A nutritive review on Shaka Varga in Charaka Samhita

Abstract

The vegetables are described under Shaka Varga in Ayurvedic classical books. Caraka Samhita is the most important repository of Ayurveda classics. In Caraka Samhita, Shaka Varga mentioned under the classification of diet (Food). The Shaka Varga includes Patra Shaka (Green Leafy Vegetables), Kanda Shaka (Rhizome Vegetables), Kaanda Shaka (Stem Vegetables), Pushpa Shaka (Flower Vegetables), Phala Shaka (Fruit Vegetables) etc. Vegetables are also supply vitamins and minerals to the diet and are sources of phytochemicals that function as antioxidants, phytoestrogens, and anti-inflammatory agents. The consumption of these vegetables may play a role in preventing human diseases in which free radicals are involved such as cancer, ageing, cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we describe the existing literature available in Caraka Samhita on Shaka Varga (vegetables). We also review to identify the plants with their botanical identification, properties, therapeutic indications, and chemical constituents. There are some plants in this review study whose botanical identification has not been found.