Dr. Prakash BN is a researcher who focuses on traditional medicine & community health at Centre for Community Health, Clinical Research and Education. He has an experience of twenty years as a part of developing and implementing community research and outreach programmes at TDU. He works in the area of local health traditions (LHTs) which is an undocumented, orally transmitted traditional knowledge. Documentation, assessment, evaluation and outreach of LHTs for public health issues, with a particular focus on primary health care, malaria, anaemia, diarrhoea are key areas of research. Prakash’s research experience includes one and half year’s research work at INSERM laboratory in Paris, France. He was the head of Personal Certification Body (PrCB) through which the traditional healers are certified through a National scheme on Voluntary Certification of Traditional Community Healthcare Providers. He plays the role of member secretary for the Institutional Ethics Committee of TDU and member of Scientific Advisory Sub Committee.

Program Coordinator

1. Varmam Therapist Diploma course in collaboration with Varma Kalpa Rejuvenation Center (VKRC), Bangalore
2. eLeraning courses in collaboration with Institute of Public Health (IPH), Bangalore: Certificate Course in Research Methods (eRM); eLearning course in Scientific Writing and Reference Management (eSWaRM); eLearning course in Public Health Management (ePHM); Essential Concepts in Financing for Health Systems (eFHS); Good Health Research Practices (eGHRP);
3. Prabhashanam program (An Ayurvedic finishing school) in collaboration with S.N. Pandit Ayurvedic Company Private Limited, Bangalore

Other Positions Held

1. Member Secretary: Institute Ethics Committee (IEC), TDU
2. Member: Scientific Advisory Sub Committee (SASC), TDU

Ongoing Projects / Research

Ongoing Projects:

1. Principal Investigator: Clinical Study on tolerability, treatment adherence, and safety of Drakshavaleha in the management of Iron Deficiency Anemia: An open label single arm study; A multi-centric study supported by Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), New Delhi.
2. Co-Investigator: Impart nutritional education on Iron-Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) among tribal, rural residents of Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu: Leveraging Traditional Healers as Knowledge Partners. Funded by RIST.
3. Co-Principal Investigator : Evaluation of Add-on value of Iron-Rich Snack with Iron Folic Acid in the Management of Iron-Deficiency Anaemia: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial, supported by Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU), Raichur, Karnataka & ICMR – National Institute of Traditional Medicine (ICMR - NITM), Belagavi, Karnataka.

Completed Projects:

1. Project Coordinator: A pilot proof of practice project to learn lessons for design and execution of a scalable community health program for enhancing general immunity and respiratory health of individuals. Funded by BOSCH India Foundation.
2. Program Head: Voluntary Certification Scheme for Traditional Community Healthcare Providers.
3. Co-PI (Health component) in the project titled “Development of HD Kote taluka herbal pharmacopoeia” supported by Dept. of AYUSH, Govt. of Karnataka; Year: 2017-2019. http://hdkotetalukaphc.org/
4. Co-PI (Social & research) component in the project titled “Developing and testing of self-sustaining model(s) for the supply and use of a low-cost purification device for safe drinking water” supported by Tata Trusts; Year: 2016-2018.   https://www.tdu.edu.in/outreach
5. Field co-ordinator in the project titled “Preventing Infectious Diarrhoea in Kenyan and Indian Communities: Testing a Low-Cost, Point-of-Use Device for Safe Drinking Water”, Grand Challenges Canada, Program - Stars in Global Health – Round 4 Phase I; Grant number: S4 0259-01; Year: 2014-2015.
6. https://www.grandchallenges.ca/grantee-stars/0259-01/

Teaching Activities

M. Sc. – Life Sciences (Ayurveda Biology)

M. Sc. – Research (Community Health)

Outreach Activities

Iron Deficiency Anemia Program in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu

Selected Publications

1. John Baptist Asiimwe, Prakash B. Nagendrappa, Esther C. Atukunda, Ivan Kahwa, Lina S. Mathew Alonga, Clement Olusoji Ajayi, Casim Umba Tolo, Patrick E. Ogwang, Maud M. Kamatenesi Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal of Herbal Medicine 2023October https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2023.100808

2. Asiimwe JB, Nagendrappa PB, Atukunda EC, Nambozi G, Tolo CU, Ogwang PE, et al. (2023) The meaning of caring for patients with cancer among traditional medicine practitioners in Uganda: A grounded theory approach. PLOS Glob Public Health 3(7): e0001764. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001764

3. Putturaj M, Van Belle S, Engel N, Criel B, Krumeich A, Nagendrappa PB, Srinivas PN. Multilevel governance framework on grievance redressal for patient rights violations in India. Health Policy Plan. 2021 Oct 12;36(9):1470-1482. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czab066. PMID: 34133734; PMCID: PMC7611949.

4. Asiimwe JB, Nagendrappa PB, Atukunda EC, Kamatenesi MM, Nambozi G, Tolo CU, Ogwang PE, Sarki AM. Prevalence of the Use of Herbal Medicines among Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 May 17;2021:9963038. doi: 10.1155/2021/9963038. PMID: 34055029; PMCID: PMC8149249.

5. Peter EL, Nagendrappa PB, Ajayi CO, Sesaazi CD. Total polyphenols and antihyperglycemic activity of aqueous fruits extract of Abelmoschus esculentus: Modeling and optimization of extraction conditions. PLOS ONE 2021; 16(4): e0250405. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250405

6. Peter EL, Nagendrappa PB, Hilonga S, Tuyiringire N, Ashuro E, Kaligirwa A, Sesaazi CD. Pharmacological reflection of plants traditionally used to manage diabetes mellitus in Tanzania. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Dec 25;269:113715. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113715.

7. Putturaj M, Van Belle S, Criel B, Engel N, Krumeich A, B Nagendrappa P, et al. Towards a multilevel governance framework on the implementation of patient rights in health facilities: a protocol for a systematic scoping review. BMJ Open 2020 Oct 15;10(10):e038927. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038927.

8. Peter EL, Nagendrappa PB, Kaligirwa A, Ogwang PE, Sesaazi CD. The safety and efficacy of Momordica charantia L. in animal models of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2020;1-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6853

9. Peter EL, Mtewa AG, Nagendrappa PB, Kaligirwa A, Sesaazi CD. Systematic review and meta-analysis protocol for efficacy and safety of Momordica charantia L. on animal models of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Syst Rev. 2020 Jan 8;9(1):7.

10. Peter EL, Kasali FM, Deyno S, Mtewa A, Nagendrappa PB, Tolo CU, Ogwang PE, Sesaazi D. Momordica charantia L. lowers elevated glycaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2019 Mar 1;231:311-324. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.10.033.

11. Peter EL, Deyno S, Mtewa A, Kasali FM, Nagendrappa PB, Sesaazi D, Tolo CU, Ogwang PE. Safety and efficacy of Momordica charantia Linnaeus in pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Syst Rev. 2018 Nov 15;7(1):192. doi: 10.1186/s13643-018-0847-x.

12. Nagendrappa PB, Annamalai PA, Naik M, Mahajan V, Gay F, Mathur A, Susanta G, Venkatasubramanian P. A prospective comparative field study to evaluate the efficacy of a traditional plant-based malaria prophylaxis. J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Jan-Mar; 6(1): 36–41. doi:10.5455/jice.20161112021406

13. Nair CB, Manjula J, Subramani PA, Nagendrappa PB, Manoj MN, Malpani S, et al. Differential Diagnosis of Malaria on Truelab Uno ® , a Portable, Real-Time, MicroPCR Device for Point-Of-Care Applications. PLoS One. 2016 Jan 19;11(1):e0146961.

14. Nagendrappa PB, Franetich J-F, Gay F, Lorthiois A, Venkatasubramanian P, Mazier D. Antiplasmodial activity of traditional polyherbal remedy from Odisha, India: Their potential for prophylactic use. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2015 Dec;5(12):982–6.

15. Prakash BN, Pradeepa M, Sowmya S, Nagarajan M, Padma V. Standardization of a Traditional Polyherbal Malaria Prophylactic Formulation. Asian J Biomed Pharceu Sci. 2014;4(28):13–9.

16. Nagendrappa PB, Naik MP, Payyappallimana U. Ethnobotanical survey of malaria prophylactic remedies in Odisha, India. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Apr 19;146(3):768–72.

17. Prakash BN, Unnikrishnan P. Ethnomedical survey of herbs for the management of malaria in Karnataka, India. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 2013 Dec 29;11:289–98.

18. Prakash BN, Muruli P, Joseph T, Haridasan K, Padma V. Traditional phytotherapy for prevention of malaria in Jashpur district, Chhattisgarh. International Journal of Indigenous Medicinal Plants. 2013;46(3):1294–300.

Book Chapters

1. Prakash, B.N., Hariramamurthi, G., Sarin, N.S., Unnikrishnan, P.M. (2023). Strengthening Capacity of Tribal Communities to Revitalise Tribal Medicine Through Research, Education and Outreach. In: Reddy, S., Guite, N., Subedi, B. (eds) Ethnomedicine and Tribal Healing Practices in India. People, Cultures and Societies: Exploring and Documenting Diversities. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4286-0_18 https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-19-4286-0_18#citeas

2. Prakash BN, Unnikrishnan PM, Hariramamurthi G. Medicinal flora and related traditional knowledge of Western Ghats: A potential source for community based malaria management through indigenous approach. In: Pullaiah T, Krishnamurthy KV, Bahadur Bir, editors. Ethnobotany of India - Western Ghats and West Coast of Peninsular India. 1st ed. Canada: Apple Academic Press Inc.; 2016. p. 235–50

3. Prakash BN, Unnikrishnan PM, 2011. Documentation and validation of traditional practices for management of malaria. In: Balasubramanian AV, Vijayalakshmi K, Shylaja R, Abarna RT, (Eds.) Testing and validation of Indigenous knowledge. CIKS Publisher, Chennai

4. Prakash BN, Muruli Naik P, 2011. Recognition and support for traditional anti-malarial programmes. Endogenous development magazine. 7:22-24

5. Unnikrishnan PM, Deepak K, Prakash BN, 2007.Traditional herbal medicines for malaria prevention. Endogenous development magazine. 1:16-18

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