Lok Sabha Question No. 705 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-14
Subject: Research to Develop Medicines from Natural Extracts
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: RABINDRA KUMAR JENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 705 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH DECEMBER, 2018

## RESEARCH TO DEVELOP MEDICINES FROM NATUR AL EXTRACTS

## 705. SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA:

Will the Minister of AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Ministry  is  conducting  any  activity  to  encourage  research  in  phytother to develop medicines from natural extracts;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether the  Ministry  is  engaging  in  any  activity  to  encourage  research  on  tradit medicine, cow urine etc. to be published in peer -review d journals;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a):    Yes, the Central Councils of Research under the Ministry namely, Central Counc Research in Ayurveda (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) & Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) conduct such type of research, though the n phytotherapy is not used in some such instances. In addition, the National Institute of Traditional Medicine ( NITM ),Belagaviwhich is a unit of Indian Council of Medical Research ( ICMR ), under Department of Health Research is evaluating selected traditional practices for their sa and efficacy, part of which is various plants extracts.

- (b):      Details are attached at Annexure

- (c): Not Applicable

Contd…….

(d):     Yes.

(e): Cow urine ( Pasu moothiram) is used by Central Council for Research in Siddha(CCRS) an  autonomous  Council  under  Ministry  of  AYUSH, in  the  purification  methods  and  various processing techniques of raw drugs for the preparations of Siddha medicines. Central Coun Research in Ayurvedic Sciences(CCRAS) an autonomous Council under Ministry of AYUSH is engaged with the research activi ties for some formulations, which involves cow urine as a part drug  preparation. The  Council  has  also  conducted  a  scientific  study  (safety/  toxicity biological activity) on Panchgavya Ghrita an Ayurvedic formulation in which Cow urine is of the ingredients. These research outcomes are being published in peer - reviewed journals .

(f): Not Applicable .

…………………

## Details of Research Activities

CCRAS: The Council has undertaken the development of new coded formulations based on leads fr om classical texts and local health traditions. The 13 such codded formulations are different phases of drug development.

CCRUM: The Council has undertaken various activities on phytotherapy viz., authenticati medicinal plants, development of quali ty standards, isolation of phyto -constituents, toxicological & pharmacological studies of single plants as well as compound formulations.

CCRS: Activities in this regard include: -

1. Anti - hyperlipidemic activity of D5 choornam.
2. Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Chembu (copper) in 'Chembu containing Plants' A Scientific validation of Siddha claim.
3. Nephroprotective  Effect  of Sphaeranthus  amarathoides Burm.  f.  (Sivakaranthai)  against Gentamycin induced nephrotoxicity in Rats.
4. Isolation of chemical marker from selected plants used in Reproductive and Child Health
5. Analysis of inorganic composition of selected plants used in Siddha system.
6. Pre - clinical  safety  and  efficacy  of  Nuna  kadugu  (internal  medicine)  and  Nuna  thai lam (external medicine) in venpadai (Vitiligo)
7. Qualitative  and  Quantitative  Analysis  of  Lead  in  'Lead  containing  Plants' A  Scientific validation of Siddha claim.
8. Scientific validation of Serankottai (Semecarpus anacardium)   before and after purification in  Siddha system of medicine
9. Sarakku  vaippu  of  a  poly  herbal  formulation  with  Abini - like  properties  by  Siddha methodology of Konganarar

ICMR: The preliminary evaluations of various extracts from Alophyllus cobbe L., Achyranthes coynei Santapau, Glycine m ax L., Piper nigrum , Nothapodytes nimmoniana , Achyranthes aspera , Plumbago zeylanica Linn, Holoptelea integrifolia Roxb., Vinca pusilla Murr., Chloroxylon swietenia DC, Piper trichostachyon , Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br., Saraca asoca, Theobroma cocoa, An drographis paniculata, Withania somnifera Dun., Sauropus androgynus etc. have been carried out.

## Annexure