Lok Sabha Question No. 142 (STARRED), answered on 2022-02-11
Subject: Siddha Research Centres
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Ganesan Selvam, Dhanush M Kumar

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 142 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## SIDDHA RESEARCH CENTRES

## *142. SHRI SELVAM G.: SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has developed Siddha Research Centres in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether most of the Siddha Research Centres lack infrastructure facilities, if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government plans to open new Siddha Research Centres and strengthen/upgrade the existing ones and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  provides  funds  to  the  National  Institute  of  Siddha  for enhancing  infrastructure  including  increase  in  the  strength  of  doctors  and  research facilities, if so, the details thereof indicating the allocation made during the last five years along with the number of doctors working at present; and
- (e)  the  details  of  research  which  is  underway  in  Siddha  Research  Centres  to  cure  life threatening diseases and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY(AYUSH)

(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 142* FOR 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

(a) Yes, Ministry of Ayush has established the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS)  the  apex  body  for  research  in  Siddha  System  of  Medicine.  The  CCRS  has following 8 peripheral Institutes / Units across the country;

1. Siddha Central Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
2. Siddha Regional Research Institute, Puducherry.
3. Siddha Regional Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
4. Siddha Clinical Research Unit, Govt. Siddha Medical College Campus, Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu.
5. Siddha Clinical Research Unit, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi.
6. Siddha Clinical Research Unit, Sri Jayachamarejendra Govt. Ayurvedic Hospital Campus Bengaluru, Karnataka.
7. Siddha Medicinal Plants Garden, Mettur Dam, Tamil Nadu.
8. Siddha Clinical Research Unit, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) Campus Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  following  Co-located  Siddha  units  of  CCRS  are functioning across country:

- i. AYUSH Wellness Clinic, Rashtrapathi Bhawan, New Delhi
- ii. All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi,
- iii. National Institute of Epidemiology - ICMR unit, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and
- iv. Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Puducherry.
5. (b) There is no lack of infrastructure facilities in CCRS.
6. (c) There  is no  proposal for  opening  of  new  Siddha  Research  Centre  is  under consideration. However, following activities have been carried out to strengthen / upgrade the existing institutes/units of CCRS.
- i. The  Construction  of  Headquarters  office  building  at  Tambaram,  Chennai  at  an estimated  cost  of  Rs.12.09  crore  has  been  completed  and  will  be  inaugurated shortly.
- ii. The steps have already  been initiated  to  obtain  National  Accreditation  Board  for Hospitals & Healthcare (NABH)accreditation for Siddha Central Research Institute (SCRI), Chennai.
- iii. Various sophisticated equipments have been procured to augument the research and development facilities such as Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma coupled with Optical Emission  Spectrometry  (ICP-OES),  High  Performance  Liquid  Chromatography (HPLC), High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), Fully Automated Analyser, Real Time Polymerase Chain Reactions (RT-PCR), Random Access Bio-chemical Analyzer, Ultrasound Color Flow Doppler (CFD), Haematology Analyzer, Powder X-Ray Diffractometer (PXRD), etc.
- iv. Siddha Medicinal Plants Garden: A Poly green house in  an  area  of  500  Sq.mt.  having  359  species  including  37  Rare  Endangered Threatened (RET) species is arranged.  Nursery and Cultivation of Piper longum L. (Thippili)  and  Coleus  vettiveroides  K.C.  Jacob  (Vilamitcham)  are  also  being maintained  inside  the  poly  green  house.  The  nursery  is  functioning  with  190 medicinal plants. An arboretum with 3.7 acres with 638 plants covering 211 species is being maintained.
- v. Regional  Raw  Drug  Repositories  (RRDR's), a  project  under  Central  Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants supported by National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) is being carried out at SCRI, Chennai.  The outcome monograph would be used for the routine analysis in  the  quality  control  laboratories  in order  to  ensure  the purity  and quality of the procured/collected  raw  drug.  Control  on  the  quality  of  the  raw  drug  would positively impact the formulation processes and hence would result in the quality herbal medicines in ASU&H systems.
- vi. Cancer OPD has also been initiated in Siddha Clinical Research Unit, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi.
- vii. CCRS  has  entered  into  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  with  premier medical institutions like Government Institute of Medical Sciences(GIMS), Noida, All  India  Institute  of  Ayurveda,  National  Institution  of  Nutrition  -  ICMR  for carrying  out  collaborative  studies.  In  addition,  a  MoU  has  been  made  with Accelerating Growth of New India Innovation (AGNIi) for the commercialization of R&D technologies and products developed by CCRS.
- viii. Nationwide  Distribution  of  Kabasura  Kudineer:  CCRS  through  its  peripherial Institutes/units  has  carried  out  the  project  entitled  -Documentation  of  efficacy  of selected Ayush Interventions Ayush-64 and Kabasura Kudineer in asymptomatic, mild  to  moderate  Covid-19  patients  in  home  isolation  through  Ayush  Sanjivani mobile app: A prospective multicenter Community based study‖. With the support

of Seva Bharathi workers mass distribution of Kabasura kudineer chooranam was carried out in the COVID-19 affected areas. Total sample size covered was 30,000.

- ix. An Integrated Siddha cancer OPD is successfully functioning at All India Institute of  Ayurveda campus aiding the Palliative care of cancer patients through Siddha system.
- x. AYUSH-Hospital Management Information System (AHMIS) has been implemented in the peripheral institutes/units of CCRS

## xi. Activities under WHO Collaboration:

The following activities on Siddha System of Medicine have been initiated under the agreement of WHO with Ministry of Ayush:

- a. Inclusion  of  Siddha  Morbidity  Codes  in  2 nd Module  of  Traditional  Medicine Chapter of ICD-11
- b. Siddha Terminology document
- c. Bench marks for practice in Siddha and Bench marks for practice in Varmam.

## xii. CCRS has developed following Mobile applications:

- a. Validation  of  Siddha  Udal  Iyal  Inventory  -YI  for  the  Assessment  of  Body Constitution  (ABC)  -  It  forms  the  fundamental  basis  of  diagnosing  the diseases, the prognosis and in deciding the treatment modality. It will also provide lifestyle modification / recommendation based on the constitution.
- b. SiddAR app - Siddha initiative for documentation of drug Adverse Reaction has been developed to document the observed and reported side effects of Siddha drugs which benefit the public.
- c. Doorman is an Android Mobile Application for Misleading advertisements, Tall claim and magical remedy Act management mobile application.
- xiii. Siddha Day: Siddha day is being observed on the birth star of Siddhar Agasthiyar, the  father  of  Siddha  medicine  to  bring  about  awareness  and  popularize  Siddha system of medicine amongst the public. The Fifth Siddha Day was celebrated on 23 rd December,  2021  by  CCRS,  National  Institute  of  Siddha  &  Government  of Tamil Nadu at Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam, Chennai. The theme of 5 th Siddha Day was -Strength of Siddha for Communicable Diseases‖.

(d) Yes, Ministry of Ayush has allocated sufficient funds to  the National Institute  of Siddha to enhance infrastructure including increase in the strength of doctors and research facilities. Details of fund allocation for the last five years are provided below:

|   S.No. | Year      |   Allocated(Capital) (in Cr) |   Total Grant Allocated (in Cr) |
|---------|-----------|------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|       1 | 2016-2017 |                         0.5  |                           25    |
|       2 | 2017-2018 |                         0.35 |                           29.42 |
|       3 | 2018-2019 |                         6    |                           35.5  |
|       4 | 2019-2020 |                        16    |                           51.81 |
|       5 | 2020-2021 |                         6    |                           47.58 |

Total 40 doctors (including regular and on contract basis) are working in NIS at present.

(e) The following are details of research studies by CCRS on life threatening diseases and their outcome.

## i. Completed studies and manuscript has been published:

- a. A Multi-centric  Open  labelled  clinical  trial  on  D5  Choornam  in  Mathu  Megam (Diabetes Mellitus), Based on the results of the trial, a patent has been filed by CCRS which is under examination.
- b. 777  oil  for  the  management  of  Psoriasis  for  which  patent  has  been  obtained through National Research Development Council and is now in the public domain.
- c. An Interventional Cohort Study in Dengue Prevalent Area by Using Nilavembu Kudineer and Awareness Programme
- d. A  combination of Nilavembu Kudineer and Adathodai Manapagu  in the management of dengue fever.
- e. Management of Chikungunya through Siddha formulation.
- f. Clinical management of Rheumatoid Arthritis using Linga Chenduram and Gowri Chinthamani.

## ii. The following studies are underway:

- a. A Clinical  trial  to  evaluate  the  safety  and  efficacy  of  Siddha  Medicine  Nandhi Mezhugu  in  Stage  I  and  II Breast Cancer  Patients has been  initiated in collaboration with All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi.
- b. Multi-centric single arm prospective open trial to check the safety and efficacy of a  classical  Siddha  formulation  Rasagandhi  Mezhugu  in  Karuppai  Narthasai Kattigal (Fibroid Uterus) among women (25-45 years) attending CCRS-research institutes / unit.
- c. A pilot study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Sivanarvembu Kuzhi Thailam (SVK) in the management of Kalanjagapadai (Psoriasis)
- d. A single centre randomized parallel group clinical trial to compare the efficacy of Siddha Varmam  Therapy  and  Thailam  Application (SVT)  versus Thailam Application (TA) in terms of pain and disability in the treatment of Kumbavatham (Adhesive capsulitis)
- e. A  pilot  open  single  arm  clinical  trial  to  evaluate  the  efficacy  of  Sirupeelai Kudineer in Diabetic Nephropathy.
- f. A  pilot  study  to  evaluate  the  safety  and  efficacy  of  Gunmakudori  Mezhugu (GKM) in  the  management  of  Garpavayu  Polycystic  Ovarian  Syndrome  in  the women of reproductive age.
- g. An open-label, pilot, hospital-based, interventional study with aqueous extract of vellaikarisalaisamoolam (Eclipta al, linn.) in  NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease).

## iii. COVID-19 related Research:

- a. A  prospective  Non-randomized  Open  label  Controlled  Interventional  study  on  the effect of Siddha intervention KabaSura Kudineer (KSK) as a Prophylactic measure among  high  risk  population  (Health  Care  Workers/Containment  Zone  population) exposed to COVID-19 (SIDDHALION) Sample size - 20000. Data has submitted to Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) and it is in progress.
- b. A prospective, single centre, randomized open labelled comparative clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of Siddha medicine, Kabasura Kudineer and vitamin c-zinc supplementation  in  the  management  of  asymptomatic  COVID  19  patients    at Government  Stanley  Medical  College,  Chennai.    The  study  results  have  been published in the  journal  -TRIALS‖ a springer nature indexed international journal. Trials. 2021 Sep 15;22(1):623. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05583-0. PMID: 34526104; PMCID: PMC8441246.
- c. A randomized open labeled clinical study to compare the effectiveness of Kabasura Kudineer and Vitamin-C Zinc supplementation in the management of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 patients at Govt. Theni Medical College, Tamil Nadu. The publishing of study result is in process.
- d. A Double blinded RCT Namely "A Double Blinded controlled RCT to evaluate the efficacy Nilavembu Kudineer and Kabasura kudineer in  Symptomatic COVID 19 Patients"  was  planned  as  a  collaborative  study  with  Govt.  Institute  of  Medical Sciences, Greater Noida and Siddha Clinical Research Unit, New Delhi. The study results has been published in TRIALS journals. Efficacy of two siddha polyherbal decoctions,  Nilavembu  Kudineer  and  KabaSura  Kudineer,  along  with  standard allopathy treatment in the management of mild to moderate symptomatic COVID19  patients-a  double-blind,  placebo-controlled,  clinical  trial.  Trials  22,  570 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05478-0
- e. A prospective, non-randomized, single-arm interventional study to assess the safety and efficacy of Siddha Sasthric Medicines - Fixed Regimen in the prevention of COVID-19 disease progression of asymptomatic, and mild at Siddha COVID Care Centre, Chennai, 2020 (SSM-FiRe). The publishing of study result is in process.
- f. Awareness  and  practices  regarding  COVID-19  related  prevention,  control  and promotive measures among population, Tamil Nadu, India: Cross-sectional study. The publishing of study result is in process.
- g. Clinical validation of the -Immune booster‖ potential of the Siddha medicine drug, Kabasura kudineer (KSK) in asymptomatic contacts of COVID-19 cases: a controlled clinical trial. The study is in process.
- h. An Open labelled RCT to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Siddha Supplement (MAM Granules) along with Standard Allopathy Treatment in the management of RT  PCR  Positive  Pre  Symptomatic  COVID  19  patients.  The  study  has  been completed and publication work is in progress.

******