Seasonal and lunar cycle effects on śԻ phytoconstituents
Journal name: Ancient Science of Life
Original article title: Effect of seasonal variations on the phytoconstituents of śԻ w.r. to lunar cycles
The ANSCI is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal focused on Ayurveda and traditional medicines. It publishes original research, reviews, and literary studies linking traditional knowledge with modern science, covering disciplines like botany, ethnomedicine, pharmacology, and clinical research.
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Original source:
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Swagata Dilip Tavhare, Karra Nishteswar, Vinay J. Shukla
Ancient Science of Life:
(A quarterly multi-disciplinary scientific research journal in Ayurveda)
Full text available for: Effect of seasonal variations on the phytoconstituents of śԻ w.r. to lunar cycles
Year: 2016
Copyright (license): CC BY-NC-SA
Summary of article contents:
Introduction
The study of medicinal plants has long been emphasized in traditional Ayurvedic texts, where the timing of collection, based on factors such as season and lunar cycles, is deemed crucial for ensuring optimal therapeutic effects. This research centers on śԻ (Withania somnifera L. Dunal), evaluating how seasonal and lunar variations influence its phytochemical constituents. The aim is to scientifically validate the recommendations from classical texts by performing rigorous analyses of plant samples collected on full moon (paurṇimā) and new moon (屹) days across different seasons.
Effect of Lunar Cycles on Phytoconstituents
One of the key findings of the study is the significant impact of lunar cycles on the phytoconstituents of śԻ. The research reveals that samples collected during the full moon exhibit higher concentrations of total phenolics, flavonoids, and carbohydrates compared to those harvested during the new moon. Specifically, root samples collected during the Ұīṣm (summer) season show pronounced differences in their biochemical profiles, highlighting the importance of timing in the harvesting process. The results support the classical Ayurvedic assertion that ṣṇ īⲹ (warming potency) drugs should be collected in the summer during specific lunar phases for enhanced potency.
Conclusion
Overall, the findings substantiate the traditional wisdom regarding the collection of śԻ, affirming that both seasonal timing and lunar phases play pivotal roles in determining the quality and effectiveness of this medicinal herb. The study advocates for adherence to these practices to maximize the therapeutic potential of śԻ, particularly emphasizing the value of collecting samples on full moon days during the summer season. These insights not only bridge the gap between ancient knowledge and modern scientific validation but also serve to promote sustainable harvesting practices in the medicinal plant sector.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What is the objective of the study on śԻ?
The study aimed to assess the effect of seasonal variations and lunar cycles on the phytoconstituents of śԻ (Withania somnifera), specifically analyzing trends in chemical composition during different seasons and lunar phases.
How were the plant specimens for the study collected?
Plant specimens were collected from Jamnagar, India, on full moon and new moon days during the seasons of śiśira and grīṣma, ensuring they were cultivated under controlled conditions for accurate assessment.
What significant trends were found regarding phytochemicals in śԻ?
The study found that total phenolic, flavonoid, and carbohydrate contents were higher in samples collected on full moon days compared to new moon days. This demonstrates the influence of lunar cycles on phytochemical quality.
What conclusion was drawn about the collection timing of śԻ?
The research concluded that śԻ, being a ṣṇ īⲹ drug, should be collected during the grīṣma season on full moon days to enhance its therapeutic potency based on observed variations in phytoconstituents.
Glossary definitions and references:
Scientific and Ayurvedic Glossary list for “Seasonal and lunar cycle effects on śԻ phytoconstituents�. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of Ayurveda and other topics.
1) Grishma (Grisma):
Ұīṣm refers to the summer season in Ayurvedic literature. In the context of the study, it is significant because seasonal variations during Ұīṣm affect the phytoconstituents of the plant śԻ. The optimal harvesting time recommended is during Ұīṣm ṛtu, aligning with traditional practices for enhancing the efficacy of medicinal plants.
2) Shishira (Sisira):
Śś denotes the winter season in Ayurveda. The study compares this season with Ұīṣm to analyze the impact of seasonal variations on the quality of śԻ. By understanding the differences in phytochemical constituents between extracts from Śś and Ұīṣm, researchers can validate traditional harvesting practices.
3) Flavonoid:
Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic compounds prevalent in plants, recognized for their antioxidant properties and health benefits. The study quantifies flavonoid content in śԻ collected during different lunar cycles and seasons, underscoring their importance in determining the pharmacological efficacy of this medicinal herb.
4) Drug:
In the context of Ayurveda, a drug refers to any substance used for medicinal purposes, including herbs like śԻ. The study evaluates how seasonal and lunar factors influence the phytochemical composition of drugs, aligning traditional collection practices with scientific validation of their therapeutic potential.
5) Ashvagandha (Asvagandha, Ashwagandha, Ashvagamdha, Ashva-gandha):
Ashwagandha, a common name for śԻ, symbolizes a widely used adaptogen in Ayurvedic medicine. The research focuses on how seasonal harvesting affects its active compounds, ensuring that practices reflect both traditional knowledge and evidence-based approaches to harvesting for therapeutic use.
6) Phytochemical:
Phytochemicals are bioactive compounds produced by plants, contributing to their color, flavor, and disease resistance, and are crucial for the therapeutic effects of medicinal herbs. The research focuses on how seasonal and lunar variations impact the phytochemical composition of śԻ, highlighting the importance of considering these factors.
7) Ayurveda (Ayus-veda):
Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine originating in India that emphasizes natural healing and holistic health. The study draws on Ayurvedic principles to explore the impact of environmental factors on medicinal plants, aiming to bridge ancient wisdom with modern scientific research for effective herbal practices.
8) Training:
Training in the context of this study refers to the education and skill development in the field of Ayurvedic pharmacology and herbal science. The researchers' background informs their methodologies, ensuring rigorous scientific protocols while adhering to Ayurvedic traditions in the study of śԻ.
9) Post:
Post, when related to the Institute of Post Graduate Training and Research in Ayurveda, indicates an advanced level of education and research in Ayurvedic practices. This context is critical as it establishes the credibility of the research conducted on śԻ and its pharmacological evaluations.
10) Shukla (Sukla):
Shukla, likely referring to Vinay J. Shukla, is a co-author in the study, signifying his contributions to the research on śԻ. As part of a team of trained professionals in pharmacognosy, his expertise helps validate the scientific framework around traditional Ayurvedic practices.
11) Withania somnifera:
Withania somnifera is the scientific name for śԻ, a key medicinal herb explored in this research. Understanding its scientific classification helps contextualize its medicinal properties and the impact of environmental factors on its effective use in pharmaceuticals, aligning with Ayurvedic teachings.
12) Pharmacology:
Pharmacology involves the study of drugs, their interactions, and effects on biological systems. The research presented in this study relates pharmacological principles to the seasonal variations observed in śԻ, connecting traditional uses with modern drug research to optimize therapeutic applications.
13) Dravyaguna (Dravya-guna):
Dravyaguna is the branch of Ayurveda that studies medicinal properties of plants and their therapeutic applications. This study falls under Dravyaguna as it investigates the phytochemical variations in śԻ, validating traditional Ayurvedic recommendations for harvesting and use of medicinal plants.
14) Jyeshtha (Jyestha):
ṣṭ is a month in the Hindu lunar calendar corresponding to late spring or early summer. The study evaluates śԻ harvested during ṣṭ to determine the impact of lunar phases on its chemical composition, which is vital for understanding the plant's optimal harvesting times.
15) Ashadha (Asadha):
Āṣāḍ is another month in the Hindu lunar calendar, significant for the study as samples of śԻ were collected during this time. The research explores the influence of lunar cycles on phytochemical content, aiming to validate the traditional knowledge of plant potency in Ayurveda.
16) Virya:
īⲹ is an Ayurvedic term that refers to the potency or strength of a drug. In this study, understanding how īⲹ relates to śԻ's active compounds is crucial for discerning its efficacy based on seasonal and lunar influences, thereby aligning tradition with scientific analysis.
17) Water:
Water in the study context primarily relates to water extract formulations of śԻ, used to assess the solubility of various phytoconstituents. Analyzing these extracts contributes to understanding the therapeutic potential and efficacy of the herb across different harvesting periods influenced by seasonal changes.
18) Ushna (Usna):
ṣṇ refers to 'warm' or 'hot' qualities of drugs in Ayurveda. As śԻ is characterized as ṣṇ īⲹ, this study emphasizes cultivating and harvesting it during warmer seasons to enhance its therapeutic effects, aligning with Ayurveda's principles on selecting optimal timings for medicinal plants.
19) Soil:
Soil quality is a critical factor influencing the growth and phytochemical yield of medicinal plants. This study acknowledges how soil conditions impact śԻ's development, reinforcing traditional harvesting practices that consider the plant's environmental background to maximize its medicinal properties.
20) Transformation (Transform, Transforming):
To transform in this context means altering the chemical composition and effectiveness of śԻ based on environmental factors. The research assesses these transformations resulting from seasonal changes, emphasizing the role of proper collection practices informed by time and conditions for better therapeutic outcomes.
21) Cakrapani (Cakra-pani):
䲹ṇi was an ancient Ayurvedic scholar whose writings emphasize optimal harvesting practices for medicinal plants. This study draws on his recommendations to investigate śԻ, exploring how traditional knowledge integrates with scientific methods to validate the effects of seasonal and lunar variations.
22) Phalguna:
ʳܲԲ refers to a month in the lunar calendar significant for the study as it represents another phase when śԻ was harvested. Understanding phytochemical variations across months like ʳܲԲ aids in evaluating the plant's effectiveness based on traditional harvesting beliefs correlated with modern findings.
23) Activity:
Activity encompasses the biological effects of śԻ’s phytochemicals on the human body, which is crucial for establishing its therapeutic benefits. The research investigates how environmental influences modulate this activity, aiming to align scientific insights with ancient knowledge of the herb's effectiveness.
24) Science (Scientific):
Scientific designates an approach grounded in empirical evidence and experimentation. This study emphasizes the application of scientific methods to validate traditional practices surrounding śԻ, showcasing how rigorous research can affirm the effectiveness and rationale behind Ayurvedic drug collection practices.
25) Caraka:
Caraka is a revered figure in Ayurvedic literature, known for foundational texts that detail medicinal plant uses and pharmacognosy. This study references Caraka’s principles to explore how seasonal and lunar factors impact śԻ, thereby reinforcing the relevance of ancient wisdom in contemporary research.
26) Agneya:
ĀԱⲹ is a term related to the qualities of medicinal herbs that are deemed beneficial during warmer seasons. This study applies the concept of ĀԱⲹ to highlight when śԻ is optimally harvested, emphasizing selecting plants based on traditional Ayurvedic knowledge.
27) Magha:
岵 designates a month in the Hindu lunar calendar and serves as a critical time frame for collecting śԻ. The study assesses the impact of this seasonal variation, allowing for an analysis of how the lunar cycle affects the herb's medicinal properties.
28) Pharmacological:
Pharmacological pertains to the study of drugs and their effects. In this research, the term denotes the comprehensive evaluation of śԻ's medicinal properties, focusing on how its phytochemical content and therapeutic activity change with environmental variables, thus influencing its clinical application.
29) Vimanasthana (Vimana-sthana):
վԲٳԲ is a chapter in the Caraka Samhita that discusses pharmacological principles and practices. This research aligns its findings with the guidance from վԲٳԲ, emphasizing the importance of seasonal and lunar factors in optimizing the quality of śԻ for therapeutic use.
30) Discussion:
Discussion refers to the section of the research where findings are interpreted and contextualized within existing scholarship. This part of the study elaborates on how the observed data for śԻ reconciles ancient Ayurvedic practices with modern scientific understandings of plant potency.
31) Pariksha (Pariksa):
ʲīṣ� means examination or evaluation in Sanskrit, highlighting the importance of assessing the efficacy and quality of medicinal herbs. This study utilizes parīkṣ� as a framework for evaluating śԻ, drawing connections between traditional assessment methods and contemporary scientific inquiry in herbal medicine.
32) Prakriti (Prakrti):
ʰṛt refers to the inherent nature or constitution of an organism, including plants. In this context, understanding the prakṛti of śԻ helps assess its growth, seasonal variations, and optimal harvesting practices, embedding traditional Ayurvedic principles within biological and environmental contexts.
33) Quality:
Quality signifies the standard of the medicinal properties present in śԻ. This study evaluates how variations in season and lunar phases affect the quality of its phytoconstituents, reinforcing the necessity of adhering to optimal harvesting guidelines to ensure therapeutic efficacy.
34) Habitat:
Habitat pertains to the environmental conditions where śԻ is cultivated. Understanding the habitat's influence is vital for optimizing growth conditions and ensuring the plant's pharmacological potential, thereby aligning cultivation practices with Ayurvedic recommendations for effective medicinal use.
35) Sugar:
Sugar often refers to carbohydrate content in plants, a crucial aspect of nutritional evaluation. Analyzing sugar levels in śԻ contributes to understanding its energy value and potential health benefits, linking botanical characteristics with dietary implications found in Ayurvedic health guidelines.
36) Veda:
Vedic relates to the ancient scriptures in Hinduism that form the basis of Ayurvedic practices. This context is significant as it roots the research in a rich tradition of medicinal knowledge, examining how historical texts influence current scientific investigations into the pharmacological properties of plants.
Other Science Concepts:
Discover the significance of concepts within the article: �Seasonal and lunar cycle effects on Asvagandha phytoconstituents�. Further sources in the context of Science might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:
Grishmartu, Shishira-ritu, Full moon, Seasonal variation, Environmental condition, High performance thin layer chromatography, Total phenolic content, Total flavonoid content, Total carbohydrate content, Drug collection, Therapeutic benefit, Pharmacognostic parameters, Functional group, Lunar Cycle, Collection practices.
Concepts being referred in other categories, contexts and sources.