NEW DELHI: Indian Scientists claim to have developed an herbal medicine that fights against Dengue. This Dengue drug is one of the phenomenal breakthroughs in Indian Health industry.

In countries like India where the prevalence of mosquito is high with all four dengue viruses (DENVs), a drug for dengue is very much crucial. At present, India accounts for 50 percent of the global population who are at the dengue risk which decreases the platelet count and may result in haemorrhage.

This breakthrough project was carried out jointly by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ranbaxy Research Laboratory (popularly known as Sun Pharma).

To obtain permission for commercial production of the drug, Scientists are now working on clinical trials and in making other detailed studies to prove their claim.

Navi Khanna, a Scientist explains that they have combined the knowledge of Indian medicine “Ayurveda” in identifying herbal plants which function against the dengue viruses.

He also said that they found the extract of Cissampelos pareira Linn (Cipa extract) acted as an inhibitor of all four dengue viruses which effectively decreases the adversity of the virus infection.

Further, he added that they have found positive results by testing the drug on rats at a high dosage of 2g/Kg body weight for up to a week and are yet to test on other bigger animals.

Mohammad Aslam, senior advisor to Department of Biotechnology informed that Sun Pharma will be dealing with the commercial release of the drug once all the clinical trials are completed.