Hrisvapanchamool: A Potential Ayurvedic Formulation for Management of Balshosha (Primary acute malnutrition)
Abstract
Hrisvapanchamool, a classical Ayurvedic formulation, has been extensively documented for its therapeutic benefits, particularly in treating conditions related to Balshosha (Primary acute malnutrition). Ayurveda emphasizes balancing doshas and strengthening dhatus for optimal health, especially in diseases like Balshosha, where Kapha and Vata are primarily affected. Hrisvapanchamool consists of the roots of five medicinal plants—Shalparni (Desmodium gangeticum), Prishnaparni (Uraria picta), Brihati (Solanum indicum), Kantakari (Solanum verginianum), and Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris). These herbs exhibit properties such as Deepan (digestive stimulant), Pachan (digestive), Balya (strengthening), and Rasayana (rejuvenating), making them beneficial for promoting healthy metabolism and immunity in malnourished children. A systematic literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, DHARA, and classical Ayurvedic texts, including Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. Studies on the individual components of Hrisvapanchamool indicate their efficacy in addressing inflammation, respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal ailments, and immune deficiencies. Research highlights the phytochemical constituents of these herbs, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins, which contribute to their therapeutic potential. Furthermore, modern pharmacological studies support the formulation’s role in enhancing nutritional status and alleviating symptoms of malnutrition. This review underscores the relevance of Hrisvapanchamool in pediatric malnutrition management and its potential for integration into contemporary therapeutic approaches.
Keywords:
Hrisvapanchamool, Balshosha, Primary acute malnutrition, Phytochemical constituents, Pharmacological studies
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References
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35. Bhattacharjee A, Shashidhara SC, Saha S. Phytochemical and ethno-pharmacological profile of Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC: a review. Int J Biomed Res. 2013;4(10):507-15.
36. Shastry JLN. The Text Book of Dravya Guna Vijanana. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2018. p. 236.
37. Saxena HO, Soni A, Mohammad N, Choubey SK. Phytochemical screening and elemental analysis in different plant parts of Uraria picta Desv.: A Dashmul species. J Chem Pharm Res. 2014;6:756-60.
38. Methanolic extracts of callus showed strong antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria as compared to leaf and root extracts.
39. Burkhill 1985, Kirtikar et al. 1993, Yusuf et al. 1994, Singh et al. 2002, Khare 2007.
40. Pandey VN, Srivastava AK. Yield and in vitro nutritional quality of some leguminous seed protein isolates. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 1991 Jul;41(3):247-51. doi: 10.1007/BF02196393. PMID: 1924188.
41. Shastry JLN. The Text Book of Dravya Guna Vijanana. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2018. p. 70.
42. Cowan MM. Plant products as antimicrobial agents. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1999;12:564–82.
43. Deb PK, Ghosh R, Chakraverty R, Debnath R, Das L, Bhakta T. Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of fruits of Solanum indicum Linn. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res. 2014 Mar;25(2):28-32.
44. J Trop Med Public Health. 2011;1:96-107.
45. Shastry JLN. The Text Book of Dravya Guna Vijanana. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2018. p. 149.
46. Barik CS, Parida N, Sahu D, Sahoo AR. Solanum surattense evaluation of anthelmintic activity. J Pharma Adv Res. 2018;1(5):240-6.
47. Gupta S, Mal M, Bhattacharya P. Evaluation of hyperglycemic potential of Solanum xanthocarpum fruit in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Eur Bull Drug Res. 2005;13:51-55.
48. Yadav A, Bhardwaj R, Sharma RA. Free radical scavenging potential of the Solanum surattense Burn F., an important medicinal plant. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2014;6(3):39-42.
49. Shastry JLN. The Text Book of Dravya Guna Vijanana. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2018. p. 96.
50. Sangeeta D, Sidhu H, Thind SK, Nath R. Effect of Tribulus terrestris on oxalate metabolism in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 1994;44:61-6.
51. Aggarwal A, Tandon S, Kumar Singla S, Tandon C. A novel antilithiatic protein from Tribulus terrestris having cytoprotective potency. Protein Pept Lett. 2012;19:812-9.
52. Al-Bayati FA, Al-Mola HF. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of different parts of Tribulus terrestris L. growing in Iraq. J Zhejiang Univ Sci. 2008;9(2):154-9.
53. Mohammed MJ. Biological activity of saponins isolated from Tribulus terrestris (fruit) on growth of some bacteria. Tikrit J Pure Sci. 2008;13.
2. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and ICF. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21: India. Mumbai: IIPS; 2021.
3. United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). IMAM Guidelines final version [Internet]. Uganda: UNICEF; [cited 2025 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/uganda/IMAM_Guidelines_final_version.pdf
4. World Health Organization. The optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding: report of an expert consultation. Geneva: WHO; 2001.
5. Mitra J, Sharma SP. Astang Samgraha Sasilekha Sanskrit Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Krishnadas Academy; 2006. p. 643.
6. Chaturvedi GN, Shastri KN. Charak Samhita Vidyotani Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharti Academy; 2018. Sutra Sthan 4/38. p. 69.
7. Shastri AD. Susrut Samhita Ayurveda Tattva Sandipika Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan; 2016. Sharir Sthan 4/62. p. 49.
8. Tripathi BN, editor. Nirmala Hindi Commentary on Ashtanga Hridaya of Acharya Vagbhata. 13th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan; 2000. Uttarasthana Chap. 1/20. p. 375.
9. Chaturvedi GN, Shastri KN. Charak Samhita Vidyotani Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharti Academy; 2018. Chikitsa Sthan 1/43-76. p. 486-487.
10. Chaturvedi GN, Shastri KN. Charak Samhita Vidyotani Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharti Academy; 2018. Chikitsa Sthan 4/96. p. 194.
11. Chaturvedi GN, Shastri KN. Charak Samhita Vidyotani Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharti Academy; 2018. Chikitsa Sthan 5/97. p. 214.
12. Chaturvedi GN, Shastri KN. Charak Samhita Vidyotani Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharti Academy; 2018. Chikitsa Sthan 7/81. p. 262.
13. Shastri AD. Susrut Samhita Ayurveda Tattva Sandipika Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan; 2016. Chikitsa Sthan 1/77. p. 12.
14. Chaturvedi GN, Shastri KN. Charak Samhita Vidyotani Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharti Academy; 2018. Chikitsa Sthan 28/121. p. 799.
15. Chaturvedi GN, Shastri KN. Charak Samhita Vidyotani Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharti Academy; 2018. Chikitsa Sthan 29/70. p. 828.
16. Mitra J, Sharma SP. Astang Samgraha Sasilekha Sanskrit Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Krishnadas Academy; 2006. Chikitsa Sthan 6/13. p. 463.
17. Mitra J, Sharma SP. Astang Samgraha Sasilekha Sanskrit Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Krishnadas Academy; 2006. Chikitsa Sthan 7/20. p. 469.
18. Gupta KT. Astanga Hridaya Vidyotani Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Prakashan; 2018. Chikitsa Sthan 1/61. p. 395.
19. Gupta KT. Astanga Hridaya Vidyotani Hindi Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Prakashan; 2018. Chikitsa Sthan 11/7. p. 502.
20. Mitra J, Sharma SP. Astang Samgraha Sasilekha Sanskrit Commentary. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Krishnadas Academy; 2006. Chikitsa Sthan 21/15. p. 425.
21. Ghildiyal S, Gautam MK, Joshi VK, Goel RK. Wound healing and antimicrobial activity of two classical formulations of Laghupanchamula in rats. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2015 Oct;6(4):241.
22. Mohan PK, Krishna TP, Kumar TS, Kumari BD. Pharmaco-chemical profiling of Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC. Futur J Pharm Sci. 2021;7(1):210. doi: 10.1186/s43094-021-00356-7.
23. Burkhill HM. Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd ed. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens; 1985.
24. Pandey VN, Srivastava AK. Yield and in vitro nutritional quality of some leguminous seed protein isolates. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 1991 Jul;41(3):247-51. doi: 10.1007/BF02196393. PMID: 1924188.
25. Barik CS, Parida N, Sahu D, Sahoo AR. Solanum surattense evaluation of anthelmintic activity. J Pharma Adv Res. 2018;1(5):240-6.
26. Gupta S, Mal M, Bhattacharya P. Evaluation of hyperglycemic potential of Solanum xanthocarpum fruit in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Eur Bull Drug Res. 2005;13:51-55.
27. Yadav A, Bhardwaj R, Sharma RA. Free radical scavenging potential of Solanum surattense Burn F. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2014;6(3):39-42.
28. Ali A. Assay of nutritional potential of the fruits of Solanum indicum L. J Agric Technol. 2012;8(3):923-929.
29. Pokrywka A, et al. Insights into supplements with Tribulus terrestris used by athletes. J Hum Kinet. 2014;41:99-105. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2014-0037.
30. Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha. Database on medicinal plants used in Ayurveda and Siddha. Vol. 8. New Delhi: CCRAS; 2007.
31. Shastry JLN. The Text Book of Dravya Guna Vijanana. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2018. p. 262.
32. Mohan PK, Krishna TP, Kumar TS, Kumari BD. Pharmaco-chemical profiling of Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC. with special reference to soil chemistry. Futur J Pharm Sci. 2021;7(1):210. doi: 10.1186/s43094-021-00356-7. Epub 2021 Oct 17. PMID: 34692854; PMCID: PMC8520758.
33. Vedpal P, SP D, Basavan D, MVNL C, Unni J. Pharmacognostical characterization, phytochemical screening and fingerprint profile of the plant Desmodium gangeticum DC. Int J Pharmacogn Phytochem Res. 2016;8:1271-7.
34. Vedpal P, SP D, Basavan D, MVNL C, Unni J. Pharmacognostical characterization, phytochemical screening and fingerprint profile of the plant Desmodium gangeticum DC. Int J Pharmacogn Phytochem Res. 2016;8:1271-77.
35. Bhattacharjee A, Shashidhara SC, Saha S. Phytochemical and ethno-pharmacological profile of Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC: a review. Int J Biomed Res. 2013;4(10):507-15.
36. Shastry JLN. The Text Book of Dravya Guna Vijanana. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2018. p. 236.
37. Saxena HO, Soni A, Mohammad N, Choubey SK. Phytochemical screening and elemental analysis in different plant parts of Uraria picta Desv.: A Dashmul species. J Chem Pharm Res. 2014;6:756-60.
38. Methanolic extracts of callus showed strong antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria as compared to leaf and root extracts.
39. Burkhill 1985, Kirtikar et al. 1993, Yusuf et al. 1994, Singh et al. 2002, Khare 2007.
40. Pandey VN, Srivastava AK. Yield and in vitro nutritional quality of some leguminous seed protein isolates. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 1991 Jul;41(3):247-51. doi: 10.1007/BF02196393. PMID: 1924188.
41. Shastry JLN. The Text Book of Dravya Guna Vijanana. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2018. p. 70.
42. Cowan MM. Plant products as antimicrobial agents. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1999;12:564–82.
43. Deb PK, Ghosh R, Chakraverty R, Debnath R, Das L, Bhakta T. Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of fruits of Solanum indicum Linn. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res. 2014 Mar;25(2):28-32.
44. J Trop Med Public Health. 2011;1:96-107.
45. Shastry JLN. The Text Book of Dravya Guna Vijanana. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2018. p. 149.
46. Barik CS, Parida N, Sahu D, Sahoo AR. Solanum surattense evaluation of anthelmintic activity. J Pharma Adv Res. 2018;1(5):240-6.
47. Gupta S, Mal M, Bhattacharya P. Evaluation of hyperglycemic potential of Solanum xanthocarpum fruit in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Eur Bull Drug Res. 2005;13:51-55.
48. Yadav A, Bhardwaj R, Sharma RA. Free radical scavenging potential of the Solanum surattense Burn F., an important medicinal plant. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2014;6(3):39-42.
49. Shastry JLN. The Text Book of Dravya Guna Vijanana. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 2018. p. 96.
50. Sangeeta D, Sidhu H, Thind SK, Nath R. Effect of Tribulus terrestris on oxalate metabolism in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 1994;44:61-6.
51. Aggarwal A, Tandon S, Kumar Singla S, Tandon C. A novel antilithiatic protein from Tribulus terrestris having cytoprotective potency. Protein Pept Lett. 2012;19:812-9.
52. Al-Bayati FA, Al-Mola HF. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of different parts of Tribulus terrestris L. growing in Iraq. J Zhejiang Univ Sci. 2008;9(2):154-9.
53. Mohammed MJ. Biological activity of saponins isolated from Tribulus terrestris (fruit) on growth of some bacteria. Tikrit J Pure Sci. 2008;13.
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31/05/2025
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R. Sharma, S. Gupta, K. Vijendra, and A. Chaurasia, “Hrisvapanchamool: A Potential Ayurvedic Formulation for Management of Balshosha (Primary acute malnutrition)”, Int J Indig Herb Drug, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 19-26, May 2025.
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