About the Institute
Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Bengaluru is one of the peripheral Institutes of Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences functioning under Ministry of AYUSH Govt. of India, New Delhi. It was established as Regional Research Centre in 1971 and subsequently, it was known as Regional Research Institute from 1999, and National Dietetics Research Institute from 2010. The Institute was earlier located at Govt. Central Pharmacy near Ashoka Pillar, Jayanagar, Bengaluru and presently shifted to its own building in S.N 12, Uttarahalli Manavarthe Kaval, Uttarahalli (Hobli), Bangalore South (Tq.) Kanakapura Main Road, Talaghattapura post, Bengaluru-560109.The Institute consists of three divisions; viz., (1) Clinical Research unit (CRU), (2) Drug standardization Research unit (DSRU) and (3) Survey of Medicinal Plants unit (SMPU). Institute is conducting short term training programmes in basics of medicinal plant botany, pharmacognosy and chemistry. The Institute has a well-established reference library hosting around 2000 books and different scientific journals. The CARI is functioning successfully by rendering OPD and Panchakarma treatment service to the public. The campus also has 30 bedded Ayurveda Hospital, with Panchakarma, Yoga, Laboratory, Operation theatre, which will be functional in due course of time.
Mandate:
The mandate of the Institute is to further the mandate of Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) to establish Ayurveda as the effective system of medicine in health care with a strong scientific basis in the following areas viz., clinical research focusing on metabolic disorders and dietetics, health care services through out–patient department (OPD), Panchakarma therapy, medico-ethno botanical survey, outreach activities such as Tribal Health Care Research (THCRP) and Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP). During covid-19 pandemic institute was assigned with Covid-19 related work by CCRAS and Ministry of AYUSH. The Institute executed community based study through SCSP and distributed Ayurveda raksha kits to the public and also completed the study on prophylactic measures in the Containment Zone and popularized Sanjeevini app by reaching out to the public.
Activities
3.1. Clinical Section
The clinical section provides medical services on outpatient basis with facilities for basic clinical biochemical and pathological investigations, conducts special clinics and undertakes Intramural Clinical Research Projects (IMCRP) outreach programmes and awareness programmes. Since inception the Clinical Section has Clinical Research Unit has served 3, 25,611 patients (including special clinics viz., geriatric and flu like illness and medical camps). The clinical section is a centre for Pharmacovigilance and screening of patients and drugs for adverse drug events is reported regularly.
3.1.1. Intramural Clinical Research Projects (IMCRP) and Collaborated Studies
a) Completed Projects
· Clinical evaluation of herbal formulations in the management of Kuposhana (Malnutrition)
· Clinical evaluation of herbo-mineral preparations in the management of ARSHA (Haemorrhoids)
· Clinical evaluation of Brahmi Vachaghanavati in the management of Manodvega (Anxiety neurosis)
· Evaluation of Shamana therapy and Shodana Chikitsa in the management of Tamaka Swasa (Bronchial asthma)
· Clinical evaluation of herbal and herbomineral formulations in the management of Vyanabalavaishamya (Hypertension)
· A Multicentric Open Clinical Trial on Dhatri Louha in Iron Deficiency Anaemia.
· Documentation of Reported Episode of Prevention/Treatment of Vector Born/Infectious Disease of Ayurveda and Siddha
· Multicentric Open clinical trial of Rajapravartinivati in Kastarthava (Dysmenorrhea)
· Clinical evaluation on the Rasayana effect of Ashwagandhavalehya in apparently healthy elderly persons
· Clinical evaluation of VyoshadiGuggulu and Haritaki Churna in the management of Obesity (Sthaulya)
· Evaluation of Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Brahma Rasayana in Apparently Healthy Elderly persons
· Prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled comparative trial to evaluate quality of life with AYUSH QOL 2C in patients of non Metastatic Breast Cancer as an adjuvant to Chemotherapy
· Clinical Trial to Study the effect of Chyavanaprasha on Aging in Apparently Healthy Elderly Subjects
· Clinical evaluation of Vatari Guggulu, Maharasnadikwatha and NarayanaTaila in the management of Osteoarthritis knee
· Clinical Evaluation of Ashwagandha Churna and PravalaPishti In The Management of Osteopenia / Osteoporosis
· Clinical Evaluation of Kanakasava and Trivritachurna in the management of Bronchial Asthma (Tamakaswasa)
· Clinical Evaluation of efficacy of Trayodashangaguggulu, Maharasanadi kwatha & Prasarani Taila in the Management of Gridhrasi (Sciatica)
· Preparation of hard copies and Transcription of Ayurveda/medical palm leaf manuscripts and rare books from Karnataka
· Swasthya Rakshana Programme under Swachh Bharat.
. Impact assessment on AYUSH Advisory/ AYUSH based preventive measures in COVID-19 situation” through AYUSH Sanjeevani Mobile app.
. A prospective non-randomized open label controlled interventional study on the effect of Guduchi Ghan Vati/ Sudarshan Ghan Vati as a prophylactic measure among Containment Zone population exposed to COVID 19
b) Ongoing Projects
· Randomised Placebo controlled prospective Phase II clinical study of an Ayurvedic coded drug AYUSH-D on glycemic control in prediabetic subjects
· Randomised Placebo controlled prospective Phase II clinical study of Ayurvedic coded drug AYUSH-D”in the management of type2 Diabtetes mellitus as add on therapy to Metformin
· Evaluation of Add on Efficacy & Safety of An Ayurvedic Formulation AYUSH PJ -7 in the Management of Dengue Fever & Prevention of its complications – A Double Blind Clinical Study (Belagavi and Kolar Centres)
· A systematic review on Safety and Efficacy of Ayurveda interventions for Urolithiasis
· Validation and Reliability testing of Diagnostic Methods in Ayurveda:KasaShwasa and Jwara
· AYUSH Hospital Management Information System (A-HMIS)
· Clinical Evaluation of efficacy of Trayodashangaguggulu, Maharasanadi kwatha &PrasaraniTaila in the Management of Gridhrasi (Sciatica)
· Clinical Evaluation of AYUSH PE Eye Drops in the Management of Acute Allergic Conjunctivitis
· A systematic review on Safety and Efficacy of Ayurveda interventions for Glaucoma
. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Ayurvedic medicine use among the Diabetics –a cross sectional study.
c) Research Projects to be initiated
. An open label clinical trial to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of Ayush AGT in Dandruff (Darunaka)
· A Collaborative Double Blind Double Dummy Prospective Randomized Controlled Research Project on classical Ayurveda Management versus Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis (AMRA STUDY)
· MCCRP- “Evaluation of AYUSH GMH in subjects of mild to moderate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-A double blind Randomized controlled clinical study”.
· An observational study to document the potential safety issues and prescription trends of selected Rasausadhis
· Clinical Evaluation of Vidanga churna and Vyoshadi Guggulu in the Management of Medoroga (Obesity)
. Randomised Placebo Controlled, Double blind clinical trial to evaluate the effect of Trikatu in Subclinical Hypothyroidism
3.1.2. Outreach programmes
3.1.2.1 Tribal Health Care Research Project (THCRP) in Karnataka
The institute conducts outreach clinical research programmes with public health orientation for tribal caste population.Tribal Health Care Research Project was initiated in the year 2014 and THCRP team has reached out to 37,160 tribal population and 14,066 patients were treated through house hold survey and medical camps were conducted in 143 villages till date.
3.1.2.2 Ayurveda Mobile Health Care Project (Scheduled Caste Sub Plan)
The institute conducts outreach clinical research programmes with public health orientation for Scheduled Caste population and was initiated in the year 2015. SCSP team has reached out to 43,287 population and 23,129 patients were treated in selected 36 villages through 952 tours.
3.2. Drug standardization Research Unit (DSRU)
The DSRU involves in laying down phytochemical and pharmacopoeial standards for single drugs and compound formulations (plant/animal/mineral origin), adopting and evaluating the methods of manufacture in Ayurveda and conduct Physico-chemical studies for identification of quality and purity of the drugs/their substitutes and adulterants, Pharmacognostical studies for correct identification of drugs/ their substitutes and adulterants and Laying down modified methods to be adopted for standardization for inclusion in the API and for CCRAS Monograph work as directed by the CCRAS from time to time. Among the achievements of the unit are, completion of Pharmacognosy studies on 335 single and polyherbal medicinal formulations (Ayurveda: 185 & Siddha: 150), Phytochemical evaluation of 284 single medicinal herbs (Ayurveda:177 & Siddha:107), Powder microscopy and thin layer chromatography studies on 39 medicinal formulations, chemical evaluation of 45 medicinal formulations (Ayurveda: 14 and Siddha: 31 ) of Animal origin and phytochemical analysis of 210 finished products (Ayurveda: 149 and Siddha: 61).
3.2.2 Research projects
- Grant from Karnataka Jnana Ayoga (Karnataka Knowledge Commission)
- Translating Traditional community knowledge and health practices to strengthen primary health care and public health – A prospective, cross sectional study with special reference to commonly used medicinal plants
- Intramural Research Projects
- Pharmacognostic and Preliminary Phytochemical Evaluation on selected Antidiabetic Medicinal plants, with reference to its importance in Dietetic Preparations, Nutritional values, with Traditional uses
- Pharmacognostical evaluation of medicinal plants cited in Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI) excluding the plants mentioned in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)
- Documentation, analysis & interpretation of pharmacognostical data & other parameters from different published resources”- for 10 plant drugs
3.3. Survey of Medicinal Plants Unit (SMPU)
The Survey of Medicinal Plants Unit (SMPU) involves in conduct of Ethno-Medico-Botanical Survey in Forest Divisions of Karnataka, Goa, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Nilgiris. The unit is also involved in collection and supply of crude drug material, food grains and vegetables for research purposes, documentation of folklore information, preparation and maintenance of Herbarium& Museum and identification and authentication of plant materials and Ayurvedic crude drugs. The herbarium is recognized with an acronym “RRCBI” by intellectual body of Netherlands. It is acting as a pivot in implementation of various National schemes in promotion of the science. Since 1971 Survey of different regions like Bengaluru,Chickmagaluru,Chamarajnagar, Mysore, Shimoga ,Koppa, Tumkur, Kameng district, (Arunachal Pradesh), Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu), Coorg, Hoshangabadh (Madhya Pradesh), Annupur (Madhya Pradesh), Satna(Madhya Pradesh), Andaman and Nicobar, Ramanagar, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Uttara Kannada, Belgaum, Hassan, Mandya, Chitradurga, Dharawad, Davanagere, Bellary, Haveri, Gadag, Koppal, Bagalkot, Raichur, Vijayapura, Bidar, Hassan, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have been conducted.
- Total number of specimens collected : 33798
- Plant origin : 33776
- Mineral origin : 20
- Animal origin : 02
- Total number of Families collected : 229
- Genera collected : 2042
- Species collected : 2782
- Total number of plant specimen in the herbarium : 44411
- Total number of Index Cards prepared : nil
- Total number of drug samples in the museum : 764
- Plant origin : 742
- Mineral origin : 20
- Animal origin : 02
- Completed Research Projects
Compendium of Cereals and Pulses Project of Selected Plants
- Ongoing Projects
- Compendium of Oil Seeds Project of Selected Plants
- Development of micro forest of medicinal plants by using Miyawaki method of plantation at CARI, Bengaluru
- Establishment of Nursery for Cultivation, Conservation and sustainable utilization of Medicinal Plants
Achievements:
CARI consists of scientists from varied disciplines working with a focused aim of scientific validation of Ayurveda. The institute has published 412 scientific publications and abstracts, 9 monographs, 8 book reviews. The institute has 747 presentations and participations in its credit and has got 3 gold medals, 3 best research paper awards, and incentives for two best publications. The Institute is recognised as Ph.D. Centre by Mysore University and has awarded 16 Ph.D. and 1 D.Sc. degree. The reference library hosts 1961 books and scientific journals. During the reporting period the institute has published 11 original research articles and 06 abstracts, communicated 12 original research articles. Officers of the Institute were participated & presented in 67 scientific meetings. Among the achievements, scientist of the Institute awarded Innovative thesis Award during the year 2019-20.
Contact Details:
Dr. Sulochana Bhat
Assistant Director In-charge
Central Ayurveda Research Institute,
#12, Uttarahalli Manavarthe Kaval, Uttarahalli (Hobli), Bangalore South (Tq.) Kanakapura Main Road, Talaghattapura Post, Bengaluru - 560109
Telephone: 080-29535034(Office)/29635035(Hospital)