Kumkumadi Tailam
Kumkumadi Tailam is a classical Ayurvedic taila, a medicated oil. Crocus sativus (saffron) is included in WHO's list of traditional medicinal plants. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 8:8) lists 29 ingredients, beginning with Kunkuma, Candana, Lodhra and Patanga.
| Also known as | Kumkumadi Tailam, KumkumadiTailam, Polyherbal formulation (Kumkumadi Tailam) - primary ingredient: Crocus sativus L. (Saffron/Kumkuma) |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Crocus sativus (saffron) is included in WHO's list of traditional medicinal plants. Kumkumadi Tailam is a classical Ayurvedic formulation; the Ayurvedic Formulary of India attributes it to Yogaratnakara, Ksudrarogadhikara. Regulated as traditional medicine under AYUSH, India. No specific WHO monograph for the compound formulation. |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 8:8 (KUNKUMADI TAILA), which cites Yogaratnakara, Ksudrarogadhikara; Page 740.. 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 | Kunkuma * | Stl/Stg. | 12 g. |
| 2 | Candana (Sveta candana) * | heart wood | 12 g. |
| 3 | Lodhra * | stem bark | 12 g. |
| 4 | Patanga * | heart wood | 12 g. |
| 5 | Rakta candana * | heart wood | 12 g. |
| 6 | Kaliyaka (agaru) * | heart wood | 12 g. |
| 7 | Usira | root | 12 g. |
| 8 | Manjistha * | root | 12 g. |
| 9 | Madhu (yasti) * | root | 12 g. |
| 10 | Patra (tejapatra) | leaf | 12 g. |
| 11 | Padmaka * | 12 g. | |
| 12 | Padma (kamala) * | 12 g. | |
| 13 | Kustha * | root | 12 g. |
| 14 | Gorocana * | 12 g. | |
| 15 | Nisa (haridra) | rhizome | 12 g. |
| 16 | Laksa * | 12 g. | |
| 17 | Daruharidra | stem | 12 g. |
| 18 | Gairika | 12 g. | |
| 19 | Nagakesara * | stamens | 12 g. |
| 20 | Palasa kusuma | flower | 12 g. |
| 21 | Priyangu * | flower | 12 g. |
| 22 | Vatankura (nyagrodha) * | Lf. Bd. | 12 g. |
| 23 | Malati (jati) * | flower | 12 g. |
| 24 | Madhucchista * | 12 g. | |
| 25 | Sarsapa | seed | 12 g. |
| 26 | Surabhi (rasna) | Rt./Lf. | 12 g. |
| 27 | Vaca | rhizome | 12 g. |
| 28 | Payas (godugdha) * | 6.144 l. | |
| 29 | Taila (tila) | oil | 1.536 kg. |
* The scanned text was damaged at this row and the name was read from the entry's own Sanskrit verse.
The evidence at a glance
1paper on this site for this drug, every one with a DOI.
- 1Laboratory 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 | Kumkumadi |
| Latin/Botanical | Polyherbal formulation (Kumkumadi Tailam) - primary ingredient: Crocus sativus L. (Saffron/Kumkuma) |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Crocin (carotenoid pigment - skin brightening antioxidant)
- Crocetin (apocarotenoid - anti-UV and anti-wrinkle)
- Safranal (monoterpene aldehyde - aromatic, anti-inflammatory)
- Picrocrocin (glycoside - bitter principle)
- Kaempferol (flavonoid - anti-wrinkle and antioxidant)
- alpha-Santalol (from sandalwood oil in formulation)
- Vitamin C and zinc (from supporting herbal ingredients)
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Yogaratnakara, Ksudrarogadhikara (as cited by the Ayurvedic Formulary of India); Bhaishajya Ratnavali (Kshudra Roga Chikitsa chapter); also documented in Ashtanga Hridayam. Formulation contains 21+ herbs for Varnya (complexion-enhancing) therapy. Referenced in Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission volumes 3 and 4.
How does it work?
- Crocin and crocetin anti-tyrosinase activity: Studies report that crocin and crocetin inhibit the tyrosinase enzyme, reducing melanin biosynthesis
- Carotenoid UV-photoprotection: Crocin and crocetin absorb UV radiation and scavenge UV-generated free radicals, protecting skin from photodamage and hyperpigmentation
- Monoterpenoid anti-inflammatory action: Safranal modulates inflammatory mediators (COX-2, NF-kB) reducing skin inflammation, redness, and irritation
- Kaempferol anti-wrinkle MMP inhibition: Studies report that the flavonoid kaempferol inhibits MMP-1 and MMP-3 collagenase activity
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Facial complexion enhancement (Varnya): traditionally used to enhance facial complexion. A clinical study reported improvement in skin tone with saffron application.
- Skin brightening and anti-pigmentation (Vyanga Chikitsa): traditionally used for skin brightening and pigmentation. Studies have reported anti-tyrosinase activity of crocin and crocetin, with reduced melanin synthesis.
- Anti-aging facial rejuvenation: traditionally used for facial rejuvenation. A double-blind trial reported improved skin hydration and visible anti-wrinkle effects.
- Skin redness and inflammation reduction: traditionally used for skin redness and inflammation. Clinical observations have reported safranal-mediated anti-inflammatory activity.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. 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
- Kumkumadi oil is generally well-tolerated topically; rare allergic reactions may occur due to individual sensitivity to saffron or other herbal constituents. Patch test recommended before first use
- Saffron adulteration is a significant concern - safflower, turmeric, or synthetic dyes may be substituted. Authentic Crocus sativus saffron should be verified by crocin content analysis. High-quality formulations require standardized saffron inputs
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.
- Crocin
- Crocetin
- Safranal
- Picrocrocin
- Kaempferol
- Sandalwood Oil
- Vitamin C and zinc
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Tailam (medicated oil for facial/skin use), Serum (modern), Cream (modern)
Standard Dosage: External: 2-5 drops on face/skin, massage gently, once daily (usually at bedtime). The Ayurvedic Formulary of India attributes this formula to Yogaratnakara, Ksudrarogadhikara; Page 740.
Optimal Timing: At bedtime (overnight application for maximum absorption and repair). Can also be applied in morning before makeup.
Storage: Store in dark amber glass bottles with dropper caps in a cool, dry place. Temperature not exceeding 25°C. Protect from light (crocin is photosensitive). Refrigeration extends shelf life.
Marker Compounds: Crocin, Crocetin, Safranal, Picrocrocin (from Saffron), Alpha-santalol, Purpurin (from Manjishtha), Alizarin
Vehicle (Anupana): Not applicable, topical facial use. Apply 2-5 drops, massage upward in circular motions.
Synergistic Combinations
- Eladi Thailam
- Nalpamaradi Thailam
- Chandanadi Thailam
- Kumkumadi Lepam (paste)
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 6 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 |
| Maharishi 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 |
| Zandu | Ingredients and the quantity of each |
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 studies1
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.