VISTAS IN HERBAL TECHNOLOGY

The most powerful technologies of 21 st century Information technology (IT) Biotechnology (BT) Nanotechnology (NT) Herbal technology (HT)Herbal technology (HT)

Herbal Technology Herbal technology (HT) deals with various aspects of utilizing plants for human welfare. Phytomedicines/Herbal healthcare products, Natural dyes, Biopesticides, Biofertilizers and Biofuels.The five prominent areas in HT are: Phytomedicines/Herbal healthcare products, Natural dyes, Biopesticides, Biofertilizers and Biofuels.

PHYTOMEDICINE Any medicine or healthcare product derived from plants (phyto = of plant origin) Includes: PhytopharmaceuticalsPhytopharmaceuticals - Drugs NutraceuticalsNutraceuticals - Functional food CosmeceuticalsCosmeceuticals - Functional makeup AgriceuticalsAgriceuticals - Fungicides, pesticides, etc. Plant/Natural dyesPlant/Natural dyes

Phytomedicines in different Medicare systems Allopathic system (Modern medicine) Homeopathic system (Modern medicine) Alternative/complimentary systems: Ayurveda, Sidha and Unani systems Chinese and Tibetan systems Folk medicine Naturopathy Aromatherapy Grandma’s medicines/Home remedies

Many of the modern drugs have been derived from plants 25 percent of active ingredients of modern medicine are obtained from plants They are either obtained directly or are synthetic derivatives of plant derived molecules

Common herbs of our homesteads

TRIPHALA

TRIKATU

Important discoveries therapeutically useful biodynamic molecules from plants

Vincristine and Vinblastine Catharanthus roseus

Vincristine and Vinblastine VincristineVincristine is used in the treatment of lymphatic leucaemia, lung cancer and breast cancer VinblastineVinblastine is used in the treatment of Hodgkin disease; renal, testicular, head and neck cancer Both are alkaloids isolated from Catheranthus roseus (Ushamlari, Savamnari)

Morphine Papaver somniferum

Reserpine Rauwolfia serpentina

Taxol One of the most promising compounds in the treatment of cancer It is a diterpenoid isolated form Taxus brevifolia and Taxus baccata T. brevifolia

Artemisinine Artemisia annua

Artemisinine, the most promising antimalarial drug Artemisinine is isolated from Artemisia annua by Chinese scientists Among its synthetic derivatives Artementher and Arteether are important

Antioxidants They are Phenolic substances derived from edible plants which are capable of scavenging the toxic free radicals from human body.They are Phenolic substances derived from edible plants which are capable of scavenging the toxic free radicals from human body. These secondary metabolites are known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral activities which suggest their potential in preventing cancer and coronary heart diseases.

Curcumin Curcuma longa

Gingerol Zingiber officinale

Global trend in herbal drug industry Growing preference for phytomedicinesGrowing preference for phytomedicines (especially due to toxicity and side effects of synthetic drugs) Billions of dollar worth herbal healthcare products are sold annuallyBillions of dollar worth herbal healthcare products are sold annually Five trillion US dollars WHO projection for the year 2050: Five trillion US dollars

Approach to developing new generation herbal healthcare products Traditional/Indigenous Knowledge survey Taxonomic screening Plant collection Phytochemical screening

Isolation of Active principles Pharmacological Screening-I Dr Drug formulation Pharmacological Screening-II Value addition Marketing

Success story of Jeevani Arogyappacha

Arogyappacha naturally grows in Agasthyamalai

Trichopus zeylanicus ssp. travancoricus Active principle: Active principle: 6-acetyl-7-hydroxy, 8-methoxy-2, 2-2dimethyl-3,4- dihydro-2H-1 benzopyran The plant possesses Antistress, antihepatotoxic, immunoenhancing, anticancer and antioxidant properties

Benefit sharing: TBGRI Model

Our strength India is one of the 17 mega biodiversity countries of the world, with about 45,000 species of plants About 1,000 plants are used in the Indian System of Medicine (ISM) Nearly 9,500 wild plant species are used by the tribes (of these some species have direct medicinal use and some are giving new leads and claims that require scientific scrutiny) 3,900 have edible utility 300 species are used as pesticides

Medicinal plants used in Ayurveda Approximately 4645 ethnic communities of India use about 9500 plants for healthcare Number of plants used in Ayurveda1000 Plants having direct medicinal use7500 New claims and leads950

Hortus Malabaricus Indicus 17 th century publication on the medicinal wealth of Kerala Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede

Problems in Development and Trade of Phytomedicines in India Depleting resources Lack of agrotechnology standardization Lack of qualified human resources for: Scientific screening for bioactive molecules Good manufacturing practice Quality control/standardization Planning of business and trade

Post-graduate course in Phytomedical Science and Technology integrates traditional knowledge on natural resources with modern science and technology to make a big leap in the global market of herbal healthcare products

Study focus Exploration, taxonomic characterization and documentation of medicinal plant resources Cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants Study of traditional knowledge on plants Phytochemical screening for biodynamic molecules Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy Good manufacturing practice IPR issues and Quality standards Business planning and Trade

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