Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine: Brief Introduction
Beginning of Research in Unani Medicine
The movement of research in Unani System of Medicine dates back to the times of its origin when Greek physician-philosopher Hippocrates freed Medicine from superstitions and presented it in the initial scientific form. Thereafter, the Roman scholar Galen stabilized the foundations of Hippocratic medical thoughts on which the Arab and Iranian physicians like al-Räzé and Ibn Sénä built an edifice and developed the system to great heights. Ibn Sénä laid down guidelines for clinical testing of drugs as early as in 11th century.
The scientific research in Unani System of Medicine was given a boost in India by a versatile genius, Masih-ul-mulk Hakim Ajmal Khan, in the 1920s. He spotted Dr. Salim al-Zaman Siddiqui, a chemist, for undertaking chemical studies on some important medicinal plants used in Unani System of Medicine. Dr. Siddiqui discovered the medicinal properties of the plant commonly known as Asravl (Rauwolfia serpentina Linn.) and successfully isolated an antiarrythmic agent from the plant in 1931 which he named as Ajmaline after his mentor Hakim Ajmal Khan. Later, he also extracted some other alkaloids from the same plant that included Ajmalinine, Ajmalicine, Isoajmaline and Neoajmaline for the treatment of mental and cardiovascular ailments. This paved way to sustained research in the system.
A number of committees appointed by the Government of India recommended detailed outline for the development of Indian systems of medicine including Unani System. Systematic scientific research in these systems thereafter started with the establishment of Central Council for Research in Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (CCRIMH) in 1969. Research in Unani System of Medicine continued under the CCRIMH for about a decade. In March 1978, the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) was set up, which started functioning from 10th January 1979 to build up research base for the system with focused objectives and plans. Over the years, the CCRUM has emerged as the leading government organization of scientific research in Unani System of Medicine. Research in Unani System of Medicine is being conducted in the country with a multidisciplinary approach. The areas of research include fundamental research, preclinical and clinical research, drug standardization, survey and cultivation of medicinal plants, and literary research.
Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine
The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Government of India.
Vision
“To strive for excellence and global leadership in the field of Unani Medicine by comprehensive research for quality assured and cost effective products to prevent/ manage/ cure various diseases”.
Mission
To develop CCRUM into a dynamic, vibrant and model research organization for undertaking, coordinating, aiding and promoting research in Unani Medicine.
To bring-up modern scientific knowledge technology to explore Classical Unani scientific treasures following prevalent scientific methods through inter disciplinary approach.
To attain global leadership in research for treatment and prevention of emerging diseases of public health importance.
Institutional Network of CCRUM
The Council has its headquarters at New Delhi with 23 centres functioning in different parts of the country. The institutional network of the Council includes two Central Research Institutes of Unani Medicine (CRIUMs) — one each at Hyderabad and Lucknow; eight Regional Research Institutes of Unani Medicine (RRIUMs) — one each at Chennai, Bhadrak, Patna, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Aligarh and Srinagar; Hakim Ajmal Khan Institute for Literary & Historical Research in Unani Medicine (HAKILHRUM) at New Delhi; Drug Standardization Research Institute (DSRI) at Ghaziabad; two Regional Research Centres (RRCs) — one each at Allahabad and Silchar; six Clinical Research Units (CRUs) — one each at Bhopal, Burhanpur, Meerut, Bengaluru, Kurnool and Edathala; Drug Standardization Research Unit (DSRU) at Ghaziabad; Chemical Research Unit (Grant-in-aid) at Aligarh; and Clinical Research Pilot Project at Imphal, Manipur.
Besides, the Council has two co-location centres in allopathic hospitals in New Delhi for providing free Unani treatment under one roof. These include a Unani Medical Centre at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and a Unani Speciality Centre at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.
Further, the AYUSH Wellness Clinic (AWC), established at the President’s Estate, New Delhi on 25th July, 2015, is jointly managed by the CCRUM. The AWC is a unique project where all the AYUSH systems have come under one roof to provide medical services to the residents of the President’s Estate. In a move to strengthen its research infrastructure and institutional network, the Council has recently upgraded the laboratories at CRIUM, Hyderabad and RRIUMs, Chennai, Srinagar and Aligarh with state of-the-art equipment, modern technology and fresh structure. It has also constructed buildings for its three institutes — Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM), Patna and Bhadark, and Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM), Lucknow. Hakim Ajmal Khan Institute for Literary & Historical Research in Unani Medicine (HAKILHRUM) has been reorganised and relocated to Jamia Millia Islamia, a reputed Central University and a great campus of teaching and research. Clinical facility has also established at the Institute.
Programme Profile of CCRUM
Clinical Research Programme
The programme has been taken up with a view to formulate pattern of clinical research keeping the Unani principles intact and co-relating them with the modern diagnostic parameters and using appropriate research methodology in order to have unbiased assessment of the potentiality of the system. The Council since its inception has been busy in conducting pre-clinical safety evaluation studies, and clinical trials on new investigational Unani formulations in different disease conditions. Open-label, multi-centric, randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) are being conducted with a view to develop safe and effective Unani treatments. Besides, clinical validation of Unani pharmacopoeial / classical formulations is also conducted with a view to establish their safety and efficacy.
Pharmacological Research
Safety of Unani drugs is of prime concern in the present scenario. The Unani physicians were fully aware of the toxicity of the single and compound drugs that’s why they developed the process of detoxification of the toxic drugs. While prescribing such types of drugs, correctives (Muñliùät) were also advised in order to minimize the side effects. Considering the importance of the issue, the Council started conducting safety evaluation studies on new investigational drugs under clinical evaluation since the starting of the programme. The three pharmacological units attached to CRIUM, Hyderabad, RRIUMs, Srinagar and Aligarh continued to conduct safety evaluation studies. Apart from this, studies on pharmacological actions of single drugs and compound formulations were conducted. The Council has conducted studies not only at their pharmacological units, but also in collaboration with other reputed medical institutions and universities, such as Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, Department of Biochemistry, K.G. Medical University, Lucknow, etc. The safety evaluation studies are being conducted on Unani drugs as per AYUSH/ OECD guidelines. Pharmacological studies on over 130 drugs have been completed so far.
Fundamental Research
In order to scientifically establish and interpret the relevance and rationale of various theories and philosophies of Unani Medicine, the Council is working on the fundamentals of Unani Medicine at CRIUM, Hyderabad. Under this programme, different temperaments (Damawé, Balghamé, Ñafräwé and Sawdäwé) are being assessed and scientifically validated in healthy volunteers. Variability in different physiological, pathological and bio-chemical parameters in healthy subjects of different temperaments is also studied. Susceptibility of acquiring diseases in relation to the temperaments of the patients is also part of the programme. Council is also working on response of the treatment in relation to the temperament of the patients in the diseases like Vitiligo (Barañ), Infective Hepatitis (Iltihäb al-Kabid), Sinusitis (Iltihäb-i Tajäwéf-i Anf), Psoriasis (Dä’ al-Ñadaf), Essential Hypertension (Zaghö al-Dam Qawé Läzimé), Hyperlipidaemia (Farö Tashaùùum al-Dam) and Diabetes Mellitus Type II (Zayäbéöus Sukkaré Qism Säné), etc. A standardized format for assessment of temperament has also been developed. Projects correlating the concept of humour and temperament with genomics are also being taken up.
Programme Profile of CCRUM; contd…
Drug Standardization Research Programme
The Drug Standardization Research programme is mainly concerned with evolving standards in order to ensure identity, quality and purity of single drugs and compound formulations. The Council is engaged in developing quality standards of Unani drugs under the technical guidance of Pharmacopoeia Commission and Unani Pharmacopoeia Committee. Council is also working on Re-designing of dosage forms of Unani pharmacopoeial formulations and Shelf-life studies of Unani drugs.
Survey and Cultivation of Medicinal Plants Programme
The broad objectives of this programme are as to survey, collect and identify medicinal plants in different forest zones of the country, to study distribution, availability, ethno-pharmacological uses and threats of medicinal plants, to cultivate medicinal plants experimentally and in the field. Council, also maintain a herbarium and an exhibition of medicinal plants and raw drugs for demonstration purposes. Maintenance of herb garden is part of the Programme along with development of nursery of medicinal plants for demonstration purpose. Council documents folk knowledge on medicinal uses of plants and collect samples of genuine drugs from the forest for development of pharmacopoeial standards through ethno-botanical surveys.
Literary Research Programme
The Literary Research Programme of the Council aims at editing, compilation and translation of manuscripts and rare books of Unani System of Medicine. Council’s Ùakém Ajmal Khan Institute for Literary & Historical Research in Unani Medicine has also collected rare Unani classical books and manuscripts from different libraries in India and abroad.
Information, Education and Communication (IEC)
The Council has a Library & Information Centre at its headquarters, New Delhi. The library also subscribes print and online journals for the benefit of researchers of the Council and other information seekers. The library provides quality knowledge services to support research and development programmes of the Council. In addition to routine information services, the library also provides following special services to the Users like Daily Medical News Alert Service, Current Contents of Journals (quarterly) and Resource Sharing & Networking with different databases and networks.
The council participates in health fairs, exhibitions, Magh Mela and Arogya Fairs organized by the government and non-governmental organizations in different parts of the country and abroad. At these events, expositions on Unani System of Medicine are made. Moreover, the physicians of the Council also provide treatment and counseling facilities to the visitors.
Public Health Programmes
· Integration of Unani Medicine with NPCDCS
CCRUM has been allotted Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh for the programme by Dte GHS. The Programme is running under supervision of CRIUM-Lucknow and providing healthcare to population under 17 CHCs and 54 PHCs.
· Swasthya Rakshan Programme
The programme has been initiated by the CCRUM through its 12 institutes/centre. 60 villages predominently having scheduled caste/scheduled tribe/other backward class population have been adopted. Community awareness programme on sanitation and nutrition is organized under the programme for educating the villagers on strategies for prevention of disease and improving health.
. School Health Programme
The School Health Programme is aimed at improving the health and hygiene status of school children and to reduce morbidity rate among them through healthcare and health education. Programme is running at 8 institutes of council.
. Activities under Special component Plan — SCSP and TSP Plan
Under the Special component Plan — Schedule Caste Sub-Plan
(SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), the Council is providing research oriented medicare activities to benefit the SC/ST population at the OPDs of its Institutes/Units and also through mobile OPDs in the adopted pockets, besides creating health awareness among the masses.
