Effect of shankhapushpi on Attentional Processes

Recent years have seen a sudden surge in an array of cognitive dysfunctions such as decline in memory, distraction in attention, lack of concentration, and other attention related disorders. Stressful lifestyle in this competitive world may be the ischolar_main cause. Modem therapeutics though has a spectrum of drugs for the management of cognitive dysfunctions, but they are having serious side effects and habit forming nature. Therefore, in the last few years, there has been an exponential growth in the field of herbal medicine, and these drugs are gaining popularity in both developing and developed countries because of their natural origin and less side effects. Present study is also aimed at exploring the role of Shankhapushpi, a herbal plant in attentional processes. A pre-post, placebo-controlled, double-blind, two groups design was used. Sample was selected from college going student volunteers, belonging to an age group of 19-25 years. Total 50 subjects were contacted and tested upon their span of attention. 30 subjects having a moderate span of attention were selected and divided into 2 groups of 15 Ss each. One group was experimental group, in which the subjects received Shankhapushpi powder (3.5 gm per day with honey followed by aglassofmilk) for 10 days. Other group was the control group, administered with the same dose of ordinary powder (made with coriander, spinach, fenugreek etc.) in the same manner. Two types of attentional processes i.e. Alternating, and Divided were taken. The subjects were tested on these tasks before starting the administration of both powders and immediately after stopping the administration. Obtained scores were analyzed by using't' test. The results indicated that ten days administration was not sufficient to leave a significant impact of Shankhapushpi on any type of attention. Higher doses need to be tested before drawing any generalization.