The Hindu Business Line : Arecanut-based drugs get commercial licence

Mangalore March 30 Two ayurvedic medicinal formulations in which arecanut is a major ingredient have received licences from the Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) for commercial production.

"Pooga Syrup" and "Pooga Trim", ayurvedic medicinal formulations prepared by the Dakshina Kannada-based Arecanut Research and Development Foundation, got licences for commercial production from ISM&H on March 17.

The Udupi-based Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) Ayurveda Pharmacy has taken up the commercial production of these formulations.Pooga means arecanut in Sanskrit.

The foundation took up the work on the formulations with arecanut as an ingredient six years ago.

The major intention in this initiative was to find alternative uses for arecanut.

Mr B. Shankara Bhat, a progressive farmer from Dakshina Kannada, in his quest to find alternative uses for arecanut, came out with several formulations with arecanut as a major ingredient.

A team of experts under the leadership of Dr Narayana Sharma of SDM Ayurveda Hospital conducted the clinical trials and developed these formulations.

Arecanut constitutes nearly 40 per cent of these two products.

Mr Bhat told Business Line that "Pooga Trim" is used for controlling obesity and diabetes, while "Pooga Syrup" is aimed at controlling bronchitis and cough in children.

He said alreadythere were enquiries for these products in the market.

The President of Central Arecanut and Marketing and Processing Co-operative (Campco) Ltd, Mr S.R. Rangamurthy, said these products would be formally launched in the market on April 6 at the "Kisan Mela" being organised by the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP).

Dr D. Veerendra Heggade, Chairman of SKDRDP, is the President of the foundation; the Campco President is its managing trustee.

Totagars' Sahakari Sangha of Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district, Malnad Areca Marketing Co-operative Society (Mamcos) in Shimoga district and the All-India Areca Growers' Association are the other trustees of the foundation.

Mr Bhat is a permanent invitee in the foundation.

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