Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)
The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences is a Registered Society under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 on 29.07.2011 (Formerly Registered as Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha on 30th March, 1978). It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of AYUSH, Govt, of India and is the apex body for formulation, co-ordination, development and promotion of research on scientific lines in Ayurveda medicine. The activities are carried out through its 30 Institutes/Centres/Units located all over India and also through collaborative studies with various Universities, Hospitals and Institutes and its Headquarter is situated in New Delhi.
Recently, CCRAS has also opened a centre at Collaborative Research Centre for Veterinary
Ayurveda” (CCRAS) at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) Ludhiana.
The policies, directions and overall functioning of the Council are regulated by the Governing Body. Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India is the president of the Governing Body and has general control on the affairs of the Council. There is a Standing Finance Committee (SFC) under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India to consider and recommend various financial proposals, developmental activities, etc
The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India is the apex body for undertaking, coordinating, formulating, developing and promoting research in Ayurveda on scientific lines. The activities are carried out through its 30 Institutes/Centers/Units located at different states across the country and also in collaboration with reputed academic and research organizations. The emphasis is on finding effective and low cost remedies for various diseases through systematic research. The research activities of the Council include Medicinal Plant Research (Medico-ethno botanical Survey, Pharmacognosy and Tissue Culture), Drug Standardization, Pharmacological Research, Clinical Research, Literary Research & Documentation and Tribal Health Care Research Programme.
Council has taken up the Swasthya Rakshan Programme to give benefits to public of urban colonies or rural areas to be implemented from August, 2015 in 19 States through 21 peripheral institutes.
The Council has been executing its research programmes with a network of 30 peripheral Institutes/centres/units with the headquarters office responsible for control, monitoring and supervision. Research work of the Council is executed by 792 officers and staff, though the sanctioned strength of officers and staff is 1983 and also through collaborative studies with various Universities, Hospitals and Institutes.
The broad areas of research comprise:
- Clinical Research
- Fundamental Research
- Pharmacology Research (Pre clinical Safety/Toxicity and Biological Activity Studies)
- Medicinal Plant Research (Medico-Ethno Botanical survey, Cultivation, Pharmacognosy)
- Drug standardization Research
- Literary Research & Documentation
CCRAS has developed and commercialized(patented) the following three drugs which are readily available in the market:
- AYUSH 64 An Anti Malarial Formulation.
- AYUSH 82 An Anti Diabetic Ayurvedic Formulation**
- AYUSH SG An Anti-Rheumatoid Arthritis preparation***
** M/S, Dabur India Ltd, New Delhi; M/S Kudos Laboratory India Ltd, New Delhi; M/S LA
Granade Herbs & Pharma Ltd, Haridwar; M/s Chaturbhuj Pharmaceutical Co., Haridwar; M/s Altis Life Sciences, Baddi Distt., Solan, Himachal Pradesh; M/s Multani Pharma Ltd, New Delhi; M/s Ayur Force Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi; M/s Swadeshi Ayurved Company, Haridwar and M/s Sanjivan Anusandhan Pvt. Ltd., New Delhiand M/s Ridhi Sidhi Medicare, New Delhi have already been granted licenses for manufacturing AYUSH-82.
***M/S Kudos Laboratories India Ltd, New Delhi; M/s Multani Pharma Ltd, New Delhi; M/s Ayur Force Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi; M/s Altis Life Sciences, Baddi Distt., Solan, Himachal Pradesh M/s Chaturbhuj Pharmaceutical Co., Haridwar; and M/s Ridhi Sidhi Medicare, New Delhi have been granted licenses for manufacturing AYUSH-SG.
Clinical Research
Validation and development of formulations for disease/clinical conditions viz. Fistula-in-Ano, Epilepsy, Filariasis, Cardiovascular disease, Hemiplegia, Malaria, Obesity & Lipid disorder, Paraplegia, Peptic Ulcer, Sciatica, Urolithiasis, Mental Retardation, Bronchial Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis, Cognitive Deficit, Dry Eye Syndrome, Allergic Conjunctivitis, Dyslipidemia, Essential Hypertension, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Menopausal Syndrome, Osteoarthritis, Obesity, Osteopenia / Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rasayana(Geriatric Health), Dysmenorrhea, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Haemorrhoids, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Uterine fibroids, Computer vision syndrome, Gout etc. 17 Ayurvedic formulations for Reproductive and Child Health Care (RCH) program have also been developed.
Further, the Council has been conducting clinical research in collaboration with reputed institutes in certain disease conditions/areas viz. improving quality of life in cancer patients, Mental Retardation, geriatric health.
Clinical research
• Diabetes mellitus with its complications
• Obesity and Metabolic syndrome
• Cardiac disorders
Hypertension
Coronary Artery Disease(CAD)
Dyslipidemia
• Respiratory Disorders
Bronchial Asthma
Bronchitis
Sinusitis
Allergic Rhinitis
• Musculo-skeletal disorders
Osteoarthritis
Cervical spondylosis
Lumbar Spondylosis
• Gastrointestinal Disorders
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Cognitive deficit
• Reproductive and child health care
• Geriatric Health
• Skin diseases such as Psoriasis
• Vector Borne Diseases
• Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Name of the Research Institutes
1 Central Ayurveda Research Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, New Delhi
2 National Ayurveda Research Institute for Panchakarma, Cheruthuruthy
3 Central Ayurveda Research Institute for Hepatobiliary Disorders, Bhubaneswar
4 Central Ayurveda Research Institute for Drug Development, Kolkata
5 Central Ayurveda Research Institute for Respiratory Disorders, Patiala
6 Raja Ramdeo Anandilal Podar (RRAP) Central Ayurveda Research Institute for Cancer, Mumbai
7 National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad
8 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Eye Diseases, Lucknow
9 M.S. Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Endocrine Disorders, Jaipur
10 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Drug Development, Gwalior
11 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Skin disorders, Vijayawada
12 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Mother and Child Health, Nagpur
13 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Metabolic Disorders, Bangalore
14 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Life style related Disorders, Thiruvananthapuram
15 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, Patna
16 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Gastro-Intestinal Disorders, Guwahati
17 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Gangtok
18 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Itanagar
19 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Urinary Disorders, Jammu
20 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Nutritional Disorders, Mandi
21 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Skin Disorders, Ahmedabad
22 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Ranikhet
23 Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Jhansi
24 Regional Ayurveda Institute for Fundamental Research, Pune
25 Captain Srinivasa Murthy Regional Ayurveda Drug Development Institute, Chennai
26 Advanced Center for Ayurveda in Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore
27 Dr. Achanta Lakshmipati Research Centre for Ayurveda, Chennai
28 Regional Research Center of Ayurveda, Port Blair
29 National Research Institute for Sowa-Rigpa, Leh
30 Regional Ayurveda Research Centre, Dimapur, Nagaland
Drug Standardization
Initially, the Drug Standardization Units were Chemistry departments of reputed Institutes and Colleges viz. National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Poona (Now Pune); University College of Sciences, Osmania, University, Hyderabad; Delhi University, Delhi; University of Kerala, Trivandrum; University College of Science, Calcutta and Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in 1969 while three Preliminary Standardization Units- 1. Capt. Srinivasamurathy Research Institute, Madras; 2. Department of Modem Pharmacy, Gujarat Ayurvedic University, Jamnagar; 3. Department of Dravyaguna, Institute of Medical Science Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in 1970. In view of the application of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, as amended in 1964 it has been decided that preliminary standards are to be worked out for formulations as well as the ingredients (single drugs) for entering into the official pharmacopoeia. All this work was published as Pharamcopoeial Standards for Ayurvedic Formulations.
Regulatory Structure
Education, practice, manufacturing for sale of medicines of Ayurveda are regulated by following Acts and Rules.
A. Major Acts:
i. Indian Medicine Central Council (IMCC) Act, 1970 for regulation of education standards & clinical practices.
ii. Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 with a dedicated chapter for regulation of
Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs.
iii. Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954 to prevent the misleading advertisement of certain cure claims on specific disease condition.
B. Other Relevant Acts:
i. Indian Forests Act 1927 to conserve the medicinal plants species used in medicines.
ii. Wild Life Protection Act 1972 to preserve and protect the threatened animal species and their parts etc. used in medicines etc.
iii. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985.
iv. Bio-diversity Act 2002 to regulate the exploitation of certain plants and animal species used in medicines etc.
v. Food Standard & Safety Act 2006 to regulate the safety and standards of food items etc.
Source: CCRAS
