Genomics and Traditional Indian Ayurvedic Medicine
01 Jan 2016-pp 271-292
TL;DR: Ayurgenomics is proposed as a novel approach for integration of Ayurveda into current medical practice to address the variability in therapeutic outcome as well as evolve preventive measures in health and disease.
Abstract: In the present times need is being felt for a change in paradigm from the current practice of modern medicine. This is not only to meet the challenges in diagnosis and treatment of chronic and complex diseases but also to address the variability in therapeutic outcome as well as evolve preventive measures in health and disease. The advent of genomics has provided a tremendous impetus to this area. However, there are a number of gaps before this is realized. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of predictive and personalized medicine still holds contemporary in the current era of P4 (predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory) medicine and also has a promotive component. Ayurveda has documented methods for maintenance of health and personalized management of diseases. It is also widely practiced in most Indian communities despite sociocultural variations and many aspects for preventive health are also integrated into Indian traditional living. Despite this a large number of challenges exist in getting this system to mainstream and for its global acceptability. This review highlights some of these aspects and also proposes Ayurgenomics as a novel approach for integration of Ayurveda into current medical practice.
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: Why interactome networks are important to consider in biology, how they can be mapped and integrated with each other, what global properties are starting to emerge from interactome network models, and how these properties may relate to human disease are detailed.
Abstract: Complex biological systems and cellular networks may underlie most genotype to phenotype relationships. Here, we review basic concepts in network biology, discussing different types of interactome networks and the insights that can come from analyzing them. We elaborate on why interactome networks are important to consider in biology, how they can be mapped and integrated with each other, what global properties are starting to emerge from interactome network models, and how these properties may relate to human disease.
1,323 citations
TL;DR: The development of Ayurgenomics could greatly enrich P4 medicine by providing a clear theoretical understanding of the whole patient and a practical application of ancient and modern preventative and therapeutic practices to improve mental and physical health.
Abstract: Within the disciplines of modern medicine, P4 medicine is emerging as a new field which focuses on the whole patient. The development of Ayurgenomics could greatly enrich P4 medicine by providing a clear theoretical understanding of the whole patient and a practical application of ancient and modern preventative and therapeutic practices to improve mental and physical health. One of the most difficult challenges today is understanding the ancient concepts of Ayurveda in terms of modern science. To date, a number of researchers have attempted this task, of which one of the most successful outcomes is the creation of the new field of Ayurgenomics. Ayurgenomics integrates concepts in Ayurveda, such as Prakriti, with modern genetics research. It correlates the combination of three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, with the expression of specific genes and physiological characteristics. It also helps to interpret Ayurveda as an ancient science of epigenetics which assesses the current state of the doshas, and uses specific personalized diet and lifestyle recommendations to improve a patient's health. This review provides a current update of this emerging field.
9 citations
Book Chapter•
01 Mar 2010TL;DR: The list of compounds derived from such knowledge is very long indeed and includes morphine, codeine, and aspirin to name just a few but also drugs licensed relatively recently like galanthamine and artemisinine as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Drug discovery and development (very often unknowingly) is based on traditional and local knowledge about a species’ medical use or toxicological effects (both desired and undesired effects). The list of compounds ultimately derived from such knowledge is very long indeed and includes morphine, codeine, and aspirin to name just a few but also drugs licensed relatively recently like galanthamine and artemisinine. Here I review this link and – using examples of new drugs currently under development preclinically or in clinical trials – discuss how such new drugs have been ‘discovered’, or more precisely developed into a clinically used medication.
3 citations
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TL;DR: A locally available, inexpensive, plant-based product, laid the base for a multi-billion industry of anti-depressants and anti-psychotics, based upon the insights provided by reserpine.
Abstract: Despite their antiquity, Indian medical traditions are often viewed as 'traditional' and pre-scientific, and not having contributed much to the recent developments in medicine. A series of systematic observations regarding the uses of reserpine, initially derived from traditional medicine, was critical to the entire field of modern psycho-pharmacology, as well as providing useful insights into neuro-biology. However, despite the early promise of the work on reserpine in India, most of the later research work, and industrial development, was accomplished outside India. A locally available, inexpensive, plant-based product, laid the base for a multi-billion industry of anti-depressants and anti-psychotics, based upon the insights provided by reserpine. We need to pay more attention to the local sciences, as well as our botanical and human diversity, to develop novel strategies to understand neurobiology, and thus combat neuro-psychiatric diseases, and many other complex disorders.
13 citations
TL;DR: There are no “wild-type“ humans in the wild.
Abstract: ![Figure][1]
CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
During the past 10 years, we have had our first glimpse of why individuals differ so much from one another. This is not the right place to revisit the nature-nurture wars or to reflect on the extent to which our impression of high phenotypic variability in humans is a narcissistic illusion. For the moment, let us just acknowledge the obvious: In any small group of people, we see a lot of variation in traits we care about—and not just those that affect health. Geneticists shy away from studying these traits—and for good reason. They prefer not to revisit a subject whose premature investigation accounted for the worst moments of their young science. Nonetheless, questions about the genetic basis of variability among generally healthy humans will not go away. Public fascination alone will keep it alive, as will the realization that genetics is unlikely to revolutionize medicine until we develop a better understanding of normal phenotypic variation. So, what have our first glimpses of variation in the genomes of generally healthy people taught us? First, balancing selection, the evolutionary process that favors genetic diversification rather than the fixation of a single “best” variant, appears to play a minor role outside the immune system. Local adaptation, which accounts for variation in traits such as pigmentation, dietary specialization, and susceptibility to particular pathogens is also a second-tier player. What is on the top tier? Increasingly, the answer appears to be mutations that are “deleterious” by biochemical or standard evolutionary criteria. These mutations, as has long been appreciated, overwhelmingly make up the most abundant form of nonneutral variation in all genomes. A model for human genetic individuality is emerging in which there actually is a “wild-type” human genome—one in which most genes exist in an evolutionarily optimized form. There just are no “wild-type” humans: We each fall short of this Platonic ideal in our own distinctive ways.
[1]: pending:yes
9 citations