Article: AYURVEDIC DIETARY MANAGEMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS DUE TO ELEVATED SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE WITH REFERENCE TO RASONA (ALLIUM SATIVUM): A REVIEW

Article Category: Review articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.17266

Pages: 146-150

Author: Gautam Kumar Sinha *, Garima Bhardwaj

Abstract: Cardiovascular disorders remain the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality with emerging metabolic risk factors receiving increasing attention. Among these, elevated plasma homocysteine, known as hyperhomocysteinemia, has been recognized as an independent and modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Increased homocysteine levels contribute to endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and accelerated vascular aging14 through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, reduced nitric oxide bioavailability, inflammation, and disturbances in methylation pathways. Conventional management strategies primarily focus on supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B?, and vitamin B??; however, the role of dietary and lifestyle interventions in long-term cardiovascular protection continues to be an area of active research. Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine, emphasizes disease prevention and health promotion through proper dietary regulation (Ahara), lifestyle discipline (Vihara), and rejuvenative therapy (Rasayana). Rasayana therapy aims to enhance tissue nourishment (Dhatu-poshana), improve metabolic efficiency (Agni), delay the aging process, and prevent degenerative changes, which conceptually correlate with mechanisms involved in cardiovascular pathology due to elevated serum homocysteine. This review aims to explore the biochemical basis of cardiovascular pathology due to elevated serum homocysteine and to analyze Ayurvedic dietary management strategies with special reference to Rasona (Allium sativum), a commonly used dietary and medicinal herb. By integrating classical Ayurvedic concepts with contemporary biomedical and nutritional evidence, this article attempts to provide a comprehensive perspective for the preventive and supportive management of cardiovascular disorders associated with elevated homocysteine levels.

Keyword: Cardiovascular disorder (CVDs), Homocysteine, Low density lipoprotein (LDL), HMG-CoA, Rasona (Allium Sativum).