DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY
Pharmacognosy is the study of plants or other natural sources as a possible source of drugs. It is the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well as the search for new drugs, exciepients, Nutraceuticals from natural sources.
It seeks to embrace a complete understanding of commerce, botany, horticulture, chemistry, enzymology, genetics, quality control and pharmacology of medicinal plants and other materials form natural sources.
In last few decades, the popularity of herbal medicine/products has increased worldwide, not only as part of conventional treatment strategies but also for health care management, and thus the opportunity to promote Indian traditional medicine is increasing globally. Recently people from several developed and developing countries have been attracted toward traditional Indian herbal medicines. A large number of modern medicines are derived from the plants used in Ayurveda and other traditional medicinal systems. Ayurveda and other traditional herbal medicines are capable of addressing some modern unmet medical needs, and can provide the basis for developing potential medicines. Lack of drug standardization, information, quality control, and strict monitoring are the primary lacunae in the promotion of traditional Indian herbal products. In recent years several regulatory and promotional approaches have been undertaken to overcome such problems.
The department of Pharmacognosy is engaged in the academic and research persuits for the undergraduate and post-graduate students in Pharmacy by way of imparting knowledge and create personnel for Quality control, rigorous research to establish the effectiveness and safety, of the herbal products. Thus the careful and scientific integration of Indian traditional herbal medicine into evidence-based management of diseases is essential to provide better health care facilities to people.
The department has an undergraduate and a post-graduate research laboratory, a crude drug museum and herbarium specimens of several plant materials.
Till date more than 100 students have obtained their M.Pharm. and six (6) students have been awarded with Ph.D. (Tech.) degrees.
Collaborative Research Areas:
Over the years the department has actively pursued research in the various areas of natural products like
- Ethnobotanical screening of Medicinal plants.
- Activity guided screening of Plant materials.
- Development of natural excipients like colourants and binders.
- Development and standardization of herbal products
- Screening Nutraceuticals from Natural source.
- Formulation & development of various herbal dosage forms & Nutraceuticals.
The department has been engaged in the extramural research, collaborations with institutes like Department of Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA, Thomas Jefferson University, USA, Poddar Ayurvedic College, Mittal Ayurvedic College, Y.M.T Ayurvedic College, Foundation of Medical Research (FMR), G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital, BARC Mumbai,
The department Faculty has been engaged in collaborative research with Dr. Palep’s research Laboratories & Ennovate Biosciences.