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Techniques in commercial cultivation, scientific harvesting and preservation of
medicinal plants
Dr. Indira Balachandran
Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal Kerala
Trees as pure crop• Ceasalpinia sappan L. - Chappangam, Pathimukam
• Myristica fragrans Houtt. - Jati
• Emblica officinalis Gaertn. - Nelli
• Gmelina arborea Roxb. - Kumizhu
Shrubs as pure crop
• Plumbago indica L. - Chettikkoduveli
• Adhatoda beddomei Cl. - Chittatalotakam
• Holostemma ada-kodien Schult. - Atapatiyan
• Trichosanthes cucumerina L. - Patolam
• Acorus calamus L. - Vayambu
• Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennel - Brahmi
CULTIVATION
Shrubs as intercrops
Adhatoda beddomei (Vasa – Chittatalotakam)
Parts used – Whole plant
• In Coconut plantations and for the first four years in Rubber estates
• 5 tender stem cuttings on each mound at an espacement of 2 ft
• On hill slopes directly in the soil
• Harvesting within 2 – 2½ years
• Total expenditure – Rs. 25,000 – 30,000 / acre
• Yield from intercrop – 6000 Kg – whole plant from 1 acre
• Yield from pure crop – 8000 Kg
• Price per Kg. – Rs. 15
• Net Profit – Rs. 65,000 / acre (in intercropping)
Rs. 95,000 / acre (from pure crop)
Shrubs as intercrops
Nilgirianthus ciliatus (Sahachara – Karimkurinji)
Parts used: Root and a part of stem
• Propagation by tender stem cuttings – In Rubber and Coconut plantations
• Harvesting time – within 2 –3 years
• Total expenses – Rs. 22,000 – 25,000 / acre
• Yield per acre – 8,000 – 10,000 Kg (root and stem)
• Price per Kg. – Rs. 6.50 (Fresh); Rs. 21 (Semi-processed)
(Reduction in weight after drying 50%)
• Net Profit – Rs. 30,000 – 40,000 / acre
Shrubs as intercrops
Baliospermum solanifolium (Danti – Nagadanti)
Part used - Roots
• Propagation – Stem cuttings with 3 – 4 nodes
• 4 cuttings on each mound having one foot diameter and 20 cm height.
More economical than planting rooted seedlings in pits
• Harvesting – within 2 –3 years
• Yield – 6000 Kg from 1 acre
• Total expenses – Rs. 30,000 / acre
• Price - Rs. 18/Kg - Semi-processed (cut into 2" long pieces) fresh roots
• Net profit – Rs. 78,000 / acre
The leaves and tender aerial portion can be used as green manure to coconut trees
Shrubs as intercrops
Plumbago indica (Chitraka – Chettikkoduveli)
Part used – Roots
• Propagation by tender stem cuttings having 3 nodes
• Planted on raised manured beds without much interspace
• Alluvial soil with drainage capacity is more suitable
• Harvesting – within 1½ - 2 years
• Yield – 2 – 2½ tons
• Total expenses – Rs. 40,000 – 50,000 / acre
• Price per Kg – Rs. 55
• Net profit – Rs. 70,000 – 87,500 / acre
Additional profit can be made by the sale of seedlings of the above four items from 2nd year onwards
Shrubs as intercrops
Clitoria ternatea (Aparajita – Sankhupushpam)
Parts used – Whole plant and roots
• Propagation through seeds
• Seedlings planted on raised beds at a distance of 20 cm
• Bright sunlight is required
• Harvesting – within 6 months
• Total expenses – Rs. 10,000 – 15,000 / acre
• Yield / acre – 2,000 – 2,500 Kg
• Price – Rs. 20 / Kg (Whole plant)
• Net Profit – Rs. 30,000 – 35,000 / acre
Shrubs as intercrops
Coleus zeylanicus (Valakam – Iruveli)
Parts used – root and stem
• Tender stem cuttings are planted on beds at 15–20 cm distance
• Harvesting – Within 6 – 9 months
• Expenses – Rs. 15,000 / acre
• Yield – 1000 Kg (dried and semi processed root and stem)
• Price – Rs. 65 – 70 / Kg
• Net Profit – Rs. 50,000 / acre
Shrubs as intercrops
Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi)
Part used : Whole plant
• Can be cultivated in paddy fields and marshy places using stem cuttings
• Expenses – Rs. 50,000 / acre
• Yield – 10,000 – 12,000 Kg
• Price – Rs. 10 / Kg
• Net Profit – 50,000 – 70,000 / acre
3 harvests possible in a year
Shrubs as intercrops
Pseudarthria viscida (Saliparni – Orila)
Desmodium gangeticum (Prisniparni – Moovila)
Part used - Roots
• As a cover crop in Rubber plantations for first 4 years
• Planting – Simple broadcasting of seeds in ploughed field
• Harvesting – Within 6 months
• Expense – Rs. 50,000 / acre
• Net Profit – Rs. 30,000 / acre
Special methods of cultivation
Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br.
Sans. : Anantamulah, Sariba
Mal.: Nannari, Naruneendi
• Propagation through seeds
Usual Practice
• Planting of 4 leaved seedlings on raised beds at an espacement of 1 inch.
• Harvesting – Too expensive; wastage is high
Wastage during harvesting of H. indicus roots
No. plants in one bundle
Wt. of roots obtained (Kg)
Wastage during harvest (gm)
20 4.800 80
20 5.000 40
20 4.400 60
20 3.200 50
Special method – Cultivation in Bamboo
Hemidesmus indicus
• 2 m long, thick, vertically split bamboo stems
• Remove nodal partitions except at basal node & make holes on lowest nodal partition
• Rejoin the two bamboo halves using nylon rope
• Fill the bamboo stem with potting mixture
• 2 or 3 rooted seedlings are planted on the top and the bamboo stems are kept erect in the soil
• Harvest the entire roots after two years by separating the bamboo halves
• No damage and wastage
• Yield – 300 g / bamboo bit
Special method – Cultivation in long polybagsHolostemma ada-kodien Schult.
Sans. Jeevanthi; Mal. Atapathiyan
• Useful parts – Tuberous roots
• Propagation – Seeds and roots
Usual practice
• Cultivated either on soil beds or on mounds
• Harvesting – Too expensive; wastage high
Wastage during harvesting of H. ada-kodienNo. of plants inone mound
Fresh wt. of roots obtained (gm)
Wastage during harvesting (gm)
5 875 15.0
5 600 10.0
5 950 15.1
5 540 13.8
Special method - Holostemma ada-kodien
• Half of the polybags are filled with potting mixture
• Keep them in 15 cm deep pits at a distance of 1ft
• 2 rooted seedlings are planted in each polybag
• Bamboo splits as support to the polybag and to the plant
• Organic manuring twice at 6 months interval
• Harvest after two years
• Roots are extracted by tearing the polybags
• No damage and wastage
Harvesing, Semi-processing & storage Problems in existing practices
HarvestingUnscientific harvesting of roots
Roots from shrubs
Eg.: Sida rhombifolia ssp. retusa (Bala – Kurunthotti)
Pseudarthria viscida (Saliparni – Moovila)
Desmodium gangeticum (Prisniparni – Orila)
• Collection before seed setting and seed dispersal
• Wastage due to simple plucking
No. Sida plants in a bundle
Fresh weight (Kg)
Wastage
(gm)
100 2.70 0.9
100 2.95 2.1
Wastage in harvesting
Sustainable method
• Use iron crowbar for loosening the soil
• Collection after fruiting season
• Keep small area untouched for natural regeneration
Unscientific harvesting of tuberous roots
Eg.: Asparagus racemosus Willd.
• The whole bunch of roots is dug out
• Large and medium sized roots are taken leaving the small ones as waste
No. of roots from 2 yr old plant
Fresh wt. (Kg) Wastage (Kg)
82 3.450 1.8
72 3.000 1.5
Collect only large and stout tuberous roots
Allow further growth of the plant Sustainable method
Wastage in harvesting
Unscientific harvesting of roots from trees
Eg.: Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.
Oroxylum indicum (L.) Benth. ex Kurz
• No. of preparations in which used – 77
• The whole tree is cut down to take the roots!!!
Wastage during hervesting
Sustainable method• Collect only the mature side roots - tap root undisturbed
Harvest of leaves 3 times / year, Harvest of fruits once a year
Plant species Age of the tree (Yrs)
Total raw drug obtained (Kg)
Wastage (Kg)
A. marmelos 14 90.0 20.0
A. marmelos 14 125.0 10.0
O. indicum 14 60.0 9.5
O. indicum 14 61.0 9.0
Unscientific extraction of bark
Eg.: Holarrhena pubescens (Buch.-Ham.) Don• By cutting down the entire tree and chopping the main stem and branches
• Removing the entire bark from the existing tree
Wastage during harvesting
Sustainable method
• Remove only 1/3 of the mature bark
• Remove only the outer and the middle bark leaving the inner bark for regeneration
Advantage - Extraction 4 times a year
without killing the tree
Age of the tree (Yrs) Quantity of bark obtained (Kg) Wastage (Kg)
13 16.0 5.050
15 12.5 5.200
17 28.0 6.250
18 33.0 8.000
Unscientific collection of fruits
Eg.: Emblica officinalis Gaertn
Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) Roxb.
• By cutting down the fruit bearing branches
Sustainable method
• Collect the fruits alone by hand or with hooks (Precaution against mechanical damage)
Unscientific extraction of black dammer
Canarium strictum Roxb.
• Make incision on the stem& set fire underneath the tree
• Collect the exuded resin using chopper after a monthAvoid fire setting underneath the tree
Collection at improper time
•Nature and quantity of chemical constituent
– high seasonal variation
• Best time of collection
– Highest content of active principles in plant parts
– Maximum quantity on drying
Eg.: Acacia catechu (Heart wood) – November–January
Acorus calamus (Rhizome) – May–July
Terminalia arjuna (Bark) – February–April
Semi-processing• Small pieces get wasted while slicing (Roots& heart wood) and
wastage will increase when slicing is done after drying (Tuberous roots)
• Fungal attack due to improper drying methods (Fruits, bark, whole plant etc.)
Suggestion
• Keep the semi-processing yard clean
• Dry the raw material up to desired moisture content
Eg.Gooseberry fruits: dry till fruits attain 65% loss in weight
Holarrhena bark - dry till bark attain 67% loss in weight
Oroxylum root chips - dry till attain 54% loss in weight
• Slice the raw material just after harvesting and washing
Problems in storage• Fungal attack due to insufficient drying
• Rodent attack and contamination by excreta
• Attack of insects
• Decaying due to storage in unhygienic condition
Suggestions: Proper drying, packing and storage in hygienic, well–ventilated go-downs
Plant species Driage (%)
Aegle marmelos 37
Emblica officinalis 65
Holostemma ada-kodien 67
Holarrhena pubescens 67
The required % of driage in various plant species
Other remedial measures: Fumigation, treatment using chemicals and radioactive rays ?
Further research & documentation is required