The Division of Botany is the inherent part of CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute since its establishment in 1951. The main goal of the Division was to explore terrestrial and marine resources for natural product drug discovery and development research. Immediately after establishment, CSIR-CDRI started bioprospecting of floral diversity of India with the modern scientific approaches. Under this program, scientists from this division collected large numbers of plants from different geographical landscapes of the country. From 1963 onwards under biological screening programme of the institute, scientists of Botany division collected plant samples from all over the country for the evaluation of their pharmacological activities. In addition, under a joint project with NCI, USA, ca 2815 plant species were collected and screened against anticancer activity. Voucher specimens of all the collected plant materials have been deposited in the institute’s Medicinal Plant Herbarium (Acronym ‘CDRI’). Presently, our herbarium has a collection of ca 33,000 specimens representing nearly 5,700 species under 1948 genus and 203 families of higher plants. The Herbarium also includes 19 type materials and several rare and curious plants used in indigenous systems of medicines. As a combined efforts of Botany Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute and National Institute of Science Communication, an exclusive compilation of 5351 plant species from India with their correct botanical nomenclature, local/tribal names, chemical composition and biological activities have been done and published it in 6 volumes of “COMPENDIUM OF INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS”. As earlier, in recent time also, scientists of this division are involved in survey, identification, collection and authentication of plant materials for drug discovery and development programme. Additionally, in the changed scenario, scientists are also engaged in the development of alternative methods for the production of quality assured biomaterials for drug development purpose using different plant biotechnological approaches. Digitization work of our traditional Herbarium for the development of e-Herbarium has almost been completed and its webpage will soon be available for public.
Dr. DIPAK KUMAR MISHRA
Principal Scientist
CSIR-CDRI
Dr. VINEETA TRIPATHI