Background:A rational and well-developed pharmacological basis forms the foundation of therapeutics in Ayurveda. The principles and theories of Ayurveda need to be validated in the scientific context in order to harness the millennia old knowledge. Rasa (taste) of the substance is the foremost tool in Ayurveda to assess and determine the pharmacological properties and actions of the substance. Similarity in rasa is said to signify similar structure and consequently similar pharmacological behavior. Depending on skills developed over the course of long-term clinical experience one, can register the minute variations in rasa of substances and accordingly the possible variations in pharmacological actions. Thus, rasa can be used as a scientific tool in the drug discovery process to limit and focus the target areas.Aim:To sensitize scientific community to the utility of rasa as a tool in the process of drug discovery.Materials and Methods:All relevant ancient and contemporary literature was reviewed critically to form a scientific basis of the Ayurvedic concept of rasa as a tool to identify the pharmacological behavior of a substance.Conclusion:The review finds that rasa (taste) can be used as a guide to identify potential targets in drug discovery.

It is estimated that about 1/3rd world’s population is infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It kills more adults in India than any other infectious diseases. In 2018, India was able to achieve a Total Notification of 21.5 Lakh TB cases of which 25 % was from the private sector. Majority of the TB burden is among the working age group. The 89% of TB cases come from the age group of 15-69 years. About 2/3 of the TB cases are Males. Uttar Pradesh, with 17% of population of the country, is the largest contributor to the TB cases in with 20% of the total notifications, accounting to about 4.2 Lakh cases (187 cases/ lakh population). Aim and objective: This study was intended to evaluate the rasayaṇa effect of Rudanti (Capparis moonii wight.) as an adjunct to anti-tubercular drugs in the management of Rajayakshma (PTB). Methodology: This is a single blind therapeutic control randomized clinical trial consisting of 100 patients divided in to two groups. Group A patients were treated with DOTS and group B were treated with DOTS along with Rudanti powder 5 gm BD for 6 months. Conclusion: This study shows that by incorporating an herbal rejuvenative in the management of PTB, a chronic debilitating disorder, had an additive effect. Rudanti powder can be easily administered as an adjunct to DOTS. Rudanti has hepatoprotective properties, which remunerate the hepatotoxicity known to cause by DOTS drugs. Improved weight gain in TG patients in comparison to CG indicates the accessory effect of Rudanti.

Himalaya is the source of many valuable herbs like Pushkarmoola (Inula racemosa), kustha (Saussurea lappa), katuki (Picrorhiza kurroa), Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum), Chirayata (Swertia chirata), Vatsanabha (Aconitum ferox) etc. These herbs are present in the limited pocket which leads to the scarcity of Himalayan herbs. But due to the globalization, demand is increasing and production is decreasing. This decrea se in production gives chance to the raw drug traders to adopt unscrupulous trade. There is a vast document available with regard to morphology of green drugs; it is not of much relevance for physicians who are totally dependent on market for the procurement of medicinal plant raw materials. Many raw materials, in dry form shows common features thus creating lot of confusion and controversy in identification of the crude drug. Same is the case with Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa) and Kustha (Saussurea lappa) both of these herbs are difficult to differentiate from each other. In this test a small amount of powdered Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa) and Kustha (Saussurea lappa) treated with solution of 50% sulphuric acid. The resultant mixture was allowed to stand for 5-10 minutes and the colour characteristics were obtained under day light. Test tube having sample of Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa) gave golden rod colour whereas test tube having sample of Kustha (Saussurea lappa) gave red colour. Through this article an attempt is made to develop a simple chemical test to differentiate between Pushkarmoola (Inula racemosa) and kustha (Saussurea lappa) which can be easily done by any procurer at the time of purchasing.

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