Bangalore-based Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education, a non- government organization (NGO) does not want pharmaceutical companies to enter in the area of phyto-pharmaceuticals as its commercial applications could lead to its misuse.

There is no plant that does not have a pharmaceutical activity and the future of Phytopharmaceuticals holds immense potential provided the pharma-biotech scientists simplify the concept of molecular design and make it viable method to drug development, Professor C Kameswara Rao, executive secretary, Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education who is presenting a paper at the International Conference on "Indian Biotechnology- Building a global business" for the session titled ''Phytopharmaceuticals: convergence of the agro-pharma industry'' at the Bangalore Bio 2003 told Chronicle Pharmabiz.

According to Prof. Rao, scientists are looking at simple processes to extract, identify the chemical molecule and to structurally modify it which is easier and inexpensive.

In India, the mind set of the pharma-biotech companies must change. Today the companies only want to produce drugs for the western world. Our country has a solid foundation in bio- medicine which takes its roots from ayurveda, siddha, unani, folk medicine and home remedies from the kitchen all of which have proved beneficial. But one is certain, drug companies are not serious about this field, he informed.

Delving in the area of plant vaccines, Prof. Rao said that producing vaccines from fruits is a good idea but the fruits must be easily available and inexpensive. Banana is preferred to muskmelon because it is non seasonal. All fruits cannot be used for bio-medicine. One must take leads from literature to study the chemical structure and its compounds.

Biology has changed phenomenally. What was 10 years ago it is not the same today. The Foundation which is recognized by the European Commission is spreading biotech education and conducts workshops for students and teachers. It has organized state level meets at the Delhi, Pune and Hyderabad. It analyses the key issues prevailing in the pharma-biotech sector specifically related to plants. Prof. Rao said "Plants should be collected from the wild and not the way ayurveda and herbal drug companies are cultivating it. Any plant can be medicinal provided one its use and application."

"This Foundation sources funds from donations provided by students, teachers and philanthropists. There is talent in India as our scientists are sought-after abroad. Events like Bangalore Bio can encourage biotech partnerships. But the growth of biotechnology I the country need not be hyped up because the reality is that there are no biotech products in the market. The success of information technology is different from biotechnology and there is no comparison," averred Prof. Rao.