Bangalore
based Sami Labs plans to utilise biotech tools to produce
Probiotics oil eating bacteria to process spice oleoresins.
Talking
to ET, Dr. M. Majeed, Managing Director, Sami Labs, said the
lab is currently working to conduct research on developing
newer applications of known natural products and their derivatives.
Along
with a research group in India it has also set up a parallel
group at Princeton, USA to develop new processes and new products
and also commence efforts to find newer application of traditional
Indian Herbs and spices.
In
the areas of new drug discovery, the centre has identified
a new molecule, which increases skin permeability. This molecule
has applications not only in medicine and cosmetics but also
in agriculture, as it enhances the efficacy of fungicides
and insecticides because it facilitates their entry into the
cells of pests and plants.
The
research group of the company has also developed new natural
products for wound healing, hair growth and on natural antioxidants
including a derivative of curcumin from turmeric which retains
all pharmacological properties of curcumin but is white in
colour. "White colour is more acceptable for certain
specific uses", he added.
The
companys exports has been growing steadily, he said
and added that in 2000 the company clocked Rs.45 crore exports.
In
2001, it planned to close at Rs.54 crore and for the year
2002 about Rs.80 crore.
The
company has introduced many of its Indian herbal products
in the US market. "The credibility of these products
were built up by conducting numerous clinical trials on key
products in the US", said Mr. Majeed.
The
company commenced its operations by setting up a manufacturing
facility at Kunigal in 1997 and later a second unit in Mysore
also started production in 2000. In early 2001, the companys
biotechnology centre was opened and started trial production
of Lactospore.
Anil Urs,
Bangalore.