The new edition of Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia brought out by Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) was released yesterday by Uttam Khobragade, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration of Maharashtra, in Mumbai.

The revised edition of IHP 2002, which is a unique contribution of a scientific publication by IDMA for the benefit of the industry, follows the initial two volumes comprising of 40 monographs, which were brought out by IDMA in collaboration with Regional Research Laboratory (RRL), Jammu.

The Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia is a pioneering achievement of IDMA. The new edition covers 52 monographs on Indian medicinal plants, of immense medicinal value, largely used in the country and the world over. Authentic data based on scientific studies and investigation carried out in the institutions and research laboratories are published in this book. The publications available on individual plants are also referred under each monograph.

Releasing the IHP 2002 revised edition, Uttam Khobrgade said that challenge before the Indian drug industry engaged in the production of medicinal plant products today is to improve production technologies and to generate more pharmacological data. "The regulatory department always wanted to encourage the industry for any positive initiatives in this regard, which will ultimately ensure the safety and betterment of social health," he added.

At the occasion of the new IHP release organized by IDMA, N H Israni, the Association president, assured that IDMA's objective is to help the drug industry and the scientific community engaged in research and development of plant products in this regard.

"The Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia Revised New Edition 2002 is the happy outcome, made painstakingly, albeit willingly, of many institutions, scientists, experts and others, who have all had but one aim - to disseminate and advance knowledge to the scientific community and through them, to the world," said Dr Patani, chairman, Publications -IDMA, in his introductory remarks on IHP. J L Sipahimalani, chairman, Scientific Committee, Indian Pharmacopoeia, delivered vote of thanks.