Studies on Medicinal Plants and Drugs in Saraswatinighantuh

Contents: Preface. Forward/Vd. J.P. Jayatilak. 1. Introduction/Vd. J.P. Jayatilaka. 2. Mahavrksadi. 3. Ksupadi. 4. Ulapadi. 5. Latadi. 6. Candanadi. 7. Bhaktadi. Index of plants and drugs. Index of botanical names, synonyms and drugs etc. Index of Sanskrit synonyms.

"The subject matter of the work is the studies of the medicinal plants recorded in the compilation of Dhanvantari Nighantu. The compilation in one of the oldest available Nighantu and the topmost authority on the subject of Ayurvedic botany and the pharmacodynamical actions of drugs on human body.

The original work of this compilation is the nearest to the classical texts of Ayurveda such as Caraka, Susruta, and Vagbhata, etc. hence the compilation is helpful to know and identify the plants recorded in the classical texts.

To understand the arrangements of the subject (of identification) and confirmation of plants of this nighantu, a particular method is adopted in this work and unless it is carefully studied, the work cannot be understood thoroughly. The author has explained this method under the heading "proforma".

Two chapters with comments by Late Vd. D.K. Kamat were published in 1972 and in 1979. Due to paucity of funds the Sanskrit text was not included at that time. In the present edition all the chapters with Sanskrit text, with different readings from various manuscripts and books, English translation of the text and notes, latest nomenclatures changes of the plants are included."