India’s largest herbal medicine supplier and the fourth largest producer of FMCG, it was established in 1884 and has grown to Rs.65 crores annual turnover in 2003. With 15% sales volume being herbal drugs and the rest mostly food and cosmetics, Dabur’s Ayurvedic Specialities Division has over 260 medicines for treating a range of conditions from common cold to chronic paralysis. These constitute only 7% of Dabur’s total revenue with Dabur Chyawanaprash having a market share of 70% and Chewable Hajmola digestive tablets 88%. Other major products are Dabur Amla Hair Oil, Vatika (shampoo) and Lal Dant Manjan (tooth powder).

Sri Baidyanath Ayurvedic Bhawan Ltd was founded in 1917 in Kolkata and specializes in Ayurvedic medicines. It has expanded into FMCG with cosmetic and hair-care products. With a total sales volume of Rs.35 crores, it has over 700 Ayurvedic products made at 10 manufacturing centres with 1,600 employees. One of its international products is Shikakai Shampoo with other items being herbal teas, patent medicines, massage oils and chyawanaprash.

Zandu Pharmaceutical Works incorporated in Bombay in 1919 was named after an 18th century Ayurvedic physician. Its primary business being herbal drugs, today it also has chemicals and cosmetics divisions. With total sales volume at Rs.4.5 crores one of its current projects is to develop a plant-derived dopamine drug for Parkinsonism for which an NDA has been filed with the US FDA.

Himalaya Drug Company was established in 1934 in Bangalore. With Rs.50 crores annual turnover it has a US Distribution Division (Himalaya USA). It is well known in the United States for Liv-52 a liver protective for the treatment of viral hepatitis.

Charak Pharmaceuticals founded in 1947 has three distribution centres across India. ‘Evanove’ its product for menopause contains herbal estrogen receptor modulators in addition to soya and asparagus.

Vicco Laboratories established in 1958 mainly produces topical therapies based on Ayurveda. It is best known internationally for its tooth paste Vajradanti, which has been in the market in the United States for more than 25 years.

The Emami Group founded in 1974 provides a diverse range of products, with an annual turnover of Rs. 11 crores. Its Himani line generates a small revenue out of chyawanaprash and other health care goods; however toiletries and cosmetics are its major products.

Aimil Pharmaceuticals Ltd. incorporated in 1984 and engaged in manufacture and sales of both generic and proprietary Ayurvedic medicines has an annual business turnover of Rs.2 crores. Its wide range of Ayurvedic herbal formulations, covering most therapeutic segments, is well known for products meant for hepatitis, diabetes, menstrual disorders, digestive and urinary diseases.

Universal Medicaments Pvt. Ltd. a unit of Universal Pharmaceuticals Group, is best recognized for its formulations Karnim (anti-diabetic supplement), Herbokam (anti-Stress formula), Chetak (stimulant) and Tonabolin (iron supplement). With 15 main proprietary products that are a gradual move away from traditional formulas like teas, ghee preparations etc. Universal is engaged in manufacture and export of both pharmaceutical formulations and research-based herbal medicines. The herbal products in general are for lipid regulation, blood sugar lowering, cardiovascular health, menopause, liver protection and detoxifying regimens. It has joint ventures for research and manufacture of herbal products with Cipla and Lupin.

Surya Herbal, New Delhi is involved in manufacture and export of wide range of Ayurvedic generic, branded specialities and other OTC herbal health care products. It is one of the few facilities that blend modern production technology and advanced quality measures into the area of herbal personal care products and medicines. Established in the year 1999, it was promoted by Surya Roshini Group having interests in lighting and steel pipes businesses which later diversified to herbal commerce. The company produces 15 formulations, which match, for the most part, the categories of natural therapeutics in demand worldwide.

Sami Labs is the Research and Development group of Sabinsa Corporation, a US company with affiliates in India. It produces herbal extracts and special powders in standardized forms sought after by herbal product manufacturers.

Maharishi Ayurveda Products International Inc. Established in 1985 it was first set up as a 100% export-oriented unit. With an annual sales turnover of nearly Rs. 5 crores, ISO 9001 certified Maharishi Ayurveda produces over 900 medicinal formulations and presently it exports to over four countries with the United States alone consuming 50% of its turnover.

Kottakkal Aryavaidya Sala is a century-old charitable institution engaged in the practice and propagation of Ayurveda. Established at Kottakkal in Kerala in 1902 by the visionary physician and philanthropist the Late Vaidyarathnam P.S.Varier, today the trust manages Ayurvedic hospitals at Kottakkal, Delhi and Kochi. It has two Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing units established with current infrastructure and instrumentation. With branches at 15 major cities all over India, it has over 900 authorized dealers for the sale of its products.

Cholayil is amongst Kerala’s most famous and respected Ayurvedic families practising Ayurveda for generations and also presently manufacturers of the world’s largest selling Ayurvedic soap ‘Medimix’. A Chennai-based Rs.100-crore FMCG, Cholayil Pharmaceuticals is the flagship company of the Cholayil group and produces products focussed on the toiletries, personal care and health care segments. Cholayil creates products blending native elements into the most contemporary forms. It has 15% market share in talc and 17% in bath soap in Kerala. Its products include both traditional formulations and herbal contemporary dosage forms.

Emami, Johnson & Johnson, Dechane and Amrutanjan are some of the other reputed industry giants leading in the herbal drug manufacture and research.

With the growing demand for safe, effective remedies from time-tested knowledge, several allopathic drug manufacturers like Ranbaxy, Novartis, as also personal care product leaders like Cavin Care and other reputed business groups like HCL are all venturing into the herbal drug market.