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| BOOK REVIEW |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 33
| Issue : 1 | Page : 76-77 |
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Chyawanprash from Vedic to Genomic Era
RM Sujithra
Department of Literary Research and Academics AVPRF, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| Date of Web Publication | 18-Jun-2014 |
Correspondence Address:
R M Sujithra
Department of Literary Research and Academics AVPRF, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
How to cite this article:
Sujithra R M. Chyawanprash from Vedic to Genomic Era. Ancient Sci Life 2013;33:76-7 |
Author: J. K. Ojha
Editors:
N. B. Brindavanam, R. M. Dobriyal, Nilanjana,
C. K. Katiyar, D. B. A. Narayana
Year: 2003
Pages: 208
Price: INR 600
Binding: Hard Bound
Publisher: Chaukambha Sanskrit Pratishthan
Cyavanaprāśa is a magical name in man's quest for immortality, freedom from disease and delaying old age. Among all the Rasāyana formulations enumerated in the classical and medieval periods, the Cyavanaprāśa undoubtedly stands out as the monarch. This formulation has made major strides as an over the counter product since it was placed in the consumer market in the 1950's. The administration of this formulation is done not only in diseases, but also for the maintenance of positive health. This book contains a well-drawn flow diagram and a precise description of the industrial process used in the commercial manufacturing of the formulation. The strength of this book lies in the fact that the editorial team is made up of experts from multiple disciplines ranging from physician, botanist, pharmacologist, and pharmacist.
This book is the enlarged and enhanced version of the earlier publication in 1978, which was a monograph on the Cyavanaprāśa. The present edition takes the subject further to help the reader understand the formulation in a rigorous scientific framework. Research on the formulation has been summarized with a commendable thoroughness. The contents are organized under five heads viz., antiquity, ingredients, pharmaceutical aspects, pharmacology, and clinical studies on Chyawanprāśa.
Under the chapter “antiquity,” the author explains in detail the concept of Rasāyana and its classification, evolution, the related mythology, the pharmaceutical evolution and the indications along with the appropriate references from classical texts. The ingredients have been tabulated with their quantities from the texts books such as Bhais.ajya Ratnāvali, Shārṅgadhara Sam.hitā, Caraka Sam.hitā, Āyurveda Sāra Saṅgrahah., and The Ayurvedic Formulary of India, which makes it very useful for the clinician and the pharmacist alike. The second chapter deals with the Āyurvedic perspective of the individual ingredients, and their description. The pharmaceutical aspects listed out include the classical method of preparation, details of each herb used with diagrammatic representations, the chemical constituents, pharmacological properties, indications, and the biological activities as explored in published studies. The highlight of this chapter is the standardization (i.e.,) physicochemical characterization, chromatographic studies, thin-layer chromatography fingerprint profile of hexane and chloroform soluble portions and Rf values of hexane and acetone extract of Chyawanprāśa. The fourth chapter emphasizes the pharmacological action from a Āyurvedic perspective, the various experimental studies done with the formulation dealing with the anabolic effects, investigations on the ingredient combination, anti-stress, immunomodulator and antioxidant properties, effect on blood sugar, and the impact of seasons. The main feature of this chapter is the tabulation of the properties of all ingredients, which includes the input quantity, rasa score and index, gun.a score and index, vīrya and vipāka. The book concludes with the various clinical studies conducted on Chyawanprāśa.
This book seems definitely to be an outcome of deep research in modern scientific methodologies combined with complete understanding of the classical Āyurvedic texts. The author frankly admits that he has not ventured into the areas like sales and marketing details as he prefers to remain in the academic zone. Dabur Research Foundation's contributions to Chyawanprāśa have been acknowledged purely from the scientific point of view and do not intend to underestimate the works or research done by other companies or faculties. The author avoids making endorsements or rejections, enumerating merits or demerits that require the judgment of the manufactures and other authorities purely from an academic standpoint.
This book serves as a template and creates a pathway for future research and studies that can be done on other classical formulations.
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