Purpose: Ayurveda is one of the oldest systems of medicines in the world being practiced widely in the Indian subcontinent for more than 3000 years, and still remains as one of the important traditional health care systems. The Ayurvedic drugs are derived primarily from various parts of the plants, like root, leaf, flower, fruit or plant as a whole. Plants uptake minerals and other nutrients from the soil through their root system. Along with other minerals radionuclides present in the growing media also reach to the plant parts following the same pathway. Realizing the probable health hazards via the intake of Ayurvedic drugs, it is important to assess the concentration of natural radionuclides in commonly used medicinal plants.Materials and methods: NaI(Tl) scintillator-based gamma-ray spectrometry has been used to determine the activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in the most commonly used medicinal plant parts as ingredients of Ayurvedic medicines in India.Results and discussion: The average specific activity (Bqkg-1) of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K was found to be 43 ± 18, 36 ± 15[Formula: see text] and 230 ± 46, respectively. The estimated annual committed effective doses due to the intake of common Ayurvedic medicines at prescribed dosage was found to be 39 ± 16 µSv y-1,[Formula: see text] which is quite low as compared with the radiation dose limit of 1 mSvy-1 from all natural sources, reported by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP-60).Conclusions: It is found categorically that intake of Ayurvedic medicines at normal dosage poses no radiological hazard to the individual. Present results are significant in the wake of myths that many hazardous materials including radioisotopes are present at higher levels. Obtained results also serve as a reference information for the distribution of radionuclides in medicinal plant species.
Siddha medicine is one of the oldest (5000 years old) well-documented Indian traditional medicines, compared with Ayurveda, Unani, and traditional Chinese medicine, by way of keen observation and experimentation. It mentions 108 diseases that occur in childhood, which are further classified and described into various subtypes based on the clinical features and different stages of a particular disease. The authors translate the elegant and detailed description of one neonatal disorder, infantile seborrheic dermatitis (cradle cap), called kabaala kuttam (KK), described in 17 stanzas of four lines for each stanza from Tamil language script into English. There are five different types of cradle cap, including white type, dark black type, red type, weeping type, and toxic type. Four polyherbal formulations are described for external and oral administration, in which there is mention of 39 herbals and pure sulfur as ingredients. The safety and efficacy of these herbal products varies and has not been fully explored in infants, but may represent options for clinical development.
The art of Ayurveda and the traditional healing system in India have reflected the ethnomedicinal importance of the plant Woodfordia fruticosa Kurtz, which demonstrates its vast usage in the Ayurvedic preparations as well as in the management of diabetes by the traditional healers.
This paper shall first investigate the informatics areas and applications of the four Traditional Medicine systems - Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine and Traditional Malay Medicine. Then, this paper shall examine the national informatics infrastructure initiatives in the four respective countries that support the Traditional Medicine systems. Challenges of implementing informatics in Traditional Medicine Systems shall also be discussed.
Swertia cordata and Swertia chirayita are temperate Himalayan medicinal plants used as potent herbal drugs in Indian traditional systems of medicine (Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha).
Ghritas are ayurvedic lipid based preparations in which oil or ghee is boiled with prescribed kasaya (polyherbal decoction) and kalka (fine paste of herbs) until the evaporation of aqueous phase transfers the contents into oily phase. The polyherbal decoction used in the preparation predominantly contains water soluble Active Botanical Ingredients (ABIs).
Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine that originated over three millennia ago in the South Asian region, offers extensive insights about food and health based on certain unique conceptual as well as theoretical positions. Health is defined as a state of equilibrium with one's self (svasthya) but which is inextricably linked to the environment. Ayurvedic principles, such as the tridosa (three humors) theory, provide the relationship between the microcosm and the macrocosm that can be applied in day-to-day practice. Classical Ayurveda texts cover an array of themes on food ranging from diversity of natural sources, their properties in relation to seasons and places and to their specific function both in physiological and pathological states. The epistemic perspective on health and nutrition in Ayurveda is very different from that of biomedicine and modern nutrition. However, contemporary knowledge is reinventing and advancing several of these concepts in an era of systems biology, personalized medicine, and the broader context of a more holistic transition in sciences in general. Trans-disciplinary research could be important not only for pushing the boundaries of food and health sciences but also for providing practical solutions for contemporary health conditions. This article briefly reviews the parallels in Ayurveda and biomedicine and draws attention to the need for a deeper engagement with traditional knowledge systems, such as Ayurveda. It points out that recreation of the methodologies that enabled the holistic view point about health in Ayurveda may unravel some of the complex connections with Nature.
In this article, we discuss our recent work in elucidating the mode-of-action of compounds used in traditional medicine including Ayurvedic medicine. Using computational ('in silico') approach, we predict potential targets for Ayurvedic anti-cancer compounds, obtained from the Indian Plant Anticancer Database given its chemical structure. In our analysis, we observed that: (i) the targets predicted can be connected to cancer pathogenesis i.e. steroid-5-alpha reductase 1 and 2 and estrogen receptor-β, and (ii) predominantly hormone-dependent cancer targets were predicted for the anti-cancer compounds. Through the use of our in silico target prediction, we conclude that understanding how traditional medicine such as Ayurveda work through linking with the 'western' understanding of chemistry and protein targets can be a fruitful avenue in addition to bridging the gap between the two different schools of thinking. Given that compounds used in Ayurveda have been tested and used for thousands of years (although not in the same approach as Western medicine), they can potentially be developed into potential new drugs. Hence, to further advance the case of Ayurvedic medicine, we put forward some suggestions namely: (a) employing and integrating novel analytical methods given the advancements of 'omics' and (b) sharing experimental data and clinical results on studies done on Ayurvedic compounds in an easy and accessible way.
Ayurveda is one of the traditional medicinal systems of Indian. The philosophy behind Ayurveda is preventing unnecessary suffering and living a long healthy life. Ayurveda involves the use of natural elements to eliminate the root cause of the disease by restoring balance, at the same time create a healthy life-style to prevent the recurrence of imbalance. Herbal medicines have existed world-wide with long recorded history and they were used in ancient Chinese, Greek, Egyptian and Indian medicine for various therapies purposes. World Health Organization estimated that 80% of the word's inhabitants still rely mainly on traditional medicines for their health care. The subcontinent of India is well-known to be one of the major biodiversity centers with about 45,000 plant species. In India, about 15,000 medicinal plants have been recorded, in which the communities used 7,000-7,500 plants for curing different diseases. In Ayurveda, single or multiple herbs (polyherbal) are used for the treatment. The Ayurvedic literature Sarangdhar Samhita' highlighted the concept of polyherbalism to achieve greater therapeutic efficacy. The active phytochemical constituents of individual plants are insufficient to achieve the desirable therapeutic effects. When combining the multiple herbs in a particular ratio, it will give a better therapeutic effect and reduce the toxicity. This review mainly focuses on important of the polyherbalism and its clinical significance.
The genus Hydnocarpus (Flacourtiaceae) includes forty species that are spread across the globe. In the Indian System of Medicine, Hydnocarpus pentandrus (Buch.-Ham.) Oken. is primarily used for treating leprosy and other skin disorders. It is known as "Chaulmoogra" and is also used to treat other indications including constipation, inflammation, blood disorders, and worm infestations. Various species of Hydnocarpus are also used in traditional medicine in China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar for several skin disorders. To assess the therapeutic potential of species from the Hydnocarpus genus and to determine future avenues for research.
The objectives of this study were to initiate a pharmacist-coordinated program to improve the adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting on complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in a tertiary care hospital and to evaluate the pattern of the reported ADRs.
The purpose of this paper is to compare two forms of treatment for heroin abusers in Malaysia--traditional medicine and institutional--and to evaluate which form of treatment the drug abusers consider more effective. The study involved interviewing 100 male drug abusers in Malaysia who had had treatment from an institution and from a traditional healer. The data revealed that traditional medicine was better for some abusers, but institutional treatment was better for others, depending upon an individual's own needs and personality. Advantages and disadvantages of both forms of treatment were given by those interviewed. The data can be used as guidelines for the development of a more flexible, individualized program within an institutional setting in Malaysia.
Introduction:Linum usitatissimum (flax seed) has been cultivated for domestic use since prehistoric times. Its use as a dietary supplement becomes more popular nowadays. Nigella sativa seeds and oils have been widely used for centuries in the treatment of various ailments throughout the world. It is an important drug in the Indian traditional system of medicine like Unani and Ayurveda. Methods: This is a laboratory experimental in-vitro study using select-ed oral pathogens (Streptococcus mutans, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) cultured in nutrient agar. The pathogens were then inoculated in nutrient based broth and incubation for 24hours. Linum usitatissimum and Nigella sativa extract efficacy was tested by measurement of the zone of inhibition. The result of the extracts antimicrobial activities were compared with positive control (penicillin) and negative control(Dimethyl sulfoxide DMSO). The statistical analysis was done by using SPSS18. Results: The antibacterial effect of Linum usitatissimum and Nigella sativa extract is comparable to the effect of penicillin and this study shows that flax seed extract shows more potent antibacterial effect than Nigella sativa on Streptococcus mutans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa while both extracts didn’t show an effect on Klebsiella pneumoniae. Conclusion: The results of the present study scien-tifically validate the inhibitory capacity of Linum usitatissimum or Nigella sativa as antibiotic against selective oral pathogens this will contribute towards the development of new treatment options based on natural base products.
The Clitoria ternatea (Fabaceae) root, seed, and leaf are commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine in Malaysia and Indonesia. The methanol leaf extracts of C. ternatea was tested for toxicity by means of brine shrimp lethality test and acute oral toxicity assay. In the brine shrimp lethality test, the leaf extract were non-toxic or showed weak lethality (LC50 > 1 mg/ml) at the 6 h, 12 h and 24 h incubation period. Nevertheless, at the 48 h incubation time, the leaf extract exhibited moderate toxicity activity with LC50 values of 0.49 mg/ml. In the acute toxicity study using mice, the median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was found greater than 2000 mg/kg, and we found no pathological changes by means of macroscopic examination of tissues of mice treated with the extract. We conclude that the C. ternatea leaf extract is not toxic in mice and brine shrimp.
Jaundice is a very common symptom especially in the developing countries. It is associated with several hepatic diseases which are still major causes of death. There are many different approaches to jaundice treatment and the growing number of ethnomedicinal studies shows the plant pharmacology as very promising direction. Many medicinal plants are used for the treatment of jaundice, however a comprehensive review on this subject has not been published. The use of medicinal plants in drug discovery is highly emphasized (based on their traditional and safe uses in different folk medicine systems from ancient times). Many sophisticated analytical techniques are emerging in the pharmaceutical field to validate and discover new biologically active chemical entities derived from plants. Here, we aim to classify and categorize medicinal plants relevant for the treatment of jaundice according to their origin, geographical location, and usage. Our search included various databases like Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar. Keywords and phrases used for these searches included: "jaundice," "hyperbilirubinemia," "serum glutamate," "bilirubin," "Ayurveda." The first part of the review focuses on the variety of medicinal plant used for the treatment of jaundice (a total of 207 medicinal plants). In the second part, possible mechanisms of action of biologically active secondary metabolites of plants from five families for jaundice treatment are discussed.
Streblus asper Lour is a small tree found in tropical countries, such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Various parts of this plant are used in Ayurveda and other folk medicines for the treatment of different ailments such as filariasis, leprosy, toothache, diarrhea, dysentery and cancer. Research carried out using different in vitro and in vivo techniques of biological evaluation support most of these claims. This review presents the botany, chemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of this medicinal plant.
The divine tree neem (Azadirachta indica) is mainly cultivated in the Indian subcontinent. Neem has been used extensively by humankind to treat various ailments before the availability of written records which recorded the beginning of history. The world health organization estimates that 80% of the population living in the developing countries relies exclusively on traditional medicine for their primary health care. More than half of the world's population still relies entirely on plants for medicines, and plants supply the active ingredients of most traditional medical products. The review shows the neem has been used by humankind to treat various ailments from prehistory to contemporary.
Bacopa monnieri has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to improve memory and cognition. The active constituent responsible for its pharmacological effects is bacoside A, a mixture of dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins containing sugar chains linked to a steroid aglycone skeleton. Triterpenoid saponins have been reported to be transformed in vivo to metabolites that give better biological activity and pharmacokinetic characteristics. Thus, the activities of the parent compounds (bacosides), aglycones (jujubogenin and pseudojujubogenin) and their derivatives (ebelin lactone and bacogenin A1) were compared using a combination of in silico and in vitro screening methods. The compounds were docked into 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, D1, D2, M1 receptors and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) using AutoDock and their central nervous system (CNS) drug-like properties were determined using Discovery Studio molecular properties and ADMET descriptors. The compounds were screened in vitro using radioligand receptor binding and AChE inhibition assays. In silico studies showed that the parent bacosides were not able to dock into the chosen CNS targets and had poor molecular properties as a CNS drug. In contrast, the aglycones and their derivatives showed better binding affinity and good CNS drug-like properties, were well absorbed through the intestines and had good blood brain barrier (BBB) penetration. Among the compounds tested in vitro, ebelin lactone showed binding affinity towards M1 (Ki = 0.45 μM) and 5-HT2A (4.21 μM) receptors. Bacoside A and bacopaside X (9.06 μM) showed binding affinity towards the D1 receptor. None of the compounds showed any inhibitory activity against AChE. Since the stimulation of M1 and 5-HT2A receptors has been implicated in memory and cognition and ebelin lactone was shown to have the strongest binding energy, highest BBB penetration and binding affinity towards M1 and 5-HT2A receptors, we suggest that B. monnieri constituents may be transformed in vivo to the active form before exerting their pharmacological activity.