Medicinal Plant Research
1. About:
The Medicinal Plant Research was initiated by Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) in 1969 with a main aim of Medico-Ethno Botanical Survey (MEBS), Development of In-vitro Propagation Techniques/Agro-Techniques, Demonstrative Medicinal Plant Gardens and Pharmacognostical Standardization.
Medico-Ethno Botanical Survey (MEBS):
Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has been involved in MEBS survey and documentation of distribution and availability of medicinal plants used in Ayurveda system of medicine through its peripheral institutes. Various medicinal plants and its useful parts were collected by conducting various survey tours and preserve as herbarium and museum for future reference. The Council has conducted surveys across all phyto-geographic regions of the country, including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The survey team collects and supply authentic raw drug samples from different geographical regions of country for development of quality standard monographs. Herbarium and museum centers located in various institutes of CCRAS are being used as reference centers for UG/PG/M.Phil/Ph.D students and researchers for correct identification/ authentication of plant specimens or raw drug materials. Further, the folk-claims collected during the medicinal plant exploration and successful validation can be potential lead for effective drug development based on traditional knowledge.
In-vitro Propagation Techniques/Agro-Techniques:
The Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory was established in 1989-1990 at Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI), Pune under Pharmacognosy Research unit. Most of the plants raised through seeds are highly heterozygous and show great variations in growth, habit and yield and may have to be discarded because of poor quality of products for their commercial release. Likewise, majority of the plants are not amenable to vegetative propagation through cutting and grafting, thus limiting multiplication of desired cultivators. Moreover, many plants propagated by vegetative means contain systemic bacteria, fungi and viruses which may affect the quality and appearance of selected items. In recent years, tissue culture has emerged as a promising technique to obtain genetically pure elite population under in-vitro conditions. These studies will help in designing protocol in framing strategies for conservation and sustainable utilization of highly valuable medicinal plants.
Demonstrative Medicinal Plant Gardens:
Medicinal plants have been used in the mitigation and treatment of various ailments since ancient time. Several medicinal plants described in various traditional medicine systems serve as a potential lead for the development of lead compound in drug discovery process. Identification of the crude drug is the fundamental step in the formulation of plant-based drugs. The preeminent objectives for cultivation of medicinal plants include the adaptability, growth, flowering and fruiting time of medicinal plants, and suitable maturity time. Considering these facts, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has initiated the steps for developing of medicinal plant gardens at different geographical zones for demonstrative purposes, which are used in the traditional systems of medicine. Demonstrative Cultivation of medicinal plants under Medicinal Plant Research Programme is being carried out mainly in five gardens located at different climatic zones, viz., Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh), Regional Ayurveda Institute Research (RARI), Pune (Maharashtra), RARI Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), and RARI, Ranikhet (Tarikhet) (Uttarakhand) and RARI, Jaipur (Mangliyawas).
Pharmacognostical Standardization:
The Pharmacognosy department of the Council is engaged in the development of Quality standards for useful part of medicinal plant used as ingredient of Ayurvedic formulations which includes macroscopic, microscopic, physiochemical studies, TLC/ HPTLC profiles for the identification of raw materials/ single drugs and compound formulations. The pharmacognosy department is accredited under NABL for carrying out testing services and providing testing services of excellence in authentication/ standardization of single drugs/ compound formulations for the stake holders. The department is equipped with sophisticated instruments and competent testing personnel to carry out the activities. The department is working with the goal of achieving genuine drugs in the market by taking up market survey projects. The department is also involved in authentication of raw materials to be used in pharmacy/ other projects in Drug Standardization Research, Preclinical and Clinical Sections. The research outcomes of the projects are published as books, monographs, and in reputed indexed journals. The department is also imparting training in the monograph preparation for single and compound formulations.
2.Core Objectives:
Medico-Ethno Botanical Survey:
- To access the distribution and availability of medicinal plant species in different phyto-geographic regions across the country.
- Field collection with taxonomic identification of genuine plant drug materials for research & development and as reference standard for testing services.
- Collection of folklore claims, systematic documentation and scientific validation of Ethno Medical Practices and Local Health Traditions.
- Development of Herbarium and Museum as reference standard for identification/authentication of fresh and dried raw drug materials respectively.
In-vitro Propagation Techniques/Agro-Techniques:
- To undertake research studies on adaptability, growth pattern, flowering, fruiting and suitable maturity time to establish quality raw drug material used in Ayurvedic formulations.
- Research & Development of In-situ and Ex-situ Agro-Techniques of Medicinal plants to disseminate scientific information.
Demonstrative Medicinal Plant Gardens:
- To establish demonstrative gardens which act as ex-situ conservation sites and germplasm collections of medicinal plants for preservation of several rare, endangered and threatened species of respected geographical areas.
Pharmacognostical Standardization:
- Development of quality standards and monographs for medicinal plant material used in single drug and compound formulations of Ayurveda.
- To provide testing services of excellence (NABL accredited & Drug Testing Labs) in raw drug authentication to plant cultivators, collectors, manufacturers, academicians and other stakeholders.
3. Scientist Working:
| S. No | Name of the Scientist/ Designation/Institute | Area of Expertise |
| CCRAS Hqrs. | ||
| 1. | Dr.G. Nartunai, A.D(Pharmacognosy) | Development of monograph on single and compound formulations and pharmacognosy research. |
| 2. | Dr. N. Shiddamallayya, R.O (Botany) | Medico Ethno Botanical Survey |
| 3. | Mr. Kamleshwar Singh, R.A (Botany) | Botany |
| CARI Bengaluru | ||
| 4. | Dr.V.Rama Rao, R.O (Botany) | Plant Taxonomy |
| 5. | Mrs. Nazneen, R.A (Botany) | Botany (Mycorrhizae-plantmicrobe interactions) |
| 6. | Mrs R. Bhavana, R.A(Botany) | Botany (Medicinal plants-stress physiology) |
| 7. | Mrs. Ritu Sinha R.A(Botany) | Plant Tissue Culture (Botany) |
| CARI Jhansi | ||
| 8. | Shri Sugriv Kumar Gaur R.O (Botany) | Medicinal Plant Cultivation and Medico-ethnobotanical survey |
| 9. | Dr. Usha Kiran, R.O.(Botany) | Botany (Medicinal plant research particularly with reference to the Plant Nutrition) |
| 10. | Dr. Rajesh Bolleddu, R.O. (Pharmacognosy) | Pharmacognosy |
| 11. | Ms. Prachika, R.O (Botany) | Medicinal Plant cultivation, Plant Taxonomy |
| 12. | Ms. Akanksha Thakur, ARO (Pharmacognosy) | Pharmacognosy |
| 13. | Ms.Preeti Gorla, RA Curator | Museum and Documentation. |
| 14. | Dr. Prem Prakash Jangid, RA (Bot) | Botany, wood anatomy, DNA barcoding, pharmacognosy |
| 15. | Mr.Virendra Singh, RA Garden | Botany-Plant Taxonomy |
| CARI Guwahati | ||
| 16. | Mr. Devanjal Bora, R.O. Botany | Botany (Angiosperm Taxonomy and Medico-ethnobotany) |
| 17. | Mr. Biswajit Paul, R.A Botany | Botany |
| RARI Gwalior | ||
| 18. | Mrs. Sapna Avinash Kondalkar, R.O. Pharmacognosy | Pharmacognosy |
| 19. | Dr. Alok Sharma, R.A. Botany | Botany |
| RARI JAMMU | ||
| 20. | Mrs. Talat Anjum, R.O.(Botany) | Botany |
| 21. | Dr. Sonam Tamchos, R.A. Botany | Botany |
| RARI MANDI | ||
| 22. | Dr. Manoj Raturi,R.O.(Botany) | Botany |
| 23. | Dr. Hardeep Singh, RA (Bot.) | Phytodiversity, High altitude medicinal plants, Ethnobotany, Conservation biology, Forest ecology, Soil Science |
| RARI JAIPUR | ||
| 24. | Mr.Ravi Chandra R.O.(Botany) | Botany |
| CARI BHUBNESHWAR | ||
| 25. | Dr. Yashpal Bhardwaj, ARO (Botany) | Botany |
| 26. | Dr. Sunil Kumar, RA (Botany) | Plant-Microbe Interactions and Medicinal Plant Research |
| RARI GANGTOK | ||
| 27. | Dr. J.C. Arya, R.O.(Botany) | Plant taxonomy and ethnobotany |
| 28. | Dr. Animesh Sen, RA (Botany) | Botany |
| RARI PORTBLAIR | ||
| 29. | Dr. Harjeet Singh, R.O. (Pharmacognosy) | Pharmacognosy |
| 30. | Mr. Jishin Prakash T S, RA (Botany) | Plant Tissue Culture & Cultivation research |
| RARI ITANAGAR | ||
| 31. | Dr.C Srinivasulu, RA (Botany) | Biochemistry and Botany |
| 32. | Dr. Pulicherla Yugandhar, RA(Garden) | Botany |
| RARC DIMAPUR | ||
| 33. | Mr. Nikhil Krishna, RA (Botany) | Plant taxonomy, nomenclature and systematics, Ethnobotany |
| CSMDCARI CHENNAI | ||
| 34. | Mr. Vishnu Walsan. K, R.O (Botany) | Pharmacology (in-vitro and in-vivo), Ethnobotany, Ethnopharmacology, Cancer biology, Immunology |
| 35. | Mr.C.Prem Kumar ARO (Pharmacognosy) | Pharmacognosy, Analytical techniques (HPLC, Mass spectrometry) and Drug Kinetics study |
| 36. | Dr. Akansha Pandey – RA (Botany) | Botany, Pharmacognosy, Biotechnology and molecular biology |
| NARIP CHERUTHURUTHY | ||
| 37. | Dr. Thulasi R., RA (Botany) | Botany – Taxonomy, Field biology, Pteridology, Phytochemistry, Molecular biology, Ecology, cell biology |
| CARI KOLKATA | ||
| 38. | Dr. A K Mangal, AD, Pharmacognosy | Pharmacognosy |
| 39. | Dr. Shyam Baboo Prasad, R.O. Pharmacognosy | Pharmacognosy |
| 40. | Mrs. Sreya Dutta, R.O, Botany | Botany |
| 41. | Dr. Jyoti Dahiya, ARO, Pharmacognosy | Pharmacognosy |
| 42. | Mrs. Simmi Mall, RA, Botany | Botany |
| RARI PUNE | ||
| 43. | Dr. Arun Gurav, R.O(Botany) | Medicinal Plant cultivation, Plant tissue culture, Plant Taxonomy, MEBS survey, Pharmacognosy |
| 44. | Ms. Charul Anand, RA Botany | Botany |
| 45. | Mr. Barun Santra , RA Garden Supervisor | Medicinal Plant cultivation, MEBS Survey |
| RARI Tarikhet | ||
| 46. | Dr. Gajendra Rao , R.O(Botany) | Cultivation of Medicinal Plants |
| 47. | Dr. Deepshikha Arya R.O(Botany) | Plant Taxonomy |
| 48. | Mrs. Kirti Kumari, RA (Botany) | Botany |
| 49. | Mrs. Aishwarya Mishra, ARO (Farm Manager) | Agriculture |
| 50. | Sh. Nitesh Vishvkarma, RA Curator | Museum and Documentation. |
4.CCRAS Peripheral Institutes involved with MPR Projects:
Medico-Ethno Botanical Survey Institutes: CARI, Jhansi; CARI, Guwahati; CARI, Bengaluru; RARI, Pune; RARI, Itanagar; RARI, Tarikhet; RARI, Mandi; NARIP, Cheruthurty; CSMCARI, Chennai; CARI Bhubaneswar; RARI, Gangtok; RARC, Dimapur; RARI Thiruvananthapuram.
Demonstrative Medicinal Plant Gardens Institutes: CARI, Jhansi; RARI, Pune; RARI, Itanagar; RARI, Tarikhet ; RARI, Jaipur (Mangliyawas).
In-vitro Propagation Techniques/Agro Techniques Institutes: RARI, Pune; CARI, Bengaluru; NARIP, Cheruthuruthy; RARI, Itanagar; CARI, Jhansi; RARI, Tarikhet.
Pharmacognostical Standardization Institutes: CARI, Jhansi; RARI, Gwalior; CARI, Kolkata; RARI, Pune; RARI, Jammu; CSMCARI, Chennai.
5.Infra structure available in MPR Institutes:
CSMCARI, Chennai
The Department of Botany and Pharmacognosy at CSMCARI, Chennai, is an NABL-accredited laboratory for three parameters: macroscopic identification, sectional studies, and powder microscopy of Ayurvedic drugs. Additionally, the parameters of taxonomic identification and aflatoxin testing services are approved after audit (certification awaited). Additionally, the department serves as an authorized drug-testing laboratory (DTL). Institute has received international recognition of Index Herbarium from New York Botanical Garden, USA with an acronym “CSMH”. It hosts the internationally indexed Captain Srinivasa Murthy Herbarium (CSMH), which houses accessions dating back to 1960. The department is equipped with sophisticated instruments, including High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), deep freezer (-80°C) , Trinocular compound microscope with CMOS camera and drawing tube attachment, stereo zoom microscope and flatbed herbarium scanner.
CARI Jhansi:
The CARI Jhansi has two Herbaria namely Institute herbarium which consists of about 6000 species and Central Herbarium which includes 2200 species collected from different regions of the country. The botany section also hosts a raw drug museum where the raw drugs are preserved and maintained for display. The raw drug museum houses more than 700 samples of authenticated raw drugs of various sources viz. botanical, animal and mineral origins. The section is also maintaining the medicinal plant garden where different medicinal plant including herbs, shrubs and tree species are grown for conservation, cultivation and supply of raw drugs. Pharmacognosy lab is having status of State DTL laboratory and accredited with NABL-ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 for following parameters like Macroscopic evaluation for identification of Ayurvedic crude drugs and Ayurvedic formulations, microscopic study of transverse section for identification of Ayurvedic crude drugs and Powder microscopy for identification of Ayurvedic crude drugs and Ayurvedic formulations.
NARIP Cheruthuruthy:
The SMPU/Botany section is working along with Quality Control department. Section equipped with trinocular compound microscope, zoom stereo microscope, Digital camera, Plant dryer for drying plant samples and flatbed A3 scanner for scanning the herbarium sheets.
RARI Tarikhet:
The RARI Tarikhet Institutes has a well-developed Herbarium and Museum with Acronym “RKT”. Institute Herbarium is big repository of 62935 Herbarium sheets belonging 218 families, 1410 genera and 3670 species of Angiosperm, Gymnosperm and Pteridophytes representing North West part of Himalaya (Uttarakhand, Himanchal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh). Raw drugs of plant, animal and mineral origin are being maintained in the Institute’s Museum. Two Demonstrative Herbal Gardens are maintained by the Institute one at Ranikhet, Distt. Almora and another at Chamma, Distt. New Tehri.
CARI Kolkata:
The CARI Kolkata pharmacognosy lab is having status of State DTL laboratory and accredited with NABL -ISO/ IEC 17025: 2017 since August 2023 and having scope for Macroscopy, Transverse section and Powder Microscopy of crude drugs. The Pharmacognosy Department has two laboratories: First is dedicated to botanical and chemical drug standardisation and second is dedicated to Herbarium/ Museum. Pharmacognostical studies on a total of 105 drug plants/parts were carried out in the past 5 years and 9 monographs on Ayurvedic plants have been prepared. This Department has enlisted the detail information on 107 Indian folk lore claims and closely engaged for developing the standard operating procedure of manufacturing of ASU drugs.
RARI Itanagar: The Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI), Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, was established in the year 1979 Under the programme of survey of Medicinal Plants exploration of different districts of north eastern states of India. This Institute is maintaining one Demonstrative Garden in about 15 acres land introducing more than 200 Medicinal Plants. Apart from the survey the Institute have been organized Seminars and workshops to provide the information about the Medicinal Plants of North East, agro techniques, awareness and values about Medicinal Plants and to make awareness about the formulation of medicine among the traditional healers. Students from various schools and colleges visit the Institute regarding the identification and collection of Medicinal Plants for Herbarium. SMP Unit Herbarium was internationally recognized as ‘Index Herbarium’ by the New York Botanical Garden and accredited with Herbarium acronym ‘ARRI’.
RARI Pune:
RARI, Pune is a leading research centre under the aegis of Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. It was established in May 1961. The institute maintains more than 400 medicinal plants, including 22 Rare, Endangered, and Threatened (RET) plant species, and two Miyawaki forests (Aushadha aranyam). Additionally, it houses 1500 herbarium sheets and 500 crude drug samples in the museum for reference. Apart from this, the institute has botany, pharmacognosy, in-vitro plant tissue culture, laboratories and equipped with high-end instrumentation to carry out various research activities. The Institute got international recognition of Index Herbarium from New York Botanical Garden, USA with acronym ‘JNAMPGH’ and also it is accredited by NABL for the authentication of medicinal plant and pharmacognosy work in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.
CARI Guwahati:
The Survey of Medicinal Plants Unit is the oldest Unit of the Institute established in 1971 and started working on medicinal plants of entire North eastern region of India. The SMP Unit established the Herbarium of the Institute, Raw Drug Museum and a demonstrative Medicinal Plants Garden. The Unit has completed 50 glorious years of existence during May 2021 and the Herbarium of the Institute got international recognition of Index Herbarium from New York Botanical Garden, USA with acronym ‘NEHAR’ (North East Herbarium of Ayurveda Research) in 2021 to cater the needs of Botanical and taxonomic research in the region.
CARI Bengaluru:
Survey of Medicinal Plant Unit (SMPU) of Regional Ayurveda Research Institute of Metabolic Disorders, Bengaluru under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India was established in 1971 in Mysore and was later shifted to Bengaluru. The SMP Unit established the Herbarium of the Institute, Raw Drug Museum and a demonstrative Medicinal Plants Garden. SMP Unit Herbarium was internationally recognized as ‘Index Herbarium’ by the New York Botanical Garden and accredited with Herbarium acronym ‘RRCBI’(Regional Research Centre Bangalore India).
RARI Jammu:
RARI, Jammu undertakes Research on identification and authentication of raw plant drugs. It includes Taxonomic, Macroscopic – Microscopic examination and Physico-chemical analysis for the purpose of identification and characterization of plant materials expected to be included in the prescribed standards of plant raw drugs. This section is well equipped with latest equipment’s to carryout Pharmacognostic studies. It has also an internationally recognized Herbarium indexed in New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) with Acronym ‘RJH’. Herbarium has a collection of about 300 well maintained plant specimens of this region preserved for scientific study .It is also associated with a Raw Drug Museum with 220 accessioned samples and a small herbal garden where more than 90 species of medicinal plants used in Ayurveda are maintained. Institute has ongoing research projects on Pharmacognosy and Medico Ethno Botanical Survey.
RARI Gwalior:
The Pharmacognosy Section at RARI, Gwalior is dedicated to the pharmacognostic standardization and analysed over 273 raw drugs and approximately 90 samples of compound formulations. This laboratory is accredited by NABL in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, focusing on macroscopic, microscopic, and powder microscopic parameters. It possesses a Drug Testing Laboratory License issued by the Government of Madhya Pradesh and has recently undergone first and second stage audits for BIS certification. Additionally, a small demonstrative garden featuring few Ayurvedic plants is maintained. The section supplies raw drugs based on availability, while also preserving a collection of approximately 379 raw drugs derived from plant sources, alongside a few drugs of animal and mineral origin, within its Museum.
RARC Dimapur:
RARC, Dimapur started Botany section in 2021. The institute is having laboratory with facilities including a stereo zoom microscope and herbarium scanner along with basic plant extraction facilities including Soxhlet apparatus, water bath and double distillation unit. SMP Unit Herbarium was internationally recognized as ‘Index Herbarium’ by the New York Botanical Garden and accredited with Herbarium acronym “DMP”.
RARI Port Blair: Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Port Blair is a peripheral institute under Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, New Delhi functioning at Chakkargaon, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It has also an internationally recognized Herbarium indexed in New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) with Acronym ‘RARISVPH’.
RARI Mandi:
The RARI Mandi Institutes has a well-developed Herbarium and Museum with an Acronym “RARIM”.
CARI Bhubaneswar:
The Medico-Ethno-Botanical Unit of the institute operates within a single room, which is designated for both the herbarium and museum. Additionally, separate rooms have been allocated for the officers. The herbarium is equipped with 30 pigeonhole almirah to store its specimens. The herbaria have been registered in the NYBG with the acronym “CARIBBSR”. Recently, several new instruments, including a DSLR camera, deep freezer, dehumidifier, and other small equipment, have been purchased. After a long period, the institute is now set to undertake MEB projects from 2025-2026.
CCRAS MPR Institutes Herbarium, Museum and Lab Facilities:
Important Instruments available in the MPR Institutes:
6 (A). Internationally Recognized Herbarium:
Herbarium at 15 CCRAS Peripheral Institutes recognised for INDEX HERBARIORUM by the New York Botanical Garden, USA with following acronyms:
| Sl. No | Name of the Institutes | Herbarium acronym | Number of Single set of Plant Species Herbarium available at the Institute | Number of Single set of Museum samples available at the Institute |
| 1. | Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI) Tarikhet. | RKT | 3472 | 681 |
| 2. | Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) Jhansi. | JHS | 2104 | 977 |
| 3. | Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) Bengaluru. | RRCBI | 1498 | 472 |
| 4. | Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI) Itanagar. | ARRI | 1406 | 215 |
| 5. | Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) Guwahati. | NEHAR | 479 | 359 |
| 6. | Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI) Gangtok. | RARI | 750 | 133 |
| 7. | Regional Ayurveda Research Centre (RARC) Dimapur. | DMP | 370 | 46 |
| 8. | Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI) Pune. | JNAMPGH | 1078 | 359 |
| 9. | Captain Srinivasa Murthy Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Chennai | CSMH | 310 | 629 |
| 10. | Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) Bhubaneswar | CARIBBSR | 107 | 95 |
| 11. | Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI) Mandi | RARIM | 356 | 40 |
| 12. | Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI) Jammu. | RJH | 197 | 240 |
| 13. | Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) Kolkata. | CARI | 541 | 272 |
| 14. | National Ayurveda Research Institute for Panchakarma (NARIP) Cheruturty. | NARIPH | 364 | 264 |
| 15. | Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI) Port Blair | RARISVPH | 2277 | 85 |
6 (B). Status of NABL/ Accreditation/Certification/Recognition (as per ISO/IEC 17025: 2017):
The following Botany & Pharmacognosy CCRAS institute laboratories has been accredited under NABL to caring out testing services.
| S. No. | Name of the Institute | NABL Accreditation with their Number | No. of Parameters Accredited and its details | Date of acquiring accreditation and renewal |
| 1. | CSMCARI, Chennai | TC/5423 | For Raw Drugs, Single & Compound Formulations 1.Macroscopic/ morphological identification of Ayurvedic drugs. 2. Microscopic identification/ sectional studies of Ayurvedic drugs. 3. Powder microscopic identification. | Date of Accreditation: 12.02.2008 Date of Renewal: 11.02.2029 |
| 2. | CARI, Jhansi | TC-11092 | For Raw Drugs, Single & Compound Formulations 1.Macroscopic/ morphological identification of Ayurvedic drugs. 2. Microscopic identification/ sectional studies of Ayurvedic drugs. 3. Powder microscopic identification. | Date of Accreditation: 25.10.2022 Date of Renewal: 28.01.2029 |
| 3. | CARI, Kolkata | TC-11468 | For Raw Drugs, Single & Compound Formulations 1.Macroscopic/ morphological identification of Ayurvedic drugs. 2. Microscopic identification/ sectional studies of Ayurvedic drugs. 3. Powder microscopic identification. | Date of Accreditation: 29.09.2023 Date of Renewal: 28.09.2025 |
| 4. | RARI, Pune | TC-11420 | 1. Authentication of Plant Herbarium Specimen 2.Macroscopic Evaluation of Ayurvedic crude drugs 3.Powder Microscopy of Ayurvedic crude drugs 4.Transverse Section studies of Ayurvedic crude drugs 5.Powder microscopy of Ayurvedic churna formulation mentioned in API (10 churna formulations). | Date of Accreditation 06.03.2023 Date of Renewal 06.03.2029 |
| 5. | RARI, Gwalior | TC-111222 | For Raw Drugs, Single & Compound Formulations 1.Macroscopic/ morphological identification of Ayurvedic drugs. 2. Microscopic identification/ sectional studies of Ayurvedic drugs. 3. Powder microscopic identification. | Date of Accreditation 16.12.2022 Date of Renewal 27.03.2029 |
6 (C). Dissertation / Thesis/ Project work/ Training:
The MPR section is imparting training and supporting the research work of the students to be carried out in peripheral units of its particular mandate.
7. MPR Research Projects (Completed as well as Ongoing Projects): List of Projects Annexure-I
8. Publications: List of Publications Annexure – II & Annexure-III.
9. Major Achievements of MPR:
- Medico-Ethno Botanical Surveys (MEBS)
Initiated by CCRAS in 1969 through its 13 field Institutes. Since inception total 958 surveys conducted covering 973 number of Forest areas Herbarium prepared: 15,309(Single set); Museum specimen collected: 4827 (Single set); 10 New plant species recorded
2. Pharmacognostical studies
CCRAS has taken up Pharmacognostical studies on more than 500 plants at seven laboratories of peripheral institutes. The outcomes of these Pharmacognostical studies documented in three volumes of the book entitled “Pharmacognosy of Indigenous Drugs, Vol. I, II & III” and ‘Quality standards of selected medicinal plants Vol- I’. About 117 single drug monographs developed by CSMCARI, Chennai is published in Quality Standards of Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol.1 to Vol.17 under ICMR publication.
3. Agro-technique protocols developed
Total 35 Agro-technique protocols prepared for conservation of highly valued medicinal plants viz Aconitum heterophyllum Wall., Acorus calamus L., Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC., Rauvolfia serpentina Benth. ex. Kurz, Valeriana wallichii DC., Gmelina arborea Roxb. etc.
4. In-Vitro Propagation
In vitro propagation studies conducted on 14 medicinal plants species.
5. Demonstrative Medicinal Plant Gardens
The demonstrative medicinal plant gardens are located at different climatic zones, viz., CARI, Jhansi, RARI Pune, RARI Itanagar, MSRARI Jaipur (Mangliawas) and RARI, Ranikhet. In these gardens around 1,114 medicinal plants were cultivated. Rising of saplings, hardening of medicinal plants and distribution for planting are the other activities undertaken.
MPR Demonstrative Gardens:
| S. No. | State and Zone | CCRAS Institute | Total land available with institute (acre) | Area under cultivation (acre) | Uncultivated area (acre) | Number of species maintained |
| 1. | Uttarakhand (North Zone) | RARI, Ranikhet | 04 | 03 | 01 | 177 including RET species |
| 2. | Uttarakhand (North Zone) | RARI, Ranikhet (Chamba New Tehri) | 01 | 01 | 00 | 103 including RET species |
| 3. | Uttar Pradesh (North Zone) | RARI, Jhansi | Block A- 15.5 Block B- 0.76 Block C- 29.3 Total- 45.56 | Block A- 10 (remaining building) Block C- 2 (Miyawaki) | 30.06 | 232 including RET species |
| 4. | Maharashtra (West Zone) | RARI, Pune | 19.5 | 19.5 | 00 | 382 including RET species |
| 5. | Arunachal Pradesh (N-E Zone) | RARI, Itanagar | 15 | 15 | 00 | 160 including RET species |
| 6. | Rajasthan | MSRARI, Jaipur (Mangliawas) | 142 | 46 | 96 | 60 including RET species |
Demonstrative Garden Institutes
Medicinal Plants Cultivated in Demonstrative Gardens
6.Aushadha Aranyam (Miyawaki Method of the plantation):
Aushadha Aranyam, new initiative by CCRAS for experimental “Development of Micro Forest of Medicinal Plants by using Miyawaki Method of the plantation” at RARI, Pune; CARI, Jhansi; RARI, Ranikhet; and CARI, Bengaluru. The approach is to develop forest of medicinal plants under controlled condition without Miyawaki method for comparison and to study the growth pattern of medicinal plant species grown under experimental trial and controlled condition as per standard protocol.
7. The study of seasonal variation
The study of Ayurvedic medicinal plants in different seasons (Shishira, Vasant, Grishma, Varsha, Sharada, Hemanta) and documentation of best suitable procurement time of these drugs by using different pharmacognostical methods.
8. Hydroponic cultivation
The study aims to compare efficient and cost-effective hydroponic systems for the multiplication and commercial biomass production of selected medicinal plants in a controlled environment. Establishment of hydroponic cultivation by different in-vitro culture and to study the influence of abiotic factors on final yield in terms of their metabolites for enhanced growth/biomass.
