PA02.11. An insight on ayurvedic drug discovery

PURPOSE: Every dravya have its own medicinal importance in the universe. Hence, we have to study each and every drug which is available around us. The locally available drugs are considered as best. Only few drugs are mentioned in ayurvedic textbooks but many have to be explained for their quality & applications. The research on new drugs is the need of hour in Ayurveda and we have to assess all dravyas viz. herbs, metals, minerals & animal products which are available in universe. METHOD: Drug research methodology is well explained in Ayurveda along with ethno & medico botanical survey. There are certain steps of research viz. the nature of dravyas, morphological characters of dravyas, place & time of collection, preservation etc and doctrine of signature or elaborate in new drug discovery. Further taste and taste threshold examination, exothermic and endothermic reactions, experimental model for assessment of vipaka and other methods of research on new drug will be discussed. This paper will discuss in detail about the ancient research method for new drugs. RESULT: Methodical research for new drug gives not only importance of pharmecological and clinical study but also importance to seasonal derivation, collection time and different application methods. Ancient ayurvedic drug research methodology includes from survey, pharmacognostic to clinical research. CONCLUSION: The oldest drug research methodology suits now also for all new drug research.