The Central Research Institute for Siddha (CRIS), the branch of Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), is in the process of developing herbal drugs for Psoriasis, Rheumatoid arthritis and Infective Hepatitis.

CRIS has completed the pre-clinical studies of new formulations for Psoriasis, Rheumatoid arthritis and Infective Hepatitis and is awaiting results of the pharmacological screening done at Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow to proceed with clinical trials, said sources.

CRIS developed three new drug formulae for Psoriasis and two drug formulae for Rheumatoid arthritis, including a drug Maghaveera Mezhugu, which showed encouraging results in the first stage of the study. The drugs Premna tomentosa (Pindangunari) and Indigofera tinctoria (Avuri) are being validated by the institute for infective Hepatitis.

The institute recently completed collaborative preclinical studies on osteoporosis and viral hepatitis B. Clinical trials for osteoporosis will be done in collaboration with Govt. Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital, Chennai and for viral hepatitis B with Govt. Anna Peripheral Hospital, Chennai.

The centre is also planning to start preclinical studies on Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB) and Schizophrenia. The drug for DUB has been validated and preclinical studies will start soon, said officials. An MoU was signed recently between CRIS and Schizophrenia Research foundation of India (SCARF) for collaborative study on Schizophrenia.

The institute has facilities for research in Indian systems of Medicines, Botanical, Chemical and Pharmacological drug research and clinical research. It had earlier developed P6, a drug for Peptic Ulcer and Kandankathari Pazha Ennai for Leucoderma. Both the drugs have been submitted for patenting, said sources.