Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen) : Medicinal plants, which represent one of the oldest forms of healthcare, are increasingly threatened today by human intervention and climate change. Thr crying need for conservation of such treasure is the central theme of a two- day national seminar on 'Medicinal Plants as Nature Pharmacy: Understanding Their Therapeutic Promise and the Challenge of Conservation' which began at the SOA Deemed to be University here on Friday.
Medicinal plants constitute the material basis for 'Dravyaguna Vijnana (Ayurvedic Science) and 85 per cent of drugs in use are derived from natural resources. But maximum number of plants which are critically needed for Ayurveda are endangered today," Prof. (Vaidya) Rabi Narayan Acharya, Director General, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, who was the chief guest at the inauguration of the seminar, said.
The seminar has been jointly organised by the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) and SOA Deemed to be University. Prof. Acharya said medicinal plants, as reservoirs of bioactive phytoconstituents verified through centuries of clinical use, they remained central to safe, affordable and sustainable healthcare.
The seminar's dual emphasis on therapeutic promise and conservation was timely, he said adding the scientific utilisation of medicinal flora could not be separated from its protection against overharvesting, habitat destruction and climate change.
Prof. Mahesh Kumar Dadhichi, Chief Executive Officer, NMPB, who addressed the gathering as the chief speaker, said medicinal plants served as the natural pharmacy and provided sustainable and holistic healthcare solutions to millions of people globally. As the world shifted towards natural products, the therapeutic potential of the country medicinal flora was gaining unprecedented global recognition.
However, the growing demand has brought major challenges in its wake like habitat loss and over exploitation," he said adding NMPB was deeply committed to safeguarding the countrys green heritage.
Prof. (Dr.) Neeta Mohanty, Pro-Vice Chancellor of SOA, presided over the program which was also addressed by Prof. Pallab Kanti Haldar, Director, School of Natural Product Species, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, Prof. Debajyoti Das, Dean, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, SOA, and Dr. Biswakanth Kar, organising secretary of the event.
