ZenToks Publication

Chapter 18

Critical Evaluation of Role of Sushrutokta Shak Varga (Vegetables) In the Management of Obesity and diabetes Mellitus on the Basis of Glycemic Index and Nutritional Value and Phytochemical Analysis

Abstract/Preface

Background: Obesity (Sthaulya) and Diabetes Mellitus (Madhumeha) are major metabolic disorders with increasing global prevalence and constitutes a foremost public health challenge of the twenty-first century. Conventional pharmacological approaches carry significant side-effect burdens and do not address underlying dietary aetiology. Ayurveda recommends Sushrutokta Shaka Varga (green leafy and fruity vegetables) as therapeutic dietary components for treating these disorders. Objective: To critically evaluate the nutritional composition, glycemic index (GI), Glycemic Load (GL), carbohydrate, fiber content and Phytochemical components, and Ayurvedic pharmacological properties of the four Sushrutokta Shaka Varga. To assess their potential utility in the dietary management of obesity and DM in the light of classical Ayurvedic references and contemporary scientific evidence. Methods: Classical Ayurvedic literature and contemporary scientific studies were critically analyzed, including international GI datasets and peer-reviewed research.
A systematic review of classical Ayurvedic texts particularly of Sushrut Samhita is done. Present study is also supplemented by a structured search of PubMed, Google Scholar, ICMR databases, and WHO/FAO sources for peer-reviewed studies on the nutritional composition and glycemic properties of these four millets published between 2000 and 2025. Results: All four Sushrutokta Shaka Varga vegetables demonstrate low glycemic indices and low glycemic load, low carbohydrate content and high fiber content. The phytochemicals found in these drugs exert anti-lipid, anti-diabetic action. Conclusion: Based on convergent evidence from classical Ayurvedic references, nutritional data, and clinical research, the Sushrutokta Shaka Varga containing vegetables represent scientifically validated, safe, and culturally appropriate dietary interventions for the adjunctive management of obesity and diabetes mellitus.