Controversies in drug and industry--its measures: a view point.

Man has been fascinated by nature since he evolved from his primitive ancestors, the apes. No doubt to start with, he hunted for food mainly by killing the wild animals, but if there was anything on which he could depend upon with any confidence towards its availability, it was the plant. Not only the fact that a large number of plants provided him with food but also the fact that they provided him with curative medicine and shelter, were perhaps the reasons why he worshiped them more than the animals which also gave him food. There are a large number of plants, which are used by the people all over India for curse against witchcraft or to remove the effect of the evil eye and sickness. The use of the flora in India to relieve mankind from their sufferings was known from the ancient days. This includes all food, fuel, shelter, drugs, cosmetics etc. The standards have been maintained for several centuries since the disciples were trained in the forest close to the natural flora. In the present paper certain useful methodologies are evaluated for preparing standard Herbal formulations and focus mainly on two things namely drug (Dravya) and industry (pharmaceutical industry).

Moalejat-e-hindi: a compilation of ăyurvĕdic formulations tested by Nizam--III of Hyderabad.

This Indian Institute of History of Medicine possesses more than 100 medical manuscripts (paper) in Arabic, Persian and Urdu languages. One of the rare manuscripts is known as "Moalejat-e-Hindi", its specialty is that it is on ăyurvĕda in Persian. It contains shlokas in transliterated form. It contains three sections. It has been compiled by the order of Nizam-III of Hyderabad.

Diseases of Annavaha Srotas (gastroenterology): historical view point.

The diseases of the Annavaha Srotas (Gastro-Intestinal tract) seem to have been very frequent in ancient India as is evidenced by vivid descriptions on various gastro-intestinal tract diseases in a great length in the treatises of Caraka, Susruta, Vagbhata etc., and some Indian medical classics. The discussions of these diseases reveal a comprehensive knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, pathology of these diseases and study of their treatment is not only edifying but throws much light on the evolution of our ancestral magnifying knowledge of these diseases, which is most identical of present modern Gastro-enterology.

Medical manuscripts in Sri Venkateshwara University Oriental Research Institute, Tirupathi, A. P.

Sri Venkateshwara Oriental Research Institute, Tirupati, was founded in 1939, with an object of collecting old, rare and important manuscripts from all parts of the state to conserve and publish the same for the benefit of coming generations. The total number of the manuscripts preserved in the Institute is 10,672, classified under 45 different heads out of which 137 manuscripts are related to medicine.

Todaramalla.

Todaramalla was a famous physician, scholar, statesman, Finance and Revenue Minister in the court of Akbar. One of the oldest commentary namely 'Manojna' was written by him on Ashtanga Hridaya. He was patriot of Ayurveda and author of 23 series of works in the form of an encyclopedia called 'Todarananda'. Ayurveda saukhyam is one among the Todarananda. The biography of Todaramalla has been presented here.

A brief descriptive catalogue of Ayurvedic palm leaves manuscripts procured and preserved in the Indian Institute of Medicine.

It seems the survey for medical manuscripts has not been done thoroughly so far in India particularly in Andhra Pradesh. Though few Researchers toured many important places and collected a number of manuscripts, but still there are many villages and several families of physicians and scholars possessing many manuscripts, are not covered. One of the aims and objects of the Indian Institute of History of Medicine is to procure and study the rare and uncared medical manuscripts. There are many difficulties in this task as many of the families in possession of the manuscripts are generally not prepared to hand over the ancestry property i.e., manuscripts to any individual or institution due to their sentiments, though they are not able to preserve or make use of same properly. However, efforts were made by the Institute in this direction, visiting several families of hereditary physicians residing in different part of Andhra Pradesh, and procured 12 such valuable palm leaves manuscripts pertaining to Ayurveda and preserved in the Institute. A brief descriptive catalogue of these manuscripts is presented here.

Historical perspectives of the twak rogas (Kushtha).

In the doctrines of Ayurveda the twak rogas are known by the general term Kushtha. Atharvaveda describes the twak roga in the name of Kilasa, palita, with the clinical picture of grey and white spots, generally from deeper layers of skin and referred the herbal remedies. Almost all the samhitas uniformly classified Kushtha as Maha Kushtha and Kshudra Kushtha, but there is difference of opinion about the number in each group. The historical perspectives of the Twak rogas (Kushtha) are being presented according to Rigveda, Atharvaveda, Charaka, Sushruta, Vagbhata, Madhavakara Todaramalla.

A medico-historical review of Arjuna

Ancient Indian Medical knowledge known as Ayurveda goes back to a immemorial past. The Vedas and Puranas refer various materials of medical importance including herbs, plants and trees etc. The ancient medical scientists have mentioned the properties of the Arjuna, and recommended mainly for the management of Hirta/Rudhira vikaras, Vrana, Prameha, Visa Vikaras, Asrugdhara, Kshetriya/Shukra dosha etc. The modern medical/Botanical scientists have also carried out so many researches on Arjuna and do not find any difference with the ancestery knowledge.

Khadira (Acasia Catechu Linn.) - A medico-historical review.

Indigenous Medical wisdom in India known as Ayurveda goes back to a hoary past. We find references in Vedas not only to medical science but to various drugs also. The medico-historical review of Khadira (Acasia Catechu linn.) including the historical perspectives, identity, varieties, formulae and therapeutic usage etc. is presented here, based on the classical treatises, medical lexicons, commentaries and other compilations, covering the from Vedic period to present times.

Medical science in ancient Indian culture with special reference to Atharvaveda.

A high quality of Medical Knowledge was prevalent in ancient India. The present day Archaeological evidences of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa imparts the high civilization in matters of sanitation and hygiene. An analysis of the material in the Vedas reveals that, all the four Vedas replete the references regarding various aspects of medicine. The Atharva Veda is deemed to be an encyclopaedia for medicine "Interalia", and Ayurveda (the science of life) is considered as Upa Veda (supplementary subject) of the Atharva Veda. A few glimpses of medical Science as prevalent in the ancient India have been presented here.

Classification of children as slow or rapid acetylators based on concentrations of isoniazid in saliva following oral administration of body-weight and surface-area-related dosages of the drug.

The acetylator phenotype of 180 children aged 3-11 years was determined on the basis of isoniazid concentrations in saliva collected at 5 hours after oral administration of body-weight and surface-area-related dosages of the drug in a syrup form. Isoniazid 2.5 mg/kg was administered on one occasion and 75 mg/m2 surface-area on another, with an interval of 3 days between the occasions. A cross-over design was employed and the sequence was determined by random allocation. The distribution of the concentrations was bimodal with both procedures, indicating the presence of two groups namely, the slow and rapid acetylators. The criterion for a rapid acetylator was a concentration of 0.3 micrograms/ml or less by body-weight-related dosage and 0.4 micrograms/ml or less by that based on surface-area. Based on these criteria, 62% of the children were classified as slow acetylators and 38% as rapid acetylators by body-weight, and 59 and 41%, respectively by surface-area, and the findings were similar in children in the different age-groups. The agreement between the two procedures was 98%.

Induction of rifampicin metabolism during treatment of tuberculous patients with daily and fully intermittent regimens containing the drug.

Self-induction of rifampicin metabolism during daily and intermittent chemotherapy was studied by monitoring the changes in the serum half-life of the drug over a 4-week period in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Rifampicin 450 mg was administered to 8 patients who received treatment daily, 7 on thrice-weekly and 7 others on twice-weekly treatment. Serum half-life was computed from concentrations of the drug determined at 3, 4 1/2 and 6 hours after drug administration, on admission and at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after start of treatment. In the daily series, the mean serum half-life decreased from 4.9 hours on admission to 3.6 hours at 1 week (P = 0.02), and treatment beyond this had no further effect. In the thrice-weekly series, maximal induction was observed at the 2nd week, the mean values on admission and at 2 weeks being 5.8 and 3.7 hours, respectively (P less than 0.01). In the twice-weekly series, maximal induction was observed only at the 4th week, the mean values on admission and at 4 weeks being 4.9 and 3.7 hours, respectively (P less than 0.01). Serum activity of gamma glutamyl transferase was not found to be a suitable in vivo marker to monitor induction of the hepatic microsomal enzymes as no significant changes were observed in the activity of this enzyme in any of the 3 series during the 4-week period.