Status and prospects of valorisation of ayurvedic spent materials: focus on Dashamoola by-products for food applications

Abstract

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine, relies on herbal formulations for holistic health. The growing demand for Ayurvedic products has led to substantial waste generation—particularly spent plant residues, liquid effluents, and packaging waste—posing environmental and sustainability challenges. This review explores the valorisation potential of Ayurvedic spent materials (ASM), with a focus on Dashamoola Spent Material (DSM), a lignocellulosic by-product of polyherbal decoctions. By integrating advances in nanotechnology and biopolymer science, DSM can be transformed into bioactive ingredients, and nanomaterials, which can be further incorporated into applications such as biodegradable packaging, food emulsions, and nutraceutical formulations. The review outlines the environmental, economic, and societal benefits of such valorisation, including pollution reduction, circular bioeconomy alignment, resource recovery and application of functional food ingredients. Key limitations, such as raw material variability, processing costs, and regulatory barriers including those related to food applications—are critically assessed. This review provides a comprehensive framework for sustainable waste management within the Ayurvedic sector and identifies future directions for upscaling valorisation technologies.