The Herbal Sciences Department of University of Madras and Ramoni Research Foundation, an institute in Chennai doing research in Ayurveda and Siddha medicines, have jointly conducted a scientific workshop on the availability of technology and special expertise in herbal sciences and nutraceuticals, in the University's Guindy Campus.

Prof. Dr. H. Devaraj, Syndicate Member to the University of Madras, inaugurated the workshop which was presided over by Prof Dr R Ramani Bai, director, Guindy Campus.

Delivering the keynote address on Ayush Drug Licensing and the present GMP/ FDA norms, Prof. Dr P Sarojini Devi, State Drug Licensing Authority for ISM medicines, said that for the standardization of ISM drugs, all the existing units and the new ones should comply the norms of voluntary certification scheme implemented by Ayush Department.

The units can obtain certification at two levels, one is the Ayush Standard Mark which is based on compliance to the domestic regulator requirements, and another one is Ayush Premium Mark, which is based on compliance to GMP requirements based on WHO guidelines, she said.

Dr Sarojini Devi expressed satisfaction over facilities of the Center for Herbal Sciences and highlighted the need for the creation of nodal approved laboratory requirements.

Prof. Dr.N.Raaman, director, Centre for Herbal Sciences gave a Special Lecture on Drug Development and Dr K Balasubramanian, CEO, Ramoni Research Foundation, spoke on the invention of 'Ayusrem', the herbal remedy developed for containing Swine Flu viruses, and other technologies developed by the herbal centre and the research foundation jointly. Prof. Raaman emphasized the regulated mode of herbal usage and the standardised norms that his lab follows in carrying out research.

The workshop focused on various aspects of current research in the medicinal plants arena along with products developed at the Centre.

About 100 delegates including academicians, scientists and industrialists participated in the workshop. Notable of them were Prof J P Narayanan, the Siddha Specialist & chairman, CCRAS Advisory Committee, New Delhi, Dr Ganapathiraman, director, CRI (S), K Kannan, managing director, Vopec Pharma, P Prasanth of Cholayil Pharma Division, Dr Kumaravel, Tablets India, Dr R Muralidharan from IMCOPS, Dr S S Manikandan, Saptharishi Research and Medical Foundation, S Ragothama of JRK Foundation, K Gunasekaran, Sanjeeve Pharma, Dr Hemalatha from Mikasa Cosmetics, .H Vikrama, CEO, Triumph Herbals, Rajavel from Amrutanjan Health Care and P Nambi Narayanan from Rishi Herbals.