Takrarishta a Potent Ayurvedic Probiotic: Evidence Based Microbial Study

Background: Ayurveda is an ancient healing science and various medicines and formulations are described under this. Sandhan Kalpana (fermentation process) is a unique dosage form in which acidic and alcoholic fermented drugs are prepared. These drugs were called Asavarishta and are used in various diseases related to gastrointestinal disorders and other diseases as mentioned in Charak and Sushruta Samhitas. Probiotics are live or viable microorganisms that, when consumed, provide health benefits to the patients and normal human beings by maintaining and bringing about the balance of the gastrointestinal microbiota. Evidence of its action against various gut disorders have already been mentioned in various Ayurvedic texts. Aims and Objectives: To study probiotic properties of Takrarishta using microbial analysis which include preparation of Takrarishta as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), analyse the Physico-chemical properties of Takrarishta in a designated NABL laboratory following GLPs and to evaluate probiotic bacterial contents of Takrarishta using in-vitro cultivation methods. Materials and Methods: In the present study, Takrarishta has been prepared as mentioned in Ayurvedic Formulary of India and samples are subjected to microbial analysis for the presence of probiotic bacteria. Results and Conclusion: Takrarishta was found to contain viable bacterial and yeast strains, notably Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Streptococcus thermophilus, and Saccharomyce boulardii in par with the quantities required as per WHO criteria and qualified to be called as ―Ayurvedic Probiotic‖.