Plant Systematics

Exploration, collection, conservation, identification and documentation of medicinal plants of Western Ghats and adjoining areas form the major thrust area of the division. Rare, endangered and threatened plants are also being collected and conserved. These plants are grown in the National Field gene bank of Ayurvedic medicinal plants established at Kottakkal with the financial support from Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India.  A herbarium, raw drug museum and an image library are also being set up. The long-term objective is to develop a unique database on the medicinal plants of Kerala.

Pharmacognosy
Undertaking pharmacognostic studies of the raw drugs used in Ayurveda with a view to evolve their standards is the aim of the Pharmacognosy division. In this division, using a computerized Herb Authentication System, the anatomical images of genuine raw drugs with identifying features are stored in the database, which can be retrieved for floor level checking. This facility is being used for standardization, quality control and authentication of the raw drugs used in Ayurveda.

Phytochemistry

Phytochemistry division is mainly engaged in chemical characterisation and developing chemical profiles using modern analytical techniques with a view to develop finger prints for important Ayurvedic medicinal plants. Another area of research is isolation and characterisation of specific marker compounds from Ayurvedic medicinal plants for its identification and quality control, and to maintain a marker compound library. Another mandate of the division is to scientifically validate the traditional/ ethno-botanical knowledge. This division is also engaged in chemical fidelity studies on tissue cultured medicinal plants.

Tissue Culture
The tissue culture and biotechnology division focuses mainly on rapid tissue culture propagation of important, rare, endangered, threatened and recalcitrant medicinal plants with a view to widen the resource base of medicinal plants to the Ayurvedic industry. The division also aims at domestication, developing other conventional propagation techniques, developing agro-techniques, popularization of medicinal plants cultivation and also repopulating the forest niches.
Extension

The main objectives of the division are popularization of medicinal plant conservation, cultivation and sustainable utilisation to enlarge the resource base of medicinal plants so as to make available genuine herbs to Ayurvedic industry.