Page 41 - CSIR-IGIB Annual Report 2020-21

Prakriti application in health, disease & and their response to different environmental
responsiveness stimuli. We have shown differential baseline cell
Inter-individual variability in features of health proliferation rate among predominant Prakriti,
and responsiveness to the external which impacts outcomes of UV radiation.
environment is well appreciated both at genetic
and molecular as well as clinical levels. Perturbation of Dosha beyond limit is
Ayurveda describes this variability to be largely responsible for disease predisposition and
contributed by one’s basic constitution, termed progression (Vikriti). Prakriti, thus, is relevant in
as Prakriti, which is shaped by three Dosha stratification of Vikriti to guide selection of
proportions at the time of birth. Diet, lifestyle therapeutic interventions. This is being tested
and environmental exposures bring further in a common complex disorder, Type 2 Diabetes
variations in the health spectrum, by affecting mellitus, in collaboration with All India Institute
the Dosha, within an individual and at of Ayurveda, Delhi under AYUSH CoE.
population levels. At CSIR-TRISUTRA
Ayurgenomics Unit, stratification of this Repurposing Dosha specific interventions for
variability based on Prakriti is studied at clinical COVID19
as well as at underlying physiological, Ayurveda has a translational framework to
biochemical and molecular genetic level connect physio-pathology (Vikriti) with
variability. therapeutics. The actions of drugs are also
described based on their effect on tri-doshas
Prakriti analysis protocols have been developed i.e.,Vata (V), Pitta (P) and Kapha (K). Our earlier
based on Ayurveda literature and validated study revealed genetic and expression level
across diverse populations. clinical assessment differences in prolylhydroxylase 2 (PHD2) as a
of Prakriti objective parameters based such as molecular axis of variation between extreme
anthropometric, cardio-vascular, Autonomic, Pitta (P) and Kapha (K) constitution types, to be
lung function etc is also being carried out by the relevant in high altitude adaptation as well as
Ayurgenomics group at AYUSH Centre of high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).
Excellence @ CSIR-IGIB. This is expected to not Modulation of the PHD2-HIF-1a axis revealed
only provide objectivity to assessment of the cellular hypoxic response to be an important
Prakriti but also provide modern medical modifier of asthma severity. We tested herbal
interpretation of Dosha as physiological systems medicine Adhatoda vasica (AV), reported for
explain its relation to health- disease variability. use in asthma treatment and having a balancing
Variability in response to environmental stimuli effect of P-K perturbations, on the cellular
is also described to be a feature of Prakriti as hypoxic response. This effect is found to be
differential sensitivity and adaptability is a useful for reversing the hypoxia induced
function of Dosha. Difference in hypoxia mitochondrial dysfunction and severe asthma
response amongst predominant Dosha Prakriti patho-phenotype. We further tested the effect
was earlier reported by our group with of whole aqueous extract of AV, in murine
discovery of predictive markers for high-altitude models of bleomycin induced pulmonary
adaptation. This is further being studied to find fibrosis, Cecum Ligation and Puncture (CLP)
and stratify more such molecular markers of induced sepsis, and siRNA induced hypoxia-
hypoxia response. thrombosis phenotype. The effect on the lungs
of AV treated naïve mice was also studied at
Cell culture systems (lymphoblastoid cell lines) transcriptome level. These effects were found
of predominant Prakriti have been developed to to be relevant for pandemic disease (COVID-19)
study baseline differences in cellular processes as features of hypoxia, inflammation and

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