ABSTRACT:
Ayurveda is one of the most ancient complementary alternative systems of medicine. Ayurvedic materia medica has been developed based on its basic principles and evaluation criteria to give/predict fate and detailed medicinal properties of the substance under evaluation. For instance, Rasa, Guna, (-Organoleptic and physiochemical properties) used to predict Vipaka and Virya; which are useful to understand the probable metabolic path and its pharmacological actions along with possible adverse drug interactions and/or side effects. There is very little research has been done for advancement of Ayurvedic materia medica. Considering the same, we have evaluated insulin plant (Costus pictus, Costaceae) a newly introduced plant in India from south and central America, hence new to Ayurveda as well. This plant possesses potent antidiabetic action and used to treat renal calculi. Here, we have evaluated this plant according to Ayurvedic principles and evaluation criteria (Ayurnization of non Ayurvedic substance) for its detailed Rasa, Guna, Vipaka and Virva Ayurvedic pharmacological profile matches with evidence based pharmacological proofs for insulin plant. Based on this data we have also predicted probable phytoconstituents in the plant, and evaluated them with the help of HPTLC and/or HPLC (modemization of Ayurvedic research). This novel apPproach holds potential to save the time to screen the phytoconstituents and pharmacological actions as well, in turn this approach gives novel way for drug discovery of natural product.