Ayurved Materia Medica is very rich consisting of material from varied sources. Plant material constitute about 95%, animal product and material consisting about 2-3-% and remaining is from metal, mineral marine sources. Ayurveda believes that all the substances existing in this universe are having medicinal values, only intelligent and proper use is required human being is considered as a miniature replica of Universe, living and non-living things are made up of Panchmahabhutas. Any imbalance in the composition of Panchmahabhutas or functional imbalance - results into manifestation of diseases.

Ayurveda has given more importance to organic material in the treatment strategy as, such material is very close to humen body. Many animal produce and material are used in preparation of madicines and as food items also. Ayurveda strongly believes in non-violence. Hurting any- one is considered a sin and this is the reason Ayurveda believes in using the animal produce without sacrificing the animal.

This book on "Animal Inventory" is unique work of CCRAS, which describes General Information, Habitat and Marphology, Parts Used for Madicinal/Cosmetic Purpose, Medicinal/Cosmetic uses described in different Systems of Medicine and Classical Formulations.

I hope this book will be very much usefull to researchere of ASU system of medicine as well as modern medicine. It is an indispensable piece of literary research and will be a authentic reference source for the use of medical professional as well as scientists and scholars for various disciplines particularly for the sciientists, academicians interested in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Pharmaceutical Industries.

I appreciate Dr. S. Venugopal Rao, Dr. N. Srikanth for their dedicated efforts and hard work in compiling and editing the manuscript. I am also thankful to Dr. M. M. Padhi, Dr. Sudesh Gaidhani and Dr. A. Mangal for 'their sincere efforts in bringing this edition. I am extremely thankful to the National Bio-resources Development Board, Department of Bio-Technology ,Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi for sponsoring the project. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Secretary and Joint Secretary, Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India for their motivation, encouragement and appreciation of the work.

India endowed with rich diversity in the flora and fauna, is considered to be one of the top twelve mega diversity countries of the world. India has been a location for man's cultural evolution and thus has a number of well recognized indigenous systems of medicine - Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Amchi (Tibetan System of Medicine), Yoga, Naturopathy alongwith Homoeopathy and Allopathy which are simultaneously practiced for total heatlh care of the people. Animal resources are one of the major contributions for medical community others being plants and minerals.

Animal resources have been and still are rich source of many natural products, most of which are extensively used for human welfare as drugs and cosmetics. The variety and diversity of animal products that have medicinal value were recognized several centuries ago in the Indigenous Systems of Medicine.

The most authentic sources of knowledge of Ayurveda viz Charaka Samhita, Sushrut Samhita, Astangasangraha and minor classics like Bhava Prakash, Sarangadhara Samhita have widely described the medicinal and cosmetic use of various animal products. In medieval period lot of advancements have been evolved in Indigenous system of Medicine which includes origin of Rasasastra - use of metals and minerals for therapeutic use. Various animal resources have been mentioned in text books of 'Rasashastra' like Rasaratna Samuchaya, Rasatarangini, Rasarnava etc. Compundia of Ayurveda like Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Bhrityogatarangani, and works of current era viz. Materia Medica by Nadkarni, Dravyaguna Vigyana by Prof. P. V. Sharma have also described much information in this regard.

Classical literature of Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy viz. Animal origin drugs used in Unani Medicine, Unani Dravyaguna Vigyana, Siddha Materia Medica Part-ill have vividly mentioned the medicinal use of animal resources.

Considering the significance of Medicinal and Cosmetic uses of animal products, this work is carried out with certain basic objectives and methodology:

• To identify Animal Bio-Resources used in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy Systems and for Cosmetic purpose.
• To identify parts used for Medicinal/Cosmetic purpose, indications (General and Specific of these resources).
• To collect information about single drug/compound drug formulations wherein, animal bio-resources are ingredients and to identify pharmacies manufacturing such drugs, from published data like research papers, authentic texts etc.
• To describe the method of preparation of these drugs.
• To design a format for uniformity in collection and presentation of data on animal resources.

The present treatise as an informative knowledge on animal resources used in different indigenous systems of medicine and more than 160 resources have been elaborately dealt. The information is systematically arranged covering:

1. General Information
2. Habitat and Morphology
3. Parts Used for Medicinal/Cosmetic Purpose
4. Medicinal/Cosmetic uses described in different Systems of Medicine
5. Formulations (Classical)

Description on the method of preparations of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani like Churna, Lehya, Pisti, Vati, Kutinir, Parpam, Dawa, Majoon etc., list of Botanical names used in various formulations, appropriate English equivalents of mentioned diseases/technical terms, have been dealt in APPENDIX for the ready reference.

It is an indispensable piece of literary research and will be a good reference source for the use of medical professional as well as scientists and scholars for various disciplines.

**Contents and Sample Pages**