Techniques in commercial cultivation, scientific harvesting and preservation of medicinal plants

Dr. Indira Balachandran

Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal Kerala

CULTIVATION
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

 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 2 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 1 - 2 years Yield 2 2 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 1520 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 20
20

Wt. of roots obtained (Kg) 4.800

5.000

Wastage during harvest (gm) 80

40

20
20

4.400
3.200

60
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

Propagation of Hemidesmusstages

Splitting of Bamboo

Removal of nodal portion

Making holes in the last nodal portion

Tying split bamboos with nylon rope

Filling Bamboo with potting mixture

Painting last internode and making hole in the ground for fixing bamboo

Overall view

Placing seedling on top of bamboo

Harvesting

Special method Cultivation in long polybags

Holostemma 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-kodien
No. of plants in one mound 5 5 5 5 Fresh wt. of roots obtained (gm) 875 600 950 540 Wastage during harvesting (gm) 15.0 10.0 15.1 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

Propagation in polythene bags using bamboo splits as support

Propagation in polythene bags Overall view

Harvesting of root from polybag

Harvesing, Semi-processing & storage Problems in existing practices Harvesting

Unscientific 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 Wastage in harvesting
Fresh weight (Kg)
2.70 2.95
Sustainable method

No. Sida plants in a bundle

100 100

Wastage (gm)
0.9 2.1

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
Wastage in harvesting No. of roots from 2 yr old plant 82 Fresh wt. (Kg) 3.450 Wastage (Kg) 1.8

72

3.000

1.5

Collect only large and stout tuberous roots Allow further growth of the plant Sustainable method

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
Plant species A. marmelos A. marmelos O. indicum O. indicum Age of the tree (Yrs) 14 14 14 14 Total raw drug obtained (Kg) 90.0 125.0 60.0 61.0 Wastage (Kg) 20.0 10.0 9.5 9.0

Sustainable method Collect only the mature side roots - tap root undisturbed

Harvest of leaves 3 times / year, Harvest of fruits once a year

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

Age of the tree (Yrs) 13 15 Quantity of bark obtained (Kg) 16.0 12.5 Wastage (Kg) 5.050 5.200

17
18
Sustainable method Remove only 1/3 of the mature bark

28.0
33.0

6.250
8.000

Remove only the outer and the middle bark leaving the inner bark for regeneration Advantage - Extraction 4 times a year without killing the tree

Extraction of bark from Holarrhena pubescens

Unscientific method Sustainable method

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 month

Avoid 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) NovemberJanuary

Acorus calamus (Rhizome) MayJuly Terminalia arjuna (Bark) FebruaryApril

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 The required % of driage in various plant species
Plant species Aegle marmelos Emblica officinalis Holostemma ada-kodien Holarrhena pubescens Driage (%) 37 65 67 67

Suggestions: Proper drying, packing and storage in hygienic, wellventilated go-downs Other remedial measures: Fumigation, treatment using chemicals and radioactive rays ? Further research & documentation is required