CORRELATION OF CONCEPT OF AMA AND FREE RADICAL THEORY

AMA: The term Ama is literally means unripped, immature, or incompletely formed is referred in Ayurvedic medicine as the factor, which arise, or event, which follows as consequence of hypo functioning of Agni. The substance, which is not properly digested, disintegrated, foul smelling  excessive in quantity, slimy in nature and produces stiffness of the whole body is known as Ama.Not only the food taken in huge quantity but the qualities like Viruddha ahara, Guru, Ruksha, Vistambhi, Snigdha ahar and Agnimandata also cause in the production of Ama. Consumption food when individual is afflicted with mental upset due to Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Irshaya, Shoka, Bhaya, Lajja, Chinta, Mano Udvega, Manoglani etc are important factors responsible for cause of production of Ama in the body. It possess the property of visa or poison or toxic substance and is responsible for variety of local and systematic disorders. Describing Ama visa as a serious toxic condition comparable to acute stage of poisoning. Acharya Vagabhata observes that it is intensively toxic and may endanger life and as a line of treatment of Ama dosha and visa are opposite kind; the former has to be treated as one of the fatal prognosis. Ama also referred to some such intermediate byproducts of metabolism, which have tendency to create blockage in the micro channels of the body i.e., Strotoavrodha. Thus Ama is essentially is not a single entity but is a category or condition with some common denominator identifiable at any level of thebiological organism.

There are some views suggesting those free radicals are pathologically correlated with Ama. in this regard it is said that property and manifestation of free radical are similar to those of Ama. Free radicals are atoms, ions or molecules that contain an unpaired electron. Thus, they become electrically charged because number of negatively charged electron does not match with positively charged protons. When a molecule looses or gains a single electron in its outer orbit, it becomes free radical. Infact a free radical is defined as “A molecule that can exist independently for a period of time with one or more unpaired electrons.” Free radical are unstable chemicals formed in the body during normal metabolism orexposure to environmental toxins such as air, food and water pollution. Free radical helps our body to generate energy and fight infection but when we have too many free radicals they attack healthy cells causing them to age prematurely. These free radicals and other reactive oxygen species such as Super oxides, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals are molecular species capable of independent existence that contain an unpair electron in an atomic orbital. They are unstable chemical formed in the body and can cause degenerative changes and other diseases like cancer, myocardial infarction etc[6]. Free radical also play an important role in a number biological processes such as intra cellular killing of bacteria by phagocytic cells like granulocyte and macrophage. Superoxide, nitric oxide and their reaction product regulate many processes such as control of vascular tone and then blood pressure. They also play key role in intermediary metabolism of various biological compounds. Such radical can even be messenger in a process dubbed redox reaction. Oxygen and hydrogen peroxide are oxident that are effective bactericidal agent in the conjunction with neutrophils. So above description of free radical show that these species are not only harmful to the body but they are beneficiary too. 

Now the similarities between the Ama and the free radical are as follows :- 

1. Free radical is an atom/molecule that contains one or more unpaired electron, which requires neutralisation by free radical scavengers. Thus it exists in an incomplete metabolic state which is also the state of Ama described as Avipakvam (incompletely digested/metabolised). 

2. Next it is seen that when produed, free radicals are in assimilable to body produced, free radicals are in assimilable to body components and exist in free state. Similar is the case with Ama when it is produced it remains in inassimilable state and hence termed Asamyuktam. 

3. Free radicals cause damage to cell membrane and thus the cell is destroyed. This destruction may lead to purification and foul smell generation, which is similar to one of the property of Ama described as durgandham. 

4. Though Ama remains in the body as Asamyuktam, but due to its properties like Bahupicchilam etc. it sticks to normal healthy body tissues very quickly, similar is the case with free radical. 

5. To seek stability in their structure they quickly attack the healthy molecules of the body and thus setting a chain reaction. The cells throughout body are continuously exposed to these damaging molecules. Same has been described for Ama as sadanamsarvagatranam.From above one can observe that properties of free radicals are similar to the properties of Ama described in classics. 

 

Now the process of production of free radicals in body and production of Ama would be considered. 

1. Such as reduced thiols and flavins, electron transfer etc are few Free radicals are said to be produced in the body in abundance when equilibrium between its generation and body’s primary defense is disturbed. The primary defense of the body includes the activity of certain enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. The impairment of these enzymes can lead to production of free radicals. Similarily Ama is also being produced whenever there is malfunction of Agni in the body. Many modern Ayurvedic scientists consider the action of various enzymes as the action of Agni Therefore it may be concluded that impairment of Angi at cellular level causes the generation of free radicals. 

2. Some exogenous causes are also responsible for free radical production like pollutants dangerous chemicals, certain food products. All these may be termed under the heading of Mithyaharavihara.

3. Certain enzymes produce radicals as intermediary substances, which are supposed to go into further metabolism, but they somehow jump out of the normal metabolic cycle and work as harmful entities. In case of Ama, it is seen that Ama is also an intermediary metabolite in the process of digestion at different levels and if the process is not completed or Ama remains as it is, it becomes harmful to body. 

4. Certain toxic substances like heavy metals also produce free radicals. Ama is also said to be produced from Visaja dravyas. 

5. Processes, which are responsible for free radical production, are studied in detail in modern science. Auto-oxidation, consequent inactivation of small molecules such processes. In Ayurvedic classics the term Agni vikrti is used to describe processes due to which Ama is produced.

Let us consider the site and types of Ama and free radicals. Total number of types of free radicals is still not known. Depending upon the site and method of production, many different forms of free radicals are produced. Ama also cannot be classified into specific types, as each cell of the body has its own Agni and depending upon it, many different types of Ama are produced. Also there is no specific site for production of free radicals and Ama as well. The body contains 100 trillion cells and Ama well as free radicals can be produced in any of these cell. Similarities in production of disease Next important thing is to consider, how does the production of disease occur from both Ama and free radicals. According to Susruta, a disease is produced in six steps viz. Sancaya, Prakopa, Prasara, Sthanasamsrya Vyakti and Bhedadvstha. In case of diseases produced by Ama, Sancaya of Ama is first step. It happens due to impairment of Agni at that place. Similar is the case with free radicals. At certain site due to impairment in action of free radical scavengers, increased production of free radicals takes place. When this Sancaya or accumulation is in small amount it does not cause any harmful effects, but if treatment is not given, this Sancaya exceeds the threshold. Then it starts producing minimal symptoms, this is the state of Prakopa. After this state, Ama goes into circulation, same is the case with free radicals. Now this Ama requires a site for creating disease in form of Khavaigunya, which should be considered as weakness in any body tissue where Ama may be Sthanasamsrya, or many adhere with this tissue or cells. In case of free radicals also, they look for a site, which is weak and can easily take part in electron exchange with them. Therefore depending upon this site of Khavaigunya different diseases are produced in different manner from same root cause, i. e. Ama or free radicals. This is the stage of Sthanasamsrya. Now symptoms of diseases become clear. All pathologies described in modern science are from this stage. In modern science, stages earlier to this are rarely considered. After this stage, pathology at gross level becomes visible. If even at this stage the disease is not treated is not treated it leads to complications, which are described in Ayurvedic classics as Updravas. From above discussion, it becomes clear that the method of production of disease at its basic level is described in similar manner in modern as well as in Ayurvedic literature. The above mentioned process of pathogenesis can be presented in a flow chart as follows: 

 

 Dhatvagni Daurbalya >>> Sancaya of Ama >>> Prasara of ama >>> Sthanasamsrya >>> Site of Khavaigunya >>> Production of Disease

Impaired action of F. R. Scavengers >>> At Increased production of F. Rs. site of production at this site >>> Circulation of F. Rs >>> At the Starts reaction to >>> The weak cell membranes >>Production of disease

Now the similarities between line of treatment of two concepts shall be discussed. For Ama basically three types of procedures are required. First is the use of Langhana (Starvation) which helps in load shedding on Agni and production of Ama is decreased. Second is the use of Dipana dravya, which helps in improving status of Angi and enhancing it action. Next is Pacana, done with Pacana dravyas. Pacana dravyas help in digestion of already produce Ama. In protecting body from free radical damages Antioxident therapy is used which also acts in three ways, as already mentioned, these are : 

First is by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species. This can be achieved by removing causative factors and can be taken as Langhan karma. 

Second is by increasing action of antioxident enzymes like SOD or catalase. This is done by the use of certain drugs, which enhance the action of these coenzymes in other words this may be considered as Dipana karma. 

Third one is the use of certain substances, which help in neutralising free radicals by either donating or accepting electrons from free radicals. Many vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin E have such properties due to which they can take part in electron transfer reactions and can neutralize free radicals. This activity can be compared to Pacana. Therefore, similarity in line of treatment of both concepts is also seen. 

Summing up above explanation it can be conclude that main factor concerned in the formation of Ama is Mandagni (Hypo function of digestive faculty of body). Dietetic indiscretion and emotional stresses contribute to the formation Ama. This may be impaired the effective functioning of the neuro-humoral mechanism responsible for proper secretion of digestive juices. Ama is produces also due to accumulation of byproduct of metabolism as well as metabolic waste not properly eliminated or utilized in the body. Here it is noteworthy that whenever there will be improper metabolism due to impaired functioning of Agni then only Ama will be formed. In modern parlance, Ama may be referred to be free radicals which is intermedially byproduct of metabolism which have tendency block the micro channels of different systems of the body. This can be compared with the accumulation of lipofuscin, amyloid body advanced glycation end product (AGE) and modified protein. This process is an outcome of the derivation of the main metabolic pathway in the direction to form defective metabolism end product. Increase in the normal value of the blood urea, sugar, uric acid etc. may be understood as Ama condition. The entire discussion concludes that various similarities between Ama and free radicals in terms of the general definition, properties, types, site of production, mechanism of producing diseases and the line of treatment of the two concepts, can be found.

Rohit Ranjan1*   , Sanjay Srivastava2 

*

1Lecturer, Dept. of Basic Principle, Sri Sai Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital (SAMC), Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. 

2Reader, Dept. of Rog Nidana, Sri Sai Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital (SAMC), Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. 

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