The Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram, the largest botanical garden in Asia and related research facility, has initiated three new research projects - developing nutraceuticals from a medicinal plant, horticultural multiplication and documentation of tribal knowledge.

As per a three-year project sanctioned recently by the Kerala State Council for Science and Technology & Environment (KSCST) and funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), TBGRI would undertake research work on about five species of Sida Alnifolia, a popularly known medicinal plant ‘Kurunthiotti,’ to develop nutraceutical products related to prenatal and postnatal care of pregnant women and to use it as a food supplement in treatment related to arthritis, Dr Sreeni, director (in-charge), TBGRI told Pharmabiz.

The idea to develop food supplements with medicinal value is based on the concept of ‘food is medicine and medicine is food.’ Kurunthotti is already an integral part of our herbal medical knowledge, and is widely used in herbal medications related to bronchial problems, fever, arthritis etc. Various divisions of TBGRI would be involved in the research project.

It may be noted that TBGRI had developed Jeevani, a world known but now controversial food supplement, in 1995 after about a decade of research work. The immuno stimulant Jeevani was developed from a plant called Aarogyapacha, based on the tribal knowledge of Kani community of Aagasthyar hills.

Dr. Sreeni said the other two projects sanctioned by KSCST are to work on horticultural multiplication of certain species of herbs and a project to document tribal knowledge. The various tribal communities living in the Western Ghats have traditional knowledge on numerous herbs and healing practices and documenting the ethno medicine practices of these communities to save from extinction would be a major part of the project.

The three projects, all for a period of three years, have been sanctioned together a sum of Rs 40 lakhs, said the official.

Meanwhile, sources said TBGRI would soon get a new director, following the retirement of Prof. (Dr.) G M Nair, two days ago. Dr. Nair was heading TBGRI since the renowned botanical scientist Dr. P Pushpangadan left the organization a few years ago, to work with RRL Jammu and National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow. KSCST, the governing body of TBGRI and chaired by the Chief Minister of Kerala, has decided to appoint S. Ganeshan, Principal Scientist at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore as the new director for TBGRI said sources.