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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of Withania somnifera and Catharanthus roseus in rats
    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Arivuchelvan, A; KAU; Joy, A D
    The present study was undertaken with the objective of determining the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of withania somnifera and Catharanthus roseus. Alcoholic extract of both the plants were used for the study and the effect produced by the above plants were compared with that of the known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug namely, diclofenac sodium which served as the positive control drug. To assess the anti-inflammatory effect two methods namely, cotton pellet and carrageenin induced paw oedema were adopted. In cotton pellet method five groups of eight rats each were used per plant. First group was kept as a control, which received five per cent gum acacia only. IInd, IIIrd and IVth group received 200, 400, 600 mg/kg alcoholic extract of C. roseus Vth group served as the positive control which received diclofenac sodium 3 mg/kg dose level. All the drugs were administered orally. C. roseus produced significant anti granuloma activity when compared to control group. Higher activity was produced by 600 mg/kg body weight extract (35.88 per cent anti-inflammatory activity). For W. somnifera also same experimental design was adopted with dose rates of 750, 1000, 1500 mg/kg body weight. W. somnifera produced dose dependent antigranuloma activity. Higher dose (1500 mg/kg body weight) produced more antigranuloma activity (53.92 per cent) which was comparable to the antigranuloma activity of diclofenac sodium. Haematological parameters before and after treatment showed no significant changes for both the plants. In carrageenin induced paw oedema method al so five groups of eight rats each were used per plant. All the three doses of extract and reference drug were given thirty minutes prior to the carrageenin injection and the paw thickness was recorded three hour after injection. c. roseus produced significant antioedema activity in this model. Higher dose (600 mg/kg) produced equipotent effect compared to diclofenac sodium 3 mg/kg. W. somnifera also produced dose dependent anti oedema activity. Extract at the dose rate of 750, 1000, 1500 mg/kg produced 19.4, 35.23, 44.62 per cent antioedema activity respectively. But the reference drug diclofenac sodium produced higher antioedema activity. For evaluating antinociceptive effect of C. roseus and W. somnifera, seven groups of eight animal each were used. All the dose rates of both the plant extracts were compared with diclofenac sodium for a period of two hours showed no significant analgesic effect.