Journal of Pharmacogenomics & Pharmacoproteomics

Abstract

Knowledge of Pharmacogenomics in Indian Traditional Medicine -Ayurveda

SN Venugopalan Nair

Charaka (The author of Charaka Samhita, believed to compiled in between 1500BCE-200 AD) explains in Sanskrit“yōgamāsām tu yō vidyāt dēśa kālōpa pāditam, puruṣam puruṣam vīkṣya sañjēyō sa bhiṣaguttama:” [1] that “He is the best of physicians who knows how to administer the medicine in accordance with their region (habitation and procurement of medicinal plants) and time and prakr̥ti (Psycho somatic constitution) of each person individually. This is probably the first classical reference in the history of Indian medicine on pharmacogenomics. This review article has in-depth information on concept of Prakr̥ti, - which is the Psycho Somatic constitution or Genotypic- Phenotypic expression) of a person. The benefits of knowing your Prakr̥ti, its role in health care and wellness, factors influencing the formation of Prakr̥ti and its relationship with epigenetic factors as understood in Traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) are explained. This paper refers to very important correlative studies on Genomics and concept of Prakr̥ti.