title: Chyawanprash: A review of therapeutic benefits as in authoritative texts and documented clinical literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chyawanprash (CP), a traditional immune booster recipe, has a long history of ethnic origin, development, household preparation and usage. There are even mythological stories about the origin of this recipe including its nomenclature. In the last six decades, CP, because of entrepreneurial actions of some research Vaidyas (traditional doctors) has grown to industrial production and marketing in packed forms to a large number of consumers/patients like any food or health care product. Currently, CP has acquired a large accepted user base in India and in a few countries out-side India.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Authoritative texts, recognized by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of India, describe CP as an immunity enhancer and strength giver meant for improving lung functions in diseases with compromised immunity. This review focuses on published clinical efficacy and safety studies of CP for correlation with health benefits as documented in the authoritative texts, and also briefs on its recipes and processes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Authoritative texts were searched for recipes, processes, and other technical details of CP. Labels of marketing CP products (Indian) were studied for the health claims. Electronic search for studies of CP on efficacy and safety data were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE and DHARA (Digital Helpline for Ayurveda Research Articles), and Ayurvedic books were also searched for clinical studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The documented clinical studies from electronic databases and Ayurvedic books evidenced that individuals who consume CP regularly for a definite period of time showed improvement in overall health status and immunity. However, most of the clinical studies in this review are of smaller sample size and short duration. Further, limitation to access and review significant data on traditional products like CP in electronic databases was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Randomized controlled trials of high quality with larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed to have significant evidence on the clinical use of CP as immunity booster. Additional studies involving measurement of current biomarkers of immunity pre- and post-consumption of the product as well as benefits accruing with the use of CP as an adjuvant are suggested.
authors: Ayurvidye Trust, Giri Nagar, Bengaluru 560085, Karnataka, India. Electronic address: dba.narayana@gmail.com.
authors: D B Anantha
authors: DB
authors: Narayana
authors: Ayurvidye Trust, Giri Nagar, Bengaluru 560085, Karnataka, India.
authors: Sharanbasappa
authors: S
authors: Durg
authors: AVP Research Foundation, Coimbatore 641045, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: P Ram
authors: PR
authors: Manohar
authors: AVP Research Foundation, Coimbatore 641045, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Mahapatra
authors: AVP Research Foundation, Coimbatore 641045, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Aramya
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007194:India; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: C518324:Chyavanprash; D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Ayurvedic recipe; Chyawanprash; Human studies; Immunity