Page 186 - Traditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report

Prakriti and Ayurgenomics

Whole genome expression and biochemical correlates of extreme
constitutional types defined in Ayurveda

Background: Ayurveda is an ancient system of personalised medicine documented
and practised in India since 1500 B.C. According to this system an individual’s basic

constitution to a large extent determines predisposition and prognosis to diseases as
well as therapy and life-style regime. Ayurveda describes seven broad constitution types

(Prakritis) each with a varying degree of predisposition to different diseases. Amongst
these, three most contrasting types, Vata, Pitta, Kapha, are the most vulnerable to diseases.

In the realm of modern predictive medicine, efforts are being directed towards capturing
disease phenotypes with greater precision for successful identification of markers for

prospective disease conditions. In this study, we explore whether the different constitution
types as described in Ayurveda have molecular correlates.

Methods: Normal individuals of the three most contrasting constitutional types
were identified following phenotyping criteria described in Ayurveda in Indian population

of Indo-European origin. The peripheral blood samples of these individuals were analysed
for genome wide expression levels, biochemical and haematological parameters. Gene

Ontology (GO) and pathway based analysis was carried out on differentially expressed
genes to explore if there were significant enrichments of functional categories among

Prakriti types.

Results: Individuals from the three most contrasting constitutional types exhibit
T raditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report
striking differences with respect to biochemical and haematological parameters and at
genome wide expression levels. Biochemical profiles like liver function tests, lipid profiles,

and haematological parameters like haemoglobin exhibited differences between Prakriti
types. Functional categories of genes showing differential expression among Prakriti types

were significantly enriched in core biological processes like transport, regulation of cyclin
dependent protein kinase activity, immune response and regulation of blood coagulation.

A significant enrichment of housekeeping, disease related, and hub genes were observed
in these extreme constitution types.

Conclusion: Ayurveda based method of phenotypic classification of extreme
constitutional types allows us to uncover genes that may contribute to system level

differences in normal individuals which could lead to differential disease predisposition.
This is a first attempt towards unravelling the clinical phenotyping principle of a traditional

system of medicine in terms of modern biology. An integration of Ayurveda with genomics
holds potential and promise for future predictive medicine.
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