Traditional Indian Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine:A Comparative Overview

Traditional Indian medicine or Ayurveda(阿育吠陀)and Traditional Chinese Medicine remain the most ancient yet living traditions.These are the two great traditional medicines with rich philosophical,experiential,and experimental basis.Both the systems have been developed and enriched by thousands of years of practices,observations,and experiences.As India and China are neighbors,some exchange of medical ideas and practices might have occurred between the two nations since ancient times.Therefore,when the two traditional medicines are examined closely,many similarities become apparent in the theories and practices along with individual differences.

Traditional medicine in India

India has a long history of traditional medicine,and Ayurveda is the most representative system.Similar to traditional Chinese medicine,Ayurveda is a life science derived from experience.It emphasizes that human health requires both personalized medicine and a holistic approach.This article takes Ayurveda as an example to introduce traditional Indian medicine,hoping to provide readers with a preliminary understanding of the development of traditional medicine in India.

Exploring the mechanism of action bitter melon in the treatment ofbreast cancer by network pharmacology

BACKGROUND Bitter melon has been used to stop the growth of breast cancer(BRCA)cells.However,the underlying mechanism is still unclear.AIM To predict the therapeutic effect of bitter melon against BRCA using network pharmacology and to explore the underlying pharmacological mechanisms.METHODS The active ingredients of bitter melon and the related protein targets were taken from the Indian Medicinal Plants,Phytochemistry and Therapeutics and SuperPred databases,respectively.The GeneCards database has been searched for BRCA-related targets.Through an intersection of the drug’s targets and the disease’s objectives,prospective bitter melon anti-BRCA targets were discovered.Gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analyses were carried out to comprehend the biological roles of the target proteins.The binding relationship between bitter melon’s active ingredients and the suggested target proteins was verified using molecular docking techniques.RESULTS Three key substances,momordicoside K,kaempferol,and quercetin,were identified as being important in mediating the putative anti-BRCA effects of bitter melon through the active ingredient-anti-BRCA target network study.Heat shock protein 90 AA,proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase,and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 were found to be the top three proteins in the proteinprotein interaction network study.The several pathways implicated in the anti-BRCA strategy for an active component include phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling,transcriptional dysregulation,axon guidance,calcium signaling,focal adhesion,janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling,cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling,mammalian CONCLUSION Overall,the integration of network pharmacology,molecular docking,and functional enrichment analyses shed light on potential mechanisms underlying bitter melon’s ability to fight BRCA,implicating active ingredients and protein targets,as well as highlighting the major signaling pathways that may be altered by this natural product for therapeutic benefit.

Chemical pre-treatments improve seed germination and seedling growth in Semecarpus kurzii:an ethnomedicinally important plant

Semecarpus kurzii Engl.is an important ethnomedicinal plant used for curing tumours,inflammation,fever and pain,and is also a source of iso ricinoleic acid.During the present investigation,effect of chemical pretreatments on germination and seedling growth revealed significant differences.Different pre-treatments could improve germination and treatment with KNO_3 （9.9 mM）was significantly superior（94%） to the untreated control（76%）.Mean daily germination varied among the treatments（0.90–4.14 seeds per day）,when compared with 2.27 seeds per day in control.Mean germination time was significantly reduced from 22.14 days（control） to 16.40 days（19.8 mM KNO_3） and 17.16 days（1.45 mM GA_3）.Treatment with KNO_3（19.8 mM） and GA_3（1.45 and 2.90 mM）significantly reduced the time for 50% germination.Treatment with higher concentrations of GA_3 and KNO_3 exhibited significantly faster germination initiation（11.0 and 12.0 days,respectively） over the control（17.0 days）.Seedling vigour index was not improved by pre-treatments.Chemical treatments did not improve shoot growth,collar thickness,or number of seedling leaves; however,root growth was significantly improved over control.Treatment with GA_3（2.90 mM） promoted leaf elongation but reduced leaf width significantly.Treatment with KNO_3 and GA_3 could be recommended to obtain healthy seedlings for establishing new plantations of this important medicinal plant species.

Evidence Based Validation of Indian Traditional Medicine–Way Forward

Evidence based validation of the ethno-pharmacological claims on traditional medicine(TM) is the need of the day for its globalization and reinforcement. Combining the unique features of identifying biomarkers that are highly conserved across species, this can offer an innovative approach to biomarker-driven drug discovery and development. TMs are an integral component of alternative health care systems. India has a rich wealth of TMs and the potential to accept the challenge to meet the global demand for them. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy(AYUSH) medicine are the major healthcare systems in Indian Traditional Medicine. The plant species mentioned in the ancient texts of these systems may be explored with the modern scientific approaches for better leads in the healthcare. TM is the best sources of chemical diversity for finding new drugs and leads. Authentication and scientific validation of medicinal plant is a fundamental requirement of industry and other organizations dealing with herbal drugs. Quality control(QC) of botanicals, validated processes of manufacturing, customer awareness and post marketing surveillance are the key points, which could ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of TM. For globalization of TM, there is a need for harmonization with respect to its chemical and metabolite profiling, standardization, QC, scientific validation,documentation and regulatory aspects of TM. Therefore, the utmost attention is necessary for the promotion and development of TM through global collaboration and co-ordination by national and international programme.

Strategies for Revitalization of Traditional Medicine

Traditional medicine (TM) plays an inevitable role in drug discovery and development. Most of the therapeutically useful molecules used in the present day are inspired from TM. Herbal drugs are the oldest forms of medicines used for the treatment of various ailments and the TM of every country has a long history of their usage. To develop more data on their quality, safety, and efficacy, so also to improve the consumer’s need of modern days several thrust areas of research are to be focused on the development of TM. Based on the above concept, a paradigm shift is required for the revitalization of TM. These facts along with the modern scientific approaches, molecular tools, and strategies make it necessary for TM to be revitalized. Confluencing several strategies with the technological and scientific developments including pharmacogenomics, nutrigenomics, system biology, and related approaches, the scientific potential of TM can be explored further with international coordination and collaborations.

Comparison of the Artemia salina and Artemia fransiscana bioassays for toxicity of Indian medicinal plants

Objective:To evaluate leaves extract of Azima tetracantha and Gmelina asiatica for lethality to brine shrimp larvae(Artemia salina and Artemia fransiscana).Methods:The plant materials were extracted based on polarity gradients of petroleum ether,benzene,chloroform,acetone,ethanol and methanol.The extracts were investigated for their cytotoxic potential.Results:In the brine shrimp lethality assay of all extracts,exception of acetone,ethanol and petroleum ether extracts Gmelina asiatica displayed 100%mortality at 1000μg/mL by Artemia salina and Artemia fransiscana.Chloroform extract was the most potent and presented the highest percentage of mortality with the lowest LC_(50)values by both assay too.Conclusions:The results of the present study suggest the presence of photochemical possessing cytotoxic agents.