The Coconut Development Board has tied up with Care Keralam, a consorti-um of ayurveda drug manufacturers, to promote projects on coconut value addition in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical areas.
A memorandum of understanding was signed here on Friday between board chairman T.K. Jose and Care Keralam managing director Karimpuzha Raman.
Mr Jose said that the focus would be on research and product development, validation and commercialization as well as clinical studies based on coconut products. Tender coconut water is believed to help in developing immunity in children.
Also, it is said to have properties to treat urethral stones and diarrhoea.
It can be used in the production of antibiotics too. “All these will need clinical trials, product patenting and validation and that is where the resources of Care Keralam will be needed”, he said.
Regarding the interest shown by Coke manufacturers during the recent international coconut fest, Mr Jose said the company wanted to have tender water concentrate in powder form and as of now, the board did not have the technical knowhow for it.