Knowledge of Pharmacogenomics in Indian Traditional Medicine -Ayurveda

SN Venugopalan Nair

Abstract

Charaka (The author of Charaka Samhita, believed to compiled in between 1500BCE-200 AD) explains in Sanskrit“yōgamāsām tu yō vidyāt dēśa kālōpa pāditam, puruá¹£am puruá¹£am vÄ«ká¹£ya sañjēyō sa bhiá¹£aguttama:” [1] that “He is the best of physicians who knows how to administer the medicine in accordance with their region (habitation and procurement of medicinal plants) and time and prakrÌ¥ti (Psycho somatic constitution) of each person individually. This is probably the first classical reference in the history of Indian medicine on pharmacogenomics. This review article has in-depth information on concept of PrakrÌ¥ti, - which is the Psycho Somatic constitution or Genotypic- Phenotypic expression) of a person. The benefits of knowing your PrakrÌ¥ti, its role in health care and wellness, factors influencing the formation of PrakrÌ¥ti and its relationship with epigenetic factors as understood in Traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) are explained. This paper refers to very important correlative studies on Genomics and concept of PrakrÌ¥ti.