Indian herbal industry has the potential of capturing world market and acquire the status of global leader. However, it is only possible with application of science of modern drug technology to the production of herbal medicines, said Prof Chandrakant Kokate, father of Indian pharmacognosy and former president of Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). He was delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of 3rd International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry & Natural Products.

Addressing the gathering of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry professionals at HICC in Madhapur, Hyderabad, he said India is one of the major producers of herbal raw materials systematically used across the globe for the production of wide spectrum of phyto-medicines. The Indian herbal industry has the potential of capturing the world market provided strategic approach is adopted for developing convincing quality control parameters for the domestic production of herbal medicines, he said.

Speaking along with Prof V K Dixit, president of Indian Society of Pharmacognosy on the sidelines of the meet, he said global market for herbal drug industry is put at around USD 70.5 billion with average annual growth of 10 to 12 per cent. While in India it is USD 3500 million. Approximately 1200 single ingredient and 10,500 polyherbal formulations are registered. 65 per cent of herbal medicines are categorised as ayurvedic medicines, he said.

Speaking about problems encountered in acquiring global leader status in herbal products for India, both the veterans Chandrakant Kokate and Prof Dixit said clinical trial is not made a regulatory requirement. No emphasis is given for consistent quality. There is a poor pharmacovigilance in this country. We have very poorly designed protocols. We have poor documentation and poor statistical information about our herbal medicines and formulations.

We need to develop technology for procurement of herbal drugs raw material. Though good medical practices guidelines are in place they are not effectively implemented. Government must strictly implement these practices to earn right place for India on herbal medicines globally, they opined.

OMICS International organised three global scientific conferences on Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry; GMP, GCP & Quality Control and global summit on veterinary sciences which concluded on October 28. 500 delegates from all over the world participated in these three conferences. OMICS International is the major India’s major publishing house of 350 scientific Open Source Scientific Journals. Dr. Srinubabu Gedela, MD, OMICS International graced the occasion.

Pharmacognosy is the science of medicines derived from natural sources is mother of all branches of pharmacy. It is a vital like of ayurvedic and allopathy. It deals with modern approach to the utilisation of medicines derived from plants, animals and Mineral sources. Pharmacognosy is increasingly used in nutraceuticals (deals in food nutrition values that combines nutrition and pharmaceuticals) and Cosmeceuticals (combination of Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals), said Prof. Kokate.

Speaking further about the specialisation of pharmacognosy, he said India has about 1080 pharmaceutical colleges. Out of which a large number of 300 plus colleges are located in Andhra Pradesh alone. Pharmacognosy is taught in all the under-graduation level, he said.

Pharmacognosy is one of the most important sciences. It is commonly known us science of medicine derived from natural sources. Lot of interests has been grown by pharmaceutical industries for drug development from natural source in the past couple of year.  The knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses are as old as humankind. Now a days people are increasingly turning to indigenous systems of medicine, which are holistic, free from side effects and not only treat diseases but also prevent them. Because of this rising popularity there is a lot of interest in this subject. When whole world is looking for natural products, it is the pharmacognosist who knows and identifies plant material and develops bio-actives for further evaluation into medical therapeutics and ultimately into drugs. That is why this discipline is very important.

Pharmacognosist as phytochemist has an important position in modern medicine. Equally important is the role clinically to link past with future in Indian traditional systems, said pharmacognosy professors who spoke on the occasion.