Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

The Asclepiadaceae form a climax family specializing in staminal corona, a gynostemium and pollinia. The family contains more of herbs and shrubs rather than trees and consists of 2000 species included in 250 genera. The members are laticiferous herbs, vines or shrubs. Trees are rare. A group of plants like Caralluma have become modified to cactus-like succulents. The compounds manufactured include cardiac glycosides,alkaloids of indole, pyridine and Phenanthro indolizidine groups and proanthocyanins. Divided to 2 subfamilies. 1. Periplocoideae are primitive in that the stamens are free, corona mostly corolline and anthers are connate around the stigma, but not fused with stigma. The gynostegium and pollinia are absent here. 2. The second subfamily, the major one, is the Asclepiadoideae containing all the plants with gynostegium, pollinia and staminal corona. A. Medicinal plants 1. Asclepias curassavica Linn (Gk Asklepios = god of medicine, due to the medicinal properties of this plant...

Struggle for Existence and Survival of Fittest-18 Evolution within Angiosperms-1       The evolution within Angiosperms can be traced easily if we, for the time being, follow a classificatory system. The system of classification I would like to follow is that proposed by George Bentham and Joseph Dalton Hooker (1862- 1883), two great taxonomists of all times, in their book “Genera Plantarum”. The preference to this system may be because it is a convenient system of classification of flowering plants and can easily be followed for field studies and that in India we use it in our curriculum. If we keep away the Gymnosperms from the middle, the classificatory scheme, especially that of Dicots, is more or less broadly similar to those proposed by Cronquist (1967) and Takhtajan (1980). Here we take most of the groups in the same sequence as in Genera Plantarum and evaluate what are the evolutionary strategies found in them one by one. But some of the ...

Nani Luni (Portulaca quadrifida), a wonder herb for muscle-building and for healthy mind and heart 13th March, Vadodara. (A news item appeared in Todays's Times of India, Ahmedabad & Baroda) Nani luni, (chickweed- Portulaca quadrifida) is a smaller relative of Luni (Portulaca oleracea) – a well-known herb easing hypertension in Western countries. This is abundant as a weed in many of the agricultural fields and is found recently a treasure trove of phytochemicals which help in building muscles and body for athletes, reduce hypertension and insomnia and prevent and heal cancer. A LCMS study conducted by us identified at least 8 phytochemicals like vinaginsenoside, biliverdin, testosterone glucuronide , coumestrin etc which improve stamina, reduce fatigue, builds muscles and body and accelerate other anabolic activities. We found more than a dozen compounds such as nicergoline, ganglioside, crocin, aralioside, armillane etc which are neuroprotective, reduce depre...

Miracle fruit- a boon to sweet-toothed diabetics and dieters Miracle fruit is the fruit of Synsepalum dulcificum, a member of Sapotaceae, having a sweet modifying protein, “Miraculin”, in the pulp which causes sour edibles to taste sweet after the mouth has been exposed to the fruits. The miracle plant was first discovered in 1725 by an explorer Chaveliar des Marchais who observed the natives chewed the fruit before meals to make stale food taste sweeter and better. This plant is reported in West and Central Africa, specifically in countries like Congo, Ghana and Nigeria. The plant is known as Agbayun and Uni respectively among the Yoruba and Igbo people of southern Nigeria. Miracle plant is a tall bush or a small tree growing to a height of about 3 m in cultivation, and 6.1 m in a native habitat. Leaves are 5–10 cm long and 2–3.7 cm wide. Flowers are cream-colored but turn dark-red or brown with maturity. The flowers are bisexual. The calyx is made ...

Anacardiaceae- Resin and Tannin rich family This is the climax family of Sapindales with a number evolutionary reduction in flower characters. Distinguishing features Resins, tannins and or gums, intrastaminal disc, unilocular ovary and drupaceous fruit. This is mostly a tropical family containing 875 species included in 70 genera. Useful plants A. General uses The family is a rich repository of medicines, edible nuts, resins, lacquer and tannins. Fruits and Nuts 1.Anacardium (ana = inverted; cardium = heart, alluding to the heart shape of the swollen edible pedicel of fruit) A. occidentale Linn. is the source of Cashew nut. The swollen pedicel is used for making beverages like “Feni” in Goa and the nut shell yields valuable lipids of use in medicine. Cashew nut shell liquid is a mixture of phenolic compounds with aliphatic side chains, and these are 70% anacardic acid, 5% cardanol, and 18% cardol [57] . It is used as a raw material to h...

Have 3-5 Anjir (Fig fruit) a day and keep cancer away. Fig fruit contains three anti cancer compounds like benzaldehyde, coumarins and lupeol. Benzaldehyde induces the destruction of mitochondrial structure of cancer-infected cells, digestion of broken organelles by secondary lysosomes (in cells affected by cancer) and prompts the cancer cells to autophagic cell death (cell suicide). Investigators at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research in Tokyo say benzaldehyde is highly effective at shrinking tumors. Coumarins are useful both as food chemicals in anti-cancer diets and anti-HIV therapy and are effective in breast cancer chemotherapy. Lupeol blocks the function of the protein NF-KB which assists cancer-promoting cells in the process of growth and repairs and suppresses the growth and spread of liver, prostate, and breast cancer. Figs are used widely for the treatment of major diseases like cancer and paralysis. Dr. Kochi from Japan, who specializes in using figs for its medi...

Glucosinolates of Moringa and Cruciferous vegetables, the best antioxidants in world. Glucosinolates (Mustard oil glycosides) are sulphur containing glycosides responsible for the pungent taste and characteristic flavor of drumstick, mustard, horse-raddish etc. They are the long lasting antioxidants actve in the body as many as 3 to 4 days after the food containing them has been consumed (Please see below). They are present in almost all the members of Brassicaceae, Capparaceae and related taxa. In the plant an enzyme myrosinase occurs spatially separated from these compounds. But on crushing the enzyme acts on the glucosinolates and liberate volatile isothiocyanates and glucose. The isothiocyanates have a general formula R N = C= S and various members of this group differ in R-group. More than 80 different isothiocyanates are reported and, due to their pungency and offensive odour, they protect the plants containing them from microbes, pests and herbivores. ...

Colorful fungi and their Pigments.  (Photos: Fly Agaric, Cortinarius, Cantharellus, Ganoderma) Ever wondered how some of the fungi, especially the visible mushrooms possess characteristic brilliant colors? Yes they produce a wide variety of compounds like quinones, carotenoids, betacyanins, alkaloids, xanthones , biphenyls, melanin etc. The interested reader may refer (Jan and Karrel, 2011). Various pigments and other fungi constituents show important biological activities like antioxidative, free radical scavenging, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, antiviral and antibacterial that have generated intensive research interest.   The important groups of pigments of fungi are as follows. 1. Quinones. Most of us are familiar with the ubiquitous plastoquinones, ubiquinones and tocopherols and vitamin K. But Quinones, the aromatic diketones, form the largest class of natural colouring matters and of the total 800 and more compounds...

Tips for Start-ups in Herbal or Ayurvedic Medicines While delivering a lecture in a webinar on “Startup and Entrepreneurial Scope in Ayurvedic and Herbal products” in Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, I faced a few questions on how to start manufacturing unit by a Garduate in Botany, of course supported by A few teachers. Herewith I am providing you a few tips. As most of the aspirants do not have large amount of money to invest in setting up a factory having GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) facilities and expert man power and labour (To manage labourers is another big issue) one can go for either Loan licensing or Third Party manufacturing. Loan licensing is when you will rent a particular space and machinery in another well-established manufacturer for manufacturing your own brand name products. In that case, marketed by and manufactured by name will be your own company with manufacturing address detail of hired manufacturing unit. In Third Party manufacturing, you...

Better ways to prepare effective preparations of anticancer and biopesticidal Graveola ( Annona muricata)   Annona muricata (Laxman Phal/ Hanuman phal, Mullatha in Mal) is a sought after plant known for its anticancer and biopesticidal potentials. Many patients collect leaves (found throughout year), boil them in water and drink. When fruits are available (Feb-April) they are eaten raw. Boiling leaves destroys the heat sensitive active compounds (acetogenins) and thus this extract may not give desired results at all (See properties of acetogenins below).  The anticancer activities are due to Acetogenins (also known as THF- tetrahydrofuran acetogenins) which are characterized by a hydrocarbon chain of 35-37 carbons having a -lactone ring on one end and one/two /three tetrahydrofuran rings in the middle (for e.g.. annomuricin, annonacin etc.) Two hundred and twelve bioactive compounds have been reported from A. muricata of which more than 120 a...

Conocarpus tree- a dangerous avenue and Garden tree Conocarpus erectus, a native of Tropical America, is a fast-growing and drought-resistant tree, for these reasons it is widely planted in almost all cities around around parking and as avenue trees on the the streets in recent years. The ministry of municipalities and ministry of higher education of Iraq has banned this species based on rumors about the infrastructure damages caused by this tree.   Conocarpus tree has negative effects or disadvantages that could harm and damage the country. It is advisable not to plant Conocarpus trees near buildings because of the ravages of its radical water system, which may cause damage to infrastructure, water pipes, and drainage. Conocarpus does produce pollens and twice a year. These pollution are the potential allergens that can cause some ill effects like the allergy to some people. A study conducted by researchers of the Department of Botany in the University...

Sharing PDF of our research articles with readers. I could publish 16 research papers in the last three years regarding Botany, Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry of a number of medicinal plants including a few of “Dasamoola”, in addition to subjects like anomalous secondary thickening and allelopathy, with my students, in various journals. If any researcher from Botany, BioSciences, Pharmacy, Ayurveda etc. needs, I can share the PDF of the desired paper with them. Please send your email to me. The list of papers is given below. 1. A novel anomalous spiral secondary growth in roots of Trianthema portulacastrum L. 2020 2. An in-depth study on the phytochemical and pharmacognostic features of Pedalium murex L. 2020 3. Studies on the Allelopathic effects of two Social Forestry trees onTriticum aestivumvar Lok1.2021 4. Phytochemical and Pharmacognostic Studies on Limonia acidissima L. 2021 5. An Integrated Study On The Phytochemistry And Pharmacognosy Of Various Parts Of Trianthema portul...

Limonoids and Quassinoids, the bitter principles of Rutales. (Photos: Limonin, Lemon and Simarouba(Laxmi-taru) We all are familiar with , though unknowingly, these compounds. The delayed bitterness of the juices from various Citrus spp., which were considered as the culprits lowering the juice quality, is due to limonoids. The word “Limonoids’ is derived from “limonin” the first bitter principle isolated from lemon. Limonoid aglycones that cause bitterness in numerous citrus fruits are converted into tasteless limonoid glucosides during fruit maturation. More than 50 limonoid aglycones and glucosides have been identified from various Citrus species. Over 300 limonoids have been isolated to date and about one-third are generated from neem (Azadirachta indica) and Chinaberry (Melia azedarach). These compounds are characteristically present in the order “Rutales” consisting of Rutaceae, Meliaceae, Simaroubaceae and Cneoraceae (Daniel, 2009).   ...

Pumpkin seeds Pumpkin seeds for prostate enlargement and cancer. Prostate Problems (enlargement and cancer) occurs because during aging the male sex hormone testosterone get converted to a related compound, dihydrotestosterone which stimulates prostate cell proliferation. Eventually, an enlarged prostate can clamp down on the urethra, restricting the flow of urine from the bladder and semen. This leads to problems such as frequent urination, urine leakage, urinary tract infections and pain at the time of ejaculation. Prostate cancer is associated with urinary dysfunction as the prostate gland surrounds the prostatic urethra. There are only 2 drugs, finasteride (Proscar) and terazoin (Hytrin) to treat prostate enlargement in allopathic system of medicine. Proscar is not effective for about 50% of men and also causes side effects like decreased libido, ejaculatory problems and loss of erection. Surgery is often resorted to reduce the size of prostate. But in fo...