Exploration of Erstwhile Biodiversity of Andaman & Nicobar Islands by DPSRU

Exploration of Erstwhile Biodiversity of Andaman & Nicobar Islands by DPSRU

As a follow-up of International conference on “Challenges for Global Competitiveness of AYUSH and Natural Products”and suggestion of Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri Anil Baijal, a research team from Delhi PharmaceuticalSciences and Research University (DPSRU), Govt of NCT of Delhi headed by Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Ramesh Goyal and two faculties Dr. Mahaveer Dhobi and Dr. Jaseela Majeed visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 14-16th April 2019 to explore the unique biodiversity and to develop collaborations with the pioneer research organizations inAndaman &Nicobar Islands. The visit was meant to explore and preserve the precious knowledge on medicinal plant species used by the tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, evaluate scientifically and to develop phytopharmaceutical drug/formulation in hand holding with research organizations who are closely associated with the tribes like Andaman and Nicobar Tribal Research and Training Institute (ANTRI).

The Team from Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University first visited the Zonal Anthropological Museum to understand about the original population of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which consist of aboriginal indigenous tribal people. The importance of this exploration was to understand the genetic makeup, culture, social structure, taboos and dietary habits of the tribal population. The visit to Biological Park at Chidiyatapu was remarkable which has been a centre for biodiversity and conservation where one can catch a glimpse of the rich flora and fauna of the islands.The biological park is a vast repository of plant species ranging from Thitpok (Tetramelesnudiflora), Ficus religiosaplantto (adapted to cope up extremeweather) to Albizzia lebbeck, Terminalia catappa Lagerstroemia hypoleuca, Artcarpuslakoocha, Odinawodier, Pterocarpus dalbergioides, Aglaia andamanica, Bombax insigne, Sterculia campanulate. The biological park is also home to vast butterflies and birds along with species richness, abundance and diversity.

The official meeting of the exploratory visit was held at ANTRI on 15.04.19 wherein Directors/their representatives from 5 research organizations who are working in the area related to medicinal plants as well as tribal research like Regional Medical Research Centre, (RMRC: ICMR); Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Central Islands Agricultural Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (CIARI:ICAR); The Regional Research Centre of Ayurveda, (RRCA:CCRAS) and Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre,Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) attended, interacted and shared their experiences about the unique and precious tribal knowledge. The meeting was chaired byProf. Goyal, who gave a presentation on the topic “Development of Novel drug formulations exploring the biodiversity of Andaman & Nicobar Islands through biomarker based multidisciplinary approach”. Prof Goyal in his speech emphasised his view not to explore newer biological resources of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but to collaborate with the remarkable research done by pioneer organizations in this area and take it to the next level of sustainable development. The interactive session was attended by Dr. Vijayachari Paluru, Director, RMRC- ICMR, Dr.A. Kundu, Director, CIARI-ICAR, Mr. S. A. Awaradi, Director, ANTRI, Mr. Govind Ram, Director, Tribal Welfare Department and research officers and scientists from BSI, RRCA and ZSI. Post meeting the team agreed to formulate a work plan for drug/product development utilizing the unique biodiversity of Andaman and Nicobar Islands using phyto-pharmaceutical mode.

On 16.04.19 DPSRU team along with Mr. S. A. Awaradi, Director, ANTRI visited the following institutions like CIARI:ICAR, RMRC:ICMR and ANRC:BSI for knowing the thrust areas of research and heading for collaborations. The Director, CIARI-ICAR Dr.A. Kundu, along with his Scientists had an elaborate discussion and agreed to collaborate with DPSRU as well project were identified and shortlisted 3 plant species endemic to Andaman and Nicobar Islands with remarkable ethnomedical importance. The visit to BSI, a pioneer in the documentation of flora of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was memorable experience exploring the enriched herbarium at Museum as well as fruitful interaction with Scientist and research officers. The research team of BSI promised to provide all the support for morphological identification of plant species and its authentication. The interaction with Director and Scientist at RMRC:ICMR also agreed for hand holding in the area of vaccine development.Followed the visits to major research organizations, a meeting was held at the office of Shri. Sanjeev Mittal Secretary, Tribal welfareDepartment and discussed how to formulate the collaboration with respect to utilization of tribal knowledge in drug

The landmark of the exploratory visit was the meeting with Hon’ble Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration Shri. Chetan B. Sanghi, IAS on 16.04.19, where full support was extended to the University for research collaboration. It was a fruitful interaction where permission to have memorandum of understanding with Andaman Nicobar Tribal research & training Institute (ANTRI) and Central Islands Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI) so that the implementation of the research proposal can be done on fast pace