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Background: Shilajit (mumie), a natural multi-component herbomineral ethnomedicinal food, is used as a traditional medicine for enhancing the quality of life and for management of health ailments in many countries of the world. Use of Shilajit as an adaptogen, aphrodisiac, rejuvenator and anti-aging substance is mentioned in many ancient texts. This review aims to provide comprehensive insights into its biochemical aspects, microbial role in biosynthesis, bioactivities and to establish correlation between traditional uses and scientifically validated research findings. Methods: Scientific literature and ethnopharmacological information were compiled from the published peer-reviewed articles, unpublished materials, thesis, books, patent databases, clinical trial registries and from the websites of research councils of traditional medicine. The scientific databases, thesis repositories and books databases were searched with keywords Shilajit, mumie, mumijo, salajeet, asphaltum, fulvic acid, dibenzo-alpha-pyrones etc. Results: Scientifically validated research and ancient texts suggest multifaceted benefits of Shilajit. It is endowed with anti-stress, memory and energy enhancing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, spermatogenic, neuroprotective, antiulcer and wound healing activities. These pharmacological effects are mainly attributed to the presence of humic acid, fulvic acid, dibenzo-α-pyrones, dibenzo- α-pyrones chromoproteins and trace elements. Conclusion: This review summarizes the traditional importance of Shilajit for the treatment and prevention of several acute and chronic diseases and health ailments. Despite numerous health claims, there are still major gaps in our understanding of its mechanism of action, variability in efficacy and toxicity profile. Therefore, a coordinated interdisciplinary approach is needed to establish the underlying mechanisms of action, comprehensive toxicological profile, pharmacokinetics parameters and effects on different organ systems. Regulatory and governmental impetus to basic and clinical research, safety testing and formulations quality control is warranted.

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A BSTRACT Objective: India has a tribal population of 8.6%. Health concerns of the high-altitude tribal population in India play a vital role in overall socio-economic development and health transformation of the country. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the current health problems among the tribal population of Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. Material and Methods: The study area encompasses one regional hospital (RH) in Keylong (the district headquarters), three community health centers (CHCs), and 16 primary health care centers (PHCs). In addition, the district has 37 sub-centers (SCs) and 21 Ayurveda dispensaries to serve the district. The data for this study were gathered over a 4-year period from records of daily out-patient department registration from the various health centers (RH, CHCs, and PHCs) from 2017 to 2020. Results: In terms of communicable diseases, the population in the concerned region was more likely to have acute respiratory infection, enteric fever, tuberculosis, and typhoid. Hypertension, asthma, bronchitis, and diabetes mellitus type II were determined to be the most common non-communicable diseases. Conclusion: Acute respiratory disease, hypertension, diarrhea, accidental injuries, and eye problems were shown to be prevalent in the study area. The population’s position in relation to these five diseases indicates the community’s sensitivity to a variety of common conditions. There is a need to review the needs and priorities of the concerned population and create goals and targets to meet those needs using validated public health measures.

Background: Shilajit is a natural herbomineral ethnomedicinal substance used in Indian traditional systems of medicine since centuries as a rejuvenator, anti-aging and for several health conditions/ailments. Shilajit composition has exhibited considerable variability from different geographical sites and hence there is a need to determine its composition and concentration of bioactive compounds to correlate it with pharmacological activities. Objective: To determine the chemical and mineral constitution of Shilajit obtained from Himachal Pradesh, India. Methods: In the present study, Shilajit was chemically characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), UV-Vis spectroscopy and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Results: Chemical elucidation of crude Shilajit from three geographical sites revealed the presence of humic acid, fulvic acid, dibenzo-α-pyrones and several other organic constituents in crude Shilajit. The presence of metals/trace elements was evident in Shilajit samples with potassium being predominant followed by magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron and aluminium. Conclusion: Characterization of Shilajit from Himachal Pradesh supported the structural details of Shilajit already known and also revealed variations in key chemical parameters which might be due to geographical variations and ecological conditions which determine its natural synthesis.