A study of Ayurvedic Pharmacoepidemiology and therapeutics of Madhumeha Type 2 Diabetes mellitus An Untapped potential for new drug discovery

Abstract

Ayurvedic Pharmacoepidemiology (AyPE) is a new inter-discipline proposed by Vaidya RA et al for the study of the usage, acceptability, efficacy, compatibility, interactions and cost-effectiveness of Ayurvedic drugs in a large number of people. Alarming headlines about the toxicity of Ayurvedic medicines in newspapers, journals and media, without appropriate scientific studies can have an adverse impact on a system of health used for centuries. Ayurvedic formulations marketed in India are manufactured at 7,910 manufacturing units. Several preclinical and clinical studies, as a part of MD PhD theses, have explored the anti-diabetic potential of some of the selected plants and formulations. Their mechanisms of actions and biological plausibility are also being investigated. Despite these studies it is essential to have proper AyPE evidences for safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic anti-diabetic drugs. In view of diabetes mellitus (Type II) being a major challenge in India, due to cardiovascular, renal, retinal and neural complications such a study with AyPE was newline2 newlinecontemplated. Diabetic patients often consume Ayurvedic medicines for controlling diabetes, reducing side-effects, complementary use and prevention of complications. The data on exact nature of usage of Ayurvedic and other traditional medicine for diabetes are scarce. newline