New Delhi (The Hawk):&nbsp;The Government has taken various regulatory measures since 2019 to ensure the quality of medicines in the country. The key measures are as under:The Drugs Rules, 1945 were amended providing that every Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (bulk drug) manufactured or imported in India shall bear Quick Response Code on its label. The stored data or information shall include the minimum particulars including Unique product identification code, Batch No, Manufacturing date, Expiry Date.The Drugs Rules, 1945 were amended providing that any marketer who sells or distributes any drug shall be responsible for quality of that drug as well as other regulatory compliances along with the manufacturer under these rules.The Drugs Rules, 1945 were amended providing that “in case the applicant intends to market the drug under a brand name or trade name, the applicant shall furnish an undertaking in Form 51 to the Licensing Authority to the effect that to the best of his knowledge based on search in trademarks registry, central data base for brand name or trade name of drugs maintained by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, literature and reference books on details of drug formulations in India, and internet, such or similar brand name or trade name is not already in existence with respect to any drug in the country and the proposed brand name or trade name shall not lead to any confusion or deception in the market”.The manufacture for sale, sale and distribution of 80 Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) drugs in India were prohibited in public interest after consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board.220 additional posts of various levels have been created including Joint Drugs Controller, Deputy Drugs Controller, Asst. Drugs Controller and Drugs Inspector in the year 2022-23.Further, Department of Pharmaceuticals has launched a scheme, namely, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). Under the scheme, Generic Medicines are sold through dedicated outlets namely Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs). It is an initiative of Government of India towards making an impact on common masses to provide quality medicines at affordable prices. As on 30.06.2022, 8,742 Janaushadhi Kendras have been opened across the country and the product basket of PMBJP comprises 1,616 drugs and 250 surgical items. The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

The Government has taken various regulatory measures since 2019 to ensure the quality of medicines in the country. The key measures are as under:

Government Has Taken Various Regulatory Measures Since 2019 To Ensure The Quality Of Medicinal Products In Country

Tokyo: Phenanthridines are heterocyclic compounds composed of two six-membered benzene rings fused to a nitrogen-containing six-membered ring. They can be present in a variety of naturally occurring chemical compounds that have anticancer and antitumor effects. Because of their potential medical applications, phenanthridine derivatives are of great interest in laboratories. A possible synthesis method involves the insertion of radical isonitrile to make imidoyl radical intermediates, which then cyclize to form phenanthridine. However, the precise mechanism of isonitrile insertion is unknown. Recently, a team of researchers, led by Associate Professor Shigekazu Ito from Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), has investigated the use of aryl-substituted difluoromethylborates for synthesizing difluoromethylated phenanthridines. Their study, published in The Journal of Organic Chemistry, assesses the scope of producing pharmaceutically relevant fluorinated phenanthridines from aryl-substituted difluoromethylborates and elucidates the reaction mechanism underlying isonitrile radical addition. "Taking into account the significance of difluoromethylated phenanthridines in drug discovery, it is desirable to develop novel and complementary synthetic methods for producing 6-(difluoromethyl)-phenanthridines, especially via radical isonitrile insertion," points out Dr. Ito. The researchers synthesized 6-(difluoromethyl)-phenanthridines by first generating a highly reactive difluoromethyl radical (*CF2H) through the oxidation of aryl-substituted difluoromethylborates. This radical served as the starting point for the isonitrile insertion and cyclization processes within the isonitrile group. After screening various oxidizing conditions, the researchers identified a combination of silver oxide (Ag2O) and potassium peroxodisulfate (K2S2O8) as ideal initiators for radical isonitrile insertion in 2-isocyano-1,1'-biphenyls. They observed that K2S2O8 oxidizes Ag2O, which, in turn, oxidizes the aryl-substituted difluoromethylborates, leading to the generation of the *CF2H radical. It attaches to the isonitrile group, producing the imidoyl radical, which then undergoes intramolecular cyclization, ultimately leading to the formation of 6-(difluoromethyl)-phenanthridine. The researchers explored various aryl groups in aryl-substituted difluoromethylborates to maximize the yield of 6-(difluoromethyl)-phenanthridine. Among the tested aryl groups, p-diethylamino-phenyl-substituted borate was stable and produced the corresponding phenanthridine with a reasonable yield of 53 per cent. Furthermore, the researchers employed a technique called "transverse-field muon spin rotation" to confirm the reaction mechanism and the presence of the short-lived imidoyl radical. They directed a beam of positive muons (subatomic particles similar to protons but nine times lighter) towards the isonitrile group and carefully observed the changes in their spins. Muons accompanying electrons, called muoniums, preferentially added to the carbon atom of the isonitrile unit, forming an intermediate that subsequently underwent a cyclization process. This observation provided compelling evidence for the existence of the elusive imidoyl radical. In the future, the team hopes to explore different approaches to generate the difluoromethyl radical for facilitating the production of difluoromethylated phenanthridines. "Besides chemical oxidation, it might be possible to use photocatalytic and electrochemical methods to synthetically generate the difluoromethyl radical from difluoromethylborates," speculates Dr. Ito. In conclusion, this study presents a highly promising pathway for synthesizing 6-(difluoromethyl)-phenanthridines, a breakthrough which holds tremendous potential for drug development. —ANI

Phenanthridines are heterocyclic compounds composed of two six-membered benzene rings fused to a nitrogen-containing six-membered ring

Towards Synthesis Of Medicinal Compounds Based On Phenanthridine

Gorakhpur: Four persons have been arrested and a Red Sand Boa snake was rescued by the UP Special Task Force (STF), in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur.
The Red Sand Boa is a rare non-poisonous snake and is used to make medicines, cosmetics and in black magic, hence, is in demand globally.
The STF officials said one Red Sand Boa snake fetches several lakh rupees internationally.
They said this snake is protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and was included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species in 2021.
Those arrested on Tuesday were identified as two Gorakhpur residents — Om Prakash Singh and Mohd Saifudeen, a Varanasi resident Ram Shankar Maurya and an Azamgarh resident Raja Ram Yadav.
—IANS

Four persons have been arrested and a Red Sand Boa snake was rescued by the UP Special Task Force (STF), in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur.

Four held with Red Sand Boa snake in UP’s Gorakhpur

Dehradun (Uttarakhand): The first-ever Orchid Diversity Survey at Corbett Tiger Reserve revealed a rich treasure house of colourful orchids. The survey was conducted by the Research Wing of the Uttarakhand Forest in Corbett Tiger Reserve from 2020 to August 2023. This project was approved by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC), headed by HoFF, Uttarakhand in 2020.  Chief Conservator of Forests (Research), Sanjiv Chaturvedi said, "Survey has revealed that Corbett Tiger Reserve has a rich orchid diversity. It has shown existence of 31 orchid species, representing 23 genera within the Orchidaceae family. Among these species, 11 are terrestrial, two are saprophytic, and 18 are epiphytic”. 
Orchid species hold a unique and vital place in the world of plants, captivating both scientists and enthusiasts alike. Their importance extends far beyond their aesthetic beauty, as these remarkable plants play a crucial role in various ecological, economic, and cultural aspects. They are very valuable and highly threatened and therefore, protected under schedules of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 as well as under CITES. The study has revealed the existence of important threatened species, like Phaius tankervilleae, also known as Red Cane Orchid or Nun’s Orchid, and Pecteilis gigantean, known as the Butterfly Orchid. Both these species have already been declared as a threatened species by the State Biodiversity Board. Furthermore, the research has identified Eulophia flava (Yellow Eulophia), Eulophia explanata (Flattened Eulophia), Cymbidium macrorhizon (Large Root Cymbidium) and Epipogium roseum (Rosy Ghost Orchid), as rare species documented during the study. The finding of Eulophia explanata is a significant event, which is discovered after 36 36-year gap in Uttarakhand state. The study's findings underscore the significance of Sal (Shorea robusta) as the foremost favoured host plant among epiphytic orchid species within the reserve area. Another significant species was Checkered Vanda which is a very significant medicinal orchid used in ‘Ayurvedic shamans’ and in the Tantric cult. 
Sanjiv Chaturvedi further said, "The Study's findings would be invaluable for shaping a conservation strategy dedicated to orchid species. These orchids may turn out to be a major tourist attraction also in future." The survey team consisted of four young JRF of the Research Wing- Manoj Singh, Jyoti Prakash Joshi, Kiran Bisht and Tanuja Pandey.&nbsp;

The first-ever Orchid Diversity Survey at Corbett Tiger Reserve revealed a rich treasure house of colourful orchids. The survey was conducted

First ever Orchid Diversity Survey at Corbett Tiger Reserve reveals rich treasure house of colourful orchids

Dehradun (The Hawk): Agreement on A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Dr. Renu Singh, Director, ICFRE-FRI, Dehradun and Shri Praveen Parashar, M/s New N.K. Industries, Yamunanagar on 14 December 2023 development of solar dryers for agricultural produce, medicinal plants and other NTFPs. Through this agreement, a solar dryer for agricultural produce, medicinal plants and other NTFPs will be developed. Food processing can be an important means to double the income of farmers. It connects agriculture, manufacturing sector and final consumers; reduces post-harvest wastage through creation of infrastructure and adds significant value to agricultural produce through processing technologies.

Agreement on A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Dr. Renu Singh, Director, ICFRE-FRI, Dehradun 

Development Of Solar Drier For Agricultural Produce, Medicinal Plants And Other NTFP; ICFRE-FRI & New N K Industries Sign MoU

Pithoragarh (The Hawk): In an era where human activities continue to disrupt the natural balance, leading to an increase in Earth's temperatures, the repercussions on both human life and economic stability are becoming ever more evident. A striking manifestation of these adverse effects is observed in the Himalayan regions, where an unusual shortfall in snowfall has raised concerns. Despite the chill in the high altitudes of the Himalayas, the expected snowfall has been significantly below average. This anomaly has dire implications for the production of the Yarsa Gumbo, scientifically known as Organic Cordyceps sinensis, or the Ophiocordyceps sinensis Mushroom. Renowned for its medicinal properties and high market value, this caterpillar fungus thrives only under specific conditions directly linked to the region's snowfall patterns. The correlation between snowfall and the herb's proliferation is critical; optimal production of Yarsa Gumbo, colloquially dubbed the 'Himalayan Viagra', requires the fungus to be submerged under snow for a period ranging from 120 to 160 days. This season, regions such as the Munsiyari and Darma Valley bugyals experienced scant snowfall from November through January, jeopardizing not only the current harvest but also future yields. Yarsa Gumbo's significance extends beyond its local economic value; it is a key ingredient in treatments for various serious health conditions, including cancer, sexual dysfunction, and asthma. The fungus commands prices as high as Rs 20 lakh per kilogram in the international arena, making it a vital source of income for many Himalayan communities. The production of this precious fungus spans several high-altitude locations in Uttarakhand, including the bugyals of Sela, Dhar, and Sumudung, among others. Its unique life cycle begins with spores that, upon reaching the soil, are consumed by the Hepilus species worm, eventually giving way to the formation of the Yarsa Gumbo. The recent scarcity of snowfall, attributed to climate change, has cast a shadow over the livelihoods of approximately 40,000 individuals engaged in the Yarsa Gumbo trade. This shift not only threatens a crucial economic activity but also highlights the broader, more profound impacts of environmental change on traditional ways of life. As the community grapples with these challenges, the need for sustainable solutions and adaptive strategies has never been more urgent.

Discover how reduced snowfall in the Himalayas is affecting the production of Yarsa Gumbo, a crucial medicinal mushroom, threatening both local economies and healthcare.

The Hawk

Tag : Medicinal

Government Has Taken Various Regulatory Measures Since 2019 To Ensure The Quality Of Medicinal Products In Country

Inam Ansari

The Hawk

Tag : Medicinal

Government Has Taken Various Regulatory Measures Since 2019 To Ensure The Quality Of Medicinal Products In Country

Inam Ansari

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