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 The
Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad in collaboration
with Arya Vydya Shala,Kottakal and Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI),
Lucknow has come up with the first herbal formulation to cure anti-gastric
ulcers.
"The formulation contains 11 herbs and has been jointly patented
by IICT, CDRI and Arya Vydya Shala," according to IICT Natural Products
Laboratory deputy director J Madhusudana Rao.
Anti-gastric ulcers are found in the gastric tract and are caused due
to excess intake of alcohol. As of now, these ulcers are treated by administering
a drug called Omiprazole.
"The new herbal formulation is much more effective than the existing
drugs in treating anti-gastric ulcers," Madhusudana Rao said.
This has been proved through in-vivo (animal) studies where alcohol and
aspirin induced ulcers were effectively treated by the herbal formulation.
Another advantage that the herbal formulation has is that it has been
made from readily available herbs, hence its availability will not be
a problem, Madhusudana Rao said.
The LD-50 value toxicity test has shown that this herbal formulation
has very little toxicity.
IICT is currently standardising this formulation and testing it for bio-active
ingredients. Bio-active ingredients, if identified can lead to the formation
of a new allopathic drug for the treatment of ulcers, Madhusudana Rao
said.
According to the memorandum of understanding, IICT will be able to commercially
market this formulation, if the Arya Vydya Shala does not want to. This
herbal formulation will be in the market next year, Madhusudana Rao said.
IICT along with Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu has also come out
with an anticancer herbal chemical composition. Madhusudana Rao said the
identification of bio-active ingredients through high performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC) is almost complete for this composition and it can
lead to the discovery of new drugs for fighting cancer. (Source: Times
of India, 27th August, 2001)
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