Pharmacognosy division, CSIR-NBRI is one of its kind labs in the area of medicinal plants research in the country, actively engaged in bioprospection of medicinal plants for the last four decades. Since very beginning, the focus of the division was on the R&D backed validation of traditional claims of medicinal plants used in various traditional systems of medicine in India. The division has contributed immensely in quality control of raw drugs, identification of adulteration and substitution in marketed drugs which led to improving policy frameworks for medicinal plants research, manufacturing and trade of herbal formulations in India. In recent past, the chemotaxonomic analysis of economically important medicinal plants has been the thrust area of research and extensive work on Berberis sp., Gloriosa superba, Coleus forskohlii, Costus speciosus, Acorus calamus, Centella asiatica, Plumbago zeylanica, Hemidesmus indicus, Ageratum conyzoides, Tribulus terrestris, Solanum xanthocarpum, Ichnocarpus frutescens etc. to identify the elite chemotypes.
The division has a long history of contributing in monographs of Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Additionally, we have also contributed in developing Botanical Reference Standards (BRS) and Pharmaceutical Reference Standards (PRS) for API, IP (Indian Pharmacoepia), and IPC (Indian Pharmacopeial Commission). Apart from this, the division is actively engaged in development of evidence-based herbal formulations inspired from our traditional wisdom. A few of them are BGR-34 for type-2 diabetes, URO-5 for Kidney stones, anti-gout formulation, herbal sanitizer, traditional kadha, mask stress reducer, anti-dandruff hair oil etc.
A skill development programme recognized by the Ministry of AYUSH is organized on a regular basis. Additionally, the division imparts 3-6 months training to the Pharmacy, Chemistry and Ayurveda scholars for their dissertation in master’s degree, round the year.
Thrust area of research:
Pharmacognosy, Chemo-taxonomy, Bioprospection, Bioeconomy and Product development (AYUSH and Phytopharmaceutical)
