The journey of Ayurvedic medicines to nutraceuticals | Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer Open Menu Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Home Food Science Publisher Functional Food Center Current Archives About About the Journal Aims and Scope Contact Editing Services Editorial Team Express Peer Review Graphical Abstract Journal Insights Privacy Statement Submissions Announcements Search Search Register Login Home / Archives / Vol. 15 No. 7 (2025): July 2025 / Review Articles The journey of Ayurvedic medicines to nutraceuticals Authors Mehakpreet Kaur Tandra Chakraborty DOI: https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v15i7.1656 Abstract This review examines the historical evolution of the ancient Indian medical system, Ayurveda, through its precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial eras, along with its transformation into the modern framework of nutraceuticals. The article explores how Prakriti and the Tridosha Theory connect to genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, highlighting how doshic imbalances correlate with key molecular pathways involved in inflammation, metabolism, and stress regulation. Integrating traditional Ayurvedic perspectives with biomedical research supports Ayurveda as a promising foundation for advancing personalized healthcare and preventive medicine. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant global shift toward natural, accessible health solutions. This led to substantial growth in the nutraceutical market. Nutraceuticals are  bioactive compounds derived from foods and herbs that provide health benefits by acting as preventive or therapeutic agents in managing chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, and cancer. For example, nutraceuticals such as curcumin, resveratrol, and ashwagandha have been shown to modulate gene expression, influence cellular signaling pathways, and reduce oxidative stress, allowing them to enhance an individual’s disease resilience. Ultimately, this review highlights the continued relevance of Ayurveda in the form of nutraceuticals, advancing holistic and integrative global health.  Keywords: Ayurveda, Tridosha, Prakriti, nutraceuticals, epigenetics, neurodegenerative diseases, preventative healthcare, metabolism, colonialism, stress, holistic medicine Downloads [Abstract] [Full Article] Published 2025-07-24 Issue Vol. 15 No. 7 (2025): July 2025 Section Review Articles License Copyright (c) 2025 Functional Foods in Health and Disease This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Authors retain the copyright of their articles and grant the Functional Food Center (FFC) and its journals the right of first publication under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, including commercial use, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited. Authors may post and share their published work freely, provided that the original publication in this journal is acknowledged. By submitting to this journal, authors confirm that their manuscripts are original, not under consideration elsewhere, and that they hold the necessary rights to grant this license. The Functional Food Center encourages open scientific exchange and allows derivative and extended works, provided attribution to the original publication is maintained. About the Journal      Editing Services      Graphical Abstract      Journal Insights        Submissions        Editorial Team       Privacy Statement        Contact        Current        Archives   Open Journal Systems Hosting and Support by: OpenJournalSystems.com