Project No. : NGO/KE-05/2007-08
Year. : 2007-08
Project Title: Developing pharmacognostic standards of important bark drugs used in ayurveda for identification and quality control
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Summary of Project / Major Outcome /Achievements :
Project No. : KE-05/2007-08
Year. : 2007-08
Project Title: Evaluation of saraca asoca, Kaempferia rotunda, their substitutes and medicinal preparations with respect to phytochemical and biological properties
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Principal Investigator & Organization : Dr. N. Sasidharan, Non-Wood Forest Products Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi - 680653
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Summary of Project / Major Outcome /Achievements : Saraca asoca (Asoka) and Kaempferia rotunda (Chengazhi) are well known medicinal plants to treat various ailments in the Indian traditional systems of medicine. In Ayurveda, the bark of Saraca asoca is an important raw drug of “Asokarishtam”, a fermented preparation, generally used to treat uterine menorrhagia. Kaempferia rotunda is the grime raw drug of Drakshadhi decoction used against fever due to vata and pitta, vomiting, fainting, burning sensation, fatigue, etc. Due to over exploitation, the natural populations of Saraca asoca and Kaempferia rotunda have been dwindling over the years in the country. Because of the scarcity, the demand is met largely through substitutes consisting of related or unrelated species. The commonly used alternative for Ashok is Polyantha longifolia. Occasionally, Kingiodendron pinnatum and Cycenetra travancorica are also used. Lagenandra ovata and L. toxicaria are found to be substituted for Kaempferia rotunda. The medicinal properties of these subsititutes are not studied well. A species can be treated as a substitutes if it can provide similar therapeutic effects like the preferred drug rather than its morphological similarity or phytoconstituents. In this context, the primary focus of the present study was to identify the most suitable alternative for Asoka and Chengazhi. In the present study, the phytochemical and biological properties of Saraca asoca and kaempferia rotunda prepared with preferred species as well as substitutes.
Project No. : KE-06/2006-07
Year. : 2006-07
Project Title: Study of selected adaptogenic plants and Ayurvedic Drugs with special reference to polyphonic composition and antioxidant activity.
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Principal Investigator & Organization : Dr. Sammual Mathew, Aromatic & Medicinal Plants Research Station, Odakali, Asamannor P.O. Ernakulam - 683 549 Kerala
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Summary of Project / Major Outcome /Achievements : Several Medicinal plants were studied for their polyphenol composition and antioxidant capacity. Highest activity was registered for the fruit rind of three plants (Terminalia chebula, T. bellirica and Phyllanthus emblica, which together constitute “triphala”, a drug widely used in the preparation of number of classical Ayurvedic medicines. Triphla can hence be considered to be a major source of antioxidant of several Ayurvedic preparations. The leaves and back of other species belonging to the same genus namely. Terminalia catappa (Badam), and Terminalia arjuna also exhibited very high antioxidant power. Thus in addition to the fruit rind of T. chebula and T. bellirica, their leaves and those of other related species can be sourced for antioxidant power. The antioxidant property of the leaf extract of commonly used fruits was subjected to study. The results also pointed out the need for strict quality control in drug manufacture both at the raw material as well as end product stages to assure product quality as well as consistency. In conclusion, Identification of plants rich in polyphenols and high antioxidant power offer great scope for developing as antioxidant nutraceuticals; identification of Ayurvedic drugs with high antioxidant capacity can be used in the prevention and management of diseases like cancer, artheroscerosis, premature aging etc. and evolution of TLC and HPLC fingerprints of medicinal plants and polyherbal medicines which offer wide application in their quality control.
Project No. : KE-05/2006-07
Year. : 2006-07
Project Title: Survey and assessment of Aromatic and Medicinal Grasses of Peninsular India and Ex-Situ conservation of endemic and endangered species
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Principal Investigator & Organization : Prof. J.E. Thoppil, Department of Post-Graduate Studies & Research in Botany, University of Calicut, Calicut Universitry P.O., - 673 635, Kerala
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Summary of Project / Major Outcome /Achievements : An exploration at different regions of Peninsular India especially in the Western Ghats region of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu resulted in the identification of 51 species of medicinal grasses. Among these, 13 species have aromatic properties. Each species is enumerated here with relevant notes on taxonomy [specific name with relevant citations, Basionyms/Synonyms if necessary, Systematic position (Subfamily, Tribe), Description, Distribution, and vernacular names if available (English, Ayurvedic/Sanskrit, Siddha/Tamil, Yunani/Arabic, and Folk)], and ethno-medicinal/medicinal/aromatic properties. The present study is the first comprehensive survey and documentation on medicinal and aromatic grasses of Peninsular India (Kerala, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu) so far.
