- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Septicemia is a severe blood infection that spreads rapidly and leads to sepsis. Without timely treatment, it can cause organ damage and even death, making immediate medical attention and antibiotics crucial. This condition is responsible for 70 per cent of ICU patient deaths in hospitals.
To address this, researchers from the Ayurveda and Physiology Departments of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) have developed a new treatment method. They have formulated BroncoT, a polyherbal remedy, which is now being considered for patient use in India. A request for human trials has been submitted to the Ministry of AYUSH and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The research, led by Prof Yamini Bhushan Tripathi (former head of the Faculty of Ayurveda) and Prof Ratna Pandey (former head of the Department of Physiology), has yielded promising results in a large trial conducted on 100 mice. The study found that BroncoT not only prevented tissue damage in mice with septicemia but also extended their lifespan.
According to Prof Tripathi, the key ingredients of BroncoT include Shirish, Kantakari, Vasa, Tejapatra, and Madhuyashti. The formula is derived from an Ayurvedic polyherbal medicine originally developed four decades ago for respiratory diseases, which has now been reformulated to treat septicemia. Given the prevalence of this life-threatening condition in ICU patients, administering BroncoT via a tube is expected to yield better results.
The research team also included Dr Sushil Kumar Dubey, Dr Priyanka Mishra, and Dr Suyash Tripathi. Their findings have been published in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences.
Prof Ratna Pandey emphasised that clinical trials will be conducted to validate its effectiveness in humans, with support from the Departments of Anesthesia and Cardiology at IMS BHU. BroncoT is expected to improve respiratory rate, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure while reducing lung fluid accumulation, tissue damage, and inflammation.
Currently, pentoxifylline is the standard allopathic treatment for septicemia. However, BroncoT has demonstrated superior effects across multiple parameters, making it a promising alternative therapy.
