Brahma Rasayana
Brahma Rasayana is a classical Ayurvedic rasayana, a rejuvenative preparation. Referenced in classical Ayurvedic pharmacopoeias; listed in Ayurvedic Formulary of India; manufactured by multiple GMP-certified companies (Dabur, Kottakkal). The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 3:20) lists 46 ingredients, beginning with Pathya, Dhatriphala, Bilva and Syonaka.
| Also known as | Brahma Rasayana, BrahmaRasayana |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Referenced in classical Ayurvedic pharmacopoeias; listed in Ayurvedic Formulary of India; manufactured by multiple GMP-certified companies (Dabur, Kottakkal) |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 3:20 (BRAHMA RASAYANA), which cites Astangahrdaya, Uttarasthana, Adhyaya 39; 15-19%.. Names, parts and quantities are transcribed as printed and checked row by row against the book. Manufacturers' versions of a classical formulation can differ from the formulary.
| # | Ingredient | Part | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pathya (haritaki) | pericarp | 1000 in number. |
| 2 | Dhatriphala | pericarp | 3000 in number |
| 3 | Bilva | root or stem bark | 480 g. |
| 4 | Syonaka | root or stem bark | 480 g. |
| 5 | Gambhari | root or stem bark | 480g. |
| 6 | Patali (patala) | root or stem bark | 480 g. |
| 7 | Ganikarika (agnimantha) | root or stem bark | 480 g. |
| 8 | Salaparni * | illegible | 480 g. |
| 9 | [illegible: OCR 'रिशा'] * | illegible | 480 g. |
| 10 | Brhati | PI. | 480 g. |
| 11 | Kantakari | PI. | 480 g. |
| 12 | Goksura | root | 480 g. |
| 13 | Bala | root | 480 g. |
| 14 | Punarnava (rakta punarnava) | root | 480 g. |
| 15 | Eranda | root | 480 g. |
| 16 | Masaparni | illegible | 480 g. |
| 17 | Mudgaparni | illegible | 480 g. |
| 18 | Satavari * | root | 480 g. |
| 19 | Meda | root tuber | 480 g. |
| 20 | Jivanti * | illegible | 480 g. |
| 21 | Jivaka | root tuber | 480 g. |
| 22 | Rsabhaka | root tuber | 480 g. |
| 23 | Sali | root | 480 g. |
| 24 | Kasa | root | 480 g. |
| 25 | Sara | root | 480 g. |
| 26 | Darbha | root | 480 g. |
| 27 | Iksu | root | 480 g. |
| 28 | Water for decoction * | 120 l. reduced to 12 l. | |
| 29 | Tvak * | illegible | 192 g. |
| 30 | Ela (stksmaila) * | seed | 192 g. |
| 31 | Musta * | rhizome | 192 g. |
| 32 | Rajani (haridra) | rhizome | 192g. |
| 33 | Pippali * | fruit | 192 g. |
| 34 | Agaru * | heart wood | 192 g. |
| 35 | Candana (Sveta candana) | heart wood | 192g. |
| 36 | Mandukaparni * | illegible | 192 g. |
| 37 | Kanaka (nagakesara) * | stamens | 192 g. |
| 38 | Sankhapuspi * | illegible | 192 g. |
| 39 | Vaca | rhizome | 192g. |
| 40 | Plava (kaivartamusta) | rhizome | 192g. |
| 41 | Yastyahvaya (yasti) | root | 192g. |
| 42 | Vidanga | fruit | 192g. |
| 43 | Sitopala | 48.00 kg. | |
| 44 | Sarpi (ghrta) | 9. 219 kg. | |
| 45 | Taila (tila) | oil | 6.144 kg. |
| 46 | Ksaudra (madhu) | 15.360 kg. |
Cells marked illegible are damaged in the source scan. The ingredient name is shown where it was readable, and nothing is inferred to fill a gap.
* The scanned text was damaged at this row and the name was read from the entry's own Sanskrit verse.
The Formulary gives the dose as 12 g, with anupana, the vehicle it is taken with, of water, milk. This is what the Formulary records for the classical preparation. It is not a dose for any product, and not advice to take anything.
The evidence at a glance
11papers on this site for this drug, published 2001 to 2016, 6 with a DOI.
- 11Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Brahma Rasayana |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana (Rasayana Adhyaya - two formulations described); Rasatarangini by Govind Das (16th century CE); Bhavaprakasha Nighantu; classified under Medhya Rasayana
How does it work?
- Bacosides (from Brahmi) modulate cholinergic neurotransmission, enhancing synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation
- Withanolides (from Ashwagandha) provide neuroprotective action through reduced oxidative markers in hippocampus
- Guduchi fractions upregulate IL-2 production, enhancing immune surveillance and reducing neuroinflammation
- Combined antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, catalase) increased by Brahmi and Ashwagandha extracts protects against age-related neuronal damage
- Anti-acetylcholinesterase activity preserves acetylcholine levels in brain, supporting cognitive function in aging
- Classical rasayana doctrine describes multi-herb Rasayanas as promoting Ojas (vital essence) and longevity through rejuvenation of all Dhatus
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Medhya (cognitive enhancement/memory): traditionally used for memory and cognition. Clinical studies have reported improvement in memory recall and MMSE scores.
- Vayasthapana (anti-aging/longevity): traditionally used for longevity and healthy aging. Studies have reported antioxidant and neuroprotective activity in relation to age-related neural damage.
- Smriti Vriddhi (memory improvement): traditionally used for memory improvement. Animal studies have reported memory restorative activity.
- Ojas Vardhana (vital energy): traditionally used to build vital energy. Laboratory studies have reported immunomodulatory activity, including IL-2 upregulation, and adaptogenic effects.
What do recent studies show?
- Joshi H, Parle M 2006. Brahmi rasayana improves learning and memory in mice. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 16550227 · doi:10.1093/ecam/nek014
Brahma Rasayana improved learning and memory in mice models, proving useful as a memory restorative agent potentially applicable in dementia treatment
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. Classical formulations are researched largely in journals that PubMed does not index, so an absence here reflects the reach of the index rather than the state of the evidence.
Recent safety updates
- High sugar/honey content requires monitoring in diabetic patients; adjust vehicle accordingly
What is it made of?
The Ayurvedic Formulary of India recipe, every ingredient with its part and quantity, is in the composition table near the top of this page.
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Avaleha/Rasayana (semi-solid confection), Capsules (modern), Granules (modern)
Standard Dosage: 12 g twice daily on empty stomach with milk, as given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 3:20. The formulary’s anupana: water, milk. The formulary attributes this formula to Astangahrdaya, Uttarasthana, Adhyaya 39; 15-19½.
Optimal Timing: Early morning on empty stomach and/or before bedtime, for long-term Rasayana therapy (minimum 3-6 months)
Storage: Store in wide-mouth glass or food-grade jars with airtight lids in a cool, dry place. Temperature not exceeding 25°C. Protect from moisture and light.
Marker Compounds: Bacoside A, Bacoside B, Piperine, Gallic acid, Ascorbic acid, Beta-asarone (from Vacha, within safe limits), Withanolide A
Vehicle (Anupana): Warm milk (classically prescribed)
Synergistic Combinations
- Brahmi Ghritam
- Saraswatarishta
- Ashwagandha Churna
- Shankhapushpi Syrup
- Medhya Rasayana herbs
What manufacturers publish about this preparation
Disclosure first. This site is published by Age Ayurveda, which sells Ayurvedic products, though not this preparation. Every cell states what that company's own product page carried when it was read, not our judgement of it. There is no score, no rank and no winner here, and the table is in alphabetical order for that reason.
The formulary entry above fixes the ingredients and the quantity of each. Whether you can check a particular product against it depends on what its manufacturer publishes. Of the 4 companies surveyed that sell a product under this name, this is what their pages carried when they were read on 8 October 2026.
| Company | What its product page publishes |
|---|---|
| AVN Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Sitaram Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| SNA Oushadhasala | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
This measures what each company publishes, not the quality of anything it makes. A company that publishes nothing here may make an excellent preparation, and the label in the box is a separate, regulated surface that is not what was read. What disclosure changes is whether a reader, a pharmacist or an answer engine can check a product against the formulary entry it claims.
Method, the full counts across every company surveyed, and what this measurement got wrong the first time: which manufacturers publish what is in the bottle. The URL of every page read is recorded in brand-disclosure.json. If a row here is wrong, including where the correction favours a company other than ours, tell us and we will fix it and say that we did. How the same companies' stated doses compare with the formulary dose, preparation by preparation: Ayurvedic company doses against the Ayurvedic Formulary of India.
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Laboratory and animal studies11
- 2006. Brahmi rasayana improves learning and memory in miceEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 16550227 · doi:10.1093/ecam/nek014
- 2001. Antioxidant activity of brahma rasayanaIndian journal of experimental biology. PMID 11510128
- 2010. Studies on Brahma rasayana in male swiss albino mice: Chromosomal aberrations and sperm abnormalitiesJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 21829300 · doi:10.4103/0975-9476.59826
- 2001. Effect of Brahma Rasayana on antioxidant systems and cytokine levels in mice during cyclophosphamide administrationJournal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR. PMID 11484978
- 2016. Protective effect of ayurvedic formulations against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: Preliminary studies on Brahma Rasayana and ChyavanaprashJournal of cancer research and therapeutics. PMID 27461610 · doi:10.4103/0973-1482.151931
- 2004. Protective effect of a polyherbal preparation, Brahma rasayana against tumor growth and lung metastasis in rat prostate model systemJournal of experimental therapeutics & oncology. PMID 15724840
- 2013. Ayurvedic formulations ameliorate cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity: preclinical studies on Brahma Rasayana and ChyavanaprashJournal of cancer research and therapeutics. PMID 23771364 · doi:10.4103/0973-1482.113363
- 2009. Brahma Rasayana enhances in vivo antioxidant status in cold-stressed chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)Indian journal of pharmacology. PMID 20442818 · doi:10.4103/0253-7613.55209
- 2008. Amelioration of heat stress induced disturbances of antioxidant defense system in chicken by brahma rasayanaEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 18317552 · doi:10.1093/ecam/nel116
- 2001. Effect of brahma rasayana on antioxidant system after radiationIndian journal of experimental biology. PMID 11906115
- 2006. Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by Brahma Rasayana (BR)Journal of experimental therapeutics & oncology. PMID 17228520
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.