1. DBT Project
The Department of Biotechnology,
Govt. of India, has given an extension of the project
titled ‘Establishment of a Germplasm Bank for
Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants’ for one year To
Arya Vaidya Sala with an additional funding of Rs.
12.46 lakhs. Out of the 150 rare, medicinal plants
selected for the Field Gene Bank, 136 have been collected
so far from South Indian forests with their available
variants and planted in the two local estates of Arya
Vaidya Sala. Seeds of 35 medicinal plants are stored
in the Seed Gene Bank under different temperature
and humidity. A Herbarium, Raw Drug Museum, an Image
Library, a Digitized Database and an In vitro gene
bank have been established under this project. Based
on the taxonomic studies done so far, eight scientific
papers have been published, 13 communicated to different
journals.
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2. TATA Project
The Anatomy and Phytochemistry divisions
undertake pharmacognostic studies of the raw drugs
used in Ayurveda with a view to evolve their standards.
Using the computer controlled microscopic system,
a digitized database of the anatomical standards
is being prepared which are used for the floor level
checking of the raw drug samples. This facility
is being used for checking the authenticity of the
raw drugs used in Arya Vaidya Sala. Research paper titled ‘Anatomical
markers as a tool to identify genuine ‘asoka,
from its common adulterant’, won the best
poster award in the 17th Kerala Science Congress
held at KFRI, Peechi, on January 30, 2005. 6 research
papers have been sent for publication. 8 M.Sc. students
have completed their project work.
Chemical fingerprint profiles of
25 medicinal plants have been generated in the Phytochemistry
division. 8 therapeutically active compounds have
been isolated and quantified. In vitro antioxidant
studies of 11 plants, chemical fidelity testing
of tissue cultured plants of 6 species and quality
control studies of 14 raw drugs have been done during
the last one year. The division imparted training
to 15 postgraduate students.
In the Tissue Culture Facility,
micropropagation protocols have been standardized
for 14 species and protocols have been scaled up
in 6 species this year. Based on the work done,
four research papers were published and five sent
for publication. Training was imparted to 15 post-graduate
students from various universities.
For promoting medicinal plant cultivation
in association with Estate Department, 15 seminars
were organized in different parts of Kerala. About
550 farmers from different localities were given
training on cultivation practices, semi-processing,
sustainable utilization and market potential of
medicinal plants. A tie up with selected farmers
under eight Krishi Bhavans in Malappuram district
was made to buy back Kattupatavalam and Atapathiyan.
Nearly 15,000 plants (tissue cultured plants, seedlings
etc) and seed material were distributed to farmers.
Classes were taken to schoolchildren to create awareness
on conservation of our medicinal plant resources.
The selected managers of various Nationalized Banks
were trained on the need for supporting the farmers
in medicinal plant cultivation.
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3. ICMR project
A project titled ‘Quality
standardization of Indian Medicinal Plants’
has been sanctioned by the Indian Council for Medical
Research, New Delhi in March 2005 for a period of
three years with a total outlay of Rs. 20.54 lakhs.
The project aims at developing quality standards
of 33 medicinal plants using anatomical and phytochemical
parameters. The work has been initiated.}
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4. KSCSTE Project
The Kerala State Council for Science,
Technology and Environment has sanctioned a project
titled ‘Micropropagation and in vitro conservation
of Operculina turpethum and genetic fidelity analysis’
in March 2005 for a period of 3 years for Rs. 5.94
lakhs.
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5. NMPB project
National Medicinal Plants
Board has sanctioned a project titled ‘Large
scale micro-propagation and organic home-stead farming
of medicinal plants in rural areas as a means of
economic empowerment of rural women in three districts
of Northern Kerala’ for three years.