Ahmedabad, october 2: It’S literally a going-back-to-the roots initiative. Sristi, an organisation set up by IIMA professor Anil Gupta and Ahmedabad-based pharmaceutical firm Troikaa, have jointly launched a product called Herbavate, a skin cream which has been developed on the basis of grassroots innovations of villagers and farmers.

Herbavate, a herbal formulation based on traditional medicine, has anti-inflammatory action, anti-microbial action and anti-pruritic action due to the presence of six proven medicinal herbs. Those herbs were identified by six grassroots innovators and the patent for the product has been filed by Sristi in their names. A cure for eczema and dermatitis, the formulation of the ointment, according to Ketanbhai Patel of Troikaa, is based on the information provided by the grassroots innovators.

Patel claimed they alleviated the allergic condition, including skin inflammation, of a number of patients in remote parts of the state, where modern medicinal amenities are almost megligible.

“The ingenuous skill of innovators led them to try out a number of locally available resources before coming up with the right formulation,” Patel said, adding, “This formulation helps in controlling inflammation and reduces immune system reactions when applied to the skin.”