A review of Brahmavaivartapurana (BVP) with reference to Ayurveda

Brahmavaivartapurana is one of the important Mahapurana, which is considered as a Vaisnavapurana. The text is divided into four parts called khanda i.e., Brahma, Prakrti, Ganapati, and Srikrsnajanmakhanda. The total number of chapters are 276 and comprising about 20,500 verses. Brahmavaivartapurana comprises both ancient and medieval materials. It considers Ayurveda as Pancama Veda and devoted 16th chapter of Brahmakhanda which describes the origin of Ayurveda its propagaters headed by Bhaskara (sun god) and his 16 students and their corresponding books in detail. An account of the Jvara (Fever) and other diseases, Dinacarya (daily routine), Rtucarya (seasonal regimen), Tridosa (three humours), their Prakopa (Vitiation) and Praśamana (palliation) etc are described in this book. BVP deals with the do's and dont's of food intake, sleep and sexual indulgance in detail which are deemed to be Trayopastambha (three sub pillers of health). The book provides an account of Plant Tulsi's origin and its spiritual importance. Prakrti (nature's) origins, Pañcamahabhuta nature of the body are described in Prakrtikhanda. At the flag end of the book there is a legend describing the origin of Lord Dhanvantari and describes his scholarship in the field of Veda and śastra. On the whole purana provides glimpse of the life style of a Vaisnava devoutee and the people of the time when it was compiled. It serves the purpose of a practical manual to lead a healthy life and ensure spiritual growth in the life of any individual who believes in the precepts of this book.

Biography of Sŏdhala and his contribution to Ayurvĕda

Sŏdhala was a scholar of Ayurvĕda as well as săhitya, Jyotisya, Vyakaraņa and also a good poet who belongs to Gujarat. Sŏdhala contributed two important works to Ayurvĕda literature namely 1. Sŏdhbala nighaņţu, 2. Gadanigraha. Sŏdhala nighaņţu consists of two parts and contains about 2,050 (790+1,260) verses. The section on synonyms, the Nămasangraha, and the other one is on properties and actions of drugs, the Guņasangraha. The arrangement of the material constitutes an unprecedented innovation in the literature of Nighaņţu (Ayurvĕda drug's lexicons or dictionaries). The Gadanigraha is composed of two distinct parts and contains about 10,054 (2,700+7,354) verses. The first part is a collection of formulae arranged according to the several types of pharmaceutical preparations and the second one is a comprehensive text dealing with both Nidăna and cikitsă, arranged as for the Aşţăngas (8 major divisions) of Ayurvĕda. The work seems to be later than Sŏdhalanighaņţu because most of the drugs mentioned in this work are not found in the Sŏdhalanighaņţu. The diseases are arranged in systematically, which is a new feature and their order is differ from Mădhavanidăna. From the available evidences we can assume that Sŏdhala might be belongs to 1200 A.D. The contributions of Sŏdhala are noteworthy and they are important landmark works in history of Ayurvĕda.

Medicinal plants referred in Kautilya's Arthaśastra

Kautilya's Arthaśastra which was written somewhere in 321-300 B.C. on ancient Indian Polity, holds a unique place in Indian history and culture. It was discovered at Tanjavore district of Mysore in Karnataka. The Manuscript of Arthaśastra (Devanagiri script) traced by Sri Munisri Jinavijayajee of Patna. Mr. Shyama Sastry had first published the translated text in 1909 as Volume 37 of the Bibliotheca Sanskrta of Mysore. There are 150 chapters in this work. The author of this work, Kautilya is also known as Visnugupta or Canakya. The author himself in the concluding verse of the Arthaśastra quoted his name as Visnugupta. The later writers on his works also designated his name as Cinakya. It was also translated into German and Russian languages. The plants and herbs having medicinal value were compiled the Arthaśastra to bring out the knowledge of the period and how the people honored, patronized, considered their own indigenous system as a part of their life. Same information is being presented in this article.

Biography of Bhăvamiśra author of Bhăvaprakăśa (a treatise of Laghutrayee)

Bhăvamiśra, the author of Bhăvaprakăśa was a great scholar in Samsŗt and ancient medical science. He set a great example to modernize ayurvĕda by incorporating new drugs, diseases, procedures of treatment etc. and making ayurvĕda up to date. He was the son of Latakanamiśra. Bhăvamiśra was an orthodox Brahmin. He belonged to Măgada (South Bihar in North India). Date can be determined from the following points. The latest text from which Bhăvamiśra was quoted is Madanapăla Nighaņţu. This was completed in 1347 A.D. and this will be the upper limit for the date of Bhăvamiśra. Yogaratnakara and Vaidyajivana (by Lolimbaraja) both texts belonging to 17th century A.D. quoted verses from Bhăvaprakăśa. His works are Bhăvaprakăśa (most famous), Guņaratnamăla, a commentary on Mădhava Nidăna and Vaidyanighaņţu.

Medico-historical study of "Kilasa" (vitiligo/leucoderma) a common skin disorder

The earliest known reference to Kilăsa was in 2200 B.C. in the period of Aushooryan. In 1550 B.C. information regarding Vitiligo was noted in the Ebers Papyrus. Atharvavĕda also carries the description of the disease Kilăsa along with several herbal prescriptions. Buddhist literature (Pĭtikăs) especially Vinaya Pĭtika carries the description of Kilăsa. Old Testament also carries the description of white spots i.e. in the Leviticus chapter 13. In ayurvĕda the word Kuşţa was used for all types of skin diseases. Both Kilăsa and Switra are mentioned together in ayurvĕda because of similarity in their aetiology. Kilăsa is also called as Băhya (external) Kuşţa. It is classified into three types based on three Dŏşăs. Prognosis of the disease was also described in ayurvĕda. This disease can be compared with Vitiligo/leucoderma in modern medicine. The Roman Physician Celsus first coined the term Vitiligo in the 2nd Century A.D. This article carries medico-historical references of Kilăsa from ancient to modern literature.

Ayurvedic literature in Urdu part-III

The present article is the continuation of the second part of the previous work published with the same title in the Bulletin of Indian Institute of History of medicine, Vol. XXIX. No. 2 in 1999. This work has ben initiated to introduce the books written in recent past, the period in which Urdu language had a prominent role in preserving the knowledge of old arts and sciences.

Lessor known ayurvedic physicians from an Urdu book Rumoozul Atibba: part II

Rumoozul Atibba, a rare Urdu book compiled by Hakim Fairozuddin is in two Volumes. It is published by Darul Kutub Rafiqul Atibba, printed in "Rifah-e-Aam press in 1913 at Lahore which contains short biographies of Ayurvedic and Unani physicians. It has been compiled to disclose the tested formulae hidden in the minds of eminent scholars of Ayurveda and Unani with their life sketches. The selection of this work has been aimed to enlight the Ayurvedic History prevailed in different languages. Twenty biographies of Ayurvedic Physicians were in first volume of 'Rumuzul Atibba', which were published prior to this article (Bulletin of Indian Institute of History of Medicine. Vol XXVI (1996). This article contains only three biographies of Ayurvedic physicians.

Pioneers of Ayurveda during Nizam-VII

This article is the continuation of the article entitled "Dawn of Ayurveda during the reign of Nizam-VII of, Hyderabad" published in B.I.I.H.M. Vol. 18, No. 1, Jan 1998, pp. 67-84. The life sketch of nine pioneers of Ayruveda who established the system of Ayurveda on the track during the rule of Nizam - VII - Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur are presented here.

Eminent ayurvedic physicians of Nizam dynasty

It is a biographical work which sheds light on the lives and works of some of the Ayurvedic Physicians flourished during Nizam dynasty. The credit for development of Ayurveda in Hyderabad goes to the eminent Ayurvedic Physicians, mentioned in this articles who taught Ayurveda in their private clinics, rendered their services during the outbreak of epidemics, organised conferences, compiled very useful works on Ayurveda and established an Ayurvedic school on a grand scale which was recognised by the government.

Assessment of thyroid function in pesticide formulators

Thirty male pesticide formulators exposed to the dust and liquid formulation of endosulfan, quinalphos, chlorpyriphos, monocrotophos, lindane, parathion, phorate, and fenvalerate and 20 comparable control subjects from the same area of study were examined for the evaluation of thyroid function tests. The level of TSH was elevated (about 28%) in pesticide formulators as compared to a control group, but the increase was statistically insignificant. Based on the individual TSH measurement, 3 of 30 formulators had isolated elevated levels of TSH and seem to have acquired sub-clinical hypothyroidism; five had TSH values slightly elevated to the upper boarder line (4.03 muIU/ml); and the majority of formulators (N= 22) had TSH values in the normal range varying from 1.29 to 3.9 muIU/ml. Total T3 was suppressed significantly (P< 0.01) in formulators, while marginal decrease (about 7%) was noticed in T4 level. This study indicated thyroid function impairment in few pesticide formulators.

Carcinogen exposure and effect biomarkers

Monitoring for occupational exposures to carcinogens can be among the most daunting tasks of the occupational health professional. Air sampling data do not provide reliable estimates of exposure because the skin is often a major route of entry. Biological monitoring markers are available on several levels for chemical carcinogens, however. These can be used to augment the occupational health program by providing estimates of internal and effective dose. Carcinogen biomarkers have proven to be important tools in research studies of exposure and genetic susceptibility. The results of two of these studies will be reviewed and placed in the context of an occupational monitoring program. We found that a battery of markers was very useful in a cross-sectional study. Individuals with high exposure and effect could be identified as were physiological factors which caused higher levels of effective dose markers.

Sown a seed of Ayurveda in the Nizam dominion

In the name of Trillinga Ayurveda Vidya Peetham a seed for Ayurveda with a school & free Ayurveda dispensary along with a Sanskrit school was sowed at Warangal by some eminent devoted private practitioners of Ayurveda and Philanthropists. The city of Warangal is a historical place and once a capital of Kakatiya Kingdom, though it was part and parcel of Nizam dominion. In fact such steps taken by Private Organisations for establishment of Ayurvedic system of Medicine in Hyderabad and in Andhra region at Bejwada is appreciable.

Ayurvedic literature in Urdu

Urdu is a distinct literary language began to develop in India during Mughal empire. Lots of people read, write and speak, this language in Indian subcontinent. This brief article will shed light on the seven rare books in Urdu compiled and published in the period from 19th century to the first half of the current century. Some books may not have high value but the struggle of the scholars, is appreciable.

Acidic urine pH is associated with elevated levels of free urinary benzidine and N-acetylbenzidine and urothelial cell DNA adducts in exposed workers

We evaluated the influence of urine pH on the proportion of urinary benzidine (BZ) and N-acetylbenzidine present in the free, unconjugated state and on exfoliated urothelial cell DNA adduct levels in 32 workers exposed to BZ in India. Postworkshift urine pH was inversely correlated with the proportions of BZ (r = -0.78; P < 0.0001) and N-acetylbenzidine (r = -0.67; P < 0.0001) present as free compounds. Furthermore, the average of each subject's pre- and postworkshift urine pH was negatively associated with the predominant urothelial DNA adduct (P = 0.0037, adjusted for urinary BZ and metabolites), which has been shown to cochromatograph with a N-(3'-phosphodeoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N'-acetylbenzidine adduct standard. Controlling for internal dose, individuals with urine pH < 6 had 10-fold higher DNA adduct levels compared to subjects with urine pH > or = 7. As reported previously, polymorphisms in NAT1, NAT2, and GSTM1 had no impact on DNA adduct levels. This is the first study to demonstrate that urine pH has a strong influence on the presence of free urinary aromatic amine compounds and on urothelial cell DNA adduct levels in exposed humans. Because there is evidence that acidic urine has a similar influence on aromatic amines derived from cigarette smoke, urine pH, which is influenced by diet, may be an important susceptibility factor for bladder cancer caused by tobacco in the general population.

Benzidine-DNA adduct levels in human peripheral white blood cells significantly correlate with levels in exfoliated urothelial cells

In a cross-sectional study of 33 workers exposed to benzidine and benzidine dyes and 15 non-exposed controls, we previously reported that exposure status and internal dose of benzidine metabolites were strongly correlated with the levels of specific benzidine-DNA adducts in exfoliated urothelial cells. We also evaluated DNA adduct levels in peripheral white blood cells (WBC) of a subset of 18 exposed workers and 7 controls selected to represent a wide range of adducts in exfoliated urothelial cells. Samples were coded and then DNA was analyzed using 32P-postlabeling, along with n-butanol extraction. One adduct, which co-chromatographed with a synthetic N-(3'-phospho-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N'-acetylbenzidine standard, predominated in those samples with adducts present. The median level (range) of this adduct in WBC DNA was 194.4 (3.2-975) RAL x 10(9) in exposed workers and 1.4 (0.1-6.4) in the control subjects (p = 0.0002, Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test). There was a striking correlation between WBC and exfoliated urothelial cell adduct levels (Pearson r = 0.84, p < 0.001) among exposed subjects. In addition, the sum of urinary benzidine, N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine correlated with the levels of this adduct in both tissues. This is the first study in humans to show a relationship for a specific carcinogen adduct in a surrogate tissue and in urothelial cells, the target for urinary bladder cancer.

Urinary mutagenicity as a biomarker in workers exposed to benzidine: correlation with urinary metabolites and urothelial DNA adducts

Urinary mutagenicity has been used in occupational and epidemiological studies for over two decades as a cost-effective, general biomarker of exposure to genotoxic agents. However, few studies have compared urinary mutagenicity to additional biomarkers determined among low- and high-exposed groups. To address this issue, we evaluated the relationship between urinary mutagenicity and other types of biomarkers in a cross-sectional study involving 15 workers exposed to the urinary bladder carcinogen benzidine (BZ, high exposure), 15 workers exposed to BZ-dyes (low exposure), and 13 unexposed controls in Ahmedabad, India. Urinary organics were extracted by C18/methanol and evaluated for mutagenicity in the presence of S9 in the Salmonella strain YG1024, which is a frameshift strain that overproduces acetyltransferase. The results were compared to biomarker data reported recently from the same urine samples (Rothman et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 5084-5089, 1996) that included a metabolite biomarker (the sum of the urinary levels of BZ + N-acetylbenzidine + N,N'-diacetylbenzidine) and a DNA adduct biomarker [a presumptive N-(3'-phosphodeoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N'-acetylbenzidine (C8dG-ABZ) DNA adduct in exfoliated urothelial cells]. The mean +/- SE urinary mutagenicity (revertants/micromol of creatinine) of the low-exposure (BZ-dye) workers was 8.2 +/- 2.4, which was significantly different from the mean of the controls (2.8 +/- 0.7, P = 0.04) as was that of the mean of the high-exposure (BZ) workers (123.2 +/- 26.1, P < 0.0001). Urinary mutagenicity showed strong, positive correlations with urinary metabolites (r = 0.88, P < 0.0001) and the level of the presumptive C8dG-ABZ urothelial DNA adduct (r = 0.59, P = 0.0006). A strong association was found between tobacco use (bidi smoking) and urinary mutagenicity among the controls (r = 0.68, P = 0.01) but not among the exposed workers (r = 0.18, P = 0.11). This study confirms the ability of a biomarker such as urinary mutagenicity to detect low-dose exposures, identify additional genotoxic exposures among the controls, and correlate strongly with urinary metabolites and DNA adducts in the target tissue (urinary bladder epithelia) in humans.

The glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) null genotype and benzidine-associated bladder cancer, urine mutagenicity, and exfoliated urothelial cell DNA adducts

Multiple studies in the general population have suggested that subjects with the glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1)-null genotype, who lack functional GSTM1, are at higher risk for bladder cancer. To evaluate the impact of the GSTM1-null genotype on bladder cancer caused by occupational exposure to benzidine and to determine its influence on benzidine metabolism, we carried out three complementary investigations: a case-control study of bladder cancer among workers previously exposed to benzidine in China, a cross-sectional study of urothelial cell DNA adducts and urinary mutagenicity in workers currently exposed to benzidine in India, and a laboratory study of the ability of human GSTM1 to conjugate benzidine and its known metabolites in vitro. There was no overall increase in bladder cancer risk for the GSTM1-null genotype among 38 bladder cancer cases and 43 controls (odds ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-2.7), although there was some indication that highly exposed workers with the GSTM1-null genotype were at greater risk of bladder cancer compared to similarly exposed workers without this allele. However, the GSTM1 genotype had no impact on urothelial cell DNA adduct and urinary mutagenicity levels in workers currently exposed to benzidine. Furthermore, human GSTM1 did not conjugate benzidine or its metabolites. These results led us to conclude that the GSTM1-null genotype does not have an impact on bladder cancer caused by benzidine, providing a contrast to its association with elevated bladder cancer risk in the general population.

The impact of interindividual variation in NAT2 activity on benzidine urinary metabolites and urothelial DNA adducts in exposed workers

Several epidemiologic studies indicate that NAT2-related slow N-acetylation increases bladder cancer risk among workers exposed to aromatic amines, presumably because N-acetylation is important for the detoxification of these compounds. Previously, we showed that NAT2 polymorphisms did not influence bladder cancer risk among Chinese workers exposed exclusively to benzidine (BZ), suggesting that NAT2 N-acetylation is not a critical detoxifying pathway for this aromatic amine. To evaluate the biologic plausibility of this finding, we carried out a cross-sectional study of 33 workers exposed to BZ and 15 unexposed controls in Ahmedabad, India, to evaluate the presence of BZ-related DNA adducts in exfoliated urothelial cells, the excretion pattern of BZ metabolites, and the impact of NAT2 activity on these outcomes. Four DNA adducts were significantly elevated in exposed workers compared to controls; of these, the predominant adduct cochromatographed with a synthetic N-(3'- phosphodeoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N'-acetylbenzidine standard and was the only adduct that was significantly associated with total BZ urinary metabolites (r = 0.68, P < 0.0001). To our knowledge this is the first report to show that BZ forms DNA adducts in exfoliated urothelial cells of exposed humans and that the predominant adduct formed is N-acetylated, supporting the concept that monofunctional acetylation is an activation, rather than a detoxification, step for BZ. However, because almost all BZ-related metabolites measured in the urine of exposed workers were acetylated among slow, as well as rapid, acetylators (mean +/- SD 95 +/- 1.9% vs. 97 +/- 1.6%, respectively) and NAT2 activity did not affect the levels of any DNA adduct measured, it is unlikely that interindividual variation in NAT2 function is relevant for BZ-associated bladder carcinogenesis.

Lesser known Ayurvedic physicians of India from an Urdu book- "Rumoozul Atibba"

In early 20th century some Urdu scholars tried to enrich urdu literature with medical history. They started compiling and publishing the biographies of the contemporary physicians along with their achievements. One of such works "Rumoozul Atibba" a rare book compiled by Hakim Fairozuddin in Urdu, published by 'Darul Kutub Rafiqul Atibba' and printed in 'Rifah-e-Aam Press' at Lahore in the year 1913 A.D. has been taken here. It contains about 150 short biographies of Ayurvedic and Unani physicians, out of which all the twenty biographies of Ayurvedic physicians given in it, have been presented in this article.

A brief history of Ayurveda in Hyderabad

This article contains a brief history of Ayurveda in Hyderabad. It can be proudly stated that this system is prevailing here since foundation of this city in 1590 A.D. As it is said that the physicians of Ayurveda and Unani both were among the staff of the first general hospital of Hyderabad city 'Darush-shifa' which was constructed in 1595 A.D. After the Qutub Shahi period the rulers of Asafjahi dynasty also patronised this system. The physicians of this period not only run their clinics but they also teach this system to their pupils privately. Due to the efforts of some eminent Ayurvedic physicians, Ayurveda progressed well. The names and the photos of these physicians have been given in this article. Now this system has a good status here with well established college, hospital and research department etc.

Spectral evidence for the oxidation of beta-hydroxybutyrate to acetoacetate: diminution of spectra by glucose and chloride

Chemical oxidation of beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-OHB) to acetoacetate (AcAc) has been carried out by a simple and new method employing potassium persulphate as an oxidising agent. Under the conditions of assay, beta-OHB (0.079-0.395 microM) was instantaneously oxidised to AcAc and the authenticity of the oxidised product was proved by absorption spectroscopy. A common absorption maxima at about 446 nm was observed in all the spectra recorded for the product (AcAc-complex) obtained after the oxidation of beta-OHB (0.079-0.395 microM) to AcAc followed by coupling with diazotized p-nitroaniline. This absorption maxima was almost equal to that obtained for AcAc-complex using AcAc as reference standard. It implies that AcAc formed by the chemical oxidation of beta-OHB is identically similar to the AcAc used as reference standard for the study. This fact was further strengthened when absorption spectra, recorded either individually or in combination (mixed-type), exhibited a single peak with a common absorption maxima at about 446 nm. Absorption spectra was found to be partially diminished by glucose (1.77 microM) and chloride (17.1 microM), while almost complete diminution of absorption spectra was observed at higher concentration of glucose (8.88 microM) and chloride (51.3 microM).

Cardiac toxicity following short-term exposure to methomyl in spraymen and rabbits

A health surveillance study in 22 healthy spraymen showed significant T-wave changes (including inversion) in most of the limb leads and chest leads following 5 d exposure to methomyl, a carbamate pesticide. Significant changes in plasma cholinesterase and lactic dehydrogenase activities were also noticed. The ECG changes could be reproduced in rabbits and were dose dependent. This type of ECG change following exposure to a carbamate compound is reported for the first time in occupationally-exposed subjects. The study results indicate that these changes are probably directly related to methomyl rather than its toxicity through cholinesterase inhibition. The significance of these changes remain to be investigated.

Effect of selected pesticides on alkaline and acid phosphatase in the rat

A single oral dose of DDT (60.0 mg/kg), malathion (687.5 mg/kg), phosalone (60.0 mg/kg) and elsan (175.0 mg/kg) to adult male albino rats produced significant impairment in acid and alkaline phosphatase activities within 1 h of dosing. Renal and hepatic alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly inhibited in all cases, while treatment with malathion and phosalone resulted in an increase in intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity. Elsan induced an increase in acid phosphatase activity in liver, kidney and intestine whereas the response to DDT, malathion and phosalone was variable.

Survey amongst workers in pesticide factories

Blood samples of 75 pesticide factory workers in Agra Division, India, were analyzed for biochemical parameters of clinical importance. About 75% of the subjects had significantly low levels of serum cholinesterase activity. Several subjects had below average blood sugar and urea values. The majority had elevated levels of serum cholesterol, phospholipid and SGOT activity. 52 workers reported general toxic symptoms. A correlation between the clinical manifestations and blood biochemical parameters has been attempted.