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India can acquire the status of global leader in herbal medicines: Prof Chandrakant Kokate
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
October 29 , 2015
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Indian herbal industry has the potential of capturing world market and
acquire the status of global leader. However, it is only possible with
application of science of modern drug technology to the production of
herbal medicines, said Prof Chandrakant Kokate, father of Indian
pharmacognosy and former president of Pharmacy Council of India (PCI).
He was delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of 3rd
International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry
& Natural Products.
Addressing the gathering of
pharmacognosy and phytochemistry professionals at HICC in Madhapur,
Hyderabad, he said India is one of the major producers of herbal raw
materials systematically used across the globe for the production of
wide spectrum of phyto-medicines. The Indian herbal industry has the
potential of capturing the world market provided strategic approach is
adopted for developing convincing quality control parameters for the
domestic production of herbal medicines, he said.
Speaking along
with Prof V K Dixit, president of Indian Society of Pharmacognosy on the
sidelines of the meet, he said global market for herbal drug industry
is put at around USD 70.5 billion with average annual growth of 10 to 12
per cent. While in India it is USD 3500 million. Approximately 1200
single ingredient and 10,500 polyherbal formulations are registered. 65
per cent of herbal medicines are categorised as ayurvedic medicines, he
said.
Speaking about problems encountered in acquiring global
leader status in herbal products for India, both the veterans
Chandrakant Kokate and Prof Dixit said clinical trial is not made a
regulatory requirement. No emphasis is given for consistent quality.
There is a poor pharmacovigilance in this country. We have very poorly
designed protocols. We have poor documentation and poor statistical
information about our herbal medicines and formulations.
We need
to develop technology for procurement of herbal drugs raw material.
Though good medical practices guidelines are in place they are not
effectively implemented. Government must strictly implement these
practices to earn right place for India on herbal medicines globally,
they opined.
OMICS International organised three global
scientific conferences on Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry; GMP, GCP &
Quality Control and global summit on veterinary sciences which concluded
on October 28. 500 delegates from all over the world participated in
these three conferences. OMICS International is the major India’s major
publishing house of 350 scientific Open Source Scientific Journals. Dr.
Srinubabu Gedela, MD, OMICS International graced the occasion.
Pharmacognosy
is the science of medicines derived from natural sources is mother of
all branches of pharmacy. It is a vital like of ayurvedic and allopathy.
It deals with modern approach to the utilisation of medicines derived
from plants, animals and Mineral sources. Pharmacognosy is increasingly
used in nutraceuticals (deals in food nutrition values that combines
nutrition and pharmaceuticals) and Cosmeceuticals (combination of
Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals), said Prof. Kokate.
Speaking
further about the specialisation of pharmacognosy, he said India has
about 1080 pharmaceutical colleges. Out of which a large number of 300
plus colleges are located in Andhra Pradesh alone. Pharmacognosy is
taught in all the under-graduation level, he said.
Pharmacognosy
is one of the most important sciences. It is commonly known us science
of medicine derived from natural sources. Lot of interests has been
grown by pharmaceutical industries for drug development from natural
source in the past couple of year. The knowledge of medicinal plants
and their uses are as old as humankind. Now a days people are
increasingly turning to indigenous systems of medicine, which are
holistic, free from side effects and not only treat diseases but also
prevent them. Because of this rising popularity there is a lot of
interest in this subject. When whole world is looking for natural
products, it is the pharmacognosist who knows and identifies plant
material and develops bio-actives for further evaluation into medical
therapeutics and ultimately into drugs. That is why this discipline is
very important.
Pharmacognosist as phytochemist has an important
position in modern medicine. Equally important is the role clinically to
link past with future in Indian traditional systems, said pharmacognosy
professors who spoke on the occasion.
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