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Review Article
The scientific basis of rasa (taste) of
a substance as a tool to explore its
pharmacological behavior
Sudipta Kumar Rath, Asit Kumar Panja1, Lalit Nagar, Ashashri Shinde,
Departments of Dravyaguna and 1Basic Principles, National Institute of yurveda, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
ABSTRACT
Background: Arational and welldeveloped pharmacological basis
forms the foundation of therapeutics in Ayurveda. The principles and
theories of Ayurveda need to be validated in the scientific context
in order to harness the millennia old knowledge. Rasa(taste) of
the substance is the foremost tool in Ayurveda to assess and
determine the pharmacological properties and actions of the
substance. Similarity in rasa is said to signify similar structure
and consequently similar pharmacological behavior. Depending on
skills developed over the course of longterm clinical experience
one, can register the minute variations in rasa of substances and
accordingly the possible variations in pharmacological actions.
Thus, rasa can be used as a scientific tool in the drug discovery
process to limit and focus the target areas.
Aim: To sensitize scientific community to the utility of rasa as a
tool in the process of drug discovery.
Materials and Methods: All relevant ancient and contemporary
literature was reviewed critically to form a scientific basis of the
Ayurvedic concept of rasa as a tool to identify the pharmacological
behavior of a substance.
Conclusion: The review finds that rasa(taste) can be used as a
guide to identify potential targets in drug discovery.
KEY WORDS: Ayurveda, drug discovery, mahbhta, rasa, taste
INTRODUCTION
T he Ayurvedic understanding of physiology, pathology
and pharmacology is subtle and holistic in nature.
Dravyagua, the Ayurvedic science of medicine in its all
aspects, uses rasa(taste) of the substance as the primary
tool to assess the pharmacological behavior of any
substance. There are five concepts of the substance namely
rasa (taste), gua(properties), vrya(potency), vipka (rasa
after digestion and metabolism) and prabhva (specific
pharmacological effect), which determine and explain
the pharmacological behavior of a substance.[1] These
five principles are nothing but manifestations of five
mahbhtas in specific states of activation. Therefore,
198 Ancient Science of Life / Apr-Jun 2014 / Vol 33 / Issue 4
these principles do indicate the structural and consequent
activity of any substance.
In an era when new drug discovery is becoming more
challenging, and the cost of conventional processes of new
drug discovery is becoming prohibitively high, the current
world is looking forward to new methodologies for effective
drug discovery. The drug discovery process has come a
full circle from natural products to synthetic products
and now back to natural products. The process has moved
from galenical to genomical. The initial drug leads were
from the natural products and ancient wisdom. Prominent
plant derived medicinal compounds like reserpine, quinine,
vincristine, vinblastine, pilocarpine, paclitaxel, colchicum,
etc., formed a major part of the modern pharmacopeia. But
pharmaceutical research took a major leap with advances in
synthetic organic chemistry and drug discovery followed
predominantly a laboratory to people approach. Gradually,
the success rate in drug discovery has gone down making
the cost and time involved to be prohibitively high.
Therefore, a more specific target based drug discovery is
being sought after. The ancient wisdom documented in
traditional systems like Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, etc.,
are significantly big repositories containing documented
knowledge of clinical uses of plants. Therefore, they are now
looked upon to provide leads in order to initiate a focused
search in drug discovery. Thus, the old has become the new
new. Reverse pharmacological process is being talked
about a lot for an alternate and quicker drug discovery
process.[2]
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Rath, etal.: Rasa(taste)A tool to explore pharmacology
Normally, the clinical uses of medicinal plants described in
Ayurveda are taken for drawing the leads. But, the authors
believe that the fundamental principles of Ayurvedic
pharmacology has more potential to offer solutions as
Ayurveda has more in it than a collection of uses of plants
or natural products. Ayurvedic principles like rasa can offer
leads to possible pharmacological applications of substances
as these principles are a timetested basis of drug indications
and their mechanism of actions.
STRUCTURE: ACTIVITY LINKAGE IN AYURVEDA
AND PACA MAHBHTA THEORY
Pharmacological basis of drug action revolves around the
universal pharmacological principle that similar structures
have similar pharmacological activity. Conversely, if the
structure of a substance is known, then its pharmacological
behavior can be inferred. Conventional pharmacology uses
chemical structure as the basis for pharmacological basis of
drug action. Ayurveda uses Pacamahbhta theory as the
fundamental basis of drug action.
Each and every substance in this universe is considered
to be made up of Pacamahbhta.[3] Although, for easier
understanding the term bhta has been translated as basic
elements, elementary particles, etc., but Vedic knowledge
conceptualized the bhta, not entirely on a material basis.
Bhtas are entities that can be perceived by the Jnendriyas
and thus have a holistic sense much beyond the material
basis. The bhtas have practical applications in Ayurveda.
Aset of properties and actions is attributed to each of these
mahbhtas,[4] one or some or all of which can be manifested
in a substance when the mahbhtas are present in a state
of activation.[5] Mere presence of mahbhta will not lead
to the manifestation of properties and actions, but the
utkara (activated/advantageous state) of mahbhtas is
fundamental to the expression of properties and actions.
For example, if a substance produces heaviness in the body,
then it is understood that pthv mahbhta is present in an
activated state in it.[6]
STRUCTURE: ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP IN
MODERN PHARMACOLOGY
Modern pharmacology evolves around a central axiom that
the activity of a chemical is reflected in its chemical structure.
A chemical structure includes molecular geometry,
electronic structure and crystal structure of molecules.
Molecular geometry refers to the spatial arrangement of
atoms in a molecule and the chemical bonds that hold the
atoms together. Molecular geometry can range from the
Ancient Science of Life / Apr-Jun 2014 / Vol 33 / Issue 4
very simple, such as diatomic oxygen or nitrogen molecules,
to the very complex, such as protein or DNA molecules.
Both qualitative and quantitative structureactivity
relationship(QSAR) determines the biological activity of
the substance and defines those alterations in structure that
can change the overall properties of a compound.
Combinatorial chemistry deals with QSAR that includes
optimization of the lead compound, that is, modification
of the functional groups of the lead compound. The
modifications are carried out in order to improve its
recognition, affinity and binding geometries of the
pharmacophoric groups for the targeted site(a receptor or
enzyme); its pharmacokinetics or its reactivity and stability
toward metabolic degradation that are responsible for its
ability to interact with a particular active site.
Alterations in alkyl chains(chain length, branching and
rings) of lead compound
By keeping R1 and R3 constant as OH and by modifying
R 3 with various functional groups quite different,
pharmacological properties are attained[Table1]. Similarly,
an increase in polarity increases negative inductive effect
whereas a decrease in polarity results in a positive inductive
effect[Image 1].
Table1: Functional group modification and change in activity
R2 modification Pharmacological property
CH3 Analgesic property
CH2CH3 Decrease opioid agonist activity
CH2CH2CH3 Increase opioid antagonistic activity
CH2CH2CH2CH3 Inactivate as opioid agonist and
antagonistic activity
CH2CH2benzene ring 14 potancy of morphine
Image 1: Example: Morphine
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Rath, etal.: Rasa(taste)A tool to explore pharmacology
Drug discovery often involves the use of
threedimensionalQSAR to identify chemical structures
that could have good inhibitory effects on specific targets
and have low toxicity (nonspecific activity). Of special
interest is the prediction of partition coefficient log P, which
is an important measure used in identifying druglikeness
according to Lipinskis rule of five.
While many QSAR analyses involve the interactions of a
family of molecules with an enzyme or receptor binding site,
QSAR can also be used to study the interactions between the
structural domains of proteins. Proteinprotein interactions
can be quantitatively analyzed for structural variations
resulted from sitedirected mutagenesis.
RASA
Rasa, roughly corresponds to taste in English. Ayurvedic
pharmacology has the concept that helps exploring and
verifying pharmacological behavior of a substance based on
its rasa. Rasa is quite larger a concept than taste, where taste
is only the first tool to enter into a larger concept.
Rasa is defined as a knowledge perceived through
Rasan Indriya (roughly gustatory sensation) located
at Jihv (tongue).[7] Caraka says rasa is experienced the
moment a substance comes into contact with the tongue.[8]
Caraka further states that the clearly perceived knowledge
is only the rasa of the substance. Any other perception
like those which happen afterwards or mildly are termed
anurasa(a sequel to the main rasa).[9]
In Ayurveda, rasa has not been limited to the sensory
knowledge through the taste buds but it has also been
attributed certain actions which can be linked to the
flavors experienced by means of retronasal olfaction and
chemesthesis irritation. Thus, rasa refers to a complex
totality of experience arising from all the perceptory
interactions of the material with sensors in the mouth and
nasal passages, taste buds, olfactory and chemesthetic
receptors.[10]
Caraka goes on to state that the rasa can be different in fresh
condition and dry form of the same substance.[11] Further,
the same substance having different rasa in fresh and dry
condition have different pharmacological properties in those
conditions. For example, Piper longum Linn. is Madhura
in fresh condition, whereas in dry form it is Katu and
accordingly fresh P. longum is heavier to digest(guru) than
dry P. longum which is easy to digest(laghu).[12] Therefore,
it is obvious that since rasa indicates the pharmacological
behavior of the substance as and when the substance is
200 Ancient Science of Life / Apr-Jun 2014 / Vol 33 / Issue 4
presented before the user, rasa can be used as a tool to test
the substance in use.
Rasa has been used to guide the nourishment of the body.
Adiet comprising of all the six rasas is said to be the ideal
one, indicating that all components required for a living
system can be incorporated under the six rasas. Suruta
says, the strength, complexion, immunity, etc., of a living
system is under the control of diet which in turn is under
control of the six rasas.[13]
BASIS OF RASA BEING USED AS THE FORE
MOST TOOL IN AYURVEDIC DRUG DISCOVERY
Ayurveda uses four pramas or fundamental tools to acquire
and test knowledge, viz. ptopadea (textual evidence),
pratyaka(knowledge acquired through ones own senses),
anumna(inference) and yukti (rational derivation).[14,15]
Logically, these tools are also extended to assess and
verify the pharmacological properties and actions of the
substances. ptopadea is the foremost tool of knowledge
as these are time tested facts established after undergoing
several verifications. But, pratyaka is the most important
tool at the individual level in the absence of prior
knowledge of the phenomenon. [16] Pratyaka is the
subjective knowledge perceived by the individual
owing to an effective contact between tma(the seat of
knowledge), indriya (sensory organ), manas(mind) and
artha(subject of the sensory organ) at the moment of this
contact.[17] Therefore, there can be five types of pratyaka
knowledge perceived through five sensory organs. Thus,
rasa(taste), which perceived through rasanendriya located
at jihv (tongue). Since pratyaka is an instantaneous
knowledge before any application of analysis by the
individual, it is an unbiased knowledge. Since unbiased
observation is the foremost requirement of any scientific
process, rasa is used as the first tool of drug discovery in
Ayurveda. Secondly, among all indriyas(sensory organs),
rasanendriya is the point where the substance undergoes
significant chemical interaction with the body. This makes
rasanendriya and its knowledge, rasa as the best available
tool to suggest chemical picture of the substance. Since
pharmacological behavior of the substance depends
on the chemical picture of the substance, rasa can best
reflect the pharmacological behavior of the substance.
As will be further revealed, rasa indirectly indicates the
pharamacological behavior of the substance but directly
reflects the mahbhautika state of the substance. Thirdly,
maximum of Ayurvedic medicines are administered
through oral route, where the first point of interaction is
the Tongue. It is logical to have a tool at the earliest point
to assess the substance. Therefore, rasa has been preferred
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Rath, etal.: Rasa(taste)A tool to explore pharmacology
to other sensory organs in assessment and verification of
pharmacological behavior of any substance.
WHAT RASA SIGNIFIES
There are six primary rasas viz. madhura(sweet), amla(sour),
lavaa(salty), kau(hot), tikta(bitter) and kaaya(astringent).[18]
The concept of rasa in Ayurveda includes not only the sensory
knowledge through taste buds but also the trigeminal senses.
Each rasa indicates a distinct mahbhautika status of the
substance.[19] Each rasa signifies mahbhautika utkarat of a
combination of two mahbhtas. Although five mahbhtas
can generate much more than six couplets of utkarshata,
only six rasas are experienced because as Cakrpni says
mahbhtas combine with one another as per their inherent
properties. Also six seasons influence cyclical predominance
of six combinations of mahbhtas[Table2].
The set of properties and actions is attributed to a particular
mahbhta, when it is in an activated state.[4] Thus, by
knowing rasa of a substance one can decipher potential
pharmacological properties and actions of the substance.
For example, if a substance is madhura in rasa, then it is
understood to have pthv and jala mahbhta in an activated
state and thus, the substance is expected to be heavy in
digestion, impart sluggishness to the body, unctuous in
nature and facilitating anabolism, causing compactness
of the body tissues, moistening the body channels, etc.,
When we say something is madhura, then the rasanedriya
jna should point to madhura and/or to something which
has an effect like that of madhura rasa, provided that effect/
action is up to the level of rasa but not at the level of vipka
or resultant of jhargnivypara. Based on these properties,
the substance can be clinically used as general or specific
tonic, purgation, etc.[20]
But, the point to be remembered here is that these are only
hypothetical derivations, and the final pharmacological
behavior of the substance can only be determined after
subjecting it to clinical trial.[21] For developing the tool of
biomarker for rasa, we have to go the fundamental level and
establish humoral activity of Pacamahbhta individually
Table2: Mahabhautik status associated with rasa
Rasa Activated Mahbhtas
Madhura Pthv, Jala
Amla Pthv, Agni
Lavaa Jala, Agni
Kau Vyu, Agni
Tikta Vyu, Pthv
Kaya Vyu, ka
Ancient Science of Life / Apr-Jun 2014 / Vol 33 / Issue 4
and mutually. Invitro study cannot always elicit exact
and acceptable result. It is the authors opinion that till
date, not much work of this kind exists. But, an effort to
build such framework is required. Because, rasa indicates
the mahbhautika state of the substance at the commencing
or initial stage of clinical use, but the bodysubstance
interaction can logically throw up a different mahbhautika
state in later stages. Secondly, the assessment of properties
and actions on the basis of rasa indicates a potential range,
but other pharmacological factors like specific affinity,
antagonism, etc., also decides the final pharmacological
behavior of the substance.
Further, even if six primary rasas are enumerated at a
gross level for common understanding Ayurveda hints at
numerous possible rasa at a subtle level depending upon
the minute combinatorial permutations and combinations
and the interpretation skills of the observer.[22] It seems that
molecules binding to a specific enzyme active site have their
own rasa. But to distinguish this type of rasa a far greater
sensitivity and skill is required.[10]
All these suggest that rasa can be a scientific tool to assess
or provisionally determine potential pharmacological
behavior of any substance. In other words, rasa can indicate
the possible pharmacological actions of a substance. This
has been substantiated by relating the pharmacological
activities of ibuprofen and oleocanthal to their similarities
of taste. Both oleocanthal, from olive oil, and solutions of
Ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, induce
similar strong stinging sensation in the throat through
trigeminal sensory pathway. Despite not being entirely
similar structurally, both molecules are antiinflammatory
and share similar profiles, being cyclooxygenase1(COX1)
and COX2 inhibitors. This is one of the rare scientific
reports noting common pharmacological activity for
compounds with similar taste.[10,23] Further, it must be
recognized that doa, bhta analysis of disease on one hand
and the rasa, bhta analysis of the medicinal substances on
the other is concerned with imbalances and their possible
restoration. These have no analogies in modern medicine
but bhta analysis can be used in recommending appropriate
diet, medicines for a person, and have nothing to do with
the concepts of modern drugs, and still bring the patient
immense medical benefit.
CONCLUSION
Rasa (taste) of a substance can be scientifically used to
hypothesize its pharmacological behavior, which will
reduce the time and cost in a drug discovery process as it
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Rath, etal.: Rasa(taste)A tool to explore pharmacology

can provide lead optimization. This can help intentional
and focused search for safer and effective drugs.
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Address for correspondence:
Dr.Sudipta Kumar Rath,
B45, Gole Market, Jawahar Nagar, Jaipur302004, Rajasthan,
India. Email:sudipt@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Rath SK, Panja AK, Nagar L, Shinde A.
The scientific basis of rasa (taste) of a substance as a tool to explore
its pharmacological behavior. Ancient Sci Life 2014;33:198-202.
Source of Support: Nil. Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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