CSIR-NBRI 70th Annual Day: NBRI transfers herbal Curcumin technology for second time

The technology for Croma-3 - edible capsules of curcumin - were transferred to a Hyderabad-based firm on Wednesday

The CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) transferred the technology for Croma-3, which are edible capsules of curcumin, to a Hyderabad-based firm on Wednesday. Herbal Curcumin is the main active component of turmeric.

NBRI Director AK Shasany releasing Insitute’s annual report along with guests in Lucknow on Wednesday (HT Photo)

The technology transfer was part of the 70th Annual Day celebration of the Institute in Lucknow.

“This technology was developed in 2022 and had already been transferred to a company. Now, we are licensing this technology to another Hyderabad based company named M/s Xavier Med Pvt. Ltd. for a better availability in the market,” said BN Singh, principal scientist, CSIR-NBRI, and brain behind the Curcumin capsule.

“This herbal formulation contains more than 10% curcumin, which strengthens the body’s immune system and reduces oxidative stress of the cells. This formulation has been developed as per the guidelines issued by the ministry of AYUSH,” he added.

“CSIR-NBRI prepared a standardised herbal formulation comprising the Curcumin compound in capsule form (Croma-3) with better bioavailability and medicinal properties,” said Institute’s director Ajit Kumar Shasany.

“Today we are producing more grains than required, due to which we have to spend a lot on storage. In such a situation, there is a need to encourage farmers to diversify their farming with other crops,” he added.

Even though more than 45% of the country’s population is engaged in agriculture, their contribution to the country’s GDP is only 19% and it is a concerning fact, observed VK Mishra, Director of the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, who served as a special guest at the event.

“It is very important to increase the income of farmers. The decreasing amount of nutrients in the soil affects the productivity as well as the nutritional value of crops which ultimately affects our health due to the consumption of such crops,” Mishra added.

During the event, the NBRI director also presented the annual progress report and highlighted some of the major achievements made by the Institute during 2022-23.