Abstract

Background: To maintain health, ancient seers developed various unique dosage forms that were considered therapeutic benefits. Drava (acidic or alkaline therapeutic liquid) formulations are one such unique liquid dosage form specifically highlighted in Rasatarangini, an authoritative 20th-century treatise on Rasa Shastra. Information about these Drava formulations is scattered in the above-mentioned texts that need to be compiled for analysis of their therapeutic potential. Materials and Methods: Literature on Drava formulations in Rasatarangini were screened, and complete information pertinent to their preparation, instruments used, and therapeutic indications was compiled. Results: A Total of twenty-five Drava formulations were cited in Rasatarangini. Of these, seventeen formulations involved mixing, eight were prepared through distillation. Compositionally, twenty were mineral-based and five were herbo-mineral. These formulations are advocated for both external application and internal administration in both diluted and concentrated forms. The majority of these Drava formulations are indicated for the management of wounds, gastrointestinal disorders and ophthalmological conditions. Conclusion: Drava is such a unique dosage form, having high therapeutic attributes. In Rasatarangini, these formulations have occupied a significant place owing to their distinctive methods of preparation and broad therapeutic applications. Based on classical descriptions, these formulations hold potential for development into modern pharmaceutical delivery systems such as oral suspensions, topical solutions, ophthalmic preparations and wound-healing agents. Preliminary pharmacological and clinical evaluations are essential to assess their safety and therapeutic efficacy. This review serves as a reference for researchers and practitioners interested in the translational application of Drava formulations described in Rasatarangini.

Key words: Ayurveda, Drava, Dosage form, Rasa Shastra, Rasatarangini