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Home >  Agriculture Technology>> Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

  Medicinal Plants
           
Neem Neem tree
        NEEM
  

   Ashwagandha
     Ashwagandha
  

  medicinal plant Aloe
       Ghritkumari (Aloe)

  
   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 













 
      

 

  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.
 
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.

    Common  Medicinal plants in India
  
Common Indian Name  Botanical Name English Name Contents/Alkaloids
Amla  Emblica officinalis  Amla Tannin, Vitamin-C
Arjuna Terminalia arjuna Arjuna Arjunetin, Lactones
Ashwagandha Withania somnifera Winter cherry Withanin, Somniferine
Babchi Psoralea corylifolia Psoralea fruit Psoralen & Isopsoalen
Baheda Terminalia belerica belleric myroblan Tannin, Saponin
Brahmi Bacopa monnieri bacopa, Indian pennywort Bacosaponin
Chopchini Similax china Sarsaparilla, China root Flavonaid,Glycosides, Gallic acid.
Ghritkumari Aloe vera  Aloe Aloin
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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