<P> CIMAP's contribution to the Indian economy through its MAPs research is well known . Mint varieties released and agro-packages developed and popularised by CIMAP has made India the global leader in mints and related industrial products . CIMAP has released several varieties of the MAPs, their complete agro-technology and post harvest packages which have revolutionised MAPs cultivation and business scenario of the country . </P> <P> CIMAP is a unique lab of its kind in the entire globe, way ahead of its time even at the time of its establishment . As a ripple effect of CIMAP's success and contribution, other research establishments have now started seriously considering MAPs in their portfolio . While conserving the plant genetic resources systematically and undertaking world class research work in plant science, CIMAP is equipping the nation with high - tech agriculture linked to industrial processing of MAPs . CIMAP is equipped with state - of - the - art multidisciplinary laboratories, ultra-modern instrumentation facilities and scientific expertise in agriculture, genetics and plant breeding, molecular taxonomy, molecular and structural biology, plant biotechnology, biochemistry, microbiology, bio energy and chemical sciences, apart from development of herbal products . CIMAP, Lucknow houses the National Gene Bank of medicinal and aromatic plants, in addition to seed gene bank, tissue and DNA bank . Further, Field Gene Bank of different varieties of MAPs is maintained at CIMAP Lucknow and its four research centres situated across the country . </P> <P> CIMAP is focusing on research projects which include gene bank utilization strategies, conservation, evaluation and cataloging of selected high value medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), conservation of bio-prospecting genes / molecules / products; new molecules of therapeutic significance, metabolic pathway studies in selected MAPs, genetic enhancement of obligate asexual and sexual medicinal and aromatic plants, process and synthetic chemistry technology for phytomolecules and plant products; enabling high value agriculture in low value underutilized lands and cropping systems, anti-malarials from MAPs, prospecting bioresources of commercial potential, development of standardized herbal formulations for better health, development of analytical processes and diagnostic tools, survey, inventorisation and technology dissemination of MAPs, genotype designing for speciality / opportunity crops in MAPs and basic research towards path breaking MAPs science . </P> <P> CIMAP is also involved in two national network projects as nodal laboratory under XII Five Year Plan that include i) pathway engineering and system biology approach towards homologous and heterologous expression of high - value phytoceuticals (artemisinin, picrosides, morphine, withanolides, podophyllotoxin) and ii) biological and chemical transformations of plant compounds for production of value added products of therapeutic / aroma value . Besides, CIMAP is a participating laboratory in seven national network projects on i) exploitation of India's microbial diversity; ii) remediation / eco-restoration and cleanup of contaminated ground water and water resources; iii) discovery, development and commercialization of new bioactive and traditional preparations; iv) comprehensive traditional knowledge digital documentation and library; v) project on neem and vii) artemisia . CIMAP is successfully running a flagship rural development program on strategic rural income enhancements by Medicinal and Industrial Plants based technologies with special focus on North - East, women and tribals . Establishment of Artemisia annua bio-village by CIMAP involving farmers and industries has emerged as a replicable model of public - private partnership (PPP) in MAPs and other industrial crops . </P>

History of medicinal and aromatic plants in india