Hyderabad : International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry & Natural Products” (Pharmacognosy-2013)  kicked off here in city today at Radisson Blue Plaza Hotel at Banajara Hills. The theme of the conference is “Accelerating plant based drug discovery  for safer drug development”.

Giving his keynot address at the inaugural of the meet, Prof(Dr.) Chandrakant Kokate who is regarded as Father of Indian Pharmacognosy said the wealth of India is stored in enormous amount of flora and fauna that has been gifted to her.  India is virtually an epicenter of biodiversity that has provided around ten thousand species of higher plants which are being systematically used for treatment of wider spectrum of human ailments. Plant-derived drugs constitute major share of different systems of healthcare systems practiced in India. 20,000 Medicinal Plants are grown in India

A Telugu man, born in Bhainsa in Andhra Pradesh, he is currently Vice-Chancellor of KLE University.  He is a former Vice Chancellor of Kakatiya and Nagarjuna University, he is former President of Pharmacy Council of India for two terms. He headed Committees All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE), UGC for projection of High Education Abroad and Member of Task Force of Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.

Speaking further he added that Indian Herbal Drug Industry is fastest growing one.  Europe leads world market followed by Asia and North America.  The global market for Herbal Drug Industry is around $ 70.5 Billion with average annual growth of 10 to 12% he said. Around US # 3500 million worth herbal medicines are produced annually.  Approximately 1200 singel ingredient and 10,500 polyherbal formulations registered and are used in different diseases.  65% per of Herbal Medicines are categorized as Ayurvedic medicines, he said.

Production of Drugs and Pharmaceuticals in India is worth Rs 1,20,000 crore of which 20% is from herbal polyherbals.   India is one amongst the top 12 mega-diversity countries in the world.  Out of 18 global spots of bio-diversity, 2 exist in India—one at Himalayas and other one sin South, the Western Ghats.  We have 15 agro climate zones and 25 biotic provinces, he informed.

He listed some of the important Indian Herbal Drugs for Global Trade, which include Aloe-Vera, Amla, Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Curcuma, Dioscorea, Garlic, Henna, Isapgol, Kalmegh, Lemon Grass, Neem, Nutmeg, Papaya, Poppy, Rauwolfia, Saffron, Sandalwood, Senna, Shaankhapushpi, Shatavari, solanum, Terminalia, Tulsi, Vidang and Vinca.

Arteether, Galanthamine, Nitisinone and Tiotropium are some of the recent Herbal Drugs in the world market,  Herbals traditionally established, economically affordable, easily procured and are Green Pharmacy. India has huge potential. But, we are unable tap out potential. We need strict quality control, clinical validity, quality assurance and stability of our herbal products, if we need make a dent in international market he said and added that Good Manufacturing Proctice for herbal formulations which is made mandatory several years ago is not strictly implemented, he said

Another Key Note speaker S. Mohan Jain, an Indian origin Noble Laureat from University of Helsinki, Finland.  He gave a overview of on in vitra biomass production for secondary metabolities.  Loss of bio-diversity could become a serious threat to sustainable crop production. Conservation and use of bio-diversity are  backbone of any crop improvement. The protection of bio-diversity should be the top priority of the Federal Government. Climate change could devastate crops he said and added that “Hundreds of medicinal plants are at risk of extinction, threatening the discovery of future cures for disease” “The cures for things such as cancer and HIV may become “extinct” before they are ever found”. 30-50% medicinal plant biodiversity faces the danger of extinction, he informed.  S. Mohan Jain, Indian origin Noble Laureate from University of Helsinki, Finland.  Extinction: A major concern for medicinal plants.  Quoting from Botanical Survey fo India, Mr. Jain said that extinction is a  major concern for medicinal plants.  Ninety-three percent of the wild plants used in traditional Indian (ayurvedic) medicine are threatened with extinction:

Pharmacognosy is one of the most important sciences.  It is commonly known us science of medicine derived from natural sources. which introduces many new molecules in the medical world. It is a multidisciplinary branch of science, which utilizes concepts of biology, chemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, molecular biology, photochemistry, analytical chemistry etc.. It deal with the medicinal potential of natural sources. This branch of science is credited for supplying highest number of lead molecules to address various human diseases. Several classical examples of blockbuster natural molecules like taxol, vincristine, quinine, cocaine, morphine etc. are testimony of this fact.

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. The Pharmacognosy 2013 is organised in such a large scale in this light of background informed  Dr. Srinubabu Gedala, Chairman & CEO, OMICS Group International, the organizer of the event.

This global meet on medicines derived from natural sources is one of the rarest to be held in Hyderabad. The delegates from several countries from abroad and India will deliberate on the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well as the search for new drugs from natural sources.

Among other issues to be discussed in the meet include challenges. opportunities in herbal medicines, trends, inventions etc. The meet will also  address issues related to herbal medicines and drug discovery from natural products, thereby contribute to the holistic approach  to global healthcare.

Organised by OMICS Group, a Hyderabad based global scientific event organizer the three day conference which is truly a global platform to share experience, foster collaborations across industry  and academia and share emerging scientificeupdates across the globe by means of thought provoking keynote presentations, oral talks and poster presentations.  Over the next three days   will witness quality research work presented by more than 200 researchers and scientists from 15 countries. 300 delegates  comprised of scientists, researchers from  wide range of industries such as Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Herbal Companies, leading universities,  research institutions are participating in the meet.

The Luminaries, subject experts and Keynote guests of the meet include: Dr. Alexander N. Orekhov, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow;  Dr. Mohan Jain, Helsinki University, Finland; Dr. G. E. Ugbabe, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NigeriaDr. Simona Rizea Savu, 3S-Pharmacological Consultation & Research GmbH, Germany  ; Dr. Sivakumar Gowder, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. C. T. Sadashiva, University of Kwa Zulu-Natal, South Africa; Dr. Chandrakant Kokate, Vice-chancellor, KLE University, Belgaum, Karnataka;  Dr. Bhushan Patwardhan, Professor and Director (Presently on Lien), University of Pune and many others.