About a decade ago, NBRI attempted to develop a herbal soft drink but could not compete with the multinational beverage giants that dominate the market.
However, the scientists did not give up and continued to improve the product until they were finally able to present it as a healthy alternative. No preservatives have been used in the product and its shelf life is four months.
Pio, which has received the nod from Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, comes with the tagline "Pio Herbal, Jio Har Pal".
"Soft drinks are consumed by people of all ages, be they children or the elderly. Therefore, there was an urgent need to replace these unhealthy drinks with healthy options. A team of scientists carried out an in-depth study to develop products scientifically validated and standardized healthy beverages by fortifying them with certain health-promoting/protective functional attributes," said NBRI Director Ajit Kumar Shasany.
"Based on traditional knowledge, we select certain herbs. Herbal extracts such as licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), commonly known as 'mulethi', heart-leaf moonseed (giloy), Ashwagandha, punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), vine common and cardamom have been used in the product," he added.
"These extracts are mixed with carbonated water in such a way that the drink tastes like any other synthetic drink available in the market. The sugar mixture is kept at a minimum level to combat the bitterness of the plant-based extracts," he said.
The NBRI director added that Pio was free of alcohol, cocoa and other synthetic chemicals and its effectiveness has been successfully evaluated.
"The product is a unique combination of modern nutraceutical concepts with traditional knowledge in the soft drinks category, where the product is fortified with medicinal plants that have a similar color and taste to synthetic beverages," Shasany said.
"The herbal plant extract used in the drink has hepatoprotective, antioxidant, immunopotentiating, cardiotonic, diuretic and digestive properties. The technology and process of the soft drink have also been patented," he said, adding that the technology for manufacturing this herbal soft drink has been transferred to a private company.
Managing Director of the private company concerned, Sandip Vyas, said: "This herbal soft drink has the potential to replace other synthetic soft drinks. We have taken the technology from CSIR-NBRI. We have done all the necessary tests which are essential for its production and effectiveness."
However, the scientists did not give up and continued to improve the product until they were finally able to present it as a healthy alternative. No preservatives have been used in the product and its shelf life is four months.
Pio, which has received the nod from Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, comes with the tagline "Pio Herbal, Jio Har Pal".
"Soft drinks are consumed by people of all ages, be they children or the elderly. Therefore, there was an urgent need to replace these unhealthy drinks with healthy options. A team of scientists carried out an in-depth study to develop products scientifically validated and standardized healthy beverages by fortifying them with certain health-promoting/protective functional attributes," said NBRI Director Ajit Kumar Shasany.
"Based on traditional knowledge, we select certain herbs. Herbal extracts such as licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), commonly known as 'mulethi', heart-leaf moonseed (giloy), Ashwagandha, punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), vine common and cardamom have been used in the product," he added.
"These extracts are mixed with carbonated water in such a way that the drink tastes like any other synthetic drink available in the market. The sugar mixture is kept at a minimum level to combat the bitterness of the plant-based extracts," he said.
The NBRI director added that Pio was free of alcohol, cocoa and other synthetic chemicals and its effectiveness has been successfully evaluated.
"The product is a unique combination of modern nutraceutical concepts with traditional knowledge in the soft drinks category, where the product is fortified with medicinal plants that have a similar color and taste to synthetic beverages," Shasany said.
"The herbal plant extract used in the drink has hepatoprotective, antioxidant, immunopotentiating, cardiotonic, diuretic and digestive properties. The technology and process of the soft drink have also been patented," he said, adding that the technology for manufacturing this herbal soft drink has been transferred to a private company.
Managing Director of the private company concerned, Sandip Vyas, said: "This herbal soft drink has the potential to replace other synthetic soft drinks. We have taken the technology from CSIR-NBRI. We have done all the necessary tests which are essential for its production and effectiveness."
