The government is creating a database of traditional Indian drugs aimed at preventing wrongful patenting of drugs, including medicinal plants.

"We are creating a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, a database of our classical drugs in Ayurveda, Sidha and Yoga.

This is being done to prevent misappropriation of knowledge about our ancient heritage and wrongful patenting of drugs," Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Panabaaka Lakshmi said.

Speaking at the International Herbal Summit and Expo, Lakshmi said the efficacy of medicinal plants in India needs to be documented in a better way and the export potential of these drugs should be fully exploited.

The government has set up Herbal Farm Clusters for improving quality of drugs and promotion of exports, doubling cultivation of medicinal plants, continuous focus on R&D on product and process development and effective marketing of herbal products, she said.

At present, the Indian herbal market is estimated to be worth Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billion) and over 3,600 crore (Rs 36 billion) of herbal raw materials and medicines are exported by India.

As per a study conducted by industry body Assocham, Indian herbal market is likely to reach Rs 14,500 crore (Rs 145 billion by 2012 and exports to Rs 9,000 crore (Rs 90 billion).

However, India's share in medicinal plant export in global trade is just about 2.5 per cent against 13 per cent of China.

The country has a rich biodiversity of plants and of these, 7,000-8,000 are known to have medicinal properties.

"There is need to sensitise the people about conservation of this rich biodiversity and about the role of medicinal plants in providing holistic healthcare," she said.