Traditional Medicines for Vector Borne Diseases: AYUSH Minister Shripad Yasso Naik

Infections transmitted by the bite of infected arthropod species, such as mosquitoes, ticks, triatomine bugs, sandflies, and blackflies are known as vector-borne diseases. The central government said that traditional medicines are being developed for prevention and management of vector borne diseases. Pre-clinical studies for AYUSH PJ7 - a new drug for dengue - have been completed, Minister of State for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) Shripad Yasso Naik said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The minister said that four research councils set up by the Center are involved in research activities, inter-alia including development and formulation of new drugs.

These research councils are the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) and Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH).

"CCRAS has recently developed AYUSH PJ7 for dengue and AYUSH SL for filarisis. Pre-clinical studies for both the new drugs has been completed," Naik said.

The CCRAS has formulated Ayush 64, a poly herbal, anti-malarial drug, he said and added that it has made deliberations to conduct clinical studies with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to counter diseases like dengue.

The minister said that CCRUM has made observational studies on the efficacy of some Unani drugs in the vector borne diseases, like malaria, filarisis and Kala Azar which has showed significant therapeutic effects in subsiding different signs and symptoms in these conditions.

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"Clinical management studies on dengue, Japanese encephalitis and acute lymphadenitis due to filariasis have already been conducted by CCRH," he added.

Source-IANS