Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

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...