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Introduction
Medicinal Plants based Industry
Incentives for cultivation of medicinal plants
Cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants
Pollution reduces the quality of herbal drugs
Common Medicinal plants in India
Medicinal plants slowly going extinct
New Research
Indian herbal market is rising sharply
New developments
Introduction
Tradition of medicinal plants use in India is about 4000 years old. In the Ayurveda, about
1400 plants are documented in various texts. In Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtang Hridaya we can find more than 600
plants. Rig Veda (4500 to about 1600 BC) is perhaps the oldest document where medicinal plants have been described. Atharva Veda,
also describes medicinal uses of large number of plants. Another treatise Dravya Guna Shastra provides information about medicinal
plants from pharmacological point of view. Similarly, Unani and other systems of medicine practiced in India are largely dependent
on medicinal plants. The wider acceptance of herbal based formulations is the growing recognition that natural products are
non-narcotic and almost without side effects.
The Indian systems of treatment lay adequate stress on
balanced diet and on inclusion of specific items in food to provide immunity against diseases. Also, number of plants products
with medicinal properties form constituents of food. Even spices are being found to have medicinal properties. For example, capsicum,
garlic, turmeric, onion, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, curry leaf etc. have been found to protect against various health problems as
well provide cure from certain diseases. Tamarind is used in curries, chutneys,sauces etc. as spice. Its unripe fruit is
used for seasoning of food. Its pulp is rich in iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, carbohydrates,
fiber, invert sugar etc.
Vitamin C is present in substantial quantity in green fruits. Amla has been used as such or
for ‘chutney’, pickle, ‘murabba’ etc. ‘Charaka Samhita’ records it as the most potent rejuvenating agent. Modern studies
have proved that amla is extremely rich in vitamin C and Pectin, containing more than 150 times vitamin C compared to apple. Amla is
an effective anti-ageing agent. It replaces worn out tissues with new ones. Contribution made by the Indian systems of medicines and
folk traditions have been acknowledged by the WHO (World Health Organization) as well.
As per estimates India has about 15000 species of plants with medicinal properties. Presently about 8000 of these are in use as
follows: Ayurveda -1769 species, Siddha - 1121 species , Unani - 751 species Amchi or Tibetan 279, Folk - 4671 species
Medicinal Plants based Industry
Medicinal plants based industry in the country has an annual turn over of about Rs.42,000/- million per year and it is estimated
to grow at the rate of about 20 per cent per year. There are hundreds of manufacturers and exporters in the country who are
benefiting and large number of people is getting direct and indirect employment in these activities. About 800 to 900 medicinal
plants are in all India trade, about 700 are obtained from the forests and many of these are harvested in large quantities. Common
examples are neem, sena, amla, asoka, harra, gulancha, khas, ashwagandha, sarpgandha etc. Due to excessive and unscientific
harvesting, large numbers of medicinal plant species are under threat.
There are approximately 1250 Indian medicinal plants which are used in formulating therapeutic preparations used in traditional
systems of medicine. Recent surveys have shown that the percentage of natural products in the modern drug armamentarium is fairly high
and is estimated to be varying from 35 per cent to 50 per cent. Almost every class of drug includes a model structure derived from
nature, exhibiting the classical effect of that specific
harmacological category.
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Medicinal herbs can be used in many ways: dried and
decocted as tea, infused in alcohol as a tincture, steeped in vinegar or honey. Herbs can also be steeped in oil and rubbed into the body for
healing. When medicinal herbs are steeped in oil their healing qualities are infused into the oil. They are absorbed into the body through the skin.
Oils created with St. John's Wort, Calendula and Plantain can be used to soothe muscles, heal the skin and take away itchiness.
Incentives for cultivation of medicinal plants
Existing Initiatives to Conserve Medicinal Plants Export of 29 types of plants, plant portions and their
derivatives and extracts from plants obtained from the wild except in formulations has been banned. A National Medicinal Plants Board
has been constituted. The Central Board has selected 28 plant species for development and promotion in first phase. Incentives are
also available for cultivation of medicinal plants to ease pressure on the wild resource.
Another initiative is to declare forest areas rich in medicinal plants as Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas (MPCAs),
which are legally protected. Plants cannot be removed from there for
trade. Fifty-five such MPCAs exist now. Four National Gene Banks have also been set up for collection
and conservation of important medicinal and aromatic plants of the country. These banks maintain the plants as live materials, seeds,
and genetic material and also under cryogenic conditions.
An ayurveda industry cluster and common facility centre will
be built at Kolawadi near Pune at a cost of Rs 16 crore, with the work expected to commence in 2011. The city-based Maharashtra
Ayurveda Centre Private Limited (MACPL) is building the cluster, which will have world-class raw material standardisation and
processing centres, quality control laboratories, research centres, manufacturing centres for entrepreneurship and skill
Sunita Belgamwar, chairman, MACPL, said, “The cluster will come up at Kolawadi near Pune on the Pune- Bangalore highway.
Belgamwar said the Union government has sanctioned two ayurveda clusters for the state and the other one will come up in the Konkan
area. She said the Centre will also provide subsidy for cultivation of medicinal plants, which farmers will supply as raw material. In
fact, the Centre recently gave subsidy to farmers from Vidarbha for cultivating medicinal plants.
Cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants
With aroma therapy and spas becoming an upcoming trend, cultivation of aromatic and medicinal
plants has also gained in importance. The Fragrance and Flavour Development
Centre (FFDC)-- a ministry of MSME body-- in Fazalganj is supplying various aromatic and medicinal herbs to commercial sectors in the city.
Instituted in the year 1998 as an extension unit of FFDC Kannauj, the
Kanpur centre of FFDC aims at providing technical consultancy and carries out extension work of aromatic and medicinal plants .
FFDC is home to plant and herbal sources to some key medicinal compounds: Cyprus rotundas (sarpgandha-- used for anti-cancer drug), lamiacea
(pathar chur-- used for stone), withania somnifera (ashwagandha-- used for blood pressure and weight loss), rauvolfia serpentina (serpgandha --
in treatment of cardiac problem).. The centre also has plants used as flavours in food items and fragrances
used in soaps, shampoos and incense stick.
Pollution reduces the quality of herbal drugs
Dr Venkitaraman, the general secretary of the Indian Herbal Conference said pollution is one factor that reduces the quality of
herbal drugs at present. The plants have to be grown in an unpolluted environment. If it is planted on the roadside, it is
likely to absorb heavy metals like lead. Even if it is cultivated in a modern agricultural scientific way, it will have heavy metal and
pesticide pollution, he said while speaking to Pharmabiz.
Plants that have the potential for treating migraines,
fever, and even cancer could wind up disappearing in the near future, with countries such as China, India, Kenya, Nepal, Tanzania,
and Uganda reporting shortages. Some of the plants at risk include:
1. Himalayan yew, an anti-cancer drug
2. Yew tree, the cancer drug paclitaxel comes from the tree’s bark
3. The African cherry, extract treats prostate problems
4. Magnolia, which fights cancer, dementia and heart disease
5. Hoodia, which suppresses appetite, and could be the next “miracle” weight loss drug
6. Autumn crocus, which was once used as poison, but is now used for gout and
leukemia
The solution, says the report’s author, Alan Hamilton, is to provide communities with incentives to protect these plants. Ten
projects in India, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Uganda and Kenya showed this approach can succeed.
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Common Medicinal plants in India
| Common Indian Name
|
Botanical
Name
|
English Name
|
Contents/Alkaloids
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| Amala |
Emblica officinalis |
Amla |
Tannin,
Vitamin-C |
| Arjuna
|
Terminalia arjuna |
Arjuna |
Arjunetin, Lactones |
| Ashwagandha
|
Withania somnifera |
Winter cherry |
Withanin, Somniferine |
| Aloe
|
Aloe Vera |
Aloe |
Aloins, Aloitic acid, Barbadoes aloes |
|
Anar |
Punica granatum |
Pomegranate |
ellagic acid,
ellagitannins , punicic acid |
|
Brahmi
|
Bacopa monnieri |
bacopa, Indian pennywort |
Bacosaponin |
|
Dhania |
Coriander |
Coriander |
oxalic
acid , calcium |
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| Geloy |
Tinaspora cordifolia |
|
Cordifol,Tinosporidine |
| Harad |
Terminalia chebula |
Chebulic myroblan |
Anthraquinones, Tannins, Chebulic acid |
| Kucchila |
Strychnos nuxvomica |
Nux vomica |
Strachnine and Brucine
|
| Lasun |
Allium sativum |
Garlic |
Alayal Sulphate |
| Neem |
Azadirachta indica |
Margosa |
Azadirachtin
|
| Pappli |
Piper longum |
Lindipipper |
Piperine |
| Safed Musali |
Chlorophytum borivilianum |
|
Carbohydrates, Protein, Saponins |
| Sarpagandha |
Rauvolfia serpentina |
Serpiria |
Reserpine |
| Seetaphal |
Annona squamosa |
Custard apple |
Annonine
|
| Sunth (Adrak) |
Zingiber officinale |
Ginger |
Gingerols |
| Talispatra |
Taxus baccata |
Himalayan yew |
Taxol |
| Tulsi |
Ocimum sanctum |
Basil |
Eugenol, Luteolin Apigenin |
| Vach |
Acorus calamus |
Sweet flag |
Sesquiterpenes,
Asarone, Acorin, Saponin
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| Shatavari |
Asparagus racemosus |
Asparagus racemosus |
Steroidal saponins, isoflavones, asparagamine and polysaccharides |
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Medicinal plants slowly going extinct
Medicinal plant resources in the country are threatened by over exploitation to meet
the demand of herbal industries. As per the information received from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, about 95% of medicinal
plants used by the herbal industries are harvested from the wild primarily from forests.
The total annual demand of botanical raw drugs in the country for the year 2005-06 has been estimated as 3,19,500 MT with
corresponding trade value of Rs. 1,069 crores as per the collaborative study conducted by the Department of AYUSH with the
assistance of the Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT). In addition to above, rapid threat assessment
exercises for the wild medicinal plants species occurring in different states have also been taken up.
These assessments have involved conducting Conservation Assessment and Management Prioritization using International Union
for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List Categories. These exercises have involved undertaking
assessments for a total of 359 prioritized wild medicinal plant species.
Some of the rare medicinal plants reported to be threatened have been relocated during the last decade including Utleria
salicifolia and Hydnocarpus pentandra in Western Ghats, Gymnocladus assamicus and Begonia tessaricarpa from Arunachal Pradesh and
Agapetes smithiana in Sikkim by the Botanical Survey of India.
National Medicinal Plants Board which was constituted on 24th November, 2000 has been implementing a Central Sector scheme for
development and cultivation of medicinal plants since the year 2000-01. This scheme was revised and renamed as “Central Sector
Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” during 2008-09. Projects for setting up of 29
Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas (MPCAs) have also been implemented in the states covering mainly the medicinal plants viz.
Asoka, Guggal and Dashmool varieties. The scheme is being implemented with an outlay of Rs. 321.30 crores during the 11th Plan.
In addition to above, a new “Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Mission on Medicinal Plants” with a total outlay of Rs.
630 crores is being implemented since 2008-09 by the National Medicinal Plants Board. A total number of 24 states viz. Andhra
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana,
Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa,
Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal have been covered so far under the scheme. Since the
implementation of the Mission started only in the year 2008-09, it is too early to make any impact assessment.
This information was given by Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question
raised in Rajya Sabha on March 09, 2010
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Amala
Terminalia Arjuna tree
Ashwagandha
Aloe
Anar (Pomegranate)
Brahmi
Coriander (Dhania)
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New Research
According to National Institute of Industrial Research (NIIR). Nearly, 500 plants were screened for antitubercular activity, among
which 40 plants have been formulated in the systems of Ayurveda and Siddha. Besides, nearly 55 plants having folklore claims are
attributed efficacy for the treatment of tuberculosis.
Research work has been conducted on the leaf extract of
Pithecellobium dulce to prove the efficacy of the plant against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the near future, this plant's
extracts would help conquer tuberculosis and save lives.
To cure swine flu: In the increasing spread of
diseases such as swine flu, dengue and chikungunya, greater part of the people are leaning towards natural cure thereby opting for
medicinal plants that boost their immunity system and thus brace themselves to fight the diseases. One of the most sought after
medicinal plants is Amrutaballi or Tinospora Cordifolia also known as Gudichi, Madhuparni, Amruta or Kundalini especially after yoga
guru Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Sri ravishankar of Art of Living exhorted its use to cure swine flu.
Herbal remedy for leprosy: Thankuni (Thol-kuri) is a very popular small herbaceous plant belonging to the
Umbelliferae, and comprising about 70 species which are found in wet
places in temperate and tropical regions, more especially of the Southern hemisphere. The plant is considered a useful alterative and
tonic in diseases of the skin, nerves, and blood. The people are in the habit of taking the powdered dried leaves with milk for
improving their memory, and as an alterative tonic. The leaves are said to be useful in syphilitic skin diseases both externally and
internally; and on the Malabar Coast, the plant is one of the remedies for leprosy.
New anti-malarials: The increasing number of multidrug-resistant Plasmodium strains warrants
exploration of new anti-malarials. Medicinal plant research has become more important, particularly after the development of Chinese
anti-malarial drug artemisnin from Artemisia annua.The present study shows evaluation of anti-malarial effects of two
plants commonly used against malaria in the Garhwal region of north-west Himalaya, in order to discover the herbal-based medicine.
Red clover (Trifolium pratense): Red clover flowers can be made into a tea to cleanse the blood, soothe
the nerves and promote sleep. They are also used for coughs and bronchitis as they have expectorant and anti-spasmodic properties. The
tea, drunk over several weeks, can also help to clear skin conditions
HIV/AIDS treatment: Medicinal plants such as tulsi, ashwgandha and shilajit, which have so
far been used as home remedies for cough and cold, may hold the key to the treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS. The Department of Virology
in Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing in Parel, conducted in-vitro tests (tests done outside living systems) on the herbal
extracts of the three plants against Reverse Transcriptase, an enzyme that is found in the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and causes it
to multiply. The tests showed that these herbs have the potential to act effectively against the enzyme.
Indian herbal market is rising sharply
The Indian herbal market is rising sharply and is expected to hit Rs 14,500-crore mark with exports reaching Rs 9,000 crore by the
year 2012. The herbal market has an annual compounded growth rate of 20 and 25 per cent, respectively. India is followed by China as the
largest producer of medicinal plants having more than 40 per cent global diversity, Ayushkati Ayurved's promoter Pankaj Naram said.
Worldwide, the ayurvedic industry is put at $3 billion and is slowly gaining acceptance as an alternative system of medicine and health
care, Naram said. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has projected that the global herbal market will grow to $5 trillion by 2050.
New developments
World`s largest medicinal botanic garden in China
A medicinal botanical garden in China, largest of its kind in the world
A medicinal botanical garden in southwest China has been confirmed by Guinness World Records as the largest of its kind in the
world, a garden official said on December 8, 2011. Located in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and spread over an area of
202 hectares (over 2 square kilometres), the garden has been confirmed to be containing the most varieties of medicinal plants and the largest
cultivated area of medicinal plants in the world, Xinhua reported.
The garden, till date, has saved over 6,000 kinds of living medicinal
plants (including more than 100 endangered varieties and over 30 new varieties), more than 3,200 kinds of medicinal plant seeds and 100,000 medicinal plant images.
Built in 1959 by Guangxi`s health department, its objective is to cultivate, collect and save medicinal plants besides conducting research.
The garden is expected to be built into an advanced international medicinal plants conservation base and a centre for traditional Chinese
medicine culture and science. Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is one of China`s most undeveloped
provinces. But it is known for its large variety of herbal medicines and the ethnic minority cultures of Zhuang and Yao. A botanical garden is a well-tended area
displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names. It may contain special plant collections.(Source: IANS) |
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Cancer Tree or Tree of Life
The “Cancer Tree,” a member of the tupelo family, is known by several
additional non-scientific names: the Happy Tree and the Tree of Life. Those names are honestly earned. This is the tree that gave us the anticancer
compound camptothecin, a substance found in the tree’s bark.
The resulting drugs, topotecan and irinotecan hydrochloride are useful
in treating breast cancers, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, malignant melanoma, small cell lung cancer, thyroid cancers, lymphomas and
leukemias. The compounds, which have antiviral as well as anti-tumor properties, are also used for the treatment of AIDS.
The Cancer tree is native to China, growing up to 75 feet tall in warmer climates. |
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Texas
A&M Biologists Helping to Harness Medicinal Benefits of Plants
Scientists at Texas A&M University, together with colleagues at seven other institutions around the country and the world,
have developed new resources poised to unlock yet another door in the
hidden garden of medicinal compounds found in plants. Some well-known medicines have come from plants. For instance, the
foxglove plant gives us the cardiac muscle stimulant digoxin, and the
periwinkle plant offers a source for the widely used chemotherapy drugs
vincristine and vinblastine.
Work in the McKnight laboratory at Texas A&M focused on
"Camptotheca acuminata", a Chinese tree that produces camptothecin, the basis of
several new anti-cancer drugs. This initiative is funded through a $6 million grant from the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how plants produce pharmaceutically useful chemicals. Among the major outcomes from this
project are extensive databases detailing the genes and metabolic chemicals found in 14 medically important but difficult-to-study plants.
International Herbal Mela in Bhopal
Madhya Pradesh Minor Forest Produce Co-operative Federation will organise a four-day-long 'International Herbal
Mela' here between December 16 and 20. Federation Chairman and MLA Vishwas Sarang
said that the Federation is organising such fairs since 2001. "Since
this year the State's Forest Department is completing 150 years of its
foundation and 2011 was declared as the International Forest Year by the
UN, effort has been made to give the event an international flavour," he
said. On this occasion, an International Conference on 'Non-Wood Forest
Produce for Sustained Livelihood' will be organised, in which, national
and international experts will participate, he added. Besides India,
experts from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Argentina, UK, Germany and China have confirmed their participation in the conference.
He also informed that in the state, forests are spread in an area of
95,000 square kilometer. The herbs and plants of medicinal importance are found in abundance in these forests and the Federation by
organising such fairs, provided a platform for showcasing them to those
engaged in the business of herbal products.
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