DBT to evaluate botanical ingredients for COVID-19 treatment

Depending on the nature of the applicant, the funding will be made available by DBT or BIRAC

To manage COVID-19 pandemic through the application of medicinal and aromatic plants, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is calling for project proposals in following research areas:

(a) Development of experimental models for evaluation of anti-viral activity of extracts, fractions and phytochemical constituents from medicinal and aromatic plants-

(i) In vitro anti-viral activity (nCoV2, non-infective, pseudo-RNA virus)
(ii) Antiviral (anti-nCoV-2) efficacy in animal model
(iii) MTT / PI / CCK8 assay for cell toxicity

(b) Screening of extracts, fractions, phytochemical constituents and traditional formulations from medicinal and aromatic plant against SARS-CoV2-

(i) Development of research lead candidates based on screening to take forward towards developing phytopharmaceuticals.
(ii) Development of phytopharmaceuticals for prevention, co-administration and mainstay therapy
(iii) Development of herbal products for prevention against COVID-19 – Proof-of efficacy, pre-clinical and clinical.

(c) Studies on extracts, fractions and phytochemical constituents from medicinal & aromatic plants-

 
(i) Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity (PBMC, Neutrophils, Th1/Th2 driven T-cell responses, antigen presentation
(ii) Effect if any on obesity, diabetes, lung fibrosis and
(iii) Drug-drug interaction studies (CYP450 studies)
(iv) Essential oils compounds inhibitory to SARS-COV-2 proteins & infections

Depending on the nature of the applicant (academia or a Company), the funding will be made available by DBT or BIRAC.