Overview

Ayurveda, the ancient Science of Life, has been in practice in India from times immortal. Herbal medicines are gaining popularity day by day due to the following reasons :

• There is a growing concern over the reliance and safety of drugs and surgery.
• Modern medicine is failing to effectively treat many of the most common health conditions.
• Many natural measures are being shown to produce better results than drugs or surgery without side effects.

The drug delivery system used for administering the herbal medicine to the patient is traditional and out-of-date, resulting in reduced efficacy of the drug. If the novel drug delivery technology is applied in herbal medicine, it may help in increasing the efficacy and reducing the side effects of various herbal compounds and herbs. This is the basic idea behind incorporating a novel method of drug delivery in herbal medicines. Thus it is important to integrate a novel drug delivery system and Indian Ayurvedic medicines to combat more serious diseases. For a long time, herbal medicines were not considered for development as novel formulations owing to a lack of scientific justification and processing difficulties, such as standardization, extraction, and identification of individual drug components in complex polyherbal systems. However, modern phytopharmaceutical research can solve the scientific needs (such as determination of pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, site of action, accurate dose required etc.) of herbal medicines to be incorporated in novel drug delivery system, such as nanoparticles, microemulsions, matrix systems, solid dispersions, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and so on. The three main goals of a novel drug delivery system (NDDS) are by providing sustained drug release, selected targeting to the site of action and increased patient compliance.

The VMRC's Natural Product Research Laboratory (NPRL) is a world-renowned research facility that focuses on the study of natural products. Natural products are organic compounds that are produced by plants, animals, or other organisms. They can be found in a wide variety of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. NPRL has been at the forefront of herbal medicines research in India for quite some time now, and its scientists have made groundbreaking discoveries that have led to the development of new treatments for various diseases. The NPRL focuses on the discovery and development of new therapeutics from natural sources, as well as the elucidation of mechanisms of action of natural products. The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and facilities for cell culture, molecular biology, and animal experimentation.

Natural Product Research Lab is involved in research integrating modern NDDS/Nanotechnology with ancient herbal wisdom. This approach has resulted in patented products such as Acnano & Trois. Ezenus is also India's first anti-stress sugar-free candy. Our initiative has resulted in the birth of Ampucare which is the only product in India claiming prevention of Amputation. Besides this, we have given products like Swachh Guard herbal hand sanitizer thus supporting “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”.

Areas Interest

Function

Following the Formulation of traditional or conventional products such as creams, ointments, massage oils, medicated oils, medicated candies, etc. As well as Nanotechnology-based patentable formulation such as nanoemulsions, microemulsions & emulgels.

In vitro tests/assays such as DPPH radical scavenging assay, nitric Oxide inhibition activity, metal chelation, superoxide dismutase, total thiols, lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radical ion scavenging assay, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, etc. in herbs and herbal products. These assays are used for screening of herbs during product development as well as for the value addition of existing/new products.

Analytical tests such as heavy metals (volatile and non-volatile) and persistent pesticides (organochlorine) analysis of medicinal plants and herbal products & Chemical fingerprint profile development (HPTLC & HPLC) of a large number of ayurvedic plants.

Writing of research papers for value addition on existing products.

Natural Product

A natural product is a chemical compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature. In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life. Natural products can also be prepared by chemical synthesis.

Natural Product Research Laboratory

Team Profile

Dr. Madhusudan Chamoli

Senior Associate Scientist | Natural Product Research

More

Contact at: nprl@vmrcindia.com