Department of Ilmul Advia

The Department of Ilmul Advia, Faculty of Unani Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), marked World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week 2024 from 18th to 24th November, 2024 with the theme “Educate. Advocate. Act Now.” The initiative aimed to raise awareness about the global AMR threat and explore strategies for its effective mitigation.

The week-long event featured a series of enlightening lectures by distinguished speakers. On 18th November, Prof. Asad U. Khan from the Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, A.M.U., Aligarh spoke on “Antimicrobial Resistance Silent Pandemic: One Health Approach to Tackle”, emphasizing the interconnected roles of human, animal, and environmental health in addressing AMR. A Poster Making Competition was held on 19th November, among undergraduate and postgraduate students to creatively express their understanding of AMR, inspiring proactive engagement in which 14 students participated in the event.

On 21st November, Prof. Fatima Khan from the Department of Microbiology, J.N. Medical College, delivered a lecture on “Antimicrobial Stewardship: Our Role in Combating Resistance and Shaping the Future,” highlighting the importance of responsible antibiotic use. On 22nd November, Prof.Abdul Latif, Former Chairman of the Department of Ilmul Advia, discussed “Unani Herbal Antibiotic/ Antimicrobial: A Need of the Day,” focusing on the sustainable solutions offered by Unani medicine in combating AMR. The last lecture was delivered on 23rd November by Prof. Mohammad Owais from the Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, addressed the “Role of Immunostimulants in Combating AMR,” showcasing how boosting immunity can reduce dependency on antibiotics.

A prize distribution ceremony on 23rd November recognized winners of the Poster Making Competition. Ms. Asiya Masoom (BUMS student) secured the first prize, followed by Dr. Abdullah Faizul Hasan and Ms. Karima Anees, who won second and third prizes, respectively, while Ms. Sara Aijaz received the consolation prize. Prizes were distributed by Prof. Badrudduja Khan, Principal of Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, and Guest Speaker Prof. Mohammad Owais.

An Extension Lecture was organised by the Department of Ilmul Advia, Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, on "Quality Standards of ASU Drugs and Role of PCIM&H" by Dr. Raman Mohan Singh, Director of the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homeopathy, as the keynote speaker on 26.10.2024 at 11:30 a.m. at A.K.T.C. Auditorium.

Dr. Abdul Latif (Chairman, Department of Ilmul Advia & Co-ordinator, DRS-I (UGC) has organized a Lecture Series in March, 2016 in Conference Room, Department of Ilmul Advia in which various experts from various field of Study on Unani Drugs and Research were invited to deliver the Guest Lectures. (1) Dr. (Mrs.) Sayyada Khatoon (Principal Scientist), Pharmacognosy & Ethno-pharmacology Division from National Botanical Research Institute (Lucknow) has delivered her valuable talk on 4th March, 2015 on Various Chromatographic techniques used for the identification of Unani Drugs. Methods of performing HPLC, HPTLC, GC-MS, etc. were discussed in detail and their significance. She highlighted that how we can identify between two morphological similar drugs on the basis of HPTLC. She also highlighted to use Passport Data maintenance of Crude Drug material for identification of Unani drugs etc. (2) Dr. Syed Ziaur Rahman (Associate Professor), Department of Pharmacology, J. N. Medical College, A.M.U., Aligarh has detailed a very useful talk on Professionalism in Thesis Writing on 9th March, 2016. Simultaneously he expressed his experience while pursuing PhD from Australia and elaborated the significance of thesis work, level of research work expected in Masterâ??s and / or PhD thesis, mandatory chapters and sections, how to focus on each chapter of the thesis, common problems faced by the candidate, how to defend your thesis and what examiners look for in the thesis. He also explained what candidates should expect from their supervisors, importance of ITs such as knowledge of MS Words especially while making leveling for the list of contents, plagiarism-checker software and bibliography making software such as i-authenticate, EndNote, respectively. (3) Dr. Shamim Ahmad Siddiqui (Ex-Assistant Director), Standardization Unit CCRUM, Lucknow and Retd. Senior Research Scientist from CCRUM (M.H. & F.W.) has discussed on â??From Lakh to Crore by Unani Medicineâ?? on 14th March, 2016. He detail about a very useful Unani Drug i.e Lacifer lacca (Kerr). Luk. He discussed that Lac is of great commercial value. India fetches several crores annually by exporting crude and refined lac and the lac dye to nearly 100 user countries. India produces nearly 60% of the total world production of lac. It provides livelihood to nearly 30 lakh tribals of Bihar, M.P., W. Bengal, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Orrisa. (4) Prof. M. Z. Abdin, Head, Deptt. of Biotechnology from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi has conveyed a very informative talk on â??Role of DNA fingerprints in Authentication of Unani medicinesâ?? on 15 March, 2016. He discussed that major problem faced by the Unani Physicians nowadays that includes lack of efficacy of Unani formulations. Reason behind remains the High degree of adulterations/substitutions that decreases the efficiency. Factors responsible for adulteration/substitution remains rising demands of raw herbs, low availability due to shrinkage of natural habitats, rarely found herbs and their higher cost. This counter â??Quality assuranceâ?? which is crucial to maintain the efficacy. So, he emphasize to use SCAR markers (DNA Fingerprints) for authentication of Unani Formulations which are basically the Genomic DNA fragment at a single genetically defined locus that is identified by PCR amplification using a pair of specific oligonucleotide primers. This is co-dominant, highly reproducible which use less quantity of DNA with no prior information of genome sequence is needed; it is very simple, time efficient, reproducible and cost effective. (5) Dr. Saeed Ahmad from Bioactive natural product laboratory, Department Of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, Faculty Of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University) New Delhi has also delivered a very Informative talk on 15 March, 2016 on a very informative topic â??Significance of Chromatographic Studies in Unani Medicineâ??. He discussed in detail about the Unani Medicine, their need and present day problem of identification. History of Chromatography, how it develop and various methods of chromatography were discussed in detail. Phyto-active constituent based identification from chromatogram that will be useful for the authenticity and identification of Unani Drugs.