Department of Dravyaguna

About Department

It is believed by Charaka that there is nothing on Earth that is not medicine. Hence, Ayurved considers all substances as medicine, if used for specific purposes and in an appropriate way. Dravyaguna vigyan deals with the principles, qualities, action and therapeutic profiles of the food/drugs substances in Ayurveda.

This department also includes modern Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutics of plants and other materials that are related to medicine. It is a significant branch of Ayurved as herbal drugs form the backbone of Ayurvedic treatment. Along with theoretical lectures, students are given applied knowledge through a live demonstration of medicinal plants in the herbal garden and the museum of raw samples of drugs. The Department is also engaged in postgraduate and Ph.D. programmes.

Departmental Strength

All faculty members are well-qualified with good experience of teaching at UG and PG levels as well. 2 staff members have completed their Ph.D. while 3 are enrolled for theirs.
The departmental library is a rich source of reading material containing many rare and out-of-print books like Nighantus.
UG and PG students from different colleges/institutes, school students and common people regularly visit the departmental herbal gardens to enrich their knowledge of various plant species. Some of the plant products from the herbal garden are also used regularly for the preparation of herbal medicines at the college pharmacy.

Pharmacovigilance Cell

Establishment of Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centre under Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi in 2018.

Introduction

Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any drug-related problems. The Pharmacovigilance Cell functions under the Department of Dravyaguna Vigyan.

Highlights

The department regularly takes part and exhibits medicinal plants at various exhibitions. It has been given special awards from Pune Municipal Corporation for the same.
The department offers to those who are interested free consultancy regarding the cultivation and plantation of medicinal plants

The well-planned herbal garden includes several extinct and rare species of flora and is a unique feature of the department. The total number of species is more than 285 whereas the total number of medicinal plants is more than 1100.
The department faculty actively participates in lectures regarding awareness of medicinal plants.

Achievements

It is a matter of pride that the faculty members of the department continue to be recognized for their work and are rewarded for it.

Objectives

To monitor Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs)
To create awareness amongst health care professionals about the importance of ADR reporting
To undertake surveillance of misleading advertisements of these drugs, Sensitization Programmes are carried out by the Pharmacovigilance Cell
Awareness Programmes regarding the importance of ADR monitoring were carried out.
Special lectures on Pharmacovigilance are taken for internees and undergraduate students
A Special Awareness Programme for Ayurved doctors and practitioners is also conducted

Awards Received

Dr. Manasi Deshpande

CCRAS AYUSH award for Best Teacher in Literary Research Teaching, 2019
Central Council of Indian Medicine, New Delhi Vidyarthi Shilpakar, 2019 Award from Nanal Foundation
‘Acharya’ award in 2017 by CCIM, New Delhi.
‘Maha Ayush Kamal Puraskar’ in 2017
Award for ‘Best Research Fellow’ by Bharati Vidyapeeth in 2015.

Dr. Prajakta Rakh (MD Scholar) and Dr. Shobha Khilari (Assoc. Professor)

First Prize for Poster Presentation Topic – “Ayurvedic Approach to Skin Care: An Overview” in National Conference Dravya Guna Prabodhini-2019, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Bengaluru February 2019