National Seminar on Integration of Traditional Herbal Medicines of NE India in Clinical Practice: Importance, Challenges and Future was jointly hosted by Dibrugarh University (DU), Assam, and Research Institute of Worlds Ancient Traditions Culture and Heritage (RIWATCH) Roing, Arunachal Pradesh on 4th and 5th November 2022 at Dibrugarh university.

On 4th November, Sri. Vijay Swami, RIWATCH, Executive Director, welcomed the delegates and participants for the national Seminar. Program was Inaugurated by lighting the lamp by Hon’ble VC, Prof. Jiten Hazarika, DU University and Prof. Bidyut Chandan Deka, Hon’ble VC, Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat, Assam. Prof. Malay Kumar Das, Head, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof. Deepak Chetia, Dean, DU.

Medicinal Plants in RIWATCH, book written by Dr. Nandini D was released, during the inaugural session.

Prof. Jiten Hazarika, In his key note address emphasised adopting and embracing traditional system of medicine. He also referred requirement of safety and efficacy in evaluating herbal medicines as per WHO standards. Prof. Bidyut Chandan Deka, called for cultivation of medicinal plants to encourage entrepreneurship among youth. He welcomed the participants to form a consortium to select and try propagation techniques of medicinal plants.

During the technical session Prof, Rajkumar, Central University, Bhatinda, Punjab, explained the importance of understanding chemical structures of the molecules while drug designing.

Dr. Gokul Baishya, Scientist-E, CSIR-NERIST, Jorhat, spoke on History of Herbal medicine and standardisation and certification from regulatory authorities.

Prof. Padmaraj Gajurel, NERIST, Itanagar, highlighted on the importance of conservation of rare and high-altitude medicinal plants.

On 5th Nov., Technical session started with discussion on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), by Dr. Nandini Dholepat, Visiting Faculty, RIWATCH. She enlightened the participants on Importance of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), innovation, applying for patent, and evaluation criteria.

Dr. Barkakoti, Scientist from RMRC-ICMR, Dibrugarh, spoke on herbal remedies for various diseases, importance of drug testing, action of vaccines on structure of target molecules.

Vaidya Nirmal Kumar Awasthi, Secretary, Paramparagath Vanoushadi Prashikshith Vidya Sangh, Chhattisgarh, presented on success story of congregation of local healers to conserve nature and practice traditional healing system in Chhattisgarh.

Master’s program students and research scholars from various institutions presented posters, which were evaluated, and prizes and certificates were distributed to the participants.

Dr. Jalal thanked all the speakers, participants, and volunteers for their support for the success two-day National Seminar.