The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the Ministry of AYUSH, has filed patent for bio-production of secondary metabolites from Bel (Aegle marmelos), in-vitro production of secondary metabolites from tree species of Dashamoola (10 roots used in ayurveda) through hairy root cultures and development of anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents from Dioscoria floribunda.
“While the first two projects belong to the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB), Coimbatore, the third project is being carried out by Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow. The CIMAP filed patent is titled as “A synergistic polyherbal formulation exhibiting potential cancer activity,” said JLN Sastry, CEO, National Medicinal Plants Board in a statement here.
Filing of the patent is the NMPB part of a special drive to identify the patentable projects which are sponsored under the ‘Research and Development Component’ of Central Sector Scheme (CSS) on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants”.
NMPB generally sponsors various R&D programs under CSS to both Governments as well as private organizations across the country, said the official.
Sastry said “this is just the humble beginning for NMPB’s team and will file more patents in the coming times.”
The NMPB has also developed e-CHARAK, an e-channel for herbs, aromatic raw material, and knowledge as a virtual market place for trade of medicinal plants produce and also enable information exchange between various stakeholders involved in the sector.