About the institute
Regional Ayurveda Institute for Fundamental Research (RAIFR), Pune formerly known as National Research Institute in Basic Ayurvedic Sciences is a leading research centre of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India. It was established in May, 1961 by the Indian Government with a view to carry out survey, collections and cultivation of medicinal plants used in Ayurveda. Initially activities of the centre were limited to the development and maintenance of the demonstrative garden and to certain extent experimental cultivation of medicinal plants. In order to accelerate the research activities, the Council merged the Pharmacognosy Research Unit functioning at Indian Drug Research Association, Pune with the Institute (RAIFR, Pune) in 1980 and a Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory established in 1990. Recently, Institute developed a molecular biology lab focused to work on the fundamental research on the principles of Ayurveda. Furthermore, the centre maintains a small library, a herbarium and a reference museum of crude drugs particularly of Ayurvedic importance. The Institute has been as Regional Ayurveda Research Institute with reference to the Letter vide. F.No.12-39/2015-CCRAS/Estt.4788, on 22nd Dec 2020.
Mandate
· Basic and Fundamental Research in Ayurveda.
· In-vitro Pharmacology testing.
· Proteomics and metabolomics.
Other Activities:-
· Demonstrative Medicinal Plants Garden.
· Pharmacognosy Research
· Plant Tissue Culture
· Molecular Biology Research
Activities:
Studies on in vitro cultivation of Brihatpanchmool (Tree species) of Dashmoola.
Pharmacognostical evaluation of medicinal plants cited in Ayurvedic formulary of India.
In-vitro antidiabetic activity of Mimosa pudica root powder.
Demonstration of medicinal plant garden to Research scholars from various colleges and institutions.
Intra-Mural Research Projects
1. Studies on development of Agro techniques of two important medicinal plants of Laghu panchmool.
2. Selection of salt-tolerant cell lines and regeneration of salt-tolerant plantlets of Prishniparni (Uraria picta (Jacq.) Desv.) and Shalaparni (Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC.).
3. RAPD based DNA Fingerprinting to understand genetic variations and phytochemical analysis of selected medicinal plants.
4. Exploration, acclimatization and in vitro propagation of medicinal plants being used under the name Agnimantha.
5. In vitro assessment of anti-diabetic Ayurvedic formulation using cell based assays.
6. To evaluate and explore the mechanism of action of anticancer Ayurvedic plants using cell based assays.
Achievements
· About 380 number of plant species (Trees, Shrubs, Herbs, Climbers) are maintained in the garden, among these 20 Nos. plants are Rare, Endangered, Threatened.
· Complete 12 protocols for the in vitro propagation have been developed for several important Ayurvedic medicinal plants, such as Kutaja, Shatavari, Bramhi, Prasarini, Sariva, Shalaparni, Banafsha, Patha, Shyonaka, Prishnaparni, Manjishtha, Trivrit.
· Identification and standardization for about 450 drugs including macro, microscopic, quantitative values, cell content, powder microscopy and phytochemical parameters have so far been completed as per the guidelines of Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.
· A well equipped in-vitro pharmacology laboratory has been established for the study of mechanism of action of plant / pharmaceutical products using cell-based and biochemical assays.
· A herbarium is maintained for reference purpose containing about 13,492 herbarium specimens of medicinal plants collected from different locations of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
· A museum of crude drugs of medicinal plants possessing about 1285 samples.
· About 117 research articles have been published in various National and International peer-reviewed scientific journals.
· The Institute library having about 1937 books and 16 regularly-subscribed Scientific Journals pertaining to research on Medicinal Plants/Ayurvedic drugs.
· Database on medicinal plants used in Ayurveda has been prepared & published in 8 volumes (260 medicinal plants). Further, 2 volumes (60 medicinal plants) are under the process of publication.
· A WHO-sponsored training program was conducted in May, 2010.
· Seminar on Vriksha Ayurveda was conducted on 28th July, 2009.
· Three Re-Orientation Training Programs (ROTPs) sponsored by Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidhyapeeth (RAV), New Delhi were conducted between 2008 and 2010.
Contact Details –
Regional Ayurveda Research Institute
Nehru Garden, Kothrud, Pune – 411038
Landmark : Near Gandhi Bhawan, Behind Cummins Factory,
Telephone – 020-25380326, Tele fax – 020-25386715
Email: nribas-pune@gov.in
Website: www.rria.nic.in
