Agro-techniques of selected medicinal plants

262 Pages·2008·3.56 MB·English

Agro-techniques of
selected medicinal plants
Volume 1
National Medicinal Plants Board
Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government of India, Chandralok Building, 36, Janpath
New Delhi – 110001
©National Medicinal Plants Board, Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, Government of India, 2008
Price: Rs 500/US $15
ISBN 978-81-7993-154-7
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means
without prior permission of the National Medicinal Plants Board, Department of AYUSH,
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
Published by
TERI Press
The Energy and Resources Institute Tel. [phone] or 4150 4900
Darbari Seth Block, Habitat Place Fax [phone] or 2468 2145
Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110 003 E-mail [email protected]
Web site www.teriin.org
The agro-techniques covered in this publication are based on the reports of various institutions
and may not meet the exact agronomic requirement of a particular crop in another agro-climatic
region. The National Medicinal Plants Board, therefore, does not take any responsibility for any
variation in the agronomic practice, crop yields, and economic returns indicated in the agro-
techniques in this publication.
Printed in India by Innovative Designers & Printers, New Delhi
ii
Contents
Foreword v
Acknowledgements vii
Abbreviations xi
Introduction xiii
Abroma augusta 1
Aconitum balfourii 5
Aconitum heterophyllum 11
Alpinia galanga 17
Alstonia scholaris 21
Asparagus racemosus 27
Bacopa monnieri 33
Baliospermum montanum 39
Caesalpinia sappan 45
Clerodendrum indicum 49
Colchicum luteum 55
Coleus barbatus 59
Commiphora wightii 63
Curculigo orchioides 69
Curcuma caesia 73
Curcuma zedoaria 77
Desmodium gangeticum 81
Dioscorea bulbifera 85
Gymnema sylvestre 89
Hedychium spicatum 93
iii
CONTENTS
Hemidesmus indicus 99
Holostemma ada-kodien 103
Inula racemosa 107
Leptadenia reticulata 111
Marsdenia tenacissima 115
Microstylis wallichii 119
Nardostachys grandiflora 125
Operculina turpethum 131
Oroxylum indicum 135
Picrorhiza kurroa 139
Plumbago zeylanica 145
Premna integrifolia 151
Pterocarpus marsupium 155
Pterocarpus santalinus 159
Rheum emodi 163
Rubia cordifolia 167
Saraca asoca 171
Solanum indicum 175
Strychnos nux-vomica 179
Strychnos potatorum 183
Swertia chirata 189
Terminalia arjuna 193
Terminalia chebula 197
Tinospora cordifolia 201
Tylophora indica 205
Uraria picta 211
Valeriana jatamansi 215
Vigna trilobata 221
Viola serpens 227
Zanthoxylum armatum 231
Glossary
Glossary of botanical terms 235
Glossary of medical terms 238
iivv
Foreword
W
e in India have a rich heritage of plant-based health care sys-
tems like Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha, which have a very
high degree of societal acceptance as they provide quality
health care to a large segment of our population. Forests, however, con-
tinue to be the main source of the raw material used for the manufacture
of medicines of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. The unsustainable collec-
tion from the wild not only puts the species at the risk of extinction but
also affects the quality of the medicines manufactured due to absence of
standardization in the quality parameters of the raw material.
A recent study by the NMPB (National Medicinal Plants Board) has
highlighted the fact that although about 6000 plants are used in the folk
and documented systems of medicine in India, less than 50 species of me-
dicinal plants are cultivated to any sizeable extent. The main factor be-
hind the slow pace of domestication of medicinal plants sourced from the
wild is the absence of knowledge on cultivation practices for such medici-
nal plants.
The NMPB has the primary mandate of supporting programmes relat-
ing to conservation and development of medicinal plants. While conser-
vation of medicinal plant resources in situ is the major component of the
schemes of the Board, promoting cultivation of medicinal plants is also of
equal, if not greater, importance, considering the potential that medicinal
plants offer for crop diversification and income generation, if supported
with proper extension and marketing linkages. Cultivation can also en-
sure production of raw material of standardized content and quality,
thereby enhancing the quality of the products manufactured.
v
FOREWORD
The agro-techniques developed by the NMPB through the various
university and R&D institutes will go a long way in disseminating scien-
tific information to the growers who are keen to take up cultivation of
medicinal plants but have not been able to do so due to the absence of
authentic scientific information.
I am confident that the book will fill this critical void in the pro-
gramme for promoting cultivation of medicinal plants.
Anita Das
vvii
Acknowledgements
C
ultivation of medicinal plants offers opportunities for crop diver-
sification and income generation to the farmers. However, devel-
opment of sound agro-techniques for the plants that have
traditionally been collected from forests has been a major challenge in
promoting cultivation. It is in this background that a need was felt to
develop agro-techniques for some of the important medicinal plants by
involving the key R&D institutions and universities in the country.
Accordingly, the Department of AYUSH decided to support studies for
development of agro-techniques under the ‘Central scheme for develop-
ment of agro-techniques and cultivation of medicinal plants’, specifically
for those plants that are used in AYUSH systems of medicine.
Projects were, therefore, allocated to 33 specialized scientific organiza-
tions consisting of agriculture/horticulture universities and the R&D
institutions of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), ICAR
(Indian Council of Agricultural Research), and ICFRE (Indian Council of
Forestry Research and Education), which required infrastructure and exper-
tise to study about 115 plants. Under the scheme, the organizations were
required to undertake the experimental cultivation of allocated plants
specifically for the development of agro-techniques through projects that
were normally executed for three to four years. The performance and
progress of the projects were monitored by the PEC (Project Evaluation
Committee) set up by the Department. Of the 115 plants, 50 medicinal
plants and their agro-techniques have been short-listed for publication in
the first volume on the basis of reports received. It is proposed to finalize
further reports for publication under subsequent volumes.
vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Development of agro-techniques for different medicinal plants is an
endeavour of the NMPB (National Medicinal Plants Board) towards
promoting cultivation of medicinal plants, through standardized agro-
techniques so as to make available to the industry raw material of quality
and standardized chemical ingredients.
The present publication is the first step in the series for finalization of
the agro-techniques that have been developed by the various R&D insti-
tutions and universities. This would not have been possible without the
efforts put in by the PIs (principal investigators) and project staff in the
respective organizations that were assigned the projects for development
of agro-techniques. The contribution of all the PIs, Co-PIs, and the or-
ganizations is deeply acknowledged. The agro-techniques included in the
publication are based on the reports furnished by the project organiza-
tions. All other information relating to basic features of a particular me-
dicinal plant is based on the published literature and formularies/
pharmacopoeias. The agro-technique developed by an institution located
in a particular geographical area is the outcome of its best efforts. The
findings given are only indicative and may not meet the exact agronomic
requirement of a particular crop in another agro-climatic region, as no
agro-technique can suit all the diverse climatic regions. Therefore, anyone
seeking to enter into cultivation as a commercial activity will be well ad-
vised to revalidate the agro-techniques from an R&D institution/univer-
sity located in the region where cultivation is sought to be done. The
NMPB has set up 23 facilitation centres for medicinal plants in different
states, which may also be approached to confirm the applicability of the
agro-techniques for a particular region.
The project work was evaluated and guided by the PEC consisting of
Dr Rajendra Gupta (Retired Agricultural Scientist of NBPGR [National
Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources]), Dr Mayaram Uniyal (Dravyaguna
and Ayurveda expert), Dr S Natesh (Adviser, Department of Biotechnol-
ogy), and Dr Sudeep Kumar (Principal Scientist, CSIR). Efforts of the
members of the PEC, especially those of Dr Rajendra Gupta who chaired
most of the meetings of the Committee, are gratefully acknowledged.
On behalf of the NMPB, Department of AYUSH, I feel it is my duty
to place on record my sincere thanks and appreciation for all institutions/
organizations that have worked for the development of agro-techniques.
Editing of the text and preparation of final document for publication in a
uniform pattern was a herculean task. Dr K K Bhutani, Dean, Depart-
ment of Natural Products and Shri A S Sandhu, Garden Superintendent
viii