Background:Noncommunicable diseases, particularly diabetes, pose a growing global burden, with India disproportionately affected. India also has a rich repository of traditional medical systems-Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and homeopathy (AYUSH)-collectively governed under the Ministry of Ayush. These systems adopt a personalized and integrative approach to diabetes management, addressing glycemic control alongside metabolic and lifestyle factors. Despite growing use and evidence for AYUSH interventions, standardized evaluation methods remain limited. Objective:This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the evidence status for AYUSH interventions for the management of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus and establish a road map of evidence through research for better outcomes in the future. Methods:The systematic review will be conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and is registered in PROSPERO. All primary study designs, including randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled trials, parallel-arm intervention trials, pretest-posttest trials, observational studies (including cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies), and case series and case reports will be assessed. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses will be screened for background information and identification of relevant primary studies but will not be included in the evidence synthesis. Studies involving AYUSH interventions either as stand-alone therapies or as an add-on to standard care will be reviewed. Electronic databases along with AYUSH-specific sources, including PubMed, CENTRAL, clinical trial registries, AYUSH Research Portal, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Digital Helpline for Ayurveda Research Articles, and IndMED, will be searched using database-specific search strategies combining AYUSH-related and diabetes-specific keywords with Boolean operators. Outcome measures will include clinical recovery, biochemical parameters, quality of life, and adverse events. Data will be synthesized systematically and represented through an evidence map. Results:Database searches and pilot-testing of strategies are planned to commence in September 2025. Screening of eligible studies, data extraction, and quality assessment are planned for December 2025; data compilation and manuscript preparation will be conducted from July 2026 to October 2026; and the final systematic review and evidence map are anticipated by December 2026. Publication of the results is expected in early 2027. Anticipated findings will include a systematic integration of data relevant to the efficacy and safety profiles of AYUSH interventions for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes accompanied by an evidence map showcasing the allocation and reliability of the current evidence base on different AYUSH modalities. Conclusions:This review seeks to consolidate and evaluate existing data to facilitate evidence-based integration of Indian traditional medicine in diabetes management. The resulting evidence map will serve as a strategic tool for clinical research, health care policy, and future systematic reviews in the field of integrative medicine.
This study demonstrates the use of Chemical Pattern Recognition (CPR) for identifying and evaluating the quality of Boerhavia diffusa L., (Punarnava) collected from wild and market sources across India. RP-HPLC fingerprinting revealed 13 common peaks, with β-ecdysone (P3) and boeravinone B (P12) identified as major phytomarkers at Rt of 3.97 ± 0.09 and 17.01 ± 0.12 min. The concentration of β-ecdysone and boeravinone B varied from 0.76 ± 0.02 to 12.64 ± 0.16 µg mg-1, and 0.016 ± 0.002 to 5.52 ± 0.04 µg mg-1. To assess sample authenticity, CPR was implemented using multivariate chemometric tools, including HCA, PCA and OPLS-DA. HCA classified the 21 samples into two distinct clusters. PCA and OPLS-DA, effectively distinguished authentic from non-authentic samples. Peaks P12 (boeravinone B), P9, P13, P7 and P3 (β-ecdysone) emerged as key quality markers. The study establishes a scientific approach for authentication and quality control of Punarnava.
The present study explores the chemical composition and antimicrobial potential of essential oils obtained from the leaf (LO) and flower (FO) of Blumea mollis (D. Don) Merr., collected from the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand, India. The oils were extracted through hydrodistillation and analysed using GC-FID and GC-MS techniques. A total of 22 compounds were identified, representing 97.6% in LO and 96.7% in FO. Both oils were dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, with major constituents including (E)- caryophyllene, D-germacrene, delta-cadinene, alpha-humulene, and beta-bisabolene. A notable variation was observed in the concentration of 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene, which was significantly higher in LO (17.7%) than in FO (5.1%), indicating organ-specific chemical differences. The antimicrobial activity of the oils was evaluated against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, along with fungal strains, using agar well diffusion and MIC assays. Both oils exhibited concentration-dependent activity; however, FO showed comparatively higher antimicrobial efficacy and a broader spectrum of action. The strongest inhibition was observed against Streptomyces candidus and Candida albicans, whereas Escherichia coli exhibited the least sensitivity. MIC values ranged from 10 to 40 mu L/mL, with FO generally demonstrating lower MIC values than LO. The antimicrobial effects are likely attributed to bioactive sesquiterpenes such as (E)-caryophyllene, D-germacrene, 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene and other constituents, which may act synergistically to disrupt microbial cell integrity. Overall, the study highlights significant compositional differences between plant parts and supports the potential application of B. mollis essential oils in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food preservation industries.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Its rapid spread, high mutation rate, and challenges in containment led the WHO to declare it a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Traditional medicine played a supportive role during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering immune-boosting and symptom-relieving remedies, especially in regions with limited access to conventional healthcare. Several countries, including India, have integrated traditional therapies with modern treatment protocols to enhance patient outcomes and reduce disease burden. This review aims to critically synthesize the existing evidence on the efficacy and safety of Ayush interventions in the management of COVID-19 in India. It seeks to qualitatively analyze published literature and clinical trial data, and to develop an evidence map categorizing interventions by type and associated clinical outcomes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across seven electronic databases, including the National Repository on R D Initiatives of the Ministry of Ayush, WHO COVID-19 dashboard for clinical trials, AYUSH Research Portal, PubMed, Cochrane Library, WHO ICTRP, and CTRI. Studies published between 2019 and June 2024 were considered. A total of 3626 records were identified (2572 from indexed databases and 1054 from trial registries). After removing 640 duplicates, 2986 studies were screened for title and abstract. Following exclusion of 802 records, full-text assessment was performed on the remaining studies. After screening, 304 studies were included in the final review (178 Ayurveda, 22 Siddha, 31 Homeopathy, 22 Unani, and 51 Yoga). Risk of bias was assessed using the ROB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. Data extraction and collation were performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO. A total of 304 studies were included, comprising 58 (19.1
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly, which refers to forgetting facts and experiences. Apart from being a classical neuropathological hallmark, AD is connected with pronounced mitochondrial fragmentation, although the exact contribution of mitochondrial dynamics in AD progression is poorly defined. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating the role of loganic acid (LGA) in mitochondrial dynamics, hippocampal plasticity, and cognitive deficits in the scopolamine (SC)-induced cognitive impairment model. The results showed significant decline of p-Drp1 protein and elevation of Mfn2 proteins in LGA-treated SC-induced mice, indicating reduced mitochondrial fragmentation and restoration of mitochondrial dynamics. In addition, LGA treatment promotes the reduction of fragmented and spherical-shaped mitochondria in SC-induced mice. LGA treatment alleviated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and elevated mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing neurodegeneration in SC mice. Moreover, the decline of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) and downregulation of NF-kB expression in LGA-treated SC-induced mice suggested improved neuronal health. In parallel, LGA also increased the regulation of the cytoskeleton within neuronal dendrites, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal dendrites outgrowth, which was validated with increased expression of MAP2. In conclusion, the present study findings suggest that LGA exerts neuroprotection via preserving the mitochondrial ultrastructure and modulating the mitochondrial dynamics. All of these changes further restore neuronal cell density and myelination, leading to the mitigation of neurodegeneration, and restore cognitive deficits and spatial memory in SC-induced C57BL/6 mice.
