The Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), an NGO recognized by the Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) has developed a herbal drug using 42 herbs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The multi-formulation developed utilizes a novel advanced potency process. The drug is now undergoing preclinical human studies to ascertain the kind of diabetes (type I or type II) which the herbal formulation would respond.

As per the ayurveda classical test, the drug which is developed at the
lab which is standardized for treatment can be prescribed to patients
by the physician for initial examination or consideration. The drug has been approved for the pre-clinical study by the Ethics Committee at FRLHT.

"Going by the initial patient response to the drug, we are now confident that it can go for the next level of research, where the drug will go through a pilot production phase before it is scaled up. We will assess the herbal potency on a larger number of patients and this will be a full-fledged clinical trail. The process is expected to take anywhere between 12-14 months," Dr GG Gangadharan, joint director (Traditional System of Medicine), FRLHT told Pharmabiz.

The patient is expected to take four tablets of one gram each for the preclinical study. This is an important drug in our research portfolio as India already has over 44 million diabetics, he added.

The Foundation has also a 20-bedded facility refereed to as Amruth, which has clinical trial facility to study evidence-based analysis of the disease and its treatment options. The facility also provides documented outcome of traditional medicine treatment.

The foundation which is also a recognized centre for excellence for medicinal plants and traditional knowledge by the Ministry of Environment also has a Laboratory of Medicinal Plants approved by the Department of
Ayush and it is the only regional testing lab in the country from the non-governmental sector. This Laboratory for Medicinal Plants, which adheres to Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Indian Pharmacopoeia, the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, British Pharmacopoeia and WHO guidelines is now an exclusive facility in the private sector to undertake testing and standardization of preparations which are in Kashayams dosage forms.

"At FRLHT we are keen to bring out case studies, reports and scientifically written articles in peer reviewed journals, thus making a case to consider Ayurveda as a system of medicine rather than disintegrating or distorting it to a few herbal preparations or well-defined bio-molecules which can be used as a complimentary treatment by practitioners of modern system of medicine," pointed out Dr Gangadharan.