The green doctor
Organised
cultivation and strategised marketing are the answer to conserving
our rich medicinal plant resource base, say Satyabrata Maiti and KA
Geetha
Over
the last two decades, there has been a tremendous growing interest
in all traditional systems of medicines mainly because of inadequacy
in the treatment of some of the deadly and painful diseases by modern
medicine. About 80 per cent of the population worldwide depends upon
these traditional systems for primary health care. As a result, sales
figures of herbal medicines in the global and national markets are
swelling rapidly. According to a recent report from Secretariats of
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), global sales of herbal medicines
stood at $60 billion in 2002. Also, a new line of products called
‘functional food’, containing medicinal plants as ingredients,
is being developed.
The functional food market is projected to reach $57 billion in 2004.
Medicinal plants as a group comprise approximately 7,500 species and
account for about 50 per cent of all the higher flowing plant species
of India. The Indian system of medicines, including Ayurveda, Siddha
and Unani, predominantly use medicinal plants for their preparations
and formulations. The vast degree of biodiversity present in India
is due to a highly divergent ecosystem and topographical variation.
Asa result, 70 per cent of India’s medicinal plants are found
in tropical areas, and 30 per cent in the temperate and alpine areas
of higher altitudes.
DIFFERENT FORMS OF MEDICINAL
PLANTS RESOURCE BASE
Medicinal plants
are a living resource, exhaustible if overused and sustainable if
used with care. At present, 95 per cent of the collection of medicinal
plants is from wild regions. Current practices of harvesting are unsustainable,
and many studies have highlighted the depletion of our resource base.
Medicinal plants-based industries are usually managed on traditional
ethos and practices, and lack a proactive and socially responsible
image.
This encourages the inefficient, informal and opportunistic marketing
of medicinal plants. As a result, the raw-material supply situation
is shaky, unsustainable and exploitative. The market for this sector
is also largely unregulated. Trade in medicinal plants, mainly from
the wild, is continuing to grow dramatically in the absence of serious
attention from policy makers.
The other main source of medicinal plants is from organised cultivation.
Cultivated medicinal plants are more appropriate for the production
of drugs. Indeed, standardisation, whether for pure products, extracts
or crude drugs, is critical, especially since quality requirements
are becoming more stringent. Given the higher cost of cultivated material,
the same is often farmed under contract.
Usually, companies cultivate only those plant species, that they would
use in large quantity or in the production of derivatives and isolates,
for which standardisation is essential, and quality is critical.
IMPORTANT VARIETIES ISABGOL (PLANTAGO OVATA)
The seed coat of Isabgol (psyllium husk) is used as a laxative, and
also against irritation in the gastrointestinal tract. India is the
sole exporter of Isabgol husk and seed in the international market.
During 2002-03, India’s export was about 25,583 tonnes of psyllium
husk, worth Rs 2,40,228 lakh, and 404 tonnes of seed, worth Rs 216
lakh. The crop is cultivated in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
ASWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA)
It is popularly known
as Indian ginseng. Its dried root is used for the preparation of tonics.
The crop is cultivated in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
About 868 tonnes of the plant were exported during 2001-02.
ALOE (ALOE BARBADENSIS)
It is a dry-land crop and
requires a low input. It contains a gel that is used as a skin tonic
and in different herbal cosmetics preparations. Recently the crop
has attained high demand in the international market which is expected
to increase still further.
SENNA (CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA)
Senna is an export-oriented
medicinal plant cultivated in India. Its dried leaves, pods and flowers,
and its herbal concentrates are exported. It is sold as herbal tea
in European markets.
SAFED MUSLI (CHLOROPHYTUM BORIVILIANUM)
Safed musli is used for
the preparation of vital tonics. The dried-root powder is medicinally
important. The crop has a vast potential in the global market because
of its aphrodisiac property.
SATAVARI (ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS)
Satavari too is known for its use in vital tonics.
About 29 tonnes of the root, worth Rs 6 lakh, were exported and sold
in the international market during the year 2001-02.
GREEN CHIRATA (ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA)
The plant is commonly known
as ‘king of bitters’. It is used for therapeutic purposes.
The plant is also used for its hepatoprotective, immunomodulant, anti-malarial
and antipyretic actions.
SARPAGANDHA (RAUVOLFIA SERPENTINA)
The alkaloid present in
the root is known for its action against hypertension. About six tonnes
of roots, worth Rs 1.8 lakh, and 0.3 tonne of alkaloids,
contd...
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