Research

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Title :	Assessment of Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease, its associated causative factors and therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine used traditionally in Bargarh District, Odisha
Area of research :	Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Principal Investigator :	Dr. Iswar Baitharu, Sambalpur University
Timeline Start Year :	2024
Timeline End Year :	2027

Details

Executive Summary :

Odisha is an agrarian state with Agriculture contributing 21.11% to Net State Domestic Product. Agriculture plays a critical role in the economy of the state and livelihood of majority of its populace. With the commissioning of Hirakud Dam, Bargarh and adjacent area became the rice bowl of the state of Odisha because of its fertile land, uninterrupted irrigation facilities and intense agricultural activities. However, the rice bowl of the state has now been transformed into the capital of several chronic health hazard that includes detrimental diseases like chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and Cancer within a span of 70 years from the commissioning of Hirakud dam. Disease like chronic kidney diseases have increased several folds in the last few years. Preliminary report based on the hospital-based survey in Bargarh district indicates alarming increase in the cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic kidney disease with unknown etiology (CKDu). Prolonged hypertension or diabetes is known to cause to malfunctioning of kidney leading to CKD. There have been several cases of chronic kidney diseases without any history of either hypertension or diabetes. CKDu has reached to the level of epidemic in certain area of the district. No systematic epidemiological studies have been conducted so far to assess the CKD prevalence status in the district. Unregulated use of pesticides and other agrochemicals could be associated with disease incidence in the community. As Bargarh is adjacent to the coal and mineral mining site, nephrotoxic heavy metals in ground water which very often used as drinking water without prior treatment in rural area of the district could be a putative cause of higher prevalence of CKDu in several parts of the district. However, data related to concentration of pesticide residues as well as heavy metals in water, soil, grains or vegetables grown in this area is lacking. The present study aims to evaluate the status of CKD and CKDu in Bargarh district, identify the CKD hotspot and investigate the associated environmental factor and toxicants having potential to induce nephropathy in human. The present study will provide the baseline data of pesticides and heavy metals in water, grain and vegetables grown in the hotspot villages. The traditional Vaidya and Ayurvedic specialists in base of Gandhamardhan hill use several herbal formulations to cure CKD at the initial stage. However, these herbs and herbal formulation are never been scientifically investigated and hence their efficacy in CKD therapy remain obscure to the rest of the scientific world The present study aims to explore the efficacy of those herbs and herbal formulation using animal model of CKD and also through follow up study of the patients undergoing herbal therapy.