Mar Aththanasios College For Advanced Studies in Thiruvalla (Macfast), in association with the Confederation for Ayurvedic Renaissance Kerala Limited, will be hosting a three-day international symposium and congress on `Advances in herbal science and technology’, Biospectrum-2011, at the college auditorium in Thiruvalla from November 25 to 27.
Dr C. Balagopalan, Resident Dean of Macfast Bio-campus and Dr C. Maya Subramoni, head of Phytomedical Science and Technology, said the proposed symposium is aimed at bringing together scientists, technologists, medical practitioners, non-government organisations, educationalists, traditional healers, tribals, Ayurvedic physicians and drug manufacturers to a common platform.
They said the proposed herbal science congress would provide them a common forum for presenting their work, to access the present scenario on Phytomedical Science and Technology and to check out direction for its future use.
Fr Abraham Mulamoottil, Macfast principal, said the organisers are planning to arrange free herbal treatment for patients and a Phytomedical Science Expo to be held as part of the proposed herbal science congress.
According to Fr Mulamoottil, inspite of all its long tradition in Ayurvedic and herbal medicine, India has not been successful as an effective player in the international market for want of rigorous testing and certification procedures.
Dr Balagopal said the three-day event would showcase the rich heritage, wisdom and potentials of the herbal drugs of India. India is one among the 17 mega biodiversity nations in the world holding approximately eight per cent of the global biodiversity with about 45,000 species of plants, he said.
Valiathan to open the meet
Dr M.S.Valiathan, renowned cardiac surgeon and founder director of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, will inaugurate the proposed herbal science congress.
The symposium will begin with lectures on `Biodiversity, systematics and conservation of medicinal plants of India’ and `Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology’ on November 25 forenoon.
Those who wish to participate may contact the organising secretary, Bio-spectrum-2011, Macfast, Thiruvalla, Kerala-689101 (Phone: 0469-3058010, 09846011235, email: balagopal@macfast.org or mayasubramoni@macfast.org).
