Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops PDF

Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic crops A.A.Farooqi B.S. Sreeramu  PREFACE During the recent years, there has been a lot of interest in plant based drugs, pharmaceuticals, perfumery products, cosmetics and aroma comp...

Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic crops A.A.Farooqi B.S. Sreeramu  PREFACE During the recent years, there has been a lot of interest in plant based drugs, pharmaceuticals, perfumery products, cosmetics and aroma compounds used in food flavours and fragrances and natural colours in the world. There is a definite trend to adopt plant based products even in the western societies due to the cumulative derogatory effects seen by the use of antibiotics and synthetics and except for a few cultivated crops, the availability of plant based materials is mainly from the natural sources like forests and waste lands. But, due to ever increasing utilization of land for food crops, devastation of forests and concurrent indiscriminate exploitation of these crops, their availability from the natural sources has declined. On the other hand, the demand for internal use and for export has been increasing, necessitating the production of these crops in a large scale. There is a need to introduce these crops into the cropping systems of the country which besides meeting their demand to the industriy will also help to maintain the standards on quality, potency and chemical composition. Since these crops are new and uncommon with the growers and they often lack knowledge in their scientific cultivation, there is little hesitation even among the interested growers to take up their cultivation. An attempt therefore has been made in this Book to provide all possible pooled information inlcuding the research findings that have generated through research by the Division of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, National Botanical Research Institute, Regional Research Laboratories, ICAR and others. The information available in various books, bulletins, write ups and journals on this subject has been freely used. The authors have no pretensions for expertise in this vast field, nor do they claim an exhaustive treatment of the subject in this book. It is hoped that this Book would be highly useful to the students, teachers, extension workers and growers of medicinal and aromatic crops. As it is their first attempt in this direction, there may be many short comings. They would welcome any criticism and suggestions from the research workers and the enlightened farmers in this regard, so that in the future editions, such mistakes could be avoided.  The authors wish to record their sincere thanks to the authorities of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore for providing an opportunity to write this book and publish it. The authors also take opportunity to thank the various past and present post-graduate students in the field of medicinal and aromatic crops who have been instrumental in providing research information and also in collecting the information from various sources. The secretarial help recorded by Mrs.N.Radha, in preparing the manuscript of this book is thankfully acknowledged............................. A.A.FAROOQI BANGALORE B.S.SREERAMU  Preface to second edition The present book ‘Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic crops’ published during November 2001 has received a positive response and because of this the three reprints of the book have already been exhausted. During the period, we have received several editorials and feedback regarding the usefulness of the book from among the people of different walks of life and it has given us a lot of satisfaction and courage. Due to this, when the publishers informed us for another reprint, we thought it would be better to come out with the revised edition of the book including some of the new crops that have become popular since the book was published. In the present publication, we have tried to eliminate the typographical errors, provide latest statistics and added 19 new crops which are in demand presently. We hope that the revised version of publication will be more useful to the students, teachers, researchers, developmental agencies and the industries involved in cultivation and processing of these economically important group of crops and receive the same kind of patronage. The authors take the opportunity to thank M/S Universities Press, Private Limited, Himayatnagar, Hyderabad-500029 for the readily accepting our suggestion for bringing out the revised version. The help rendered by Dr. A.P. Mallikarjuna Gowda, Research Assoicate in the preparation of scripts of the new chapters and the secretarial help rendered by Mrs. Radha and Kum. P. Bhagyashree are gratefully acknowledged. Bangalore A.A. Farooqi January 2004 B.S. Sreeramu  CONTENTS Sl.No. Particulars Page No. 1. History, Importance, Present Status and Future Prospects of Medicinal Crops 2. Aloe 3. Amla 4. Ashwagandha 5. Babchi 6. Belladonna 7. Bhringaraj 8. Bhuamalaki 9. Brahmi 10. Buckwheat 11. Cinchona 12. Coleus 13. Costus 14. Cowhedge 15. Datura 16. Digitalis 17. Dioscorea 18. Duboisia 19. Glory Lily 20. Guggal 21. Henbane 22. Holy Thistle 23. Honey Plant 24. Ipecac 25. Isabgol 26. Kalmegh 27. Kokum 28. Liquorice 29. Long Pepper 30. Madhunashini 31. Makoi 32. Mandukaparni 33. Neem 34. Opium Poppy 35. Periwinkle 36. Podophyllum 37. Primrose 38. Rauvolfia 39. Roselle 40. Rutin-bearing Eucalyptus 41. Safed musli 42. Satavari 43. Senna 44. Steroid-bearing Solanum 45. Sweet Flag 46. Sweet Worm Wood 47. Tinospora 48. Tylophora 49. Valerian 50. Wild Indigo 51. History, importance, present status and future prospects of aromatic crops 52. Ambrette 53. Anise 54. Bursera 55. Celery 56. Chamomile  57. Citronella 58. Clocimum 59. Davana 60. Dill 61. Fennel 62. French Basil 63. Geranium 64. Jasmine 65. Kewda 66. Khus 67. Lavender 68. Lemon Grass 69. Lemon Scented Gum 70. Mint 71. Palmarosa 72. Patchouli 73. Rose 74. Rosemary 75. Sacred Basil 76. Sage 77. Sandalwood 78. Sweet Marjoram 79. Thyme 80. Tuberose 81. Vanilla 82. Wild Marigold OTHER CROPS 83. Annatto 84. Camphor Basil 85. Henna 86. Pyrethrum 87. Saffron 88. Stevia Medicinal crops  HISTORY, IMPORTANCE, PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF MEDICINAL CROPS Plant have been one of the important source of medicines since the beginning of human civilization. Inspite of tremendous developments in the field of allopathy during the 20th century, plant still continue as one of the major source of drugs in modern as well as traditional medicine throughout the world. Approximately one third of all pharmaceuticals are of plant origin. It fungi and bacteria are also included, over 60 per cent of all pharmaceuticals are plant based. Chemically, depending on their active principles, plants may have alkaloids, glycosides steroids or other group of compounds which may have marked pharmaceutical actions as anticancerous, antimalarial, anthelimintic or antidysentric etc. Many of the essential oils, dyes, latices and even tanins and vegetable oils are also widely used as medicines. The many substances that go to make up the medicines are frequently products of living cells, although seemingly `waste' or intermediate metabolic compounds and not the integral part of the protoplasm and may have no obvious utility to the plants. Out of nearly 3,00,000 species of higher plants available, only a small proportion has been investigated for medicinal properties, and a still smaller number yield well defined drugs. Similar is the case with lower plants and with plants of the sea. Thus, the knowledge of plant constituents gained so far is still meagre, considering the huge number of species available in the world. Approximately, only 10 per cent of the organic constituents of plants of plants are reported to be known and the remaining 90 per cent are yet to be explored. A very small proportion of Indian medicinal plants are lower plants like lichens, ferns, algae etc. The majority of medicinal plants are higher plants. The major families in which medicinal plants occur are Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Apiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Malvaceae and Solanaceae. Drugs are derived from trees shrubs and herbs and even from primitive kinds of plants which are not even these. They are made from fruits (Senna, S.viarum, Datura etc.) flowers (Butea monos-perma, Bauhinia verigata) leaves (Senna, Datura, Periwinkle, Tylophora etc.) stems (Liquorice, Ginger, Dioscorea, Costus, Garlic) roots (Rauvolfia, Periwinkle, Ginseng etc.), seeds (Isabgol, Abrus, Nuxvomica) and even bark (cinchona). HISTORY Plants have been associated with the health of mankind from time immemorial. In the past, sickness was viewed as a punishment from gods and hence was being trated with prayers and rituals that included what may have been considered `Magic potions' prepared from the local herbs. Archeological discoveries of 60,000 year old Neanderthal burial ground in Iraq point to the use of several plants like marsh mallow, yarrow and groundsel that still figure in folk medicine. Mexican Indians are reported to have used peyote cactus for its hallucinogenic and also possibly for its wound healing properties since thousands of years. This plant is now known to have antibiotic properties. The Summarians of Tigris and Eupharates (Presently Iraq) around 4000 B.C. from their cruciform writing on clay tablets reported to have used opium, liquorice, thyme, mustard and the chemical element sulphur as medicine. The Babylonions who apparently followed the Summarians in this field added senna, coriander, saffron, cinnamon and garlic among the other herbs in their formulations. Contribution of Egyptians Out of the next great civilization of Egypt came Imhotep, a skilled physician who later became the Egyptian god of healing. Ancient Egypt also gave the world one of its first medical texts, the Ebers papyrus named after the German Egyptologist George Ebers. The payprus is believed to have been written in the 16th century B.C. It contains some 800 recipes and referes to over 700 drugs including aloe, worm wood, peppermint, henbane, myrrh, hemp dogbane, castor oil and mandragora. With such ingrediants they prepared wines and infusions, as well as pills, salves and poultices. The Ebers papyrus mentions a recipe that suggests that the Egyptians had a treatment for diabetes. It also advised putting mud or mouldy bread over sores to keep them from becoming infected. Not until a millennia later, it was discovered that mud and mould often contain certain micro-organisms like filamentous bacteria and filamentous fungi that produce a class of antibiotic wonder drug. Contribution of Chinese Ancient Egypt was not alone in demonstrating the healing powers of plants. Chinese pharmacopoeia the Pen-T `Sao Keng Mu' is the oldest record of herbal medicine that we know of and is reported to have been written by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung (3737-2697 B.C). This work describes the use of chaulmoogra oil from trees of Hydrocarpus genus to treat leprosy. Among the many plants listed by them include opium poppy as well as rhubarb and aconite. This ancient record also includes the use of a desert shrub called `Ephendra' or Mahuang to improve circulation; reduce fevers, help urinary functions, suppress coughing and relieve lungs of bronchial disorders. Its active ingredient was nearly lost to modern medical science untill its rediscovery earlier in this century. We now know it as Ephedrine, the key ingredient in modern pharmaceuticals used to relieve breathing difficulties and other symptoms of asthma, hay fever and common cold. Contribution of Greeks Ancient Greece produced a God of healing named Aesculapius. His sign was a snake curled around a staff-the caduceus still symbol of medicine today. The medicine was practiced by priests called. `Aesculapiods' and the treatment used to be a religious ritual full of incantation and mystery, carried out over several days of fasting and bathing. During 400 B.C. a Greek named Hippocrates moved the healing profession away from the releam of mysticlam and religion. He asserted that medicine was science and art. In his teachings he placed great emphasis on diet, life style exercise, sunshines and water. His famous oath suggests strong humanaterial concerns among the number of Greek physicians of the era. For his contribution he is called the `Father of Modern Medicine'. His writings name some 300- 400 healing plants.  After Hippocrates came Aristotle, whose far-ranging scientific work induced an effort to catalogue the properties of various medicinal herbs. Aristotles pupil Theophrastus (300 BC), a botanist whose treatise Inquiry Into Plants influenced both botany and medicine for centuries is called `Father For Pharmacognosy. He described the characters of herbs like cassia, mentha, belladonna, squill and several others. He was also able to change the characters of some of these plants through cultivation. In the first century A.D. Greece produced the forerunner under of all modern pharmacopoeias and the authortative text on botanical medicine for over a thousand years, De Meteria Media. In this book Dioscoroides (64-120 AD), discussed in detail about identification, collection, adulteration and therapeutic uses of several thousand plants. Pliny's Natural History, published in the first century, A.D. was the compilation of thousand of Greek and Roman treatises. Much of what Pliny wrote down eventually passed into the floklore of Europe and the New World. The Natural History stated that plants exist to meet man's needs and all plants not clearly useful for man's food, clothing and shelter may possess medicinal properties. Out of the same period came yet another great figure of medicine, Galen, a Greek physician who practiced in Rome during the second century A.D. Galen's primary fame is associated with the fauna, not the flora, of his time and place. He revolutionized medicine by performing animal experiment, out of which he developed the first medical theories based on scientific investigations. Although many of the Galen's theories proved wrong because he assumed animal studies would directly apply to human beings, his place as the founder of `Experimental Medicine' is unchallenged. He is credited with the divergent throries of Allopathic (cure a disease by its opposite) and Homeopathic (like cure like) medicine both of which have grown out of Galen's doctrines. Contribution of Chruch From about AD 500 to 1500 in Europe, a period that controlled almost all medicinal knowledge. The herbalism continued largely undisturbed, although with religious orientation. It was during this period that many plants acquired names liked to Jesus, the virgin Mary, Saints and Martyrs. In the later part of the medieval period the chruch actively encouraged two major advances in medicine. One was the hospital, a system of caring for the sick with out charge and the second great contribution to medicine was the establishment of the first `University Medical Schools'. Contribution of Arabs Arabs translated the original works of Greeks into their language and made refinements based on their own periences. They added plants such as comphor, saffron and spinach to the classical pharmacopoeia. Rhazes (Ar Razi), a physician born in Persia in the late ninety century, wrote a famous treaties correctly describing the small pox and measles for the first time. And about a hundred year later Avicenna (Ibne sina), the prince of Physician's was born. His `Canon of Medicine' contains many references to the teachings of Galen and Aristotle. The canon was used as a text book in medical schools through out Europe well into the 17th Century and still studied in the east. In it Avicenna described meningitis, tetanus and many other disorders. Indian contribution Aryans of Indus Vally wrote the three treatises viz. Rigveda (2000 B.C), Atharveda (2000-1000 BC) and Ayurveda (100-600 BC) which mention several medicinal plants and their uses including hallucinogenic mushroom Amantia muscaria and Rauvolfia serpentina used to treat snake bite, epilepsy, mental disorders and other illnesses. This plant is the source of reserpine, a trenquilizer and hypotensive agent widely used - in modern pharmacy. The `Charaka Samhita', an encyclopedia of Indian medicine published at varanasi between 1000 BC to 100 AD is a comprehensive record for medicinal plants and their uses. However, after A.D. 1200, there was a period of decline in the investigation of local medicinal plants due to invasion by Arab and others, and Arabic medicine which was also based mainly on plants attained more prominance. During this period many important medicinal plants like senna, isabgol, Roselle, chirayata, opium poppy etc., were introduced in to India by them.  From A.D. 1800 onwards, the European invasion resulted in the introduction of Western allopathic system in India and this also included the use of a number of medicinal plants of proved therapeutic value. Development of pharmacopoeia and chemical investigations As regards Pharmacopoeia which lists the use of medicinal plants, the first official record `Nuonova Receptro' was published from France in A.D. 1408. Later, Pharmacopoeias in other countries made their appearance after about 50 years. Chemical investigation on plants on scientific lines started from A.D. 1800 onwards and the important work in this regard were of F.W. Sertuner (1806) a German pharmacist who discovered morphine from opium from the plant Papavar somniferaum and the French chemists P.J.Pellatier and J.B.Caventou (1820) discovered quinine from Cinchona bark which was universaly recognised as a remedy for malaria. They are considered to have laid the foundation for the school of Plant Chemistry, which was resulted in the discovery of many active principles of plants useful in the alleviation of human diseases. IMPORTANCE Plants have been used by man since prehistoric days for relieving suffering and curing ailments. Primitive people when injured in battle or had a fall or cut, instinctively resorted to materials available at stopping the flow of blood of relieving of pain and by trial and error they learnt that certain plants were more effective for the purpose. Man has also gained such knowledge from observation of birds and animals which use plants for curing their ailments. Even to-day, we find that the domestic dog and cat, when suffer from indigestion or other ailments, run to the field, chew some grasses or herbs and get cured. The folk medicines of almost all the countries of the world abound in medicinal plants and the tribal people wherever they exist, rely chiefly on herbal medicine, even to-day. In the modern age, chemical and pharmaceutical investi-gations have added a great deal of status to the use of medicinal plants by revealing the presence of active principles and their actions on human and animal systems. Investigations in the field of Pharmacognosy and Pharmacology have supplied valuable information on medicinal plants regarding their availability, botanical characters, method of cultivation, collection, storage, commerce and therapeutic uses. All these have contributed towards their acceptance in modern medicine and their inclusion in pharmacopoeias of civilised nations. The indigenous system of medicine practiced in India is based mainly on the use of plants. Charaka Sanghita (1000 B.C. 100 A.D.) records the use of 2000 vegetable remedies. Ancient medicine was not solely based on empiricism and this will be evident from the fact that some medicinal plants, which were used in ancient days, have still their place in modern therapy. Thus for example, `Ephedra' a plant used in China 4000 years ago is still mentioned in modern pharmacopoeias as the source of an important drug ephedrine. The plant Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina) which was well known in India as a remedy for insanity has now shown that one of its constituents, reserpine, is a wonder drug to-day for curing mental ailments. Quinine another important antimalarial drug of present day was obtained from tree cinchona. The knowledge, about the use of medicinal plants has accured through centuries and such plants are still valued even to-day, although synthetics, antibiotics etc. have come into more prominance in modern medicine. It is however, a fact that these synthetics and antibiotics although, they often show miraculous instantaneous results, prove harmful in long run and that is why many synthetics and antibiotics have now gone out of use or have been specified to be prescribed strictly under medical supervision. In case of most medicinal plants, however no such cumulative derogatory effect have been recorded and that is why many of the medicines obtained from plants still maintain their reputation even to-day. It is also true that lately, by the rapid progress and spread of modern medicine the popularity of the herbal medicines has been gradually declining. but in a country where 80 per cent of our population resides in small and remote villages, and most of them economically backward complicated prescriptions which are normally expensive and difficult to procure cannot be a thing of masses over a prolonged period. Besides the above, following are some of the reasons which make the cultivation of medicinal plants more important. 1. Growing pressure of population/urbanization and development of roads to remote areas has resulted in deforestation and loss of natural plant resources. 2. In many cases as the important plant part used are roots or the entire plant, this results in plant collectors engaging in destructive collection/extractive methods resulting in many becoming extinct or being listed as threatened. 3. Despite the fact that our forests are a major resource base for medicinal plants as many of them appear in the wild the importance of this has not been totally recognised by the concerned Government departments so much so, many forest action plans do not clearly spell out any long- term strategy for conservation of bio-diversity and support to the communi-ties which are solely dependent on this for their livelihood. 4. Unauthorised collection of minor forest produce by persons who are led by the burgeoning demand for raw medicinal plant parts has lead to depriving the communities of their rights/opportunities. PRESENT STATUS: a) Status in India The age-old Indian system of medicine which was widely practiced since time immemorial, however, remained in a stagnant phase during the past eight to nine decades, mainly because of the rapid expansion of the allopathic system of medical treatment. This is despite the fact that our country has a long history of local health traditions which are backed by thousand of scriptures left behind by practitioners of this systems of medicine. One of the earliest treatises of our Indian medicine, the Charraka Samhita (1000 B.C) mentions the use of 2000 vegetable herbs for medicinal use. Over 7000 different species of plants found in different ecosystems are said to be used for medicinal purposes in our country. The traditional Indian system of medicine can be broadly classified into the empirical forms of folk medicines which are village based region-specific, indigenous-herb-based, local-resource based and, in many cases, community-specific. The other system called as Shastriya stream which includes Ayurveda. Siddha and Unani is said to be more complicated, elaborate with theoretical and research findings. It is also said to be documented in thousand of regional manuscripts. About 1,00,000 medical manuscripts are said to be available in oriental libraries and private collections in India and abroad, but only a few hundreds of these books are said to be available to students and teachers of Indian medicine. Presently the Indian system of medicine uses over 1100 medicinal plants and most of them are collected from the wild regularly of which over 5 dozen species are said to be in larger demand. The tribal belt of India is rich in these plants and local tribes mainly depend on their collection and trade. However, the supply of raw material for the industry is mainly through minor forest produce contractors/dealers. Who in fact determine the prices of the material depending on season, demand, availability etc. Moreover in many cases there are no standards fixed for the raw materials and physical appearance verification generally becomes impossible because of large quantities of material involved. Since these plants are collected from the wild in large quantities adulterants are said to be widely used. The collectors/tribals settled in forests who do the collection are generally paid only subsistence allowances (less than wage rate prescribed in many cases). Pricing the ultimate product for the user industry generally depends on the season, availability of material and demand raised (Export and Domestic Demand). Thus, availability of good quality raw material free from adulterants, inadequate quantity and suitable prices has been one of the chronic problems of the industry. The demand of these materials is said to be increasing year after year. However, no efforts appears to have been made either by the Government or by the Industry to assess the extent of area available under these crops (both in wild and cultivated form), present supply position and also demand by the existing pharmacies. There are around 10,000 licensed pharmacies practising Indian system of medicine as of today. Their region-wise position during 1989 is given in Table-1. TABLE-1 No. of licensed Pharmacies Region ---------------------------------------------- Ayurveda Unani Siddha Southern 1416 79 275 Northern 618 41 - Central 1381 123 - Western 1686 203 - Eastern 1072 77 - 6162 351 277 (Source: Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Bangalore)  In addition to the above, there are thousand of local Vaidyas, Herbal Healers, Monks, Bone Setters and Tribal doctors who possess knowledge and practice this system of medicine. Many of them are said to depend on retail outlets for supply of raw material. Thus, it may be seen that there is a tremendous demand for raw material from all the four segments of drug industry (i) Plant drugs for Indian systems of medicines covering Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha Systems, (ii) Over the counter non-prescription items involving plants, extracts and galeni-cals, (iii) Essential oils and (iv) Phytopharmaceuticals. Some of the medicinal plants growing in the wild are becoming extinct on account of destructive collection technique particularly when the whole plant is uprooted. Sources in industry mentions of large scale use of adulterants and other substitutes which infact bring down the potency and efficiency of the formulations. Even certain crops which are commonly found like gooseberry, neem, clove, nutmeg and dry ginger are also not available in adequate quantities to meet the requirement of the user- industry. The problem is compounded by the fact the existing land ceiling norms prohibit user- industry from owning large areas of land and cultivating medicinal crops for their own use. b) World Status: A vast majority of the world population aggregating around 600 crores today are finding themselves unable to afford the products of the western pharmaceutical industry, and they mainly have to depend upon the use of traditional medicines which are originally derived from the plants. This reality has been well recognised, documented and compiled by the W.H.O. in an inventory of medicinal plants numbering over 20,000 species. The world population is expected to touch 750 crores by the turn of the century, and this will further escalate the health budget especially of the developing countries. The developing countries spend roughly 40-50% of their total health budget on drugs and as a strategy to reduce the financial burden on developing countries, W.H.O. encourages, recommends and provides the inclusion of herbal medicines in natural health care programmes. Such herbal medicines are easily available at cheaper price for the common man, they are time-tested and considered safer than the modern synthetic drugs. Of late, there has been a resurgence of interest in herbal medicines in the Western European Countries. This is evident from the fact that 2 volumes of British Pharmacopoeia were published and 33 million US $ worth literature on herbal products was sold in USA in 1990. Japan is understood to have recently adopted a Health Policy based on phytopharmaceuticals to be implemented in the next 5 years. The market for herbal medicines in the developed countries is growing at a faster rate than other pharmaceutical products. Some of the reasons are: i) Realisation that allopathic drugs have harmful side effects. ii) Allopathic medicines are said to be ineffective against many chronic diseases like cancer. Moreover, many people suffering from diabetes, arthritis, respiratory diseases, skin ailments, gastric problems. Jaundice etc are said to be turning to Ayurveda and Unani for permanent cure. iii) Herbal medicines are comparatively less expensive. iv) Western medical profession has begun to acknowledge the value of herbal medicines. This also explains the fact that many purely allopathic units have also gone in for formulation with natural herbal drugs. It is estimated that in 1980, the sales of herbal medicines in European community accounted for US $ 2.25 billions (Rs.7000 crores). This is only 3% of the European pharma market estimated at US $ 66 billion (Rs. 2,11,000 crores). In the EC market for phyto-medicines, Germany has the largest share at US $ 1.5 billion (Rs.4800 crores) i.e. 2.2% of the total. The size of French market for herbal medicine is $ 0.21 billion (Rs.670 crores) which amounts to less than 1% of EC market. The U.K. market is $ 425 million (Rs.1300 crores). The share of Indian market is negligible, not with standing the fact that we have a varietal emporium of medicinal plants and exporters of over 200 major drugs and pharmaceutical. Table-1: The value of pharmaceutical produced in India is as under:- ----------------------------------------------------------------- YEAR VALUE (Rs.Crore) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1992-93 1375 1993-94 1848 1994-95 2220 Export of Medicinal Plants from India: India has been traditional exporter of medicinal plants from past several decades and ranks as one among the for most supplier of medicinal plants in the world. Annual export of vegetable drugs, from India has been on the increase and during the year 1995-96 it has gone up to 189.30 crores besides, the export of Rs.70.03 crores worth of alkaloids. The details of the export have been included in Table-2. Table 2: EXPORT OF MEDICINAL PLANTS COMMODITIES FROM INDIA, DURING 1995-96 Sl. Item Quantity Value No. (tonnes) (in lakhsRs) a) Vegetable drugs Belladonna 1. Leaves 3.162 0.993 Roots 1.000 0.268 2. Galangal rhizomes and roots including greater galanga 83.470 22.284 3. Ginseng powder/chips 36.500 15.000 Ginseng roots (others) 3072.110 1627.557 4. Ipecac dried rhizome and roots 3.866 4.347 5. Liquorice roots 0.957 0.702 6. Locust beans 7.200 48.551 7. Poppy flowers and unripe dried heads poppy 6.551 4.577 Poppy seeds 32.600 22.014 8. Psyllium husk (Isabgul husk) 1686.230 14768.289 Psyllium seed (Isabgul) 2258.230 672.720 9. Sarsaparilla 1.100 0.305 10. Senna leaves and pods 6279.771 1391.611 11. Serpentina roots 3.937 3.198 12. Tukmaria 216.220 48.826 13. Unnab (Indian Jujube or Chinese dates) 29.450 13.444 14. Vinca rosea (herbs) 191.924 64.990 15. Zedovary roots 30.000 3.740 16. Neem oil 151.729 217.481 Total 14096.007 18930.877 b) Alkaloids 1. Alkaloids of rye ergot and their salts and derivatives 1.240 4.127 2. Bromohexin and its derivaties (Vasakalkaloid) 8.118 92.487 3. Caffeine and its salts 7.050 23.237 4. Ephedrine alkaloids 0.505 8.332 Ephedrine hydrochloride 36.899 742.039 5. Ergot preparations 0.000 102.784 6. Formulations of other vegetable alkaloids 0.000 133.774 7. Morphine 1.043 64.724 8. Nicotine alkaloids 5.000 17.464 Nicotine sulphate 288.325 285.491 9. Other alkaloids of chinchona and their derivatives and salts 0.100 1.608 10. Other alkaloids of opium and their derivatives and salts 133.604 2365.641 11. Other salts of ephedrine 3.750 70.403 12. Other vegetable alkaloids and salts 16.020 382.213 13. Papavarine hydrochloride - 212.350 14. Prednisolone 11.151 81.881 15. Pseudoephedrine 43.215 890.140 16. Quinine and its salts chloroquine phosphate 4.785 27.341 17. Reserpine 0.000 940.755 18. Salts and derivatives of nicotine 9.650 23.980 19. Salts and other derivatives of nux-vomica alkaloids 7.512 93.042 20. Salts and other derivatives of quinine 28.704 298.453 21. Strychnine alkaloids 2.185 23.719 22. Atropine sulphate 2.306 117.554 Total 611.162 7003.539 ------------------------------------------ (Source: Monthly statistics of Foregin Trade of India, 1996) Among the items, Psyllium Husk and Seeds was the foremost foreign exchange earner leaving behind the opium to which once upon a time used to be our star item of export followed by senna leaves and pods and Ginseng roots. Export of Psyllium husk and seeds during 1995-96 was to the extent of 154.41 crores. Genseng roots (other) and senna leaves and pods have earned a foreign exchange of Rs.16.27 and 13.91 crores respectively. Among the alkaloids, opium and their derivatives and salts have been the other major items of export earing 23.66 crores. Reserpine, pseudoephidrine, ephidrine, other alkaloids and salts, salts of other derivatives of quinine, nicotine sulphates neem oil, formulations of other alkaloids, ergot alkaloids etc., atropine sulphate constitute the other items of export valuing Rs.46.3 crores during the year. However, as so many people have taken up the export directly, there seems to be much more trade going on than on records. The authors are aware about the large scale cultivation and export of crops like Glory lily, Coleus barbatus, Garcinia etc., in substantial quantities but they are not included in the list. Import of Medicinal Plants in India In order to meet the domestic requirement and also for export, India has been importing certain vegetable drugs. The import of medicinal plant commodities in India during 1995-96 has been included in Table-3. Table-3: Import or medicinal plant commodities in India (April 1995-March 1996) Sl. Item Quantity Value No. (tonnes) (in lakhs Rs.) a) Vegetable drugs 1. Agar Agar W/N modified 78.452 223.297 2. Agarwood 12.089 11.889 3. Ayurvedic and Unani herbs N.E.S. 1287.373 179.887 4. Belladonna extracts 0.400 5.355 5. Chirata 58.224 14.610 6. Galangal rhizomes and roots including greater galanga 55.300 6.344 7. Ginseng extracts 5.764 323.398 8. Ginseng powder/chips 1.150 19.913 9. Ginseng roots 210.626 38.702 10. Liquorice roots 581.150 49.030 11. Mint (others) 816.106 182.230 12. Mint including leaves (all spices) 0.750 0.893 13. Other ginseng roots 324.298 24.103 14. Pyrethrum 132.500 89.304 15. Saps and extracts of liquorice 50.827 39.974 16. Sarsaparilla 3.500 1.076 17. Sweet flag rhizome 2.500 3.266 18. Unab (Indian jujube or Chinese dates) 25.186 1.711 19. Vegetable saps and extracts 182.419 695.463 Total 3828.614 1910.445 b) Alkaloids 1. Alkaloids of rye ergot 0.500 20.153 2. Atropine sulphate 0.231 15.527 3. Caffeine and its salts 34.346 96.911 4. Codeine phosphate 5.082 114.130 5. Ephedrine and their salts 0.100 3.769 6. Other alkaloids of cinchona 25.980 80.303 7. Other alkaloids of opium and their salts 4.824 150.763 8. Other vegetable alkaloids, their derivatives salts 10.655 479.057 9. Papaverine, their salts and derivatives 0.180 3.433 10. Prednisone 0.359 57.590 11. Quinine alkaloids 1.892 35.680 12. Quinine hydrochloride 1.530 60.736 13. Quinine sulphate 0.500 17.374 14. Salts and other derivatives of quinine NES 36.015 191.013 15. Salts and other derivatives of ergot 0.468 88.623 16. Theophylline theobromine alkaloids 40.000 1013.260 17. Vasaka alkaloids (Bromohexin and its derivatives) 0.100 0.809 Total 162.762 2429.131 Grand total 3991.376 4339.576 ---------------------------------------- (Source: Monthly statistics of Foreign Trade of India, 1996)  The total import of there commodities during the year 1995-96 was little above to Rs. 43.39 crores. Among the major items imported were vegetable saps and extracts, Ginseng, Pyrethrum flowers, Liquorice roots, Agar Agar, Chiryata etc. Future Prospects and constraints: A comparative analysis of prospects and constraints of medicinal-plant-based drug industry in our country reveals the following. Prospects: 1. The world Heath Organization (WHO) has emphasized the need for utilization of the Indigenous system of medicine based on the locally available medicinal plants in the developing countries. In USA and U.K. plant based drugs are being used in recent years on a considerable scale. The former USSR countries, East European countries and China have adopted an Integrated System of Allopathic, Traditional and Folk system of medicine. During the last two decades, there has been a considerable transformation of medical systems in the world. Owing to the realization of toxicity associated with the use of antibiotics and synthetic drugs, the Western societies are increasingly realizing that drug from natural sources are after. Therefore, an upsurge in the use of products based on plants is expected, especially in the field of health care products, where rules and regulations governing them are nonstringent. 2. Medicinal plants and their derivatives would continue to play a major role in the medical therapy inspite of advances in chemical technology and appearance of cheap synthetic substitues because (i) In nature, a plant is able to synthesize complex molecules from simple ones through highly specific reaction mechanisms. The reactions involved are either difficult or expensive to duplicate by classical chemical method. For example Vitamin-A, Diosgenin, solasodine etc. and (ii) In case of certain compounds present as active principles plants, where steric forms are possible, chemical synthesis yeidls a mixture of the isomers which may be difficult to separate. The product obtained by synthesis may therefore be toxic or have different therapeutic effect than what is obtained in the nature. 3. Harvesting of medicinal plants is less costly than artificial drug synthesis. Reserpine is a good example for this. The synthesis of drug costs approximately $ 1.25 per gramme whereas commercial extraction from the plant cost $ 0.75 per gramme. 4. The vast agro-climatic conditions stretching from Alpine/Mild Temperate to Tropical regions with abundant rains and sun shine, makes it an ideal place for luxuriant growth of flora and fauna. India is bestowed with incredible natural plant resources with pharmaceutical value. Despite comprising 2% of the land mass, India is enriched with 25% of the bio-diversity. Over 7000 species of plants found in different eco-systems are said to be used for medicine in our country. Indian pharmacopoeia records about 100 medicinal plants and their preparations and most of them are available in India. Out of these, quite many are also recorded in the Pharmacopolids of other countries of the world and there is good demand for them in the international market. 5. There has been a tremendous upsurge in demand for phyto-pharmaceutical, raw medicinal herbs and vegetables drugs of Indian origin in western nations. There is also an increase in domestic demand for raw material used for perfumeries, pharmacies and biopesticidal units. The demand for traditional herbal drugs is also increasing at a fast pace mainly because of the harmful effects of synthetic chemical drugs; and also there is an expansion of pharmacies manufacturing natural drug formulations. 6. Our country is said to be a proud possessor of a medical heritage which encompasses various system of medicine viz. Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and also Tibetian system of medicine. It has an invaluable treasure of various scriptures on diverse medical systems. 7. India is a source of cheap labour, and skilled manpower which readily absorbs technological changes and also implements the same. 8. Being strategically located geographically, India could become a potential supplier of phyto- pharmaceuticals, alkaloids and raw medicinal herbs for the emerging world market. India at present is not self-sufficient in pharmaceutical products, and drugs worth millions of rupees have to be imported every year by the pharmaceutical industry to meet the public demand for drugs. In order to stop this import it is necessary that utmost attention is paid towards import substitution by producing the raw material and fine chemicals within the country. 9. In addition these crops have many virtues like many of them are hardy and yield reasonably well without much care even on marginal lands. They are relatively free from cattle damage and are pilferproof and hence can be profitably grown in areas where stray cattle or wild animals or pilferage is a major problem. As it is, medicinal plants are better earners than many field crops. Since, they are new crops, there is immense scope for further improvement in their productivity and adaptability in order to obtain further increase in their returns. They are sufficiently hardy and varying in their requirements and hence have immense potential for incorporating into various cropping patterns and can be grown as intercrops, mixed crops and under crops. Constraints: Although India is a leading exporter of medicinal plants in the world, but the rate of growth of these crops in relation to their economic prospects is not at all satisfactory. The reasons for the apparent backwardness are many and varied. 1. So far, there has been no organised research set up to continually recharge the scientific inputs to make their cultivation not only economically viable but also more profitable, so that they can claim due share in the cropping systems of the country. 2. India is one of the few developing countries, which initiated of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP); the Regional Research Laboratories, at Jammu, Bhuvaneshwar and Jorhat; the All India Co-ordinated Project on the improvement of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the ICAR; National Botanical Garden Forest Research Institute State Cinchona Directorates in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and many Agricultural Universities have been working on the technological advancements of this group of crops. However, except for CIMAP and few other centre under ICAR have taken over a few selected crops for improvement the replenishment of renewable inputs like quality planting material of the improved varieties, developing extension literature, organising training and quality testing etc. are very limited 3. On marketing side either, it is none better. Prices of these crops are largely quality based. Lack of testing facilities at the procurement and trading centres together with unscruplous market handling have resulted in wide fluctuations in prices, often getting down to unproductive and unrealistic levels. Thus, the apparent speculative trade has been one of the most serious deterrants to the development of this enterprise. 4. Systematic cultivation of a few medicinal plants has been found to be a discouraging enterprise, mainly because of uneconomical price they get. For example the sale price per kg of Phyllanthus amarus is as low as Rs.5/-making it a commercially non viable proposal. There is a need that the user industry comes forword to encourage the cultivation of such crops as the potency of the drug coming through cultivation is going to be homogenous incomparision to the collected from natural sources where there is a lot of variation. 5. Besides as most of them are although industry oriented crops the pattern of land holdings does not lend to the commercial cultivation on extensive scale. In few pants viz., Amla Asoka, Arjun, Bael, Nutmeg, Neem etc., the cultivation involves a long gestation period due to which many people avoid to grow them. 6. Unstable market conditions has also kept farmers away from taking up cultivation of the crop. Prices of certain crops like Holostemma annulare are highly volatile; the price of the crop/kg ranged from Rs.70 in 1993 to Rs.240 in 1990. 7. In the phyto-pharmaceutical industry presently no quality standards have been fixed both for the raw material as also for the final products and as such one finds wide variations in the quality specification. 8. Problems in identification of medicinal plants have lead to the use of adulterants. Physical verification of the same is also a difficult proposition mainly because the plant part used in many cases like barks, roots etc show high amount of similarly. The only possibility to checking adulterants would be by chemical examination. 9. A number of medicinal plants presently being used have not been adequately studied as regards its required package of practices or agrotechnology. 10. Supply of raw materials for the phyto-pharmaceutical industry is virtually monopolised. It is found that supply and price patterns are often determined by the minor forest produce contractors/collectors. 11. In number of cases the produce has to be used fresh for which instant transportation is a must, and in many cases it can't be stored for long periods as this would entail fumigation at times results in chemical contamination of the raw material and eventually the final product, because of its residual effect. Generally the maximum period for which plant material is stored is around 5-6 months. To overcome these constriants it is necessary to organise the cultivation of medicinal crops on area basis and organise their marketing on the similler lines as that for coffee, tea, cardamom etc. to boost their production and returns. In fact in some states like Tamil Nadu same corporations which are exclusively engaged in the procurement and marketing of these crops have already come up. Opportunities: 1. India because of its vast biodiversity and the potential for commercial exploitation could become a world leader in supply of raw material for the phytopharmaceutical industry. 2. By drawing out a comprehensive strategy for cultivation and conservation of medicinal plant in leagur with forest departments many threats outlined earlier could turn into opportunities for successful commercial exploitation without tampering with the interests of the communities involved in collection of medicinal plants. 3. Introduction of medicinal plants in the cropping patterns of farming communities especially in dryland and watershed areas could provide a strong thrust to the need for soil and water conservation as also provide returns and indirectly help in exsitu conservation of these crops to a large extent.  ALOE **** Aloe species are perennial succulents belonging to the family Liliaceae, are the source of the drug `aloe'. Of the 275 species there are three commercially important species which are the main sources of the drug; they are A.barbadensis Mill. (2n=14) (A.vera toun ex Linn) which yields curacao aloe or Indian aloe or Jaffarabad aloe or Barbados aloe, which is produced in the West Indies (Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire) and A.ferox and its hybrids which yield cape aloe, produced in South Africa. A.perryi which yield the socotrine aloe. Other Aloe species (A.africana and A.spicata) yield aloes of lesser importance. Aloe is obtained by cutting the leaves at their base and letting the yellow bitter juice drain out. The water is evaporated off from the juice by heat, and the resulting light to dark-brown mass is the durg aloe. Of the two major products derived from the leaves, the yellow bitter juice present in specialized cells beneath the thick epidermis yields the drug aloe and the parenchymatous tissue in the centre of the leaf contains a mucilaginous gel which yields aloe gel or aloe vera gel; it is currently obtained from A.barbadensis. Aloe contains cathartic anthraglycosides as its active principles; these are mostly C- glucosides, notably barbaloin, which is a glucoside of aloe emodin. The concentrations of these glucosides vary with the types of aloe ranging form 4.5 to 25 per cent of aloin. Other constituents present include aloesin and its aglycone aloesone (a chromone), free anthraquinones (e.g. aloe- emodin) and resins. Aloe vera gel contains a glucomannan which is a polysaccharide similar to guar and locust bean gums and is believed to be the active constituent. Other constituents reported or otherwise claimed to be present include other polysaccharides (containing galactose, xylose and arabinose), steroids, organic acids, enzymes, antibiotic principles, amino acids, "biogenic stimulators", "wound healing hormones", saponins, minerals, and so forth. Fresh aloe vera gel is well known for its domestic medicinal values. For this reason Aloe vera is also called "burn", "first aid" or "medicine" plant. When freshly obtained, the gel has the property of relieving thermal burn and sunburn as well as promoting wound healing; it also has moisturizing and emollient properties. The plant is used as a home remedy for these purposes. The only officially recognized use of aloe is as an ingredient in its beneficial properties on the skin. Aloe and aloin are extensively used as active ingredients in laxative preparations, often with other cathartics such as buckthorn, cascara and senna; belladonna extracts are often included to lessen gripping. Aloin is also used in antiobesity prepration. Aloe gel and sometimes drug aloe are used as moisturizer, emollient or wound healer in various cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. Extracts of aloe or aloin are used in sun screen x-ray burns, dermatitis, cutaneousleishmaniasis and other cosmetic prepartions. As food, aloe extracts are used as a flavour ingredient primarily in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and in candy to impart a bitter note. Origin and distribution Plants of the genus Aloe belong to the old world and are indigenous to eastern and Southern Africa, Canary Islands and Spain. The species spread to the Mediterranean basin and reached the West Indies, India, China and other countries in the sixteenth centrury and certain species are now cultivated for the commercial production of aloes specially in some of the West Indian, Islands of the North Coast of South America. It is also cultivated throughout India. Description of the plant Aloe is a coarse - looking perennial shallow rooted plant with a short stem, 30-60 cm high. The plants have multiple tuberous roots and many supporting roots penetrating into the soil. Aloe do not have true stem but produce bloom stalks. The plants generally grow close to the ground in typical rosette shape. The fleshy leaves (about 60 cm long, 10 cm broad and 1.5 to 2 cm thick), are densely crowded, strongly cuticularized, having spiny marign with thin walled tubular cells. Flowers vary from yellow to rich orange in colour and are arranged in axillary spike. Flower is actinomorphic, its perianth is arranged in two whorls of 3 tepals each. Stamens are six in two whorls, the outer whorl has longer filaments than the inner whorl. Ovary is superior, tri-locular with axile placentation. Most of the species are male sterile with scarcely any fertile pollen. The plants does not produce many viable seed. Species and varieties In India, 2-3 easily recognizable varieties are found, but their exact delimitations are not clear. In A.vera var. chinensis Baker, common all over the Deccan, the leaves have a distinct purple colour towards the base and the spines are not sharp. The leaves of A.vera var littoralis koenig ex Baker, found on the beach shingles in Madras right upto Rameswaram are smaller in size and have a dentate margin. Another variety which thrives on the Kathiawar coast also called A.abyssinica is the source of Jaffarabad aloes. A.variegata Linn. a near ally of A.vera is found in parts of the Maharastra. It has large fleshy green leaves with sharp spines and white specks at the bases of the leaves. In trials conducted at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Delhi the Aloe accessions IC 111271, IC 111280, IC 111269, IC 111273, IC 111279 and IC 111267 are reported to contain high Aloin and the accessions, IC 111267, IC 1112666, IC 111280, IC 111272 and IC 111277 high Gel contents. Soil Aloe is a hardy plant and grows on a variety of soils. It comes up well in the sandy coastal soils to loamy soils of plains with pH upto 8.5. However, water logged conditions and problamatic soils does not suit for its cultivation. Climate Aloe is cultivated during the period between March and June. The plant has a wide adaptability and can be seen growing all throughout the length and breadth of the country. It is found growing in warm humid or dry climate with even 150-200 cm to about 35-40 cm yearly rainfall during the growing period. However, in dry regions the crop should be provided with protective irrigations. Cultivation Propagation The plants are generally propagated by root suckers or rhizome cuttings. Land preparation Before cultivation, the land should be ploughed twice and the field should be cleaned thoroughly for the weeds. If required, small canals may be prepared for drainage. About 25 tonnes of cowdung manure per hectare is also added. Planting The plant is planted at a spacing of 60 x 30 cm or 60 x 45 cm. About 15-18 cm long root suckers or rhizome cuttings are planted in such a way that 2/3rd portion of the root sucker or rhizome cutting should be under the ground. Manuring It is a newly domesticated crop and its full production technology including manurial requirement is yet to be worked out. An adhoc basis, application of a mixture of 150 kg per hectare of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus is recommended. The fertilizers are applied in soil near the root system after the plants are established. Irrigation Soon after planting the land is irrigated. During the crop period irrigation must be given according to moisture content of the soil. Generally 4 to 5 irrigations per year is sufficient. Water should not be allowed to lodge near the plant. Weeding Weeding may be done twice a year and the land is kept weed free. Pests and diseases Normally the plant is not affected by any pests or diseases of serious nature. But recently leaf-spot disease caused by Altarnaria alternata and Fusarium solani is reported from India. Harvesting and yield The plants are harvested 8 months after planating. While harvesting the plants can be removed manually or with the help of Tractor drawn Disc Harrow or cultivator. The broken rhizome parts left in the soil throws out new sprouts in spring for raising the succeeding crop. An Aloe plantation gives commercial yield from second year upto an age of 5 years, where after it needs replantation. The yield of the crop on fresh weight basis will be around 10,000-12,000 kg per hectare. Chemical evaluation of aloe leaves Aloe species are used extensively in drugs and cosmetic industry. Chemically it is evaluated for the Aloin content and Aloe gel. Leaf exudate has been used for many therapeutic purposes. However, its purgative action has received most detailed investigation. This activity is ascribed due to presence of certain anthraquinones. These are assayed as aloin content which is mainly barbaloin. Aloin content is assayed in aloe, a dried form of leaf exudate. In order to estimate the aloin content leaves of one year old whole plant may be used for chemical assay. It is recommended that plants may be selected at the time of flowering i.e. from November to February. Transverse incisions are made into leaves. Latex is allowed to ooze out from the leaves and collected in the beaker. Leaf exudate is filtered. Part of the exudate (1 ml) is transferred to already weighed tube. This is dried at high temperature and weighed. This gives the weight of 1 ml of exudate. Another part of the filtered exudate (10-25 ml) is transferred to separating funnel. This is repeatedly extracted with ethyl acetate (4 x 25 ml). Total ethyl acetate extract is filtered and evaported at reduced pressure and low temperature (< 50O). Residue is redissolved in warm water (100 ml) and a little portion (1-2 ml) is taken for chemical assay.  The second most important use of Aloe is in cosmetics in different blends. The mucilagenous pulp from the leaf parenchyma which is mainly carbohydrate in nature, is used in skin disorders and in treatment of burns. For the purpose of isolation and quantitative estimation of aloe gel leaves remaining after the removal of its exudate are cut open and their mucilage is scrapped out with blunt edged knife. This mucilage is stirred vigorously in a blender to make it a uniform solution. This solution is strained through a muslin cloth and filtered. A portion of this solution (5 ml) is taken in a centrifuge tube (50 ml capacity). The gel is precipitated out from the extract by adding slowly acetone while stirring. This is kept overnight. The gel is obtained by centrifugation. This gel is redissolved in slightly warm water and transferred carefully to already weighed tube. It is dried at high temperature and weighed. This gives the aloe gel content in a given volume.  Amla **** Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Belonging to family Euphorbiaceae and is commonly known as Amla, Aonla or Indian Goose berry is an important crop with high medicinal value. The fruits have richest source of vitamin-C: (700 mg per 100 g of fruits) and is considered to be good liver tonic. It also contains cytokinin like substances identified as zeatin, zeatin riboside and zeatin nucleotide. The seeds yield 16% fixed oil, brownish yellow in colour. The plant contains tannins like glucogallin, corilagin, chebulagic acid and 3, 6-digalloyl glucose. Root yields ellagic acid, lupeol, quercetin and β-sitosterol. The fruit is useful in haemorrhage, leucorrhaea, menorrhagia, diarrhoea, toothache, sores, fever, anemia, epilepsy, pimples, tubercurarfistula, rinder pests, gonorrhoea and dysentery. The fruit is also valued as an antisarbutic, diuretic, laxative and antibiotic. Phyllemblin, obtained from fruit pulp has been found to have mild depressant action on central nervous system. It goes in combination in the preparation of Triphala churna (mixture of Amla, Termenalia chebula and T. bellerica) Arista, Brahma Rasayan, Madhumega churna and Chyavanprash. Sanjeevini pills made with other ingradients are used in typhoid, snake bite and cholera. The leaves are cerebral and gastro intestinal tonic, cardiotonic, aphrodisiac, antipyretic and antidiabetic. The green fruits are made in to pickles and preserves to stimulate appetite. Seed is used in asthma, bronchitis and biliousness. Leaves are also useful in conjunctivitis, inflammation, dyspepsia and dysentery. The bark is useful in gonnorrhoea, jaundice, diarrhoea and myalgia. The root bark is astrigent and is useful in ulcerative storeatitis and gastrohelcosis. Amla has good demand from the industries for the preparation of various health care products and also like hair oil, dye, shampoo, face creams and tooth power. Origin and Distribution Aonla is indigenous to tropical South Eastern Asia, particularly central and southern India. Beside India, it is also reported to be fond growing in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and China. The tree is common in deciduous forests of India growing upto 1350 m above MSL on hills. Aonla is commercially cultivated in northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Description of the Plant The genus Phyllanthus comprises about 350 or even 500 species, mostly shrubs, some herbs or trees. Recently with the revision of the genus, Phyllanthus emblica Linn. has been placed under Emblica as Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Somatic number of chromosome in amla is 2n=28 and also it varied from 2n =98 to 104. Amla is a decisions small or middle sized tree with crooked trunk and spreading branches. Bark is greenish gray, peeling off in conchoidal flakes. Branchlets are glabrous or finely pubescent, aften deciduous and 10-20 cm. in length. Leaves sub-sessile, light green, glabrous, narrowly linear, obtuse, imbricate when young and they are closely set along the branchelets, having the appearance of pinnate leaves. Flowers are greenish yellow, in axillary fascicles on the leaf-bearing branchlets, often on the naked portion below the leaves, with fimbriate bracts at the base. Male flowers are numerous, on short slender pedicels, sepals 6, oblong, obtuse, 1.2 mm long. Anthers 3 on a short central column. Female flowers are few, subsessile, sepals as in the male, ovary is 3 celled, styles connate at the base. Fruit is pale yellow, 1.3 – 1.6 cm. in diameter, fleshy, globose, with 6 obscure vertical furrows. Varieties Aonla varieties are named after size of the fruit and name of the places. The varieties recommended for cultivation are Bhavanisagar, Banarasi, Chakaiya, Francis, Krishna, Kanchan, Balwant and Anand-2. Some of the new varieties like NA-6, NA-7, NA-9 and NA-10 have been released recently from Narendra Dev Agricultural University, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. The important features of varieties are described below. Early maturing varieties (mid October to mid November) Banarasi The tree with spreading growth habit produces large sized fruits (48 g), conical at apex; lobed; skin smooth, thin semi-translucent and whitish yellow; segments raised in 3 parts with 6 strips. Flesh whitish green, fibre content 1.4%. Fruits have poor keeping quality. As it is shy bearer not very much suited for commercial growing. Krishna This is a chance seedling of Banarasi cultivar which bears moderately. Fruits are medium to large (44.6 g), conical at apex. Skin smooth, apricot yellow in colour with pink blush. Strip well marked. Fibre content is same as in Banarasi (1.4 %). Ascorbic acid content is lower than Banarasi. This is better variety than Banarasi particularly with respect to bearing. NA-9 This also a chance seedling of Banarasi cultivar. It has moderate bearing. Fruits are large in size (50.3 g), have flattened oblong shape. Skin smooth, thin, segments (6-8), distinct and solid. Fibre content is low (0.9 %). Ascorbic acid content is highest (881 mg/100 g). Pectin content is higher than Banarasi and Krishna. This is an ideal variety for making preserve, candy, jam and jelly. NA-10 This is also probably a chance seedling of Banarasi cultivar which bears profusely. Fruits are attractive medium to large in size (41.5 g), flattened round. Skin rough, yellowish green with pink tinge. Segments 6 and distinct. Flesh whitish green; fibre content is higher (1.5 %); phenolic content is lower than Banarasi, Krishna and NA-9. This may be an ideal cultivar for commercial growing because of its higher productivity and early maturity. Mid season group (Mid November to mid December) Francis The tree has drooping branches hence, it is known as ‘Hathi Jhool’. Cropping is medium, fruits are large (45.8 g), flattened oblong, greenish white in colour. Segments 6 and distinct, solid and thick. Moderate in fibre content (1.5 %). Ascorbic acid content is lower than the early maturing group. Richest in iron content. Fruits of this cultivar are highly susceptible to ‘Necrosis’ (internal browning), a physiological disorder; hence, it is not an ideal variety for commercial growing. NA-7 This is a selection from francis cultivar. Precacious and cropping is heavy. Fruits are medium to large size (44 g), flattened oblong with conical apex and greenish white in colour, semi-translucent and free from necrosis. Fibre content is similar to Francis (1.5 %). Ascorbic acid content is higher than Francis. Juice is highly astringent. This seems to be an ideal cultivar for commercial growing. Kanchan The tree is probably a chance seedling originated from cultivar Chakaiya. The tree has spreading growth habit and it bears profusely. Fruits are small sized (30.2 g), flattened shape and yellowish green in colour. Fibre content is 1.5 %. Medium in ascorbic acid content. Fruits of this cultivar are highly susceptible to rosseting (corking). NA-6 This is also a selection from Chakaiya cultivar. The tree has spreading growth. Cropping is heavy. Fruits are medium in size (38.8 g), flattened and yellowish white in colour. Segment 6, distinct and thin. Fibre content is lowest (0.8 %), average in ascorbic acid content (788 mg/100 g) and lower in phenolics. This is an excellent variety for making preserve, candy and jam. The genotype has bright future for commercial cultivation. Late maturing group (Mid December to mid January) Chakaiya The tree has upright growth habit and bears profusely. Fruits are small to medium sized (33.4 g), flattened and whitish green in colour. Segments 6 and not distinct. Flesh whitish- green. Fibre content is highest (2 %). Ascorbic acid content is 789 mg/100 g and pectin content 3.4 %. The fruits have strong attachment hence premature dropping is not a problem in this cultivar. Keeping quality is moderate. Most suitable for making pickle and shreds. Though this cultivar has small sized fruit, high fibre content and starts its bearing late yet occupies maximum area and gaining popularity for commercial growing. Soil Aonla can be grown in light as well as heavy soils except pure sandy soil. Calcareous soil with rocky substratum can also be good. However, well drained fertile loamy soil is the best for higher yield. Plants can also grown in moderately alkaline soils. Climate It is grown extensively under tropical condition. Annual rainfall of 630-800 mm has given good yield. The young plants upto the age of 3 years should be protected from hot wind during May-June and from frost during winter months. The mature plants can tolerate freezing temperature as well as temperature upto 46OC. Cultivation Propagation Aonla is generally propagated through seeds, but seed propagated trees bear inferior quality fruits and have a long gestation period. It can be vegetatively propagated by shield, modified ring and patch budding as well as soft wood grafting is done on one year old seedlings with buds collected from superior strains yielding big sized fruits. Older trees of inferior types can be rejuvenated and easily changed into superior type by top working. The seeds are enclosed in a hard seed coat, which renders the germination difficult. The seeds can be extracted by keeping fully ripe fruits in the sun for 2-3 days till they split open releasing the seeds. Seeds are soaked in water for 3-4 hours and sown on previously prepared seedbeds and irrigated. Excess irrigation and waterlogging are harmful. One-month-old seedlings can be transplanted to polythene bags and one year old seedlings can be planted in the main field with the onset of monsoon. Planting The pits of 1 m3 are to be dug during May-June at a distance of 4.5 m x 4.5 m spacing and should be left for 15-20 days exposing to sunlight. Each pit should be filled with surface soil mixed with 15 kg FYM and 0.5-1.0 kg of super phosphate before planting the budded plants. Manures and Fertilizers The young plant should be applied with 15-20 kg of well rotten FYM and the mature tree with 30-40 kg each year during September-October in addition to the 15 kg of basal dose. Application of 30 g nitrogen each year during September-December, upto 10 years for each tree is recommended. Every mature tree should be given with a fertilizer dose of 1000 g N, 500 g P2O5 and 750 g K2O every year in two equal splits, once during September-October and again during April-May after setting of the fruit. The plants should be irrigated immediately after fertilizer application. If the fruits show necrosis due to boron deficiency, spray borax at 0.05- 0.06%. Irrigation Aonla plants hardly and require any irrigation during monsoon. Young plants should be watered at 15 days interval during summer months till they have fully established. Watering of mature bearing plants is advised during summer months at bi-weekly intervals to increase fruit set and to reduce fruit drop. It responds very well to drip irrigation. After the monsoon rains, during October-December, about 25-30 litres of water per day per tree through drips should be given. Avoid irrigation during flowering period. Mulching During summer the crop should be mulched with paddy straw or wheat straw at the base of the tree upto 15-20 cm from the trunk. Training and Pruning A strong frame work should be developed by encouraging the growth of 4-5 well shaped branches with wide angle at about 0.75 m height from the ground level. Dead, diseased, week crisscross branches and suckers from the basal root stock should be pruned off at the end of December. Intercropping Intercrops like green gram, black gram, cowpea and horse gram can be effectively grown upto 8 years. Once the bearing starts it is advised not to take any intercrops to avoid competition for moisture and nutrients. Pests and Diseases Pests Bark eating caterpillar (Inderbela tetrosis) The caterpillar attacks the bark of the trunk and branches of tree by eating tissues and making tunnels. Incidence can be minimized by injecting kerosene oil or endosulphon 0.05% or dichlorvas or monocrotophos 0.03% in holes and plugging with mud. Betousa stylophora is reported to cause shoot galls which is controlled by pruning gall twigs and spraying with 0.05% monocrotophos. Scales and aphids (Cerciaphis emblica) and anar butterfly (Virachola isocrates) are other minor insects causing damage to Aonla and they can be effectively controlled using systemic insecticides like monocrotaphos @ 0.03%. Diseases Rust (Ravenellia emblicae) Brownish pustules appears both on the leaves and fruits during July-September and finally these become dark brown to black. Affected fruits drop before maturity. Spraying with Dithane M-45 or Indofil M-45 @ 0.3% twice, first in early September and second after 15 days has been proved to be effective. Fruit rot (Penicillium islandium) This disease can be managed by treating the fruits with sodium chloride. Harvesting Aonla seedlings start bearing 7-8 years after planting, while the budded clones will start bearing from the 5th year onwards. The fruits are light green at first, but when they mature become dull greenish-yellow. Best harvesting time of aonla fruit is February when the fruits have maximum ascorbic acid content. In South India, fruits are found throughout the year. The mature fruits are hard and they do not fall for gentle touch and therefore vigorous shaking is required. For getting attractive prices fruits after harvest should be made into different grades depending on the size. Fruits can also be harvested using long bamboo poles attached with hooks. Yield A mature tree of about 10 years old will yield 50-70 kg of fruit. An eight year old plantation will yield 20-25 tonnes of fruits per hectare. The average weight of the fruit is 60-70 g and 1 kg contains about 15-20 fruits. A well maintained tree will be yielding upto an age of 70 years. The yield increases year by year upto 50 years.  ASHWAGANDHA **** Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.) (2n=48) is an important cultivated medicinal crop of India. It is also known as hiremaddinagida, `Pannaeru' `Ashwagandhi' and `kiremallingida' in Kannada and as `Punir' and `Asgandh' in Hindi. It is commonly known as `Winter cherry' in English. Ashwagandha is mentioned as an important drug in ancient Ayurvedic literature. Several types of alkaloids are found in this plant, out of which `withanine' and `somniferine' are important. In addition, the leaves are reported to contain fine unidentified alkaloids (yield 0.09%), withanolides, glycosides, glucose and many free aminoacids. Occurence of chlonogenic acid, condensed tannin (also in the stems), and flavonoid are also reported. The pharmacological activity of the roots is attributed to the alkaloids. The total alkaloidal content in roots of the Indian types has been reported to vary between 0.13 and 0.31 per cent, though much higher yields (upto 4.3%) have been recorded elsewhere. Many biochemically heterogenous alkaloids have been reported in the roots. In all 13 components have been obtained chromatographically. They include choline, tropanol, pseudotro-panol, cuscokygrene, 3-tigloyloxytropana, isopelletierine, anaferine, anahygrine, withasomnine and several other sterioidal lactones. In addition, to the alkaloids, the roots are reported to contain starch, reducing sugars, hentriacontane, glycosides, dulcitol, withanicil (0.08%), an acid, and a neutral compound. Withaniol was later found to be a mixture of two withanolides and the minor component remained unidentified. The free amino-acids identified in the roots include aspartic acid, glycine, tyrosine, alanine, proline, tryptophan, glutamic acid and cysteine. The roots of South African origin yield small amount of light brown, pungent volatile oil. The green berries contain a high proportion of the amino acids which include proline, valine, tyrosine, alanine, glycine, hydroxyproline, aspartic acid, cystine and cysteine. The presence of the proteolytic enzyme, chamase in the berries may be responsbile for the high content of the amino-acid.  The drug is mainly used in Ayurvedic and Unani preparations. Withaferine - A has been receiving good deal of attention because of its antibiotic and antitumor acitvities. It is used for curing carbuncles in the indigenous system of medicine. The paste prepared out of its leaves is used for curing inflammation of tubercular glands and that of its roots for curing skin diseases, bronchitis and ulcers. While in Rajsthan, roots are used for curing minly rheumatism and dyspepsia; in Punjab they are used to relieve loin pain and in Sind for abortion. In some areas warm leaves are also used for providing comfort during eye diseases. However, roots are mostly used for curing general and sexual weekness in human beings. Ashwagandha fruits and seeds are diuretic in nature. Leaves are reported to possess anthelmintic and febrifuge properties. An infusion of leaves is given in fevers. For the treatment of piles, a decoction of the leaves is used both internally and externally. Leaves are also used as hypnotic in alcoholism. Externally, leaves are used as fermentation for sore eyes, boils and swellings of hands and feet. As an insecticide, they are useful for killing lice infesting the body. An ointment prepared by boiling the leaves, in fact, is useful for bed-sores and wounds. The fresh leaf juice is also applied for anthrax pustules. An infusion of the bark is given in asthma. For the treatment of scrafula and constipation, the root is given in the form of decoction as well. The decoction mixed with long pepper (Piper longum), butter and honey (25-50 g) powdered root with milk or clarified butter is used as an aphrodisiac and in seminal debility. For chest complaints, colds and chills, its decoction is recommended. Its decoction with milk and clarified butter is considered a cure for female sterility, if taken for a few days soon after the menstrual period, for the treatment of bloody discharge, leucorrhoea etc. 45 g of powdered root with one tola of sugar candy are given twice a day. A dose of 2 g of root powder along with sugar, honey, long pepper and clarified butter is given in spermetorrhoea, loss of strength etc. The root is considered to be very efficacious for toning up of the uterus of women who habitually miscarry. An enema of the roots with their bark removed is given to feverish infants. The root is also said to have been used in snake bite. The fruits and seeds are used in chest complaints. A paste made of the green berries with leaves and small twig is useful for treating saddle-sores and girth-galls in horses Origin and Distribution W.somnifera is found wild in grazing grounds in Mandsaur and forest land in Bastar districts of Madhya Pradesh, all over the foot hills of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and Western Uttar Pradesh in the Himalayas. It is also found in wild state in the Mediterranean region in North Africa. Another species W.congulans Dunal, a rigid grey under-shrub of 60-120 cm high is found wild in Punjab, Sindh and neighbouring regions. It is cultivated in an area of about 4000 hectares in India mainly in drier parts of Manasa, Neemuch and Jawad tehsils of Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh, in Punjab, Sind, Rajasthan and South India. In Karnataka, its cultivation has been reported in Mysore District. Description of the plant Ashwagandha belongs to family Solanaceae. This is an erect herbaceous evergreen tomentose shrub 13-150 cm. high. All its parts are clothed with whitish stellate hairs. Branching is extensive, leaves are ovate, entire, thin, base cuneate and densly hairy beneath. Flowers are bisexual, greenish or lurid yellow, axillary, in clusters of about 25 forming umbellate cymes. Flowers are sessile or subsessile. Fruit is a berry, 7 mm across, red, globose, smooth, enclosed in inflated membranous somewhat 5-angled pubescent persistent calyx. Fruits turn to orange-red when mature. Seeds are yellow in colour and reniform in shape. The flowering season is from July to September and ripe fruits are available in December. The commercial drug consists of the dried roots of W. somnifera which occur in small pieces, 10.0 to 17.5 cm long and 6.12 mm in diameter. The bases of stems are also present. The pieces are dark brown with a creamy interior. They are straight, ubranched and conical. The main roots bear fibre like secondary roots. Their outer surface is buff to grey-yellow with longitudinal wrinkles. The stem bases are thickened, cylindrical and green and have longitudinal wrinkles. The roots have a short and uneven structure, a strong odour and mucilaginous, bitter and acrid taste. The young tuberous and older roots have distinct macroscopic and microsopic characters. Varieties Nagori is a local variety. ‘Jawahar Asgandh-20’, Asgandh – WS – 90 – 134 and Poshita are the improved varieties. ‘Jawahar Asgandh – 20’ has been released from a single plant selection from Jawaharlal Nehru Krishivishwa Vidyalaya, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Mandsaur under Medicinal and Aromatic Plants project. The variety has recorded the highest dry root yield consistently over the others. Asgandh – WS – 90 – 134 has been released from JNKVV, Mandsaur, the dry roots of this variety are reported to contain high levels of alkaloids (0.605%) and Withanine (20.38%). Poshita has been released from CIMAP, Lucknow. The plants are medium tall (71.22 – 87.2 cm), the variety matures in 189 to 210 days and the dry root yield is 14 q / ha. The total alkaloid yield is 1.292 kg/ha. Soil It grows successfully in sandy loam or light red soils with good amount of organic matter and drainage. Under such soil conditions it is also easy to digout the roots without causing any damage to them. A soil pH range of 7.5 to 8 is ideal. Climate Aswagandha prefers subtropical to tropical climate. It is planted during late rainy season and preferes dry weather for its successful growth. Under such conditions 1-2 late winter rains are enough for its roots to develop fully. The areas receiving 660-750 mm rainfall are suitable for its cultivation. Cultivation Propagation The crop can be grown by directly sowing the seeds into the field as well as by raising the seedlings and transplanting them. Direct sowing In this case seeds are sown directly in the main field by broadcasting. Since it is largely grown as a rainfed crop, the sowing is determined by mansoon. After receiving one or two showers the field is thoroughly prepared, divided into plots of convenient sizes and the seeds are sown during the second week of July. A seed rate of 10-12 kg per hectare is required by this method of planting. Nursery raising and planting When the seedlings are to be raised for transplanting, they are to be sown in well prepared raised nursery beds. About 5 kg of seeds are required to provide enough seedlings for one hectare. To avoid nursery diseases, seeds are treated with Dithane M-45 at the rate of 3 g per kilogram of seeds before sowing. The seeds in the nursery beds are sown in lines spaced at 5 cm and covered with light soil. The germination commences in 6-7 days of sowing and in about 10 days after sowing it is complete. When the seedlings are 6 weeks old and sufficiently tall they are transplanted in 60 cm spaced rows at 60 cm apart in well prepared land. Manures and fertilizers The crop Ashwagandha does not require heavy doses of manures and fertilizers. In Madhya Pradesh, where it is grown on commercial scale no fertilizers are applied and the crop is cultivated on only residual fertility. Studies at Indore Research Station have showed no response of nitrogen and phosphorous on its root yield. Interculture The direct sown crop is thinned at the age 25-30 days to maintain a plant population of 20,000 to 25,000 per hectare. Hand weeding at 30 days interval helps to control the weeds effectively. Pests and diseases Insects There are no serious pests infesting this crop. Diseases Seed rotting, seedling blight and leaf blight are common diseases affecting ashwagandha. They reduce the plant population drastically, ultimately reducing the yield. Their incidence could be minimized by treating the seeds before sowing with captan at the rate of 3g/kg of seed followed by spraying the crop with Dithane M-45 at the rate of 3g/litre of water when the crop is 30 days old. The spray should be repeated at an interval of 7-10 days if the disease is not controlled. The other diseases reported on this crop are seedling mortality are Die-back. When the conditions are humid and temperature is high seedling martality becomes serious. The disease can be minimized by the use of healthy seed and pre-treatment of seeds with Thiram or Dettan (3-4 g/kg of seed). Harvesting and drying Harvesting starts from January and continues till March (150-170 days after sowing). The maturity of the crop is judged by drying out of leaves and berries turning red. The entire plant is uprooted and roots are separated from the aerial parts by cutting the stem 1-2 cm. above the crown. They are then transversely cut into smaller pieces of 7-10 cm for drying. Occasionally the roots are dried as a whole. Berries are plucked from the dried plants and are treshed to obtain the seeds. Grading The dried whole roots undergo cleaning, trimming and grading before despatch. They are beaten with a club to remove adhering soil and the thin lateral roots and rootlets. The main tap root may be cut into transverse pieces. The entire product is then carefully hand sorted into four grades based on the thickness and uniformity of pieces. A. grade : Root pieces upto 7 cm in length, solid, with 1-1.5 cm diameter; and Should be brittle, and pure white from inside. B. grade : Root pieces upto 5 cm in length, solid with diameter less than 1 cm, and roots should be brittle and white from inside. C. grade : Root pieces upto 3-4 cm in length, side branches, solid, with diameter 1 cm or less. Lower grade : Small root pieces semisolid, very thin and yellowish from inside. Yield An average yield of 300 to 500 kg of dried roots and 50 to 75 kg seeds can be obtained from one hectare area. Extraction procedure for active principles (i) Extraction of total withanaloides from leaves. The leaf extract of Ashwagandha exhibits marked activity against bacterial infections. The ground leaves are used in Ayurveda for treament of carbuncles, ulcers and painful swellings. These properties of leaves are due to presence of several steriodal compounds. From the crude methanolic extract of the leaves, five crystalline substances have been isolated for the first time by A.Yarden and L.Lavie in 1962. One of these substance is withaferin-A, which is C-28 steriod, with remarkable antibacterial properties. Abraham et al. later obtained withaferin-A and related compound. About withanolides (Steroidal Lactones) structures related to withaferin-A have been so far isolated from various chemotypes of plant. In order to estimate the withanolides by TLC method, the leaves are collected, washed and dried in the oven. Dried leaf powder is extracted with alcohol in a Soxhlet extractor. The solvent is removed and the extract is defatted with petroleum ether. The residue is again dissolved in methanol and spotted on activated silica gel plate. The plate is run in Benzene:Ethyl acetate mixutre (90:10). The colour of the spots are developed by Iodine vapour. Nine clearly visible spots of withania steriods (withanolides) are seen in the plate. The Rf values of spots are calcualted and per cent composition of various spots are worked out by preparative TLC method followed by Colorimetric estimation. (ii) Preparation of alkaloid concentrate from roots The root drug is described in early and modern Indian literature as curative for many ills. Early chemical investigation of the root, established the presence of nearly seventeen nitrogenous bases. The total alkaloid content in the root found within the range of 0.21 to 0.33 per cent. Previously, the root powder was used as such for the treatment, but it is difficult to take larger quantity of powder orally due to its bitter taste. Looking to this view the alkaloid concentrate from withania root may be useful for chemical industry, which contain higher percentage of alkaloids. The lesser quantity of drug can be taken as tablet or capsule. For the preparation of concentrate, 10 gramms of dried root powder (dried at 60O for 24 hours) is placed in a 500 ml stoppered conical flask. It is added with 100 ml of 1% solution of sulfuric acid (H2SO4 ; water, 99:1) and mixed well. The stopper is put and the flask is kept over night. Next day shaking is done on horizontal shaker for about half an hour. The resulting mass is filtered either through suction or the material is centrifuged for about 20 minutes at 6000 to 8000 RPM. The supernatant liquid is collected in a 250 ml clean beaker. The residue is again treated with 40 ml 1% H2SO4 in the centrifuge tube and centrifuged in a similar manner. This process is repeated twice and 150 to 160 ml of supernatant liquid is collected in the beaker. This syrupy turbid solution contains mixture of alkaloids, starch and other impurities. The residue is tested for alkaloid free condition, otherwise one more washing can be done. The pH of solution may be within the range of 1.5 to 2.5. For removing the starch and other impurities the solution is made alkaline by adding a small amount of calcium hydroxide powder by continuous stirring. The lime is added slowly which gradually changes the pH of the solution. Stirring and mixing should not stop at this stage. When the pH becomes neutral, the starch and other materials get precipitated. Let it settle for few minutes. Add a pinch of lime and centrifuge the solution. The starch and other impurities get settled in the bottom of centrifuge tube and clear solution of alkaloid with neutral pH is obtained. This step is done fast and a longer contact of lime must be avoided. The solution obtained from centrifugation is concentrated on Thin Layer Rotary Evaporater till it becomes semi solid and can be stored in the bottles for further use as withania root alkaloid concentrate. The concentrate prepared has nearly 6 per cent of alkaloid. The concentrate can be spotted on silica gel G TLC plate after dissolving in methanol, taking n-butanol : HCL (98.2) and colour is developed with modified Dragendorff Reagent. Eight spots of major alkaloids are clearly visible on the TLC plate which are similar to the spots developed by the alkaloids obtained from solvent extraction providing that this procedure extracted all the alkaloids from the powder.  BABCHI **** Psoralea corylifolia Linn. commonly called Babchi, is a medicinal plant belonging to the sub-family Papilionaceae of the Leguminaceae family. The seeds of Babchi are used in Indegenous system of medicine in the treatment of Leucoderma, Leprosy and Psoriasis. The seed is surrounded by a sticky, oily pericarp which contains coumarins, of which `Psoralen' and `Isopsoralen' are therapeutically important. Besides psoriasis efficacy of psoralin is being investigated against several diseases including AIDS. It is alos used in treatment of intestinal amoebiafis and healing of wounds and ulcers. There are several reports in literature on antimicrobial, anti-feedant and insecticidal activities of Babchi, suggesting its possible other uses in several inclusions in future. Distribution The genus Psoralea is widely distributed in tropical/sub-tropical regions of the world. Out of four species occuring in India, seeds of Psoralea corylifolia Linn., alone are used in medicine. This species has large distribution in South-Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh from where commercial collections are being made. In addition, it has wider distribution in parts of Rajastan, Andhara Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat and related semi-tropical grass lands in the country. Description of the plant Babchi is an erect, annual herb, that grows 30-60 cm tall under natural conditions and up to 160 cm under cultivation. The plant branches profusely; its stem and branches are covered with conspicuous glands and white hairs. It bears simple leaves, broadly elliptic, rounded and mucronate at apex. The axillary, solitary inflorescence (raceme) comprises 10 to 30 flowers with hairy pedicle. The calyx is 3-4 mm long, hairy outside, corolla is bluish-purple, nearly twice as long as the calyx (7-10 mm), zygomorphic with depending imbricate aestivation, its `standard' is 6 mm long, orbicular, clawed and glabrous. The stamens, numbering 10 are diadelphous; carpel is small and unilocular. It bears single-seeded pod which is indehiscent and the pericarp is usually adhering to the seed.  Babchi is a self pollinated crop. The initial flower bud opens in about 17-18 days. The flowers open in two flushes, early morning and in the evening. Anther dehisces about one hour before stigma becomes receptive. Its chromosome number (2n) is 20 and 22. Soil In nature, it is found growing on variety of soil ranging from sandy medium loam to black-cotton soils. However, sandy loam soil with good organic matter in them are best for its growth and yield. It also tolerates a wide variation in soil pH but too acidic and too alkaline soils should be avoided. Climate The crop prefers dry tropical regions with comparatively warmer type of climate for its succesful growth and yield. It is generally grown as a rainy season crop with the onset of monsoon. It is a hardy plant and grows well in areas with low to medium rainfall during summer months. Under Bangalore conditions June month sown crop has yielded the best. Cultivation Propagation Babchi is propagated through seeds. The seeds have a problem of dormancy due to hard seed coat