Number: 2003-046-1-300
Title: Workshop for formulation of plans for the establishment
of a "Center of Natural Products Research (CNPR)"
Task Group
Chairman: Mohammed
Mosihuzzaman
Members: Berhanu
Abegaz, Liaquat Ali,
M Iqbal Choudhary,
Armias Dagne, Anil
K Ghosh, Hekim Hafez
Azizul Islam, A K
Azad Khan, Nordin
Hj. Lajis, Nilufar
Nahar, Virender
Parmar, Bilge Sener,
W C Taylor, and
P G Waterman
Completion Date: 2005
- project completed
Objective:
1. Documentation of traditional knowledge of medicine (involvement
of traditional healers)
2. Scientific authentication (efficacy, toxicity & dose) of
herbal/traditional medicine
3. Value addition to bio-resources (benefit to women and tribal
people)
4. Coordination of natural products research for the development
of therapeutic agents
5. Conservation of biodiversity: Preservation, Cultivation and Propagation
Description:
Background - Herbal/traditional medicines have been playing
an important role in the primary health care of the people around
the world, specially in the developing countries. In order to keep
pace with the modern medicines, the production of herbal medicines
in a standardized way is essential. The World Health Organization
in its various forums has stressed upon the need for producing herbal
medical preparations in a scientific way to cater the needs of the
people for primary health care at a low cost, as many modern medicines
are prohibitive to the common people for their high prices. In the
Open Forum of the Tenth Asian Symposium on Medicinal Plants, Spices
and Other Natural Products (ASOMPS X) held on 18-23 November 2000,
in Dhaka, Bangladesh, some important recommendations were made.
On the basis of the recommendation a Dhaka Declaration was formulated
at the Asian Coordinating Group (ACGC) meeting in Dhaka on 24-25
November 2000. One of the main recommendation was for setting up
of a Multidisciplinary National, Regional or International Research
Institute of Herbal Medicine. The Dhaka Declaration has the official
blessing of the Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh.
With a strong support from the local scientists, the Task Group
Chairman discussed the idea with a number of reputed scientists
in Europe and America and has received enthusiastic support. The
present Project is submitted for moving forward in fulfilling the
following main objectives:
