In traditional Ayurveda, basic concepts such as Tridosha are introduced didactically. Students of Ayurveda learn to appreciate their practical value through clinical experience; their validity is empirical. In an age where validity of concepts is judged by their scientific relevance, establishing the scientific validity of Tridosha is a program of significance. It requires translating concept and practical application into the idiom of modern biology and medicine. Four different complementary approaches have been proposed to do so: factor analysis of human physiology; systems analysis of organism function; correlation of Dosha and genomic variations - Ayugenomics; and correlation of Dosha and cellular function. Together these four independent approaches present compelling evidence that the family of Dosha based, Ayurveda fundamental concepts - the three Doshas, their fifteen subdoshas, innate Dosha balance in the individual (prakriti), and Dosha imbalances (vikriti) are scientifically valid. This paper concerns the first three. (I) The systems approach shows how Tridosha applies to every living organism from the first cells, and how it is inherited and diversified in the history of life. (2) Ayugenomics confirms Dosha's inheritance. (3) Each Dosha is responsible for regulating an essential aspect of organism function, connected to a recognised definition of life: Vata, Input/Output (homeostasis); Pitta, Turnover (negative entropy production); Kapha, Storage (inheritable structure).

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency of seven Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) namely, Acaulospora deligata, Glomus aggregatum, G feugianum, G fasciculatum, G rubiforme, Gigaspora margarita, and Scutellospora heterogama collected from the rhizosphere soils of Wedilia chinensis (Osbeck) Merril. They were evaluated on the same host for improvement of phytochemical constituents, namely total phenols, ortho dihydroxy phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and saponins and enhanced levels of acid and alkaline phosphatase, nitrate reductase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities. The extent of phytochemical constituents and levels of enzymes varied with the species of AM fungi inhabiting the W. chinensis seedlings. Analyses performed 90 days after inoculation showed that maximum beneficial effect in terms of increased phytochemical constituents and defense related enzyme levels was with Glomus fasciculatum.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

Most exacerbations of asthma can be proven to be associated with bacterial infections and there is scientific evidence that frequent respiratory infections particularly bacterial infections provoke asthma attack. Considering these facts different plant extracts and phytoconstituents with proven anti asthmatic property had been selected for screening anti microbial activity in in-vitro models. In the present study, Coleus forskohlii Willd. extract (10% Forskolin), Piper Longum L. Extract (20% Piperine), Adathoda vasica Nees. extract (30% Vasicinone), Curcuma longa L. extract (60% Curcumin) were screened for the antibacterial activity against human pathogens causing upper respiratory infection namely Haemophilus influenzae , Streptococcus pneumoniae , Streptococcus pyrogene and Staphylococcus aureus, by taking Gentamycin, Optochin, Bacitracin and Amoxicillin as reference standards. Except for Adathoda vasica Nees. extract, all the other selected plant extracts exhibited a moderate activity antibacterial activity against selected strains.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

Taxus baccata (L) known as Sthauneyaka in Sanskrit' has wide range of biological activities including analgesic, anti-malarial, anti-rheumatic, sedative, anti-spasmodic, aphrodisiac and anti-asthmatic. In the present study, the dried and powdered bark of Taxus baccata (L) was extracted with 95% ethanol and ether at room temperature and screened for their anti-­inflammatory activity by Carrageenan-induced paw edema method in rat. 95% ethanol extract exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activity at 200mg/kg four hours after administration in comparison with ether extract, as well reference standard, Aspirin. The observed pharmacological activities provide a scientific basis for the folklore use of the plant in treating acute inflammation.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

The present study deals with antimicrobial activity of ayurvedic drugs containing single herb (Amalaki Choorna and Yastimadhu Choorna) and combination of herbs (DN-90 and Asanadi Kwatha Choorna). Disc diffusion method was used to assess antibacterial activity and antifungal activity was tested using Poison food technique. Absence of bacterial growth around the discs impregnated with the aqueous extracts of drugs and reduction of fungal growth in poisoned plates indicated antimicrobial activity. Further, the results of antibacterial activity of Amalaki choorna were comparable with standard drug Streptomycin. Asanadi Kwatha Choorna inhibited bacteria to more extent than Yastimadhu choorna and DN-90. Among fungi tested, more antifungal activity was observed against Mucor sp. The antimicrobial activity of drugs tested could be due to active principles present in them.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

The Anthelmintic activity of petroleum ether, methanol and chloroform extract of rhizomes of Nymphaea rubra Linn were evaluated separately and the activities were compared with that of Albendazole. The petroleum ether, ethanol and chloroform extract exhibited dose dependent activity. The ethanolic extract showed remarkable Anthelmintic activity.

[ABSTRACT]   Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]

Full text not available  [PDF]  [PubMed]