Comprehensive Technical Dossier (CTD) of Medicinal Plant Used in Ayurveda

A resurgence of interest in Ayurveda and other traditional systems has resulted from the preference of health seekers towards natural product based holistic approach. There is a growing need to incorporate the contributions of these systems of health knowledge into the mainstream nationally and internationally to fulfill the WHO goal, "Health for all". Hence the quality control and rational use of these therapies have become important concern both for policymakers and public.

India has some of the richest, oldest and diverse cultural traditions associated with the use of medicinal plants since centuries. More than 90 percent of Ayurveda medicines comprise of medicinal plants as ingredients while 80-90 percent of Indian population use medicinal plants to help meet their primary health requirements. Although medicinal plants are in use since long, yet there is an impending need for systematic evidence regarding their quality, safety and efficacy in a concise form available to scientific community.

Lack of such comprehensive evidence based information in A YUSH has in turn slowed down its development across the country and globally as well. In addition, there is a need of cooperation and sharing of information among diverse disciplines, individuals, organizations and countries across the globe hampering research & development.

In view of this, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of A YUSH, Govt. of India has initiated the development of a series of Comprehensive and concise documents in the form of "Comprehensive Technical Dossier (CTD) of Medicinal Plant used in Ayurveda" covering diverse aspects of medicinal plants encompassing its description, therapeutic uses in Ayurveda, Botanical description, Cultivation aspects, Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and evidences on safety and efficacy.

The information from published sources such as books, monographs, journals, web based search engines etc. has been compiled, systematically arranged and edited by experts of concerned fields to make the document an Authentic Source of Reference.

I would like to place in record of appreciation; the efforts put in by Scientists of CCRAS and expert reviewers in bringing out these series of Comprehensive Technical Dossiers. I am also thankful to Dr. R.N. Acharya for providing classical literature. The technical support extended by Dr. Vandana Siroha, Dr. Amita Kumari, Ms. Simmy Kawatra, Dr. Soma Singh, Sh. Devesh Tewari, Mrs. Suman Singh, Sh. Suneel Babu, Ms. P. Jeneka Devi, Ms. Rosy R., Sh. Harkishan Upreti, Sh. Vineet Kumar, Ms. Ekta Vashista & Ms. Bhavana Dewedi, Consultants / Senior Research fellows of this Council is duly acknowledged. Dr. y. K. Lavanya Research Officer (Ay.) of the council is also thankful for publication of this document duly in time. Sh. Yogendra Singh & Sh. Prasanto Chaudhary, Data Entry Operators, CCRAS, New Delhi deserves a very special mention for his meticulous efforts in arranging & designing the document.

Present Comprehensive Technical Dossier on Guggulu (Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari). an important Ayurvedic medicinal plant to provide an insight for further planning of research and avoids duplication. This document will further give way to find out collaboration and exploration of new areas of research.

To my opinion this compendium would certainly help the Scientists, Research Scholars, Academicians, Pharmaceutical Industries and policy makers as a reference document.

**Contents and Sample Pages**