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a. Understanding the relevance Traditional Quality Standards (TQS).
The knowledge of correct plant identity, collection methods, processing, storage and appropriate usage of medicinal plants was transmitted both orally and in written form by traditional medical cultures in India. These traditional parameters that determine the quality of medicinal plants are independent of modern technology or tools and use trained human sensory perceptions and judgements instead. We have called these subjective measurements and parameters as Traditional Quality Standards (TQS).
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This mainly involves research to understand the relevance of traditional quality standards using Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The ancient Ayurvedic texts recommend specific ways of collection processing and preparation of medicines. For example, Piper longum(Pippali) (hyperlink) fruits used for cold and cough is recommended to be prepared as a milk decoction rather than water decoction (Ref : Bioactivity of traditional preparation of Piper longum L., Preethi Sudha, U.G Geeta, and P. Venkatasubramanian, Journal of Tropical Medicinal Plants (2004),Vol 5, No.2 ,pp 179-182) and Bacopa monneiri(Brahmi) to be used in a fresh form rather than in the dried form. These recommendations have been tested in our lab using chemical and biological techniques such as HPTLC and Brine Shrimp Bioassay respectively.
Comparative studies have been done with stems of Tinospora cordifoilia (where thick stems are traditionally recommended), Adhatoda vasica (Fresh versus dried form & other species of Adhatoda) and Curcuma longa (rhizome collected in the night is recommended) to name a few using modern chemical and biological tools
Milk preparation (Ksheerapaaka) of Piper longum showed that it was 25 times more active than water preparation (Kasaya) and the active constituent, piperine was better extracted more in the milk preparation than water preparation
Similarly Svarasa (juice) from Fresh Bacopa monneri plant was found to be more active than the Svarasa prepared form the dried plant material. Traditional b. Documentation of Indian Traditional Methods of Collection and Processing
of Medicinal Plants
The Laboratory has documented the processing and purification of toxic substances from medicinal plants before they can be used as medicines. Documentation was from Ayurveda (classical texts and from living practices in South India). This was sponsored by The National Geographic Society. The information would be computerized and selected recommendations would be tested in the lab. TQS pertaining to medicinal plants have been documented from 11 Ayurvedic texts. Detailed field documentation on the collection and processing methods was completed for 10 selected toxic plants used in Ayurveda from traditional health practitioners (9 in no.) based in the three South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
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In Traditional Indian practice, the white seeds of Jequirity (Abrus precatorius) are used in preference to the red seeds for medicine preparation. They are also purified before usage. However, the reasons for this are not known. We have conducted chemical and biological studies to compare the profiles to understand the relevance of the traditional methods of choice of raw drug and methods of purification. From the physicochemical, chemical and biological study it is observed that the Abrus red seeds contain more phytoconstituents than the white seeds and exhibit increased antimicrobial effect. However, there is no significant difference in their bioactivity as observed in Brine Shrimp Assay. Purification of the seeds does bring about the change in the chemical profile and the biological profile as the concentration of the constituents is reduced and there is a decrease in the bioactivity. Of the two purification methods, viz., Purification by steaming and purification by soaking, steam purification seems to be more effective. However, further chemical and biological studies have to be undertaken to establish the nature of the chemical constituents and the chemicals that contribute to the toxicity of the seeds.
Oil extracted from the seeds of small ‘variety’ of castor (Ricinis communis) is considered better for internal consumption while that from the big seeds is better for external application. Are there differences in their chemical profiles and biological activities? Is yes, this is an important folk observation. In the case of castor seeds, the small seeds were found to be less toxic than the big seeds again indicating a purpose in the traditional recommendation. The bioactivity of big seeds was significantly higher than that of the small seeds, which is well correlated with the higher alcohol soluble extractive values. The Chromatographic profile also indicates that though qualitatively the chemical profiles of both the type of seeds are similar, the big seeds contain higher amounts of the chemical constituents. The small seeds are probably used as medicines in folk tradition due to their lesser toxicity. Detailed chemical and biological investigation are required to pinpoint the differences in the nature of the phytoconstituents c. Benefit of Storing Water in Copper Pots
Traditionally in India, metals such as copper, silver & gold are used for purification of water. It is believed that drinking water stored in copper pots overnight and drinking the same imparts beneficial health aspects.
This recommendation was tested in our laboratory
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WHO estimates that four million children under the age of five die each year from diarrhoea, mainly in developing countries. Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, viruses and protozoa or by parasites are the most common and widespread health risk associated with drinking water. Some of the microorganisms causing waterborne infections are bacteria such as E.coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigella spp., Vibrio cholerae, viruses such as, Enterovirus, Hepatitis A and E virus, Norwalk virus, Rotavirus and protozoa such as Entamoeba histolytica. Our study indicated that E.coli gets completely killed within 12 hours of inoculation into water stored in copper pots. It also demonstrated that the continuous presence of the pot was not necessary to cause the kill, as the water stored for 24 hours in copper pots, by itself was able to kill the organisms. The levels of copper (< 1035 ppb) that had leached into water were within the World Health Organisation (WHO) permissible limits. Storing water in copper pots offers the benefit of providing drinking water free from E.coli. Its efficacy on the other water-borne organisms could be explored further. Since copper pots may not be affordable to many, viable contraptions using copper may be designed to provide a cost-effective, decentralized purification method to the rural and urban population. |
