Medicinal plants Sector – Current status

The ‘Herbal Industry’ including AYUSH manufacturing industries, Nutrition and supplementation industry, Personal care industry are using a wide range of plant parts derived from trees, shrubs, climbers and herbs and even grasses. Herbal Extraction and Phytopharmaceutical industries also use medicinal plants.

Demand:

 The demand for these plant parts are also growing year after year owing to the increased number of Medical practitioners of Ayurveda  Siddha and Unani systems of medicine, opening of ISM wings in Govt. Primary Health Centres under National Rural Health Mission, opening of centers in ESI hospitals and not to talk of private ayurvedic hospitals and spas. The Social Media has also popularized Indian herbs and their benefits across the globe and these products are sought after.

Large scale use of Indian Medicine promoted by Govt. of Tamilnadu has become a trend in epidemics like Dengue, Swine flu, Malaria has further accelerated demand for medicinal plants. Demand for Siddha medicines like; Nilavembu Kudineer’ – the sudden increase to the tune of 400 crores in one year and National brands like Patanjali has further enhanced demands for herbal material. The spiraling cost of the Ayurvedic ,Siddha drugs is also due to this non-availability and demand

      Quality parameters

The industries need to comply by the quality standards for herbal material prescribed by the Pharmacopeias of Siddha and Ayurveda . The key quality parameters for herbs are

·         Moisture – 5- 6%

·         Foreign material – Even the plant part other than required -1-2%

·         Microbial limits – Nil for pathogen, yeast and mould Not More Than 1000 Colonies per unit

·         Heavy metals- Lead, arsenic, mercury – NMT 10PPM

·         Ash content – 2-6%

·         Assay for Phyto constituents

Most of the above can be tested in a small laboratory created as common facility, close to a growing area, particularly in a cluster approach. Adopting Good agricultural practice or Good collection practices if collected from wild will ensure quality.

 

Source of crude drugs

a) Wild collection

Till a decade ago materials were collected from wild, not just forest but from barren lands, agricultural land margins, lake and pond bunds and Road side. Currently owing to the factor that declaration of more forest areas as wild life areas and no harvest zone, wild collection is getting increasingly limited. Moreover since there is a shrinkage on availability and the need to travel to far flung places to collect the same amount of medicinal plants which where colled earlier,The forest dependent communities collect less from the wild as younger generation is not interested as it is not very remunerative. Collectors do not have facility to clean, grade and store the material properly so they immediately sell to traders at whatever price they offer.Contamination happens with pathogens due to human, cattle excreta, heavy metal contamination is caused in the wild near industrial area, from soil and drying in the roads without proper drying facility

The agents among the collectors source it and send it to traders (some handle selected items only region wise), while traders in cities who have contact with traders and exporters buy from all regions and also get from traders in other states.

.

 b) Cultivation

Only few species are cultivated that too for exports and Phytopharmaceutical extraction companies. They include herbs like Gloriosa superb, Coleus forskholli, Passiflora incarnate, Cassia aungustifolia etc., Exporters mostly depend on cultivation for large quantity material and rely less on wild collection. The increasing demand is not completely met by cultivation as of now. Very often Industry organizations like Ayurvedic Drug Maunfacturers Association, Ayurvedic Manufacturers Association in Kerala (The largest producing state of Ayurveda Products next only to Gujarat) raise the issue of non-availability of herbs. However agrotechnology and agroeconomics have been already worked out for close to 50 herbs among the 170 which are frequently used by the industries.

c) Procurement from outside

The manufacturers from the AYUSH and Phytopharma industry get the crude drugs from other states – Dehradun in Uttarkhand, Amristar in Punjab Chattisgargh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh. In most cases the Forest department corporations or Tribal development department run organizations help tribals to collect and market their produce/ wild collection

Many ingredients including dry ginger, Guggul , Licorice are imported from other countries.

Ports in Gulf region, Indonesia, Singapore are the hubs for import.

Phyto-sanitary certification is done by Plant quarantine and storage dept. of Ministry of agriculture

.

Things to be done

a)      Planning for consistent supply of quality raw material to industry is based on proper assessment of demand supply from the traders, manufacturers and exporters. A Survey needs to done ( Not a passive survey seeking information sitting in one place) A systemic planning and spreading the list of species to be grown will help not only the Industries but the growers too.

Once tree growing is promoted for the land margins and if each farmer in a cluster grows the same five species, consolidation and procurement will be easier. In areas where silvyculture is taken up, intercropping of medicinal plants, climbers in particular will provide remuneration to growers in medium and short term till returns come from the trees. Since most of the crude plant drugs are bulk and transport cost being high, it is better to cultivate plants which can be sold in the local region or at best in the three southern states.

The choice of plants should be based on the ones used by a wide range of industries and not confined to the needs of one or two industries. That is where contract farming has failed. But for plants which are exported either raw or after processing by extraction industry, large scale cultivation has been successful – Coleus, Gloriosa and Senna if only grown by the limited contracted farmers.

Most the plants that are listed as in high demand and frequently used by multiple manufacturers or exporters can be grown in different agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu. A judicious mixture of them if cultivated in limited area, marketing would not be a problem. But since most industries in this sector in Tamil Nadu are PSU or cooperatives or Trust they go by tender and lowest quotation and require at least few plants to be grouped and supplied. So consolidation by a way of a growers society or producer company (A New company type now supported by Govt. and NABARD for farmers) will help them actively participate in tender and market the produce in a profitable way.

b) Rural Godowns and Processing centre

The medicinal plants are available only in particular season but the demand from the manufacturers is year around. As most collectors do not have place to clean, process and grade medicinal plants without any contamination and also to store them safely till the next season and supply them to the industry as per the request there is a need for establishing rural godowns cum processing center in identified areas near the forest somewhere medicinal plants are being collected. National medicinal plant board or NABARD can be approached for establishing this kind of rural godowns designed to store graded bale packed herbal material under hygienic condition.

A small testing laboratory could be established in these godowns which are tested as per the pharmacopias and supply to industry which will add great value to the collectors or gatherers of medicinal plants. A revolving fund can be provided to the members of the village forest committee  so that they can collect, gather, store and supply during the needy times.

c) Need for nursery and seed bank

Many farmers in Tamil Nadu are looking for alternate crops which are less labour  intensive, require less water and chemical fertilizers and pesticides. But unfortunately   the planting material or seeds  that they require are not easily available in places nearer to them. Therefore establishing of nurseries for medicinal plants which are required in a specific region can be done in the central nurseries of the or the extension centers and  the research blocks of the forest dept.

Training

Forest extension centers can provide training in nursery development propagation, medicinal plant agronomy, post harvest processing and quality standards and testing of the crude drugs.

To conclude the Tamil Nadu forest dept with its rich resources and knowledge base in the medicinal plant sector can definitely play a lead role in enhancing quality medicinal plant raw material at the appropriate price to the manufacturing industries and reduce the health burden of the state

SCHOOL HERBAL GARDEN

SCHOOL HERBAL GARDEN

Plants play a major role not only in the life of a human being but also every living being and are the gift of the nature to protect, sustain life in this world. Some provide us edible material, food- grains, pulses, fruits, vegetables, Some provide beautiful flowers which we offer in our prayer and also decorate a place to have a very aesthetic look, some provide us materials for making cloths, some provide wood for making our home and furniture, some provide fuel- bio-fuel. Plants provide oxygen for us to breathe. Tress provides shade for us to rest, helps cloud formation and rain, and prevents global warming. Some plants are used as medicines. Some plants are natural fertilizers, cattle feeds and some are natural insect repellents and pesticides. In simple terms life is fully dependant on the nature’s gift called plants. Though plants grow in the same soil, imagine the range of species that are available and also the natural variation within the same species. It is essential for everyone to be associated with creating and preserving a herbal garden, be it at school or home or industrial area, community park, hedge of plants and where ever possible.

 “Herbs are defined as plants (trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, biennials or annuals) valued historically, presently, or potentially for their flavor, fragrance, medicinal qualities, insecticidal qualities, economic or industrial use, or in the case of dyes, for the coloring material they provide”                                                                                                                 - Holly Shimizu

Purpose

• Demonstrative purpose - The purpose of the Herbal Garden is to demonstrate about the plants that have been the source of medicines in the past and present and also the future.
• Awareness creation - Creating awareness on the importance and traditional uses of medicinal plants for better health of school going children, parents and teachers.
• Conservation- Herbal garden paves the way preserving the medicinal plants, especially the rare, endangered and threatened (RET) species of medicinal plants.
• Herbal Garden in schools’ provide them an opportunity to work closely with herbal plants and inculcate a sense of familiarity from childhood with surrounding biodiversity
• To create medicinal plant resource in schools so that it can be replicated in the nearby areas, homes, hostel and also become available to the needy persons.
• Utilization - Increasing the availability of the medicinal plants utilized in Traditional Medicines and as simple home remedies

Creating a herbal Garden

The size and type of herbal garden need not be very big. It depends on the space available, water potential, protection from cattle, stray animals etc. An herbal garden may be informal with a mixture of herbs, flowers and vegetables, or it may be formal with paths and herb beds laid out in simple or complex patterns. The Paths or walkway can be made of a number of materials, such as brick, stone, gravel, red earth , river sand or grass, but in each case they should be wide enough at least 5 ft width.. For schools with limited space, herbs grown in a variety of containers make an attractive display on a balcony or near walkway .The sides of the walk way can have bushes- shrubs like Henna, Hibiscus which are both medicinal and ornamental.

Choose an area for growing herbs on which the sun shines four to six hours per day. Some plants perform well under shade of trees like coconut etc, but Tamarind tree does not allow plants to grow However, if you have a shady yard there are a number of herbs that will do well for you. A clear demarcation of the garden plots with stakes and string is essential and students should be involved in every activity including this activity. Once the outside perimeter in place, with the help of a predesigned garden map create garden designs with rectangular beds and plots, and straight pathways.  If enough space is there circular beds, star-shaped plots can also be created. Create walkways around it and mulch the garden paths. Wood chips from tree pruning work well. The site must be well drained. If water remains on top of the soil, drainage is poor and herb growth will be affected. If a badly drained site is the only one available, tiling may be done  or, , raised beds may be constructed. Raised beds can be built with extra soil kept in place by raised bed edgings of brick or stone. A mounded bed does not require an edging at all; however, this look is more appropriate in an informal plan. Adding a great deal of organic matter to the top two feet of soil can also improve drainage in heavy clay soils.

Garden Tools and materials

 Basically a tap with water, hose pipes based on the length and breadth of the site, rose cans, sikatures, garden scissors, hand hoes, small crowbars , spade, spading fork, rake, trowel, hand weeder, pruning shears, sharp knife are required.  The enjoyment of working in a herbal garden depends in part upon using the right tools. The quantity of each sort of gardening tool will depend on the budget and the scale of the program. Select only those that are needy, strong and durable enough for long years of service. Take good care of them and keep them in a convenient area ready for use.. The minimum needed is a good pair of pruning shears, a sturdy trowel, watering can or hose and a spade. It is better to buy less and get the best quality you can afford.

Who will mind them?

 Students, who are members of the eco club, green club and students of biological sciences from class Sixth to 9^th will carry out the garden creation and maintain them under the supervision of the biology teacher and Eco club coordinator. A each batch of students will be responsible for particular herbal plots. During school vacation, school gardener or guard will water the plants. Teachers and students from immediate neighborhood can also volunteer during holidays.

Where to get plants/ seeds/ saplings

Most of the plants of common use are generally available just around the School and roadsides, pond sides. Most of them multiply through stem cuttings or plantlets or seeds. So the propagation material can easily be collected. Seeds and Saplings could be collected from nearby forest nurseries, forest extension centres, horticultural dept farms, corporation parks and from private nurseries. Children could also be encouraged to collect plants from homes, roadsides, tank, river bunds etc,

 Choice of Plants for School garden

The choice of plants for school herbal garden should be drought resistant, shrubs, small herbs, climbers. They should not have thorns as it may hurt children passing by. They should be safe, non-toxic and should be useful for common conditions that affect children. The nursery activity should commence in June as soon as school reopens after summer holidays and planting by end july. Following plants will be good to start with

1.      Indigofera tinctoria – Avuri or Neeli

2.      Hibiscus rosa sinensis -  Chemparathai

3.      Cissus quadrangularis – Pirandai

4.      Aloe vera – Sottru Katrazhai  

5.      Bacopa monnieri  - Neer Brahmi  

6.      Plectranthus ambonicus- Omavalli

7.      Andrographis paniculata    - Nilavembu

8.      Tinospora cordifolia – Seendilkodi

9.      Lawsonia inermis – Maarudhani, Henna               

10.  Adhatoda vasica  - Aadathodai  

11.  Ocimum tenuiflorum – Thulasi 

12.  Centella asiatica  - Vallarai

13.  Vitex negundo – Nochi

14.  Gymnema sylvestre   - Sirukurinjan

15.  Piper longum- Thippili

16.  Lemon Grass – Cymbopogon citratus

17.  Vetivera zizonoides- Vetiver

18.  Alpinia calcarata- Chitharathai

19.  Curcuma longa – Manjal