Kurunthotti or Sida is an annual herb or shrub with yellow flowers and leaves with distinct shapes. Know by the name Bala in Sanskrit, it is quite useful in Ayurveda and traditional medicines. Although there are different species treated as Kurunthotti, Sidarhombifoila is more popular in places like Kerala where it has been a popular home remedy for many problems.Sidacordifolia is a plant. The seeds and root are used to make medicine. Sidacordifolia contains ephedrine, which is an amphetamine-like stimulant that can cause harmful side effects. Since April 2004 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned ephedra, Sidacordifolia,and other products that contain ephedrine. As an effective cure for problems related to arthritis and rheumatism.Kurunthotti is the main ingredient in several Ayurvedic medicines like Dhanwantaram, Balataila, and Balarishtam. Traditionally, it has been used since early times to prepare herbal shampoos (thaali) to treat hair problems and to promote the growth of healthy hair and maintain color.Keeping this in mind the PG Department of Commerce has organized a programme “Kurunthotti” on 19th February,2019 which was inaugurated by Dayabhai (social activist). The first session handled by Dayabhai was relating to the environment crisis aroused due to usage of Endosalfan and also narrated the importance of being environment friendly and conveyed the message to the students for preservation of nature and its various elements. Along with the talk DayaBhai also performed a street play on the same topic which was very heart touching and impressive to the students as well as teachers. There was also an exhibition of around 100 of herbal plants which were having medicinal effect in the seminar hall.
The PG Department started the initiative of procuring medicinal herbal plants from the traditional local persons who are engaged in collecting such herbal plants and to sell it to those organisations who manufacture ayurvedic medicines using these plants. Hence the department acts a mediator between the traditional herbal plants collecting agents and manufacturers of medicines.