Abstract

INFLUENCE OF DESHA AND KALA ON THE QUALITY AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF MEDICINAL PLANTS: AN AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE WITH MODERN SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

Dr. Priya Singh*

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants are integral part of Ayurvedic therapeutics and their quality is affected by many intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In Ayurveda, the importance of Desha (geographical habitat) and Kala (time/season) in determining the characteristics, collection, processing and therapeutic utility of medicinal substances has been well-established. Classical Ayurvedic texts mention variations in the properties of substances based on geographical location and time and also give specific considerations for the appropriate season for collection of different plant parts. Furthermore, recent pharmacognostic and phytochemical research has shown that environmental factors including temperature, rainfall, altitude, soil properties, light intensity, water availability and seasonal variations can influence plant development and the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites. Studies on Ocimum sanctum, Withania somnifera and Curcuma longa have revealed measurable seasonal, geographical or chemotypic variation in essential oils, withanolides and curcuminoids, respectively. The present review attempts to critically review the Ayurvedic concepts of Desha and Kala in relation to medicinal plant quality and to explore their possible correlation with modern scientific evidence. The review further discusses implications for authentication, harvesting, standardization, quality control, and future research. The concepts of Desha and Kala may provide a useful conceptual framework for developing more reproducible approaches to the sourcing and quality assessment of medicinal plants.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Dravyaguna, Desha, Kala, Medicinal plants, Seasonal variation, Geographical variation, Phytoconstituents, Secondary metabolites, Standardization, Quality control.