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Blending of traditional drug production method with modern technology essential to prove efficacy: Dr Anamik Shah
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Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
August 27 , 2016
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Even though it is a difficult task to prove the efficacy of traditional
medicines with the help of modern technology, it is essential to
substantiate the efficacy factor of new formulations (proprietary drugs)
manufactured under traditional method using herbs and natural products,
according to Dr Anamik Shah, vice-chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith.
While
delivering the keynote address at the Ayurveda Seminar organised as
part of ‘Pharma Tech Expo 2016’ in Ahmadabad, he said there is a need
today to blend modern technology with the age old wisdom for the
progress of the traditional healthcare system. He said China is fast
improving in developing and promoting traditional herbal medicines.
“To
meet the future healthcare needs, the healthcare system in India needs a
concerted approach by blending traditional drug research with modern
technology. Though India claims that Ayurveda has a tradition of more
than 3000 years old, China is 30 years ahead than India in developing
their traditional medical system. Majority of Chinese people depend on
herbal medicines. They have developed modern methods of standardization,
tools and established large scale production units. Even their
extraction units are 25 times bigger than those of in India,” he pointed
out.
For a 5 kg single herbal product isolation is a difficult
task in India, whereas in China, within the time, they do the work for
10 to 15 kg, that much technology has developed there. They are using
bio-informatics, chemo-informatics and computational tools in a bigger
way.
India has all facilities which can be used for the analysis
and validation processes of Ayush drugs and natural medicines. The area
of prevention of diseases has to be ascertained, as also false claims
should be avoided. If Ayurveda practices are adopted in the right way,
there can be large scale reduction in malnutrition and life style
diseases, he said.
He pointed out that there were some problems
faced by the Ayurveda industry in the country. The major one is with
regard to quality of raw materials and their efficacy. Another one is
bio-diversity changes. Same materials in different locations may not
have active contents. Similarly, the shelf life of the formulations also
depends on the efficacy profiles of the medicines.
To a
question, Dr Anamik Shah said classical Ayurveda cannot be replicated
everywhere as huge manpower is required. So it is better for the
industry to go with new formulations.
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