Acharyas which has multiutility in the management of various disorders. After analysing the Phalashruti (indication) the appropriate Yoga must be chosen as per the Yukti of Vaidya. Amrutham Ghrita is a formulation/ Agada Yoga described by in Ashtanga Sangraha-Uttaratantra -Vishaprathishedha Adhyaya. As per the reference, it is Sarvavishapaham and Mrutasanjivanam (The revival of the dead, the swan of all poisons). The ingredients are Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn), Kakamachi (Solanum Americanum. Mill), Jatamamsi (Nardostachys jatamansi), Kadabhi (Celastrus paniculatus. Willd), Prathyakpushpi (Achyranthus aspera. Linn), Shirisha (Albizia lebek (L.) Benth), Ghrita, Gomutra (cow urine).[4] While analysing the properties, research on the efficacy of Amrutham Ghrita in various chronic disorders or severe conditions is necessary to prove its relevance in current era.

Aim and Objectives

To do a review analysis of efficacy of Amrutham Ghrita in Carcinoma

Methodology

The reference of Amrutham Ghrita is taken from Ashtanga Sangraha – Uttartantra[4]

Research data has been collected from various research articles by Ayurvedic scholars published on various websites

1. Vacha

Botanical Name: Acorus calamus Linn.

Table 1: Anti-cancerous of Vacha

CancerFormResults
Human gastric cancer cell line (AGS).[5]The ethanolic and methanolic extracts and essential oil of the rhizomeThe growth of AGS cells was inhabited by the extracts and essential oil and the extracts inhibited the angiogenesis in HUVEC cells.
Glioblastoma
(U251 cells)
(Brain tumor)[6]		(β)-asarone
(240 and 360 μM)		Apoptosis (YO-PRO-1 and PI staining).
Inhibition of the expression of hnRNP H1, hnRNPA2/B1 and cathepsin D.
Glioblastoma
(U251 cells)[6]		(β)-asarone
(360 μM)		Arrest the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase and promoting autophagy possibly through P53/Bcl-2/Belin-1andP53/AMPK/mTOR signal transduction pathway.
Colon cancer
(LoVo cells)[6]		(β)-asarone
(200 and 400 μM)		Reduction in the rate of cell viability (MTT assay).Down-regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).

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Prostate cancer
(LNCaP cells)[6]		Ethanolic extract of A. calamus root (250, 500 and 750 μg/ml)Reduction in the cell viability (XTT assay).
Induces apoptotic cell death
Prostate cancer
(PC-3 cells)[6]
Neuroblastoma
(IMR-32 cells)
Cervical cancer
(HeLa cells)
Synovial cancer
(SW982 cells)
Breast cancer
(MCF-7 cells)		Nitro derivatives of (β)asarone (1.56–200) μMReduction in the cell viability (MTT assay).
Macrophage cancer[6]
(P338D1 and J774 cells)		Novel lectins from Acoris species (1.0-10) μg/mlReduction in the cell viability
(3H-thymidine incorporation).

2. Kadabhi

Botanical Name: Celastrus paniculatus Wild

Table 2: Anti- cancerous effect of Kadabhi

CancerFormResult
Breast cancer cells
(MCF-7 cells)[7]		Cytotoxic constituents
β-dihydroagarofuranoid sesquiterpenes		Shows Apoptosis and Autophagy against breast cancer cells

3. Shirisha

Botanical Name: Albizia lebek(L.)Benth

Table 3: Anti-cancerous effect of Shirisha

CancerFormResult
Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice (in vivo)
HeLa and A549 cell lines (in vitro)[8]		Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice and its cytotoxic effect against HeLa and A549 cell lines in vitro.ALEE showed direct cytotoxicity on EAC cells in a dose-dependent manner. ALEE exhibited a significant decrease in the body weight, tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight, and elevated the life span of EAC tumor-bearing mice.
DLA bearing mice[9]Hydroalcoholic extracts of Albizia lebbeckShowed significant antioxidant, anticancer and hepatoprotective activity.
Breast cancer cell line
(MCF 7)[10]		Methanol bark extract of A. lebbeckShowed Cytotoxic activity of on MCF 7 (Human breast cancer) cell lines

4. Prathyakpushpi

Botanical Name: Achyranthus aspera Linn.

Table 4: Anti-cancerous effect of Prathyakpuahpi

CancerFormResult
Dalton's Lymphoma (DL) cells by MTT assay
DL induced Balb/c mice[11]		Achyranthes aspera L. methanolic leaf extractAnticancer effects on Dalton's Lymphoma via regulation of PKCα signaling pathway and mitochondrial apoptosis.
Pancreatic cancer cells aasay[12]Achyranthes aspera leaves extracted in methanol (LE) on human cancer cells in vitro.LE selectively suppressed the transcription of metalloproteases (MMP-1 and -2), inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP-2) and angiogenic factors (VEGF-A and VEGFB).
Contains potent anti-proliferative compound with specific activity against pancreatic cancer.

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5. Jatamamsi

Botanical Name: Nardostachys Jatamansi

Table 5: Anti-cancerous effect of Jatamansi

CancerFormResult
estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (MCF-7)
ER-negativebreast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231) cells[13]		Nardostachysjatamansi Methanol extract (NJM)In MTT assay, NJM exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity (IC50: 58.01 ± 6.13 and 23.83 ± 0.69 μg/mL in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 respectively).
Hepatocellular Carcinoma(HCC)[14]Nardostachysjatamansi root extract (NJRE)Attenuates Tumor Progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Inhibition of ERK/STAT3 Pathways.

6. Gomutra

Table 6: Anti-cancerous effect of Gomutra

CancerFormResult
Breast cancer cell line,
(MCF-7)[15]		A pharmaceutical
composition comprising of at least one anticancer agent (‘Taxol’- Peclitaxel) and a cow urine distillate or a dried fraction (GM-IV) obtained from cow urine distillate		Enhance the cell division inhibitory activity of the drug ‘Taxol’ in breast cancer cell line


Oro-Pharyngeal carcinoma
Cancer near the kidney
Throat cancer
Breast cancer
Chronic renal failure
Multiple myeloma and severe waist pain[16]		Cow pathy product
Amrutha Sara
Completely recovered
98% improvement
80% improvement
Completely cured
Improvement
Improvement

7. Goghrita

Table 7: Anti-cancerous effect of Goghrita

CancerFormResult
Hepatic cancer
(Female Wistar rats)[17]		GoghritaDietary cow ghee relative to soybean oil decreased the activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1 and CYP2B1, responsible for activation of carcinogen in liver. The hepatic GGTP activity decreased on soybean oil diet; while in cow ghee group it remained unaffected.

Discussion

Majority of ingredients of Amrutham Ghrita are having the qualities likes immunomodulatory, antioxidant and effective against complications arise due to chemotherapy.

Such as,

1. Vacha

  • Inhibited growth of human gastric cancer cells (AGS) with rhizome extracts and essential oil.
  • Induced apoptosis in Glioblastoma (U251 cells) and inhibited angiogenesis in HUVEC cells.

  • Arrested cell cycle and promoted autophagy in Glioblastoma (U251 cells).
  • Demonstrated anti-cancer effects in colon cancer (LoVo cells), prostate cancer (LNCaP cells), and other cancer cell lines.
  • Nitro derivatives of (β)-asarone showed decreased cell viability in various cancer cells.
  • Novel lectins from Acorus species reduced cell viability in macrophage cancer cells (P338D1 and J774 cells).

2. Kadabhi

  • Cytotoxic consti. showed apoptosis & autophagy against breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells).

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3. Shirisha

  • Showed cytotoxicity on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice and in vitro against HeLa and A549 cell lines.
  • Hydroalcoholic extracts exhibited antioxidant, anticancer, and hepatoprotective activity.
  • Methanol bark extract showed cytotoxic activity on MCF-7 (human breast cancer) cell lines.

4. Prathyakpushpi

  • Methanolic leaf extract exhibited anticancer effects on Dalton's Lymphoma via PKCα signaling pathway regulation and mitochondrial apoptosis.
  • Leaves extract selectively suppressed transcription of metalloproteases and angiogenic factors in pancreatic cancer cells.

5. Jatamamsi

  • Different extracts showed potent effects against estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7) and ER-negative breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231) cells.
  • Root extract attenuated tumor progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via ERK/STAT3 pathways.

6. Gomutra

  • Enhanced the cell division inhibitory activity of the drug ‘Taxol’ in breast cancer cell line (MCF7).
  • Reported improvements and recoveries in various cancers and health conditions.

7. Goghrita

  • Decreased the activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1 and CYP2B1, responsible for activation of carcinogen in liver.

The management of cancer in present situation is expensive as well as associated with various adverse effects on health which may in turn cause various cytotoxicity. The quest for a novel, promising drug that not only eases the course of treatment but also enhances the quality of life for sufferers is imperative. Additionally, the attractiveness of these drugs lies in their widespread availability, affordability, and the absence of proven adverse effects. Amrutam Ghrita fits in all these criteria and hence can be used in all types of cancer.

Conclusion

The plant extracts, compounds, and cow urine products demonstrated promising anticancer activities against a range of cancer types[16], suggesting potential therapeutic benefits. Based on review of research papers, it can be concluded that the contents of 'Amritham Ghrita' may hold immense potential in management as well as prevention of carcinoma. The review analysis suggests that Amrutham Ghrita and its components have potential anticancer activities. This is a beginning stage of research, further cell line studies, pre-clinical and clinical researches are necessary to analyze the actual efficacy of Amruthamghrita .

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