A viable alternative
A study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on herbal contraceptives has entered its final stage. Scientists at the ICMR are optimistic that they will be successful in producing a commercially viable oral contraceptive soon.
Four plants, including Pippalyadi, Vindaga (Embelia ribes), Pipali (Piper longum) and Borax have been shortlisted from 395 plants. Tests of Vindanga are near completion. Plants were collected and paste from its parts standardised. Toxicity studies were conducted at the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, and studies of possible congenital defects and abnormalities that use of the herb might entail have also been conducted. "It took two years to conduct the studies. The committee in charge met on December 12, 1997, and it was decided that clinical trials should be conducted at the post-graduate institutes of medical sciences at Chandigarh and Pondicherry, and the Medical College, Allahabad,' says Ranjit Roy Chaudhary of the ICMR. Trials will begin this year and the full results will be obtained in 18 months.
Another study will be conducted on Jhaba (Hibiscus rosa sinesis). The plant with bright red-petalled flowers is preferable for contraceptives over some other herbs. Flowers collected between October and December have been found to have the required medicinal properties, according to a study. While the research adopted a scientific approach, using hi-tech scientific instruments, ayurvedic texts were taken as guides, says Roy Chaudhary.
Related Content
- Guidelines on alternatives to highly hazardous pesticides
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding waste management in Bihar, 04/05/2023
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding compliance of municipal solid waste management rules 2016 in Chhattisgarh, 31/03/2023
- Exploring business models for agrivoltaics in India- Karnataka: a case study
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding solid and liquid waste management, Madhya Pradesh, 10/11/2022
- Scaling-up the recognition of indigenous and community land rights: opportunities, costs and climate implications