15 Nov 2012-17 Nov 2012|Noida | Amity University Campus, Sector-125 Noida
“Plant Medicines and Natural Products are the keys to global health” stress Scientists and Researchers during International Symposium on “ Recent Advances in Natural Products” at Amity
Amity University, Uttar Pradesh (AUUP) jointly with International Society for the Development of Natural Products (ISDNP), National Society of Ethnopharmacology, India (NSE) and Phytochemical Society of Asia (PSA) inaugurated three day 7th International Symposium on “ Recent Advances in Natural Products” from November 15- 17 at Amity Campus, Sector- 125, Noida.
The symposium is being attended by several Foreign Delegates, 29 Indian Delegates and 23 Delegates from various institutions of Amity University.
The Symposium was inaugurated by Dr. Ashok K Chauhan- Founder President, Amity Group, Prof. K Glowniak, President, ISDNP & Dean International Relations Medical University of Lublin, Poland; Prof. Yoshinori Asakawa, President, PSA and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Japan, Prof. G. A Cordell, University Illinois, USA, Maj. Gen. K Jai Singh, Group Vice Chancellor, AUUP & Patron, 7th ISDNP, Dr. Balvinder Shukla, Acting Vice Chancellor, AUUP, Prof. (Dr.) K C Upadhyaya- Director, Amity Institute of Biotechnology and Dr. V George- Secretary, Organizing Committee, 7th ISDNP
Welcoming the august gathering, Prof. P. Pushpangadan, Padama Shree, DG, Amity Institute for Herbal & Biotech Products Development, President, National Society of Ethnopharmacology (NSE) India & Chairman, 7th ISDNP said that it is for the first time that ISDNP Symposium is being held in India, which is a very apt venue keeping in view its rich biodiversity. He shared that research in natural products is gaining momentum across the world because of the belief that answers to numerous hitherto incurable diseases can be found in nature only and stressed that 7th ISDNP Symposium aims to facilitate discussions, deliberations and experience sharing amongst the global experts.
Giving the inaugural address and releasing the Book of Abstracts, Dr. Ashok K Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Group & Patron-in-Chief, ISDNP remarked that India has a very rich biodiversity which provides an ample scope and opportunity for the development of natural products and medicines. Dr. Chauhan apprised the audience with his “Natural Products Mission” which an objective to develop herbal and ayurvedic medicines for treatment of the most dreaded diseases such as Cancer, AIDS etc.
During the occasion, Dr. Chauhan announced the establishment of “Amity International Society for Natural Products” which will work in close cooperation with National Society of Ethnopharmacology, India, Phytochemical Society of Asia and International Society for the Development of Natural Products for furthering the R& D activities in the field of natural products across the globe. He also announced Honorary Professorship for Prof. K Glowniak, President, ISDNP & Dean International Relations Medical University of Lublin, Poland; Prof. Yoshinori Asakawa, President, PSA, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Japan and Prof. G. A Cordell, University Illinois, USA at Amity University, Uttar Pradesh
During the occasion, Dr. Ashok K Chauhan made an announcement to start Amity Campus, Lublin, Poland within 12 months to synergize the efforts of scientific fraternity of both the countries
Sharing his views during the occasion, Prof. K Glowniak, President, ISDNP & Dean International Relations, Medical University of Lublin, Poland expressed his delight over the Symposium being hosted at Amity University, which he said, “will strengthen the mutual cooperation between Medical University of Lublin, Poland and Amity University, Uttar Pradesh and will create a possibility for joint R& D activities”. He hoped that the Symposium will act as a research bridge between Europe and Asian Scientific Community
Prof. Yoshinori Asakawa, President, PSA, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Japan traced the history of PSA and shared its mission and objectives, which is to educate and promote natural sciences amongst the global audience. He called upon the students and faculty members of Amity University to become members of PSA and contribute towards the development and promotion of natural products across the globe.
During the plenary session, Prof. G. A Cordell, University Illinois, USA shared his views on “ Ecopharmacognosy and the globalization of traditional Medicines” wherein he stressed that Plant medicines are the key to global health but they have to travel a long journey from being termed as “Crude Drugs” to “Standardized Products” . He remarked that Traditional Medicines will remain relevant if they meet societal needs of healthcare and environmental concerns. Quoting Dr. Margaret Chan- Director General, WHO, Prof. G A Cordell said “Drug Resistance to antibiotics could bring the end of modern medicine.” Highlighting the shortcomings of “Big Pharma R&D 2012”, the speaker lamented the dearth of research in the field of anemia, bone health, obesity, infectious diseases and drug resistance. He also brought out how smaller research units, narrower research focus presently, marring the R&D worldwide, presents a host of opportunities for scientists and researchers worldwide.
During the three day Symposium, a host of technical sessions will unfold highlighting issues of contemporary relevance such as “Search for new Liverwort, Ferns and Fungi constituents of biological interest” by Prof. D. H. C. Yoshinori Asakawa -President, PSA, Japan; “Sulfated triterpenes from Melissa officinalis” by Dr. Abdul S Shawl, Indian Inst. of Integrative Medicine, Srinagar ; “Importance of quality control in developing herbal products” by Dr. Ajay K. Singh Rawat, NBRI, Lucknow; “Bangladesh Research and development of herbal products in Bangladesh” by Dr. Neem Hakim- International Centre for Integrated Herbal Research and Development, Dhaka and many more.