Oncophyta

Traditional Indian schools of medicine (Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani) have a large amount of surviving literature that are of encyclopedic extent in their knowledge of medicinal plants — and to a large extent untapped. Our aim is simple: research, education, and training on indigenous plant-based medicines with the help of modern science.

Originally founded for the development of cancer treatment drugs from Indian medicinal plants, hence the name (oncology - the study of cancer, phytology - the study of plants).

Founded in January 1997, located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Oncophyta is a registered non-profit organization.

Technology

Recognizing that laboratory research equipment are exorbitantly priced for institutions in developing countries, we also focus on the design of very low cost and very low power embedded solutions alternatives to traditional laboratory equipment (micro control and measurement equipment). For example, automation of certain micro-titration’s that would require hours of baby-sitting (often overnight) by lab scientists, including micro-control, sensing, sampling, and data collection. Our designs also feature very user friendly rich-client interface to the controller firmware. Currently we are in a transition from non-profit to fully-profit company specialized in the design of such products. The proceeds will continue to support the research, education, and training activities of Oncophyta as an organization.

Research

Chemotherapy is one of the indispensable forms of treatment for cancer. The drugs that are used today for treating cancer have wide-ranging side effects. Therefore, the major objective of oncophyta is to develop the most efficient but least harmful drug from Indian medicinal plants. Plant based drug discovery had been a neglected field so far although several Indian traditional medicines (Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani) had effective plant components. Recently there is a spurt of activity after the discovery of taxol and after the patenting abroad of neem and turmeric formulations. The preliminary search for such a drug ended in the discovery of a novel plant derived compound which is effective in arresting the growth of cancer cells while being less toxic to normal cells. Intensive research and development efforts are planned to assess its potency and safety.

We have stumbled on two more medicinal plants and propose to screen these plants also for anticancer effects and cytoprotective properties.

Training

The research facilities established/to be established for the above purpose will be used to train students and young investigators in Applied Biology. It is proposed to give short - term training courses in the areas of Clinical Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Biotechnology at post BS and post MS levels.

Education

Oncophyta will also create cancer awareness and early detection by seminars, publications and camps in collaboration with other non-profit organizations. Tobacco multinationals are aggressively moving their markets to countries like India [ref. PBS documentary, Cancer Wars], targeting youths. Educating people on this is an important part of our goal.

We also engage in education on the benefits of traditional organic farming. Use of genetically modified crops and indiscriminate use of pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers severely damage the ecosystem. They also create an increasing dependency on these (and on the agencies that produce them). The mutations they can introduce into the local flora and fauna can destroy an ecosystem that farmers have been dependent on for generations.