School of Trans-disciplinary Studies
This school is mandated to explore the relationship of the basic natural and social sciences such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, sociology and history with Ayurveda. It has four centers as outlined below.
Centre for Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology
From 2000 to 2009, the centre has built up laboratories for phyto-chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, bio-assays and product development. The centre is engaged in research, training and outreach related to the interface between Traditional Knowledge and Science. It is certified under ISO 9001:2000. The objectives of this Centre are to trans-disciplinary research on demonstrating the contemporary relevance of Traditional Pharmacognosy (Dravyaguna Shastra) and Pharmaceutics (Baishajya Kalpana).
The significant Contribution made by traditional & Complementary Medicines to human health has led to increased popular, official and commercial interest, globally. Both State & Central governments in India are formulating policies to regulate the use of Traditional Medicines (TM). TM like any other medicines will only benefit the health of human beings when used appropriately. Research, quality control and Standardisation of TM are essential to achieve this and to merit their acceptability in today’s modern world. Quality evaluation of a raw drug or product begins right from the point of collection of the ingredient up to processing and storage of the final product.
The Centre
The Centre is a one-stop shop for all requirements of the Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) sector, offering the following services:
RESEARCH: The Centre is perhaps one of a few in the country that looks to traditional knowledge for developing relevant, modern quality standards for TM. While it views modern chemistry and biology as valuable tools for standardising TM products, information on what is ‘good quality’ drug is derived from traditional wisdom. Details such as appropriate time/place of collection of a medicinal plant, specific manner of preparation of a medicine etc. are obtained from TM texts as well as from living practices. Thus the Traditional Knowledge guided research develops markers of quality that go beyond identity of the drug and reflects its safety and efficacy as well.
Training
Training small industries, researchers, students, NGO’S and entrepreneurs in the ISM sector as per their requirement.
Training M.sc. students by giving them the project work for their Thesis Submission.
Includes training in protocols & instrumentation used to test TM. IT also trains/orients researchers on the importance of Traditional Knowledge guided research in standardization of herbal medicines.
Facility
The Centre has the requisite manpower and infrastructure for testing ISM products and to carry out R & D activities. Experienced and well qualified scientists in the disciplines of chemistry, Pharmacy, Instrumentation, Microbiology and Molecular Biology carry out the quality tests as required under the drug-testing mandate for ISM drugs. Taxonomists within IAIM are well experienced to authenticate samples of crude drugs that are received for testing. A team of traditional physicians works hand in hand with the modern scientists in the areas of Quality Standardisation and R & D.
Chemistry Section
The centre is equipped with the instruments required for conducting extraction, physic-chemical & chemical analysis, Quantification and separation of Phytoconstituents using UV Spectrophotometer, GC, HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography), HPTLC (High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography) and Thin Layer Chromatography facilities for Finger Printing of the Herbal Medicine or the marker compounds are available for confirming their authenticity of the medicine. AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.AAS for use of estimation of Heavy Metals present in the Raw Drug and Finished Product. LCMS (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy) to detect Molecular Weight for any unknown Sample. FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) for identification of Functional groups.
Verification of Raw Drugs identity is also done against authentic filed collections from IAIM’s Raw Drug Repository.
Biology Section
Microbiology & Bioassay
A fully fledged microbiology laboratory unit exists, with facilities for microbial quality testing of traditional medicines (Raw drugs and products). It is also equipped to conduct Antimicrobial assays using bacteria and fungi. The section also has facilities and expertise to perform Brine Shrimp Bio-Assay & Potato disk antitumour assay. We also have a cell culture facility with Caco-2, Hep G2 and Thp1 cell lines for bio-assay of herbal products.
The Laboratory also has facilities for testing the Physical and Microbial quality of water.
Microscopy:
The centre has the facility to study the plant anatomical features of raw drugs and crude drug powders.
Molecular Biology:
Markers are developed at the center to resolve controversies in identity of medicinal plant raw drugs, using techniques such as RAPD-PCR and SCAR markers.
Product Development
The centre has developed the technology for several products such as:
Herbal Galactogogue
Herbal soups
Herbal Drinks
Herbal bakery & Confectionery items
Honey Based nutraceuticals
Sports gel for muscular cramps
Herbal Shaving Product
Herbal wound Healing gel
Herbal Kajal for eye care
Herbal formulation for anaemia
It has developed and patented field ‘diagnostic kit’ for authentication of medicinal plants and semi-quantification of active markers, useful to the industries.
Testing
The Centre has been accredited by the Department of AYUSH, Govt. of India, to analyse and certify the quality of ISM products sent by customers. The test conducted include those mentioned in the AYUrvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), Microbial Quality verification,etc.
Consultancy
Consultancy is offered in the following areas:
Development of Herbal Nutraceuticals
Process and Product improvement
Packaging options for herbal products
Product Standardisation and quality control
Dossier on Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology of medicinal plants
Custom based product development starting from conceptualization to functional technology developments is carried out by the centre. Supporting data on quality standards, consistency and stability of the product are developed in detail
Infrastructure in CPPP
| Description of the infrastructure & facility in CPPP |
|---|
| Sl No |
Laboratory |
Major Equipments / Instrumentation |
Major Activities |
| 1 |
Microscopy |
Microscopes, Microtome, Dark room |
- Microscopy based Pharmacognostic studies of herbal drugs.
|
| 2 |
Chemistry |
HPLC, HPTLC, GC, AAS, Freeze Drier, UV Spectrophotometer |
- Quality standardization of herbal medicine.
- Study of extracts and isolated compounds.
- Identification of authentic and adulterant species based on phytochemical profile.
- Analysis of heavy metal contamination in herbs
- Development of TLC kits for single herbs.
|
| 3 |
Microbiology |
Culture room, Laminar Air flow, Incubators etc. |
- Study of Traditional Knowledge based house hold water purification methods.
- Study of anti- diarrhoeals.
- Stability studies of Ayurvedic formulations.
- Anti-microbial activity of medicinal herbs.
|
| 4 |
Molecular Biology |
Thermal Cycler, Electrophoresis Units, UV Transilluminator, Cooling Centrifuge, Liquid N2 Container, -20 °C Freezer |
- DNA based marker development for authentication of medicinal plants
|
| 5 |
Bio-Assays |
Under establishment with animal cell culture facility for In vitro screening of Traditional Medicine |
- Study the in vitro pharmacological action of Ayurvedic medicines.
- Brine Shrimp Bioassay
- Potato disc anti-tumor assay
- Bioavailability assay
- C. elegans based assays
|
| 6 |
Product Development |
Spray Dryer, Dehydrator, Juicer, Oven, Disintegrator, Modular Kitchen facility for pilot preparation of products |
- Development of contemporary nutraceutical, pharmaceutical & cosmeceutical products based on Traditional Knowledge.
|
| 7 |
Information Technology |
Computers HW and SW |
- Database on Traditional Quality Standards (TQS)
|
Current Activities
Current Activities
Ongoing Research Projects At Centre For Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceuitcs And Pharmacology
- Centre of Excellence, Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), Government of India.
- National R & D Facility for Rasayana Products of Indian Systems of Medicine, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India
Research Projects
- REVERSE PHARMACOGNOSY
- Intercultural studies on controversial botanical raw drugs
- Studies on Abhava Pratinidhi Dravyas (Ayurvedic concept of drug substitution)
- Studies on controversial drugs based on herbal drug market scenario
- Traditional Quality Standards for Indian traditional Medicine
- Ayurvedic Drug Design
- DRINKING WATER AND DIARROEA CONTROL
- RASAYANA BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA AND OTHER DEGENERATIVE DISEASES
- ECOSYSTEM-SPECIFIC, COMMUNITY BASED HERBAL PROPHYLAXIS FOR MALARIA
