ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2023 51 layas, there is the possibility of developing novel, plant-based treatments to improve animal health. These treatments would be in line with the principles of responsible and sustainable animal agriculture, and they would be of value to both animals and the environment. Himalayan plants have a long history of use as medicine, but their potential as alternative treatments is only beginning to be realised. This is especially true in areas where rural communities struggle to overcome economic challenges and inadequate access to contemporary medical care. The exceptional biodiversity of the Himalayas, in conjunction with the one-of-a-kind difficulties of the region, has contributed to the development of a long-standing practise of employing the native flora for remedial reasons. Traditional medicinal practises, such as Ayurveda, have withstood the test of time and found a place of resonance in the field of animal care thanks to the abundance of botanical resources. Ayurveda, which has its origins in India around 6000 BC, integrated its guiding principles to veterinary medicine, giving treatment, management, and animal welfare the highest priority. The inclusion of Ayurvedic botanicals for animal well-being was given credence when King Ashoka in 1463 BC established the first veterinary hospital in the world. In addition, approximately one quarter of all human medications are derived from plants. Due to the diversity of biological roles that phytochemicals play, there has been a major uptick in interest in the role that phytochemicals play in human health and disease during the past two decades. At the moment, research efforts are being put towards determining whether or if there is a connection between phytochemicals and animal health. There is a possibility that novel molecules that can treat animal ailments could be found in the abundant phytochemical content of the Himalayan phytobiome. It is in the nature of animals themselves to have the intrinsic ability to recognise plants that have medicinal potential. The study of zoopharmacognosy, in which animals seek for herbs for the purpose of disease prevention and therapy, demonstrates animals' capacity for self-directed natural healing. The Himalayan flora emerges as a beacon for fostering animal welfare that is in tune with the equilibrium of nature as a result of this multidimensional interplay between ancient knowledge and contemporary investigation. About Naveed A. Chikan Naveed A. Chikan is a cancer biologist turned entrepreneur and the founder/CSO of Daskdan Innovations, a pioneering animal health start-up in Srinagar, Kashmir, India. With a mission to introduce plant-based alternatives to antibiotics/chemicals for food-producing animal farmers, Naveed at Daskdan has secured a $100k grant for his proof-of-concept development. His prior experience includes working in rational drug discovery for cancer biology.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==