Annual Report 2019-20

Abstract

The focus in TDU continues to be on research but the seeds for creative education are also being sown and I think in a few years from now, one will see the fruits. In 2019-20, TDU faculty and researchers were engaged in a wide range of research activities, across different subject domains: from studying the impact of climate change on wild plants, to value addition of wild plant produce; from use of plant-based products for animal health to replace antibiotics, to basic biology of health-related physiological processes. There is research underway to solve (for industry) the problem of preventing early death of the guggul yielding tree after tapping its yellow fragrant oleo- gum resin, and investigating the molecular mechanisms responsible for (medicinally valuable) gall formation in the Pistacia plants. TDU faculty and colleagues were associated with UNDP, MoEF &CC, GoI in implementing 3 projects of national importance: One under Secure Himalaya project in Sikkim, 2 projects under third NATCOM project of GoI-GEF-UNDP in Western Ghats. Colleagues are working with Forest Departments of Karnataka and Chhattisgarh States on resource augmentation of traded medicinal plants harvested from wild. An important exploratory study is examining the anti-diabetic properties of honey, the genes involved in biosynthesis of medicinal alkaloids and the application of matching Ayurveda phenotypes between donors and recipients to enhance the sustainability of bone marrow transplantation. Strategic Research programs include building a unique, first of its kind, multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural data base on food ingredients and building an algorithm for linking food ingredients to personalised needs of individuals. Colleagues are also designing functional foods for nutritional deficiencies and TDU is amongst the few institutions to possess a brabender twin lab extruder. There is also preclinical and clinical research underway on trans-disciplinary solutions for mild cognitive enhancement, effect of nootropics on Neuro degenerative conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinsons, effect of classical Ayurveda formulations and traditional diets on fat and glucose metabolism, CKD (nephro protection), UTI, obesity, acne and malnutrition. We have been organising skill training programs for veterinarians from NDDB, AMUL, BAMUL, and even private sector companies like ABBOT, on herbal remedies for management of high morbidity conditions of cows. Another training stream is for skilling Ayurveda therapists, and for village-based community healers also on hands on skills for gene sequencing for students and professionals. We also train village-based BMCs in preparing biodiversity registers in Manipur, Karnataka and Haryana. We also did a practical skills program for students from Malaysia and Singapore on embedding Ayurveda into healthy lifestyles. In the field of TK informatics during 2019-20 we have completed a socially relevant medicinal plants and primary healthcare portal for the use of local communities of Heggadadevana Kote tauk, Mysuru district. TDU has also finalised the text of a unique Sanskrit- Kannada- English technical dictionary of Ayurveda, built data on integrative network pharmacology of key medicinal plants, a genomic plants database on genes, proteins, bio molecules, and pathways of important medicinal species. We collaborated this year with West Bengal, and Karnataka Forest Departments in revisiting insitu medicinal plant conservation areas, established several years ago for conservation of wild gene pools. We undertook for the State Horticulture Department, a taxonomic documentarian of the flora in the iconic Lalbagh garden in Bangalore. We have this year established several herbal gardens for private sector in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.