Yava (barley) is a well-known cereal used as dietary article generally in north India. An Ayurvedic text entails the uses of Yava in religious ceremony, dietary and medicinal preparations. Disease specific dietary measures are the unique concept of Ayurveda. As per Indian traditional drug knowledge, Yava is used for lekhana karma. The drug which reduces or scrapes away the unwanted dhatu (tissue) and mala (metabolic wastes) and thus helpful in removing extra fat (meda dhatu) is known as Lekhana karma. Evaluation of nutritional status was required to check which could be a good nutritional substitute in overweight. The grains were collected, pulverized and analyzed for various physical, chemical, nutritional and organo-leptic qualities. The present paper deals with the physicochemical and nutritional evaluation of yava (Hordeum vulgare Linn.)

Khadira (Acacia catechu Wild, family: Fabaceae and subfamily: Mimosoideae), is considered as one of the most potent medicine used for various skin diseases in Ayurveda. It is widely used herb in Indian traditional system of medicine. The sample of Acacia catechu (Wild.) bark (Khadira Tvaka) collected from market. The diagnostic characters of bark of this plant include astringent and bitterin taste, odourless, light brown or brownin colour, Tracheid, Fiber, Calcium oxalate crystals and Starch grains. Physicochemical studies revealed moisture content (2.88%), pH value (5.6), alcohol (3.00%) and water soluble extractive value (3.09%), total ash (1.24%), acid insoluble (0.34%) and water soluble ash (0.89%). Preliminary analysis of various functional groups revealed the presence of carbohydrate, alkaloids, amino acids, protein, saponin, phenolic compound, tannins and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) etc. The information generated by this particular study will provide relevant Pharmacognostical and physicochemical data needed for proper identification, authentication, purity, safety and efficacy of the drug.

Triphala is used in the traditional Indian system of medicine. The fruit of three together is called Triphala and vara, phalatrikam, sresthatamam are its synonyms. It is an antioxidant-rich herbal formulation and possesses diverse beneficial properties. It is a widely prescribed Ayurvedic drug and is used in the ailments of all dosas, stimulates digestive capacity, rasayana and vrisya etc. It is a polyherbal compound. It is necessary to corroborate the consistency of mixing or combining in attribute balance. As per Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI) it is prepared by combining a 1:1:1 mixing of ground dry fruits, called as myrobalans. It shows immunomodulatory properties and helps in improving the body's defense system. In recent years there are several studies which suggest that Triphala possesses anti-mutagenic, radio protecting and antioxidant activity and beneficial in diseases conditions.

Ayurvedic texts glorify the concept of Aahar (food). Acharya Kashyap has quoted that there is no medicine like food. Only a well-balanced diet can cure numerous diseases, sometimes even good medicines are unable to cure certain diseases without balanced diet, that's why food is said to be most important medicine. Today there is increasing public awareness of the importance of diet for the maintenance and promotion of health. A properly selected diet and diet plan plays a critical importance in the management of any disease. Yava is a cereal using since ancient period. It not only provides nutrition but also having many medicinal properties too. This paper reviews the botanical identity of Yava, its traditional, folklore uses, action, pharmacological activities along with agronomy practices.

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