Ayurveda will give new drug for dengue
Ayurveda will give new drug for dengue
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Soon, India could have a pill for curative and even preventive dengue therapy.

On Wednesday, Staking high hopes on a plant, the Delhi chapter of global non-profit International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and Indian multinational Sun Pharmaceuticals signed an agreement to develop a "novel" botanical drug to combat dengue, in the capital.

Dr Naveen Khanna of the ICGEB said, "The US FDA approved four botanical drugs from China last year".

Specialists in ayurveda by Ranbaxy, which was acquired by Sun Pharma in 2014 supported the formal pact comes on the heels of eight years of research, by Khanna's team at ICGEB.

In India, nearly half of the global population at risk of massive disease called dengue.

According to Dr Khanna, a chemical drug is one where the molecule is created in the laboratory.

Last December, pushed by the Ministry of AYUSH, the Indian Council of Medical Research signed an MoU with the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences to develop treatment for dengue. ICMR DG Dr Swaminathan had told dna that there was government encouragement to integrate allopathic and traditional medicines.

"We don't know yet, how it interferes with the proliferation of the dengue virus," said Dr Khanna of the extract of Cissampelos pareira, "but we know it does." Dr Lal added to dna that its long history of usage and safety gave the researchers confidence in using the plant.

It currently has patents in 17 countries, while awaiting one in India.

Sun Pharma will have access to intellectual properties in all countries.

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