Training Program in
Medicinal Plants & Herbal Medicines
To be Organized by PCSIR, Peshawar
from 08th to 12th February 2010 at Peshawar

Introduction:
In consideration of the needs of the local stakeholders and realizing the significance of collaboration and linkages for productive interaction and dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge in their respective specialized fields, it was proposed to organize training workshop in collaboration with Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR), Peshawar.

Back-ground:
Being an agriculture country, Pakistan has vast rural sector which constitute about 70% of the population. This segment of the population is scattered in over 45,000 habitations across the country. Pakistan is blessed with variety of climate, various ecological zones and topographical regions and every conceivable type of habitat claimed to possess about 5691 plant species. Only 1010 have been recognized as having medicinal value. Among these 456 medicinal plants have been used for curing various ailments in the traditional system of medicine.  Their several uses have been documented but perhaps a large number of species are still waiting for their use to be documented and their active ingredients investigated.

NWFP is rich in medicinal flora, however this natural wealth has not hitherto been exploited in a well-planned scientific manner, although some sporadic efforts have been made in the past.  The only area where Medicinal Plants have some empirical use is the area of traditional medicine.  Nevertheless, there is a need to rationalize this system on a solid scientific base.  A concerted effort by PCSIR and ASF in this direction would help in the exploitation of the natural drugs resources of this province for local consumption as well as for their export to other parts of the world.

Medicinal Botanic Centre at PCSIR Laboratories Complex Peshawar is actively engaged for the development of Herbal Pharma and valuable natural, herbal and organic products with the help of modern and sophisticated equipments. The objective of the workshop is to bring together galaxy of Stakeholder, Practitioners, Researchers, Producers, Manufacturers and Users of Natural Products to strengthen, promote and develop the indigenous herbal resources of NWFP.

About the Training Program:
Training will be conducted in three sessions with a maximum participation of   twenty trainees per session only and will take place at PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Peshawar Pakistan. The Workshop will cover the following aspects of Materia Medica:

1. Taxonomic Identification, Cultivation and Propagation of Medicinal Plants: Scope and Constraints.
2. Quantitative improvement in the Constituents of Medicinal Plants through, Genetic Modification.
3. Production of edible vaccines from medicinal plants.
4. Development, Formulation and Quality Assurance of Herbal Medicine.
5. Therapeutic Evaluation of Natural Drugs and their Constituents.
6. Process Development and Extraction of Commercially Important Natural Drugs.
7. Value addition of Pakistani Materia Medica most commonly used in the traditional system of medicine.

The Workshop will consist of plenary, oral lectures, poster sessions and social activities.  Topics will include all aspects of Medicinal Plants Exploitation ranging from Cultivation, Identification, Quantitative improvement in the Constituents, Pharmacognosy Process and Product Development and value addition of herbs most commonly used in the traditional system of medicine.
 
The Workshop will provide a medium for mutual contacts/interaction among the stakeholders involved in the development of medicinal plants and herbal medicines. The training program will cover the following Scientific Aspects:

1. Survey and Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants from the Natural Habitat
2.  Post harvest treatment and Taxonomic Identification, of Medicinal Plants:
3. Cultivation and Propagation Practices of MAPs Scope and Constraints.
4. Development, Formulation and Quality Assurance of Herbal Medicine.
5. Therapeutic Evaluation of Natural Drugs and their Constituents.
6. Process Development and Extraction of Commercially Important Natural Drugs.
7. Value addition of Pakistani Materia Medica most commonly used in the Traditional System of Medicine.

Course Structure:
The training will consist of formal lectures, tutorials, laboratory work and visit to concerned sections involved in the Physico-chemical evaluation of medicinal and aromatic plants. The trainees will undertake an in depth laboratory work on natural drugs quality involving the application of classical and scientific techniques.

ASF Grant Support:
ASF shall share 50% of the course fee with each participant. Hence the participant shall only have to pay Rs. 2,500/- directly to PCSIR. ASF shall also provide travel and accommodation allowances to participants coming from other cities as per the following details:

• Travel allowance of Rs. 1,000/- to participants coming from other cities, within NWFP region.
• Travel allowance of Rs. 3,000/- to participants coming from other provinces.
• Accommodation allowance of Rs. 3,000/- to participants coming from cities other than Peshawar.
• No allowance shall be paid to participants from Peshawar.

Modalities of ASF Grant Support:

• ASF grants will only be made available to participants short-listed by PSCIR and ASF.

• All selected participants will be required to fill the prescribed ASF Grant Application forms, available with PCSIR.

• Application forms need to be submitted before the commencement of the training program along with a copy of CNIC.

• All selected participants will sign a standard grant contract with ASF, which will be provided to them through PCSIR.

• Disbursement of grant will be on reimbursable basis i.e. the participant will first incur all expenses and then claim ASF grant.

For all details of the program as well as ASF grant support, interested candidates are requested to contact at the addresses given below: