Study of Ashoka (Saraca Asoca) Bark w.s.r. to its samples available in the crude drug market of Bombay

Ashoka is one of the most legendary and sacred trees of India. The Ashoka bark has been very widely used in Indian System of Medicine. It has very good effects in Uterine, genital and reproductive disorders. Ashoka bark is one of the top 20 herbs traded in Ayurveda and Herbal Industry being main ingredient in almost all formulations to treat Gynaecological disorders. Due to more demand and less supply of authentic Ashoka, there is substitution or adulteration with other plants. In this study of Ashoka bark with special reference to its samples available in the crude drug market of Mumbai, we determined method and time of collection of the authentic Ashoka bark, its organoleptic characteristics, Pharmacognostical and physic-chemical along with market samples. A great difference was observed in authentic Ashoka bark and marketed samples. Reference Ashoka bark collected from Sanjay Gandhi National Botanical Garden, Mumbai as per procedures described in Charak Samhita Vimansthana chaper 8. Other five samples of Ashoka bark available in name of Ashoka were collected from different locations of Mumbai crude drug Market. All six samples were properly powdered, sieved and kept in air tight containers for further study. In this study, emphasis is led upon standardisation of Ashoka - Saraca asoca (Roxb.) and its samples available in the crude drug market

Standardization and evaluation of Ayurvedic Medicines - Needs

Internationally there is an emerging interest to adopt and study the Ayurvedic medicines. To exploit its potentials to bring out the therapeutic approaches available in the oldest system of medicines and to put Ayurvedic products from our Natural heritage to National and international healthcare program with competence in the Global Healthcare market, there is extreme need of generating evidential data. The Ayurvedic products like pharmaceuticals products need to be standardized and evaluate with application of reliable evaluatory methods from Modern sciences. A complete literature review on the basis of systematic capture from diverse sources is extremely essential prior to designing pre-clinical and clinical studies. Authenticated and standardized raw materials need to be utilized to lead a quality product. Phytochemical standardization and development of qualitative parameters with the various analytical techniques is also essentials for assurance of quality of single or polyherbal formulations. In order to established reasonable safety of Ayurvedic therapeutics in clinical trials, toxicity studies are of important concerns. To explore effective dosages to be employed for clinical trials for the formulations under evaluations or to demonstrate new phramcological activities of already known medicinal plants or discovery of new natural prodcuts, it becomes obvious to conduct Phyto-phamacological evaluation in fairly reliable animals models. To survive in Global market, clinical research in compliance with internationally acceptable guidelines has to be conducted. All these above ideas are to develop a stable, viable, safe and efficacious Ayurvedic product to the application of Ayurvedic and modern research methodologies

Ayurvedic Preventive Health Measures in Geriatrics Care

Geriatrics is a process of physical, psychological and social change in multidimensional aspects. Geriatrics is a progressive irreversible phenomenon of body rather than disease. It is manifested as a medical as well as social problem world over. The number of elderly population is increasing without limits and it is the challenge of the era to limit the disabilities of the elderly. A healthy and successful ageing is what everyone desires. Evidence based medicine and treatment has become the need of the hour. Modern medicine has evolved a separate branch for the cure of illnesses of the aged called as geriatric medicine. It focuses mainly on the health care problems of the elderly. Conventional system of medicine is not very satisfactory in this problem as lack of holistic and comprehensive approach towards this problem. Ayurveda, the Indian traditional holistic health science has got the potential for prevention of diseases by promotion of health and management of diseases occurring in old age. It has a broad spectrum of preventive measures for combating the ageing process. Rasayana (Rejuvenation) or Geriatrics or Jara Chikitsa in Ayurveda is a unique therapeutic methodology to delay ageing and to minimize the intensity of problems occurring in this degenerative phase of one's life. Panchakarma is a radical approach of Ayurveda designed to cleanse the Srotas of the body. It is beneficial for preventive, promotive and rehabilitative health purposes and management of various systemic diseases