VIJAYAWADA: The role of herbal medicine in curing several dreaded diseases is growing leaps and bounds and the herbal drugs are gaining popularity with each passing day, chief scientist at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) YVD Nageswar has said.
According to him, 150 out of 2,500 species in India are used commercially on a large scale. Recently, WHO has listed 21,000 plants, which are used for medical purposes.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the two-day national seminar on ‘Recent Trends in Phytochemical and Plant Biology Research’ organised by the Department of Botany, PB Siddhartha College of Arts and Science at KVSR Siddhartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences here Friday, he said: “The aim of the seminar is to discuss and educate the students about the chemical and medical values that are present in the stems and fruits of every plant. This also acts as a platform for the exchange of ideas among research professionals involved in phytochemical and biological research and the students.”
Principal scientist from CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow, Dr Chandana Venkateswara Rao said there is a great need to preserve plants as there are numerous plants with immense medicinal values.
“People use allopathy for immediate relief from pain but sometimes it may have side effects. Every one should come forward voluntarily to grow plants of high medical value like like neem, tulasi, aloe vera and others,” he added.
KVSR Siddhartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences principal MVN Padma Rao, Siddhartha Academy president N Venkateswarulu, seminar organising secretary Chundi Venkateswarulu, college staff and students from various colleges attended the programme.