• CELLMED
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.18.1-18.8
• /
• 2017

The Tridosha theory, which is the cornerstone of Ayurvedic physiology governs all the functions of human body and mind. Tridosha are responsible in determining one's Prakriti and their functional status may vary in both gender of different Prakriti. No research work is available to assess the functions of Dosha by objective parameters. Therefore, this study was planned to find out the variation in functional status of different types of Pitta, using certain objective parameters, in 201 young healthy volunteers of both gender belonging to different Prakriti. Serum level of triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein and glucose level were estimated for Pachaka Pitta and hemoglobin concentration for Ranjaka Pitta, visual acuity for Alochaka Pitta, memory and reaction time for Sadhaka Pitta and RGB value for Bhrajaka Pitta were measured. Except the functioning of Bhrajaka Pitta, variation in functional status of all type of Pitta was not the same in different Prakriti of both gender. However these findings were not significant which may have occurred due to small sample size and homogenous population. Thus we propose the consideration of sex differences while planning and evaluating the studies that are based on Prakriti.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.7.1-7.7
• /
• 2015

According to Ayurveda, an individual can be classified into any one of the seven constitutional types (Prakriti) depending on the dominance of one, two, or three Doshas. A 'Dosha' is representative of fundamental mechanisms that are responsible for homeostasis, and thus, to health. In the recent years, there have been several efforts to see whether certain physiological, haematological or biochemical parameters have any relationship with the constitutional types or not. The objective of the present study was to see if the results of autonomic function tests vary according to Prakriti of an individual. We conducted this study in clinically healthy volunteers of both the gender belonging to the age group of 17 to 35 years after obtaining their written consent. The Prakriti of these volunteers was assessed on the basis of a validated questionnaire and also by traditional method of interviewing. After confirming that the primary Dosha ascertained by both these methods matched, 106 volunteers were grouped into three on the basis of primary Dosha and were subjected to various autonomic function tests such as cold pressor test, standing-to-lying ratio, Valsalva ratio and pupillary responses such as pupil cycle time and pupil size measurement in light and dark. The results suggest that, the autonomic function tests in the healthy individuals may correlate linearly with the primary Dosha expressed in an individual. In particular, people with Kapha as the most dominant Dosha showed a tendency to have either a higher parasympathetic activity or a lower sympathetic activity with respect to their cardiovascular reactivity in comparison to the individuals with Pitta or Vata as the most dominant Dosha.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.72-79
• /
• 2016

Hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of whole plant of Boerhavia diffusa were screened for phytochemical and biological activities. Qualitative phytochemical screening via colorimetric method and the quantitative estimation of phenolic and flavonoid content were performed. Antioxidant assay using DPPH scavenging method was studied. Antimicrobial screening of plant extracts was done by cup diffusion technique. Cytotoxic activity of B. diffusa was studied by brine shrimp bioassay and anthelminthic activity was evaluated in vitro in Pheretima posthuma. This study revealed B. diffusa as a source of various phyto-constituents such as alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and terpenoids. Quantitative estimation of total phenol was found to be maximum in BEE i.e. $29.73{\pm}0.88$, BME $19.8{\pm}2.02$ and in BHE $9.15{\pm}0.304mgGAE/g$. Similarly, the total flavonoid content was found to be $17.44{\pm}0.75$ in BEE, $14.43{\pm}0.23$ in BHE and 3.678 mg QE/g in BME. Ethyl acetate extract showed its antibacterial activity against all tested pathogens except Escherichia coli whereas Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhi were resistant to methanol and hexane extract. The zone of inhibition (ZOI) of ethyl acetate extract against S. Typhi and B. cereus was found to be 18 mm and 14 mm respectively. The MIC value of BEE in S. Typhi was $3.125{\mu}g/ml$ and in B. cereus was $12.5{\mu}g/ml$. The preliminary screening of anticancer property of B. diffusa i.e. BSLT in methanol was found to be $165.19{\mu}g/ml$. B. diffusa was also found to contain anthelmintic property. The study helped in further exploration of medicinal properties of B. diffusa by phytochemical screening and biological activities paving the path for study and investigation in this plant.