Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
ARMARC
SEPT -2009 Vol 1.87
Editorial -ression causes a loss of neurons making lack in
Literally memory is cognitive processes whereby past concentration. Vitamin B12 protects the neuron and due
experience is remembered. When new information enters to inability of its absorption memory loss may be caused.
through neurons to place of memory storage of brain and Similarly imbalanced metabolism of thyroid may cause
encoding of this information getting signal from such loss as fast metabolism may raise confusion while
hippocampus is memory. Such encoding is done by slow one may cause depression.
activation of same pattern of nerve cells used to store There are some practices which make healthy
such information. Several factors as age-related memory or may inhibit memory loss due to aging as:
deterioration of hippocampus, relative loss of neurons 1. Regular exercise: Exercise brings more oxygen to
with age affecting the activity of brain chemicals called brain and it may also reduce the chances of
cardiovascular disorders or diabetes, prime causes of
neurotransmitters and their receptors, decreased supply
memory loss. It may enhance the effect of chemicals
of blood flow to brain etc. cause the aging brains to needed for memory. Simply playing games that involve
experience changes in ability in retaining and retrieving strategy, like chess or bridge, and word games like
memories. But numbers of brain functions are unaffected scrabble; playing crossword and other word puzzles,
of normal aging like same type of work with repetition, or number puzzles such as sudoku; reading newspaper,
the wisdom and knowledge of experience, common magazines writing down the things etc. are also better
sense, reasonable arguments and judgments, learning of exercise for the brain.
new skills and making then in routine etc. 2. Healthy diet: Such type of diets carry antioxidants,
Memory loss due to aging has different position on vitamins etc. to brain cells and avoid the deposition of
scale of intensity depending of types as normal fats what may cause the stroke and other disorders.
forgetfulness like forgetting the place of things, names, 3. Managing stress: Cortisol, a stress hormone is
appointments etc. are not considered as dementia and responsible for damage of hippocampus and stress also
brings confusion and inability to concentrate.
they have little impact on daily performance whereas mild
4. Good sleep: Apnea and insomnia do not allow
cognitive impairment (MCI) is beyond normal one. Here concentrating and hence it is necessary to have a good
the forgetfulness begins to have consequences where sleep.
inability to remember details of something seen or read 5. Inhibition of smoking: Smoking heightens the risks of
few minutes ago is attended carefully. This is also vascular disorders that can cause constriction of arteries
considered by some experts as precursor of Alzheimer’s carrying blood to brain.
and it is true that people with MCI do develop Alzheimer’s 6. Some medications mentioned in ayurveda by name
at higher rates than the general one. But MCI differs from of memory enhancers like Shankhpushpi,
Alzheimer’s and people with MCI can manage their Mandookparni, Jyotishmati etc. can be given under
routine tasks independently, though they may struggle to guidance to manage the memory loss but exercise and
do so. Alzheimer’s disease is a general mental self-will are important to be practiced.
deterioration due to organic or psychological factors and In This Issue
this is characterized by disorientation, impaired memory,
judgment and intellect and a shallow labile effect. There
1) RELEVANCE OF BIO-DIVERSITY AND
are other factors causing various different forms of
TISSUE CULTURE IN AYURVEDA
dementia. Other than these, conditions of living and life-
style may also cause memory loss due to aging as lead, 2) ARKA KALPANA (DISTILLATION)
mercury, carbon monoxide etc. may cause memory loss 3) Formulation Profile (Series-A/10)
or inability to concentrate while coming in contact. The Kalanusaryaditaila
side-effects of many drugs interfere with neurotransmitters 4) Herbal Drug Profile (Series-A/11)
essential to memory while excessive alcohol intake or Kuchala (Nux-vomica)
consumption of hallucinogenic drugs hinder the function
of neurotransmitters needed for memory. Persistent dep
Newsletter of ARMARC 2 SEPT -2009
RELEVANCE OF BIO-DIVERSITY AND The composition of drugs and their properties is
TISSUE CULTURE IN AYURVEDA dealt on the basis of Panchmahabhut with their
application on the basis of Triodosh. All substances can
Ravindra Prakash, Dr. Prashant Kumar Jha,
M.Pharma (Ayu) Final Yr., Head, Quality Control, be used as drug for medicinal purpose. Any dravya can
PGTSFC, IPGT & RA, ALNRMAC, Koppa be termed as drug only when those are used for a definite
Gujarat Ayurved University
purpose with rationality. The properties of drugs are well
Biodiversity is noticeable heterogeneity of living mentioned in separate branch of Ayurveda very well
beings in particular habitat. People throughout the globe known as Dravyaguna. This is a science of drugs
are directly or indirectly concerned with its application (dravya), their properties (guna) and actions (karma).
right from the basic needs of food, cloth and shelter to It includes the application of drugs and divides drugs in
perfumes, furniture or other accessory items keeping to three types on the basis of origin as Plant products,
health in core as number of traditional medicines used in Animal products and Minerals. Their further classifications
various system of medicines still relies upon living beings. are also well mentioned. The plant products are subdivided
From the earliest times, vaidyas, tribal priests and medicine into four groups as per their source in big trees, small
practicing men used various plants, minerals and animal trees, shrub and herbs. The animal products are also sub-
organs usually association with strange rituals and divided in to four groups as mammalians, birds & fishes,
incantations, to drive out the evil spirits which they believed insects and frogs & earthworm etc.
to the cause of disease. Astonishingly, these magical rites Even today the claimed modern medicine i.e.,
seemed to help. allopathic system of medicine uses directly or indirectly
The uses of plants and animal products for curing more than 50% of the plant and animal products. Hence,
various ailments were figured in ancient manuscripts such the significance of these products automatically comes to
as the Rig-Vedas, the Bible, the Iliad, the Odyssey and central theme. The variety and diversity of drugs available
the History of Herodotus. Chinese are using drug plants for same alteration is only possible while the diversity in
from over 6000 years. The Egyptians, Babylonians, availabilities of these living beings exists and, this is the
Sumerions, Greeks and Romans, all developed their application of biodiversity in Ayurveda. The more
respective characteristic Materia Medica. In India, the diversified population means richer biodiversity and
Ayurvedic System of medicine has been in use for over variety of drugs available for the purpose of Ayurveda.
3000 years. Charak and Sushrut, two of the ancient As in North-eastern states of India or in Western Ghat
authors had sufficient knowledge of the properties of the region, presence of dense population of living beings
Indian Medicinal Plants and other animal drugs. Their especially plants with different species reveal the richer
medical works, Charak Samhita and Sushrut Samhita biodiversity and variety of drugs available and mentioned
are esteemed even today as treasures of literature on in Ayurveda.
indigenous Indian medicine. To meet the loss in biodiversity and lack of plant
The edifice of the drug science of Ayurveda stands materials, tissue culture is applied. Tissue culture is a
on the foundation of basic fundamental principles i.e., phenomenon to regenerate the plant materials/parts or
Panchmahabhut and Tridosh. The five Mahabhutas complete parts in vitro giving with artificial environment
viz.. Prithvi, Aap, Tejas, Vayu and Akash constitute viz., culture medium, temperature, sterilize conditions etc.
the animal body as well as the vegetable /plant and mineral Impacts of Biodiversity: The dependence of Ayurveda
kingdoms. They also include human body especially for on biodiversity is real fact on which very few of us rely in
main object of Ayurveda. This type of similarity in lack of information. But the understanding of these two
constitution of body tissues and drugs is basis of action different streams comforts the scientists, vaidyas and
which is either stimulating or depressing. pharmacists to select the drugs as:
Newsletter of ARMARC 3 SEPT -2009
1. In Ayurveda, drugs are suggested to be taken ropriate data of various pharmacokinetics and
according to place (desh), time (kaal) etc. and clinical testings while checking the effects of drugs
due to changes occurring in thickness of popula- on these cells.
tion of various species at different place, this con 7. It gives the idea about the changes in chemical
compositions with change of external as well as
cept of Ayurveda is being affected.
internal conditions by altering the artificially
2. A collection of facts regarding the availabilities
provided environment.
of drugs in Ayurveda gives the thinking of
8. It may also give the blue-prints of various drugs
alternative drugs in wake of absence of less
used in Ayurveda but now extinct or on the verge
available drugs. Means the fundamental of
of extinction.
Substitute & Adulterants come in origin to fulfill
9. Modifications in herbal medicines on the basis of
the demand of drugs. The mushrooming drug
chemical constituents are possible through tissue
industries and heavy deforestation for diversified
culture to obtain the desired chemicals in more
uses of plants have affected the source of drugs
quantity in new races or varities or cultivars.
and biodiversity. 10. It helps in understanding the physiology at
3. More than ninety percent of the drugs used in molecular level of both plants as well as human
Ayurveda come from plants or animal origin, their being which may reveal the in vitro study of
sources are limited. Hence any unintelligent use molecular interactions and their effects in any type
may cause total failure in balance of biodiversity. of alteration.
4. Number of plants may reach to red line area like Discussion
endangered, vulnerable, on the verge of extinction The Panchmahabhautik combination of
etc. everythings are well mentioned and known and their com-
Benefits of Tissue culture bination are well related with doshas. The any change in
1. Tissue culture may ensure the availabilities of these Mahabhuta may result in change in combination of
drugs when all the needs of tissue culture are Vata, Pitta and Kapha which ultimately may cause or
provided with condition. cure the alterations. Tissue culture gives the option to study
2. It avails the drugs according to the these changes in Mahabhuta by external effects means
phytogeographical conditions avoiding the as per the principles, the change in Mahabhuta of both
variation in constituents and potency of drugs with source and experimental cells can be well exposed and
change in place. enumerated. To check the shortage of quality of drugs at
3. It also makes the drugs potent even after seasonal hand and any imbalance of biodiversity in specific field,
variations as usually drugs collected in winter may the utilization of biotechnology automatically leaves lot of
not have same potency while using in summer. options. Number of drugs viz., Chlorophytum sp.,
4. It may expose the chemicals for chemo- Withania somnifera, Swertia chirata, Coscinum
taxonomy in better way. fenestratum, Rauwolfia serpentina, Saraca asoca etc.
5. Plants provide us new chemical entities (lead have been studied on these aspects and various others
molecules) for the development of drugs against are being studied.
various pharmacological targets, tissue culture Conclusion
The detailed study of drugs and their effects with
helps to study them separately.
use of tissue culture gives chances more advantageous
6. Tissue culture technique gives rise to culture of
study of drugs and their relations with various alterations.
stem cells from human beings as well as from
It also offers more reasons to accept the biotechnology
animals, these cells may help to collect the app-
to maintain the biodiversity and conservation.
Newsletter of ARMARC 4 SEPT -2009
(Continued from Aug edition..........)
ARKA KALPANA (DISTILLATION)
Dr. Mahesh.M.Madalageri Fainal M.D. Guide: Prof.(Dr) D.K.Mishra M.D (Ay), H.O.D.,
Dept. of Bhaishajya Kalpana, Dr.Parshant kumar Jha, Dept. of Quality control Lab ,
A.L.N.Rao Memorial Ayurvedic Medical College,Koppa