The Department of Plant Sciences of the Madurai Kamaraj University is introducing an innovative diploma course in herbal medicine to benefit budding Siddha practitioners and manufacturers interested in herbal medicine to learn the basics of herbal drug manufacturing.

The one-year part time ‘Diploma in Herbal Medicine’ course is likely to be started in the current academic year, according to a Madurai Kamaraj University communication. The course will help the students learn various manufacturing process and techniques related to herbal medicines, including making of thylams, legiyams, tablets, churnams, paspam, chendhuram etc., mainly related to Siddha drugs.

As part of the syllabus, the students could also acquire basic knowledge on pharmacognosy, taxonomy, physiology, and anatomy. The university has prescribed a minimum qualification of Xth standard pass as the eligibility criteria for joining the course.

The Department of Plant Sciences also offers an advanced ‘PG Diploma in Medicinal Plants’ course, eligible for students having a bachelor degree in Bioscienes/medicine, said sources.

Further details on both the courses could be obtained by contacting the Department of Plant Sciences authorities in telephone number 0452 - 2458214, said sources.