High-quality human resource and advanced infrastructure together with established processes that include system driven, standard operating procedures and validation can see the herbal drug industry in India on a high growth trajectory, according to Prof Chandrakant Kokate, vice chancellor, KLE University, Belgaum.

The industry needs to ensure continuous improvement process driven systems to ensure adherence to quality practices. Only then would it be able to succeed in the global market when economy fluctuations are unpredictable. More over the herbal drug technology is under constant threat due to changing demands, cut-throat competition and therefore there is need for constant update, he said while providing a critical appraisal of the herbal drug utility at the fifth edition of the International Conference on Medicinal Plants and Herbal Products held at the Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal recently.

Of course, keeping pace with newer trends in phyto sciences does not necessarily ensure commercial success. But since India is known for its inherent strengths as being one amongst the top 12 mega - diversity countries in world having two of the global 18 hot spots of bio-diversity. Its 15 Agro-Climatic Zones and 25 Biotic Provinces has accounted for the richest medicinal flora. Now the industry should modernize and look at research and development of bioactive proteins, peptides, dietary fibres, phyto-chemical or antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids and probiotics, he added.

According to Prof Kokate, the global drug industry is on a fast growth path. Europe leads world market followed by Asia and North America. Within Europe, Germany leads the market, followed by France, Italy, UK & Spain. The World Bank estimates that the global trade in medicinal and ayurveda proprietary products at US$ 5 trillion by 2050.

In 2011-12, the herbal global market was $80 billion and registered 12 per cent growth. Europe accounts for the largest herbal drug market accounting for 45 per cent share, followed by Asia with a 19 per cent, North America has 10 per cent share and rest of the world 0.4 per cent. Twenty two per cent of the share is held by other countries.

The important herbal drugs marketed in US and Europe are aloe-vera, ginkgo, garlic, ginseng, isabgol, isoflavones, lycopene, passion flower, Rhubarb, St.John’s Wort, senna, soya and valerian.

India’s herbal industry is valued at around Rs. 16,000 crore or US$ 4000 million and has about 1200 single ingredient and 10,500 polyherbal formulations are registered. Sixty five per cent of the herbal medicines categorized as ayurvedic medicines are time-tested products. The most important herbal exports include aloe-vera, amla, ashwagandha, brahmi, curcuma, dioscorea, garlic, henna, isapgol, kalmegh, neem, lemon grass, nutmeg, papaya, poppy, rauwolfia, saffron, sandalwood, senna, shankhapushpi, shatavari, solanum, terminalia, tulsi and vidang.

However, there is serious concern on the need to control chemotypic disparity, variations during post harvest care, phenotypic and genotypic diversity which are some of the problems encountered during quality control. The country is already known for its rich tradition of ayurveda, and excellent network for conservation of medicinal plants. The presence of a dedicated department of Ayush, stringent regulatory framework, National Medicinal Board and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants are supporting factors lending a fillip to its capability, said Prof. Kokate.