Preprint / Version 1

Linking Ayurveda and Western medicine by integrative analysis

Authors

  • Fazlin Fauzi Unilever Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
  • Alexios Koutsoukas Unilever Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
  • Robert Lowe Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom
  • Kalpana Joshi School of Health Sciences, University of Pune, India
  • Tai-Ping Fan Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, United Kingdom
  • Robert Glen Unilever Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
  • Andreas Bender Unilever Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom

Keywords:

Ayurveda, in silico target prediction, mode-of-action, anti-cancer compounds

Abstract

In this article, we discuss our recent work in elucidating the mode-of-action of compounds used in traditional medicine including Ayurvedic medicine. Using computational (‘in silico’) approach, we predict potential targets for Ayurvedic anti-cancer compounds, obtained from the Indian Plant Anticancer Database given its chemical structure. In our analysis, we observed that: (i) the targets predicted can be connected to cancer pathogenesis i.e. steroid-5-alpha reductase 1 and 2 and estrogen receptor-β, and (ii) predominantly hormone-dependent cancer targets were predicted for the anti-cancer compounds. Through the use of our in silico target prediction, we conclude that understanding how traditional medicine such as Ayurveda work through linking with the ‘western’ understanding of chemistry and protein targets can be a fruitful avenue in addition to bridging the gap between the two different schools of thinking. Given that compounds used in Ayurveda have been tested and used for thousands of years (although not in the same approach as Western medicine), they can potentially be developed into potential new drugs. Hence, to further advance the case of Ayurvedic medicine, we put forward some suggestions namely: (a) employing and integrating novel analytical methods given the advancements of ‘omics’ and (b) sharing experimental data and clinical results on studies done on Ayurvedic compounds in an easy and accessible way. Keywords: Ayurveda, in silico target prediction, mode-of-action, anti-cancer compounds

Author Biography

Fazlin Fauzi, Unilever Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia, 40 450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

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