Dr. Subrahmanya Kumar

Associate Professor
Centre For Ayurveda Biology and Holistic Nutrition
Mail: s.kumar@tdu.edu.in
I am working to establish substitutes for rare & endangered medicinal plants (Abhava-Pratinidhi Dravyas) based on Ayurvedic tatva (philosophy), shastra (science) and vyavahara (practice) and traditional quality standards for Indian medicine. I am also deeply interested to contemporize Ayurvedic concepts of food and nutrition, rejuvenator drugs of Ayurveda (Rasayana). I am also actively involved in the researche on medicinal plant conservation and their sustainable use.
Expertise/Achievements:
- Explorative and scientific studies on Ayurvedic concept of drug substitution for unavailable but authentic herbs (Abhava and Abhava Pratinidhi Dravyas) including a list of substitutes suggested by Ayurvedic classical literature for the unavailable plant drugs
- Studies on Ayurvedic concept of Wellness/ rejuvenative medicine (Rasayana)
- A model to resolve the controversies on botanical identification of Ayurvedic plant drugs
- Traditional quality standards for Ayurvedic crude drugs and products based on Traditional Knowledge
- Conducted training programs to common public on ‘commonly available medicinal plants for primary health’
- Authored a book, several research publications and articles in popular print media
Current Interests:
Interested to engage with designing and executing innovative research, educational and outreach programs related to:
- Attempts to solve the controversial identity (including adulteration and substitution aspects) of medicinal plants
- Wellness, rejuvenative medicine of Ayurveda
- Conservation of medicinal plants under threat
- Probiotics and nutraceuticals derived from traditional medicine
- Basic concepts of Ayurveda pharmacology including pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of plant drugs
Ongoing Research Projects / Grants / Specific Research activities:
- Scientific evaluation of marketed substitutes for medicinal plants facing conservation threat
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- Holistic Nutrition Research & Education Program: Develop a scientifically validated iron-rich food with enhanced bio-assimilation
- An exploratory pilot study to evaluate the effects of Ayurveda and yoga health practises on Swasthya (wellness) of the health seekers with special reference to respiratory health
Publications:
- Anjana T., Sania K., Subrahmanya SK. and Vishnuprasad CN. An “Ayurveda-Biology” platform for Integrative Diabetes Management. Journal of Ethnopharmacology
- Padma Venkat, Subrahmanya Kumar, Uma Magal. Rasayana for Childcare- Joy of Herbs and Healing. Partridge India, New Delhi 2015.
- Nagarajan M, Kuruvilla GR, Kumar SK, Venkatasubramanian P. A review of pharmacology of Ativisha, Musta and their substitutes. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2015; 6: 121–133.
- Kumar SK, Shashikumar A, Venkatasubramanian P. Fermented milk products: Probiotics of Ayurveda. J Medical Nutrition and Nutraceuticals 2015; 4:14-21.
- Balasubramani SP, Mohan J, Chatterjee A, Patnaik E, Kumar SK, Nongthomba U and Venkatasubramanian P. Pomegranate juice enhances healthy lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster: an exploratory study. Front. Public Health 2014, 2:245.
- Balasubramani SP, Venkatasubramanian P, Kumar SK, Patwardhan B. Plant-Based Rasayana drugs from Ayurveda. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine 2011; 17(2):88-94.
- Venkatasubramanian P, Kumar SK and Venugopal SN. Cyperus rotundus, a substitute for Aconitum heterophyllum: studies on Ayurvedic concept of Abhava Pratinidhi Dravya (Drug substitutions). Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, January 2010, 1;(1):36-39.
Membership of Professional Bodies:
- Member, Expert committee on Access Benefit Sharing, National Biodiversity Authority
Lab Members:
- Dr. Sankeet Sharma
- Dr. Arun Bhanu
- Ms. Ashwini Elango
- Ms. Seema Gaddigeri
- Dr. Somya Saxena
- Dr. Venkatesh
- Mr. Prasanna Simha