Transcript Medicinal plants in Sri Lanka

Inter-country Workshop on Management of Herbal Net Digital Repository
Bangkok, Thailand,
14-15 June 2011
By
Dr.(Ms) D. G. Srikanthi
Bandaranaike Memorial Ayurvedic Research Institute of Sri Lanka
Country Report
Collected Publications and updating of
Collaborating Institutes
in Sri Lanka
General introduction
Sri Lanka is a small and an attractive island in the Indian Ocean with a
land area of approximately 62,705 square kilometers. The Island
extents to a maximum length of 435 kilometers and a width of 225
kilometers.
The population of Sri Lanka is about 21 million.
Sri Lanka’s census in 2001 showed that the Sinhalese represented
82%, of the population,Sri Lanka moor 7.9%, Indian Tamils 5.1%, Sri
Lanka Tamils 4.3%, Burghers 0.2% Malays 0.3% and others 0.2%.
The majority of the population in Sri Lanka is Buddhist (70%) the other
three main religions are Hinduism (15%) Christians (8%) and Islam
(7%)
Sri Lankan traditional medicine
Sri Lanka has its own indigenous system of traditional
medicine. (Ayurveda) This system has been practiced for
many centuries in the Island nation of Sri lanka. The Sri
Lankan Ayurvedic tradition is a mixture of the ancient
Sinhala traditional medicine.
Ayurveda and Siddha systems are of Indian origin, while
Unani medicine has come from Greece through the
Arabs. But most importantly, the Desheeya Chikitsa is
the indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka.
History of Traditional Medicine
Sri Lanka developed its own Ayurvedic system based on a series of
prescriptions handed down from generation to generation over a period of
3000 years. The ancient kings, many of whom were also prominent
physicians, sustained its survival and longevity. King Buddhadasa (398AD),
the most influential of those physicians, wrote the Sarartha Sangrahaya, a
comprehensive manuscript which Sri Lankan physicians use even today for
reference.
Ancient inscriptions on rock surfaces reveal that organized medical
services have existed within the country for centuries. In fact, Sri Lanka
claims to be the first country in the world to have established dedicated
hospitals. The Sri Lankan mountain Mihintale still has the ruins of what
many believe to be the first hospital in the world. Old hospital sites now
attract tourists who marvel at the beautiful ruins. These places have come
to symbolize a traditional sense of healing and cure, which was a prevalent
at that time.
Distribution of Government Ayurvedic/Traditional Institutes of Sri Lanka
Institutions
Ayurvedic/Traditional
Teaching Hospitals
03
Provincial Hospitals
49
Base Hospitals
-
District Hospitals
-
Rural Hospitals
230*
Central Hospitals
123
Research Institutes
01
National Institutes of Traditional
Medicine
01
Ayurvedic Drug Co operations
01
Ayurvedic Colleges
02
*Free Ayurvedic Dispensaries set up in rural areas
Present organizational structure of the BMARI
1. Literary Research Division
2. Drug Research Division (with following sub division)
•
Botany Section
•
Standarzation Section
•
Drug Production Section
3. Clinical Research Division
1.
Literary Research Division
The activities of this division are mainly focused on carrying out literary surveys of suitable
formulas and information needed for research work. The main resources of the division are
the collection of ola-leaf manuscripts, old Ayurveda text books and hand written manuscripts.
2.
Drug research Division
Botany Section
Research activities carried out by this division are as follows:
•
Identification and authentication of plants
•
Cultivation and post-harvest techniques of medicinal plants
•
Botanical and chemical studies on controversial medicinal plants used
in Ayurveda and traditional medicine
•
Pharmacognostic studies on raw materials and adulterants
•
Conservation of endemic medicinal plants
Drug Standardization Division
The main activities of this division include the testing of the drugs used in BMARI by
standardized quality control techniques.
3.
Clinical Research Division
This section carries out human clinical trials relevant to the major and minor ailments in
society. It is mainly focused on the traditional system.
Objectives:
1) To help develop the health system of the member countries
2) To take concerted effort in solving the common health problems of the countries
3) To give an impetus to the development of traditional systems of medicine
4) To find the ways and means of supporting the researches of traditional medicine
of the member countries
The proposed fields identified for collaborative research:
1) Collection of information in basic traditional medical systems of the member
counties
2) Compilation of a report based on the above information
3) Determination of suitable research areas in traditional systems of medicine in
member countries
The proposed research activities:
1) The collection of traditional formulations
2) Documentation of knowledge pertaining to plants/plant products and other
raw materials used for safe keeping of oral knowledge
3) Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) covering Traditional knowledge, recipes and
medicinal plants
4) Research components such as clinical trials, safety and efficacy of drugs, ethical
issues, toxicology studies and standardization
5) Exchange of the knowledge of traditional system of medicine
6) Exchange and facilitation of the modern technology among the BIMSTEC counties
7) Finding the possibility of establishing a common research fund for the BIMSTEC
countries
8) Development of link programs viz: training programs, research programmes etc.
Publications by the Department of Ayurveda of Sri Lanka
•
Ayurvedic Health Care ,Dr. Ariyadasa Kumarasinghe – 1981
•
Ayurveda Sameekshawa Volume I- 1-12 Parts, Volume II- 1-4 Parts
•
Ayurvedic Pharmacopeias Volume I – III
•
Thalpathae Pilium Volume 1-21
•
Compendium of medicinal plants a Sri Lanka study Volume I - II (2001)
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Sri Lankan Deshiya Chikithsa Sangrahaya First Part, Dr. Ariyadasa Kumarasinghe – 1984
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Osuthuru Visithuru Volume 1- 4
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Doshadathu Malawingana, Dr. D.M.R.B Dissanayake
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Padartha Vinganaya, Dr. D.M.R.B Dissanayake
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Dravya Muladarma, Dr. H.I. Chandrasena
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Ayurveda Chikithsa Muladarma, Dr. I.G.A. Jayathilake
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Panchanidhana
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Sharira Vinganaya, Dr. Karunadasa Jagodaarachchi
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Kumaraushada Malawa, Dr. A.J Perera (1980)
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Yogarathnakaraya (Sinhala translation)
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Jwara Nidanaya
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Sarasanshepaya (Sinhala translation)
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Charaka Sanhithawa (Sinhala translation)
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Shushrutha Sanhithawa (Sinhala translation)
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Madhawa Nidhanaya (Sinhala translation)
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Bhawa Prakashaya
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Thalpatha Osu Mahima Volume 1-3
Publications by the BMARI
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Ayu Vidu Kalasa 1-3
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Samarpana 1-10
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Dravya Guna Vingana First Part, Dr. William Alvis
•
Osu Pala Saha Ath Beheth (Medicine of usage plants),
Dr. D.W.J. Senaratne
Publications of the National Institute of Traditional Medicine
•
Mehewara Magazine
•
Medicines of Usage
Publications of the institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of
Colombo
•
Samhitha (monthly paper)
Medicinal plants in Sri Lanka
Azadaricta indica
Mormodica charantia
Alpina calcarata
Murraya koenigii
Mangifera indica
Withania somnifera
Emblica officinalis
Ricinus comunis
Aloe vera
Nigella sativa
THANK YOU