RATIONAL USE OF AYURVEDIC LITERAATURE FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT

Research in Ayurveda for lead structures has continued to be an area of major scientific interest with investigators engaged in drug development. The exhaustive information available in Ayurvedic literature provides a drug researcher the opportunity to start with a well tested and safe botanical material. However, an inappropriate interpretation of Ayurvedic texts can lead to research in a wrong direction which may present as lack of effectivity or serious adverse effects with herb under investigation. The problems faced in the selection of medicinal plants, underlying cases and the possible solutions have been discussed in the following article.