India has one of the oldest, riches heritage associated with the use of different plant, animal and mineral products for medicinal and cosmetic use. Apart from systematized Medical systems of Indigenous origin i.e. Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, these products are being used by traditional healers, tribal population in remote areas. Evidences that the people used drugs from all the three resources-vegetable, animal and mineral products can be traced from excavation of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
Global bio-diversity assessment estimates the total number of species to be between 13-14 million, but only 1.75 million species have been specifically recorded so far. In the course of biological and cultural evaluation, the value and potential of these numberable bio-resources have been duly recognized for healing purposes besides other uses as diet and feed.
The ancient prescriptions of animal resources are still potential for curing many disease conditions. The biological resources were the only source of therapeutic agent for cure or alleviation of diseases of ailments. Even in the present time they remain vital as 60-70% of modern medicines are derived from natural products.
Recognizing the value of potential animal sources in the discovery of new drug molecules and the elucidation of many fundamental and unique physiological and bio-chemical process of living organisms, the exploration of these resources have been taken by different Government and non-Government organization at large. Considering the need of scientists working in the field, it is felt to have an inventory on animal resources with comprehensive data to facilitate them to trace readymade information at a glance.
"With these aims and objectives, the Department of bio-technology has assigned the project to Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha and the Council has successfully executed the preparation on inventory with diverse information on animal resources considering authentic references and other reliable sources from classical literatures of different systems of medicine and other sources from different disciplines like Zoology etc. besides utilizing electronic information systems. |
