Herbs occupy the important place in the Ayurvedic Materia Medica and therapeutics. Though the drugs that are employed in the management of various diseases include vegetable, animal and mineral in origin, the polyherbal formulations out number the mineral and other metallic preparations. The modern scientists of phytochemistry have identified the following important pharmacologically active principles in medicinal plants viz.
Alkaloids (Basic substances containing cyclic nitrogen, which are insoluble in water but combine with acids to form water soluble salts)
Glycosides (Ether like combinations of sugars with other organic structures
Oils (Fixed oils, volatile oils and mineral oil)
Resins (insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol)
Oleoresins (mixtures of volatile oils and resins)
Gums (secretory products of plants and are dispersible in water)
Tannins (Non-nitrogenous plants constituents and precipitate proteins of cells)
Antibacterial substances fungi and moulds.
In the current modern therapeutics the majority of the drugs that are used belong to synthetic in nature.
In the modem pharmacology the drug action is quite often correlated with its chemical structure or active principle. But in Ayurvedic pharmacology the drug action is attributed to certain principles/attributes namely Rasa, Guna, Virya, Vipaka and Prabhava of the active principles of the drug. Rasa or taste of the drug indicates the genera! behaviour or effect of the drug on bodily or cellular components like Dosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), Dhatus (seven types of tissue components). Mala (metabolic debris), Srotas (channels/vessels) and Agni (energy useful to carryout digestion and metabolism of foods & drugs). In the modem pharmacology the modus operandi of the drug is explained through its drug molecule whereas Ayurveda attributes the mode of action of the drug to the five principles (Rasapanchaka). Majority of the times these Gunas (attributes) may not be measurable but inferred through their pharmacological actions. The study of the biological and therapeutic effects of the drugs (what drug does to the body) are explained by these principles which can be identified as pharmacodynamic principles of Ayurvedic pharmacology. These pharmacodynamic principles also influence the pharmaco-kinctics (study of the absorption, metabolism and excretion of drugs and their relationship to the pharmacological response) of the drugs.
Routes of drug administration play an important role in the elucidation of drug action. A drug may exert different effects when given by different routes. Thus, oral magnesium sulphate acts as saline purgative. When injected, it is a depressant of central nervous system and acts as an anti-convulsant. On the other hand, hypertonic magnesium sulfate, given as a retention enema, can be used to reduce intracranial tension. Madanaphala when given orally acts as emetic and if administered with Vasti Dravays (ingredients of enema) facilitates for its quicker transportation in the colon by its Urdwabhagahara property and acts as a synergistic for toning up the nervous system or relieving intracranial tension.
MsSVig
Alkaloids (Basic substances containing cyclic nitrogen, which are insoluble in water but combine with acids to form water soluble salts)
Glycosides (Ether like combinations of sugars with other organic structures
Oils (Fixed oils, volatile oils and mineral oil)
Resins (insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol)
Oleoresins (mixtures of volatile oils and resins)
Gums (secretory products of plants and are dispersible in water)
Tannins (Non-nitrogenous plants constituents and precipitate proteins of cells)
Antibacterial substances fungi and moulds.
In the current modern therapeutics the majority of the drugs that are used belong to synthetic in nature.
In the modem pharmacology the drug action is quite often correlated with its chemical structure or active principle. But in Ayurvedic pharmacology the drug action is attributed to certain principles/attributes namely Rasa, Guna, Virya, Vipaka and Prabhava of the active principles of the drug. Rasa or taste of the drug indicates the genera! behaviour or effect of the drug on bodily or cellular components like Dosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), Dhatus (seven types of tissue components). Mala (me
Routes of drug administration play an important role in the elucidation of drug action. A drug may exert different effects when given by different routes. Thus, oral magnesium sulphate acts as saline purgative. When injected, it is a depressant of central nervous system and acts as an anti-convulsant. On the other hand, hypertonic magnesium sulfate, given as a retention enema, can be used to reduce intracranial tension. Madanaphala when given orally acts as emetic and if administered with Vasti Dravays (ingredients of enema) facilitates for its quicker transportation in the colon by its Urdwabhagahara property and acts as a synergistic for toning up the nervous system or relieving intracranial tension.
MsSVig