Natural Products Research Laboratory is a central level office of the department of plant resource, was established in 1964 AD, formerly named as Royal Drug Research Laboratory. It was established targeting research and development in the field of phytochemistry, medicinal plants, technology development for the production of herbal products, standardization and control of quality of drugs, medicinal plants and plants products. In 1993 AD with the restructuring of Department of Plant Resources, its drug quality control unit was amalgamated to Department of Drug administration along with its name Royal Drug Research Lab. The name of the laboratory was changed to Natural Products Development Division and again in 1999 AD with revamp of Department of Plant Resources this laboratory become Natural Products Research laboratory. Since October, 2016 Five parameters are accreditated by NABL, India which are Acid Value, Refractive Index, Optical Rotation, Specific Gravity and percentage of Essential Oil from NPRL and GC anlysis from DPR.

Our Goal:

For the holistic development of plant resources and promotion of industries and trade, to develop technology from the biochemical study and research of plants and plants products.

Objectives:

• Bio-prospecting of plant resources
• The study and research of plant resources related chemical structure and bioeffects.
• To study and research for promotion of trade of plant resources.
• To assist industries based on plant resources for the production and development of plants and plant products.
• To assist the value addition of medicinal plants.
• To assist in supply chain management of the plants.
• To develop the standards for plants and plant products.
• Identification and certification of the samples of essential oils.

Activities:

• Survey, collection and identification of plants.
• Phytochemical screening: For the study, research and documentation by finding out group of compounds like alkaloids, steroids, tannins, saponins, reducing compounds, etc.
• Strengthen the museum by collecting plants and medicinal plants.
• pharmacognostic study and identification of plants and plant products.
• To develop required technology for the production of plants by the study with special attention of indigenous varaities of plant resources.
• Pharmacological screening : To find out bioactivity of plants.
• Biochemical study: Anti-dibetic properties of plant and enzyme inhibition activity of plants.
• Essential oils: Screening of essential oil bearing plants, estimation of essential oil and physiochemical analysis ( color, odour, taste, solubility, specific gravity, refractive index, optical rotation, acid value, ester value, ester value after acetylation and formylation, carbonyl content, phenolic content, thin layer chromatoghaphy, GLC and HPTLC).
• Preparation of SOP for the quality analysis method of plants and its products .
• Sharing of technical knowledge and skill about the essential oil, phytochemical screening and analysis to the governmental and non governmental organisations.
• Detail study of plant extracts, isolation of fractionation, identificatiobn and quantification after the phytochemical screening.
• To supply  rabbits, mouse, rats and guneapig, if possible for the students of universities and governmental and non governmental institutions.
• provide training about the natural resources and quality analysis for the students of different universities and industrial related persons.
• Analysing and certificating of medicines and their products for the promotion of industries based on plant resources.

Analytical services:

1. Trade support:
   • Certification
   • Identification of plants / plant parts/products
2. Plant extracts/ products quality control services
3. Research and development:
   • Phytochemical screening
   • Extractive value of MAPs
   • Identification of plants extract/ products
   • Determination of fixed oil
   • Determination of bitter principle
   • Oil estimation, acid value, ester value, ester value after acetylation, TLC etc
4. Pharmacological tests
   • Acute toxicity test, isolated tissue test, antifertility test, antihelminthic test, cardiovascular test, anti inflammatory test etc
5. Instrumental analysis
   • Spectrophotometer
   • Refractometer
   • Densitometer
   • Polarimeter
   • TLC/ Column chromatography
6. Small laboratory animal services

Requirements for the costomers to get analytical services from NPRL:

1. For analysis services:
   1. A written application with ticket of Rs 10 with mentioned the required service
   2. For the sample test mention the source and local name of plants
   3. Provide th scientific name of plants
2. For the certification of the exporting plants and products:
   1. An application with ticket of Rs 10 ,name of exporting countries and exporting materials.
   2. photocopy of certificate of company registration, income tax certificate, tax clearence certificate and company renew certificate
   3. Scientific name of plants
3. For the exporting of plants and products related CITES and protected by forest act
   1. A written request to analyze the samples from Department of Forest to the NPRL through the DPR
   2. photocopy of certificate of company registration, PAN/VAT/income tax certificate, tax clearence certificate and company certificate( Once for a year)