Aroma therapy and spas are fast gaining popularity in India and hence, cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants has become an important industry. The Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), a ministry of MSME body, in Fazalganj, Kanpur is supplying various aromatic and medicinal herbs to commercial sectors in the city. Established in 1998 as an extension unit of FFDC Kannauj, “The Kanpur centre of FFDC”, as per Bhakti Vijay Shukla, extension officer, FFDC, “is to provide technical consultancy and carry out extension work of aromatic and medicinal plants. These plants are cultivated on 1.75 hectare of land to extract aromatic oils and fragrances to provide flavours to many products. High value drugs can be produced from these plants for cardiac and kidney stone patients.”
FFDC is home to plant and herbal sources to some key medicinal compounds: Cyprus rotundas (sarpgandha–used for anti-cancer drug), lamiacea (pathar chur– used for stone), withania somnifera (ashwagandha– used for blood pressure and weight loss), rauvolfia serpentina (serpgandha — used for the treatment of cardiac problem). The centre has plants as well which are used as flavours in food products and fragrances which are used in soaps, shampoos and incense sticks.
Source: The Times Of India
