Agro-technology of genetically improved and economically
important medicinal and aromatic plants
National Botanical Research Institute,
Lucknow-226 001
The increasing global interest and expanding market of herbal drugs have led to
their introduction into cultivation to meet the demand at reasonable economic price.
Cultivation of medicinal plants can also facilitate in maintaining standards - in quality,
potency and chemical composition of the produce. The active principles of the plant are
generally secondary metabolites and their biosynthesis, though controlled genetically, is
strongly affected by soil, climatic and agricultural factors. It is, therefore advised not to
use chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides in cultivation of medicinal plants.
Application of chemical fertilizers may alter the desired chemical composition of
medicinal plants and application of herbicides and other plant protection chemicals may
lead to accumulation of their residue in the plant. It will affect the chemical composition
of the plant, which may cause great health hazards to the human being, besides polluting
the environment. The organic cultivation shall ensure sustainable development not only
in terms of production of medicinal plants, but also in socio-economic and ecological
parameters.
Status of work at NBRI
Conservation
The institute has developed medicinal plant gardens for ex situ conservation of
medicinal plants resources of northern plains. More than 300 species of medicinal and
aromatic plants are being conserved in the garden. These garden are located in the
Botanic Garden and Farm Sites.
Propagation
The germplasm, collected from different regions is conserved in the garden.
Simultaneously, phonological observations are recorded for these plants. Superior plants
are selected on the basis of growth and economic yield and propagation techniques are
developed for superior types. The planting material of these plants are made available to
interested researchers, farmers and other organizations.
Cultivation
The cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) is being undertaken at
the Farm Sites of the institute. The soil of the site generally falls in the category of
alkaline soils, found abundantly in this part of the country. The group is working on
development of agro-techniques for cultivation of MAPs in different cropping systems
with main emphasis on various inter-cropping models with trees, shrubs and herbs
adopting the principles of organic farming. The group also provides technical know-how
and support by way of supply of good quality, genuine planting material to entrepreneurs
as well as researchers.
The agro-technology for cultivation of some of the promising species has been
standardized by the institute. The prominent among these include Abelmoschus
moschatus, Ammi majus, Asparagus racemosus, Chamomilla recutita (Chamomile),
Curcuma sp., Cymbopogon sp., Desmodium gangeticum, Hemidesmus indicus, Pueraria
tuberosa, Mucuna pruriens, Ocimum sp., Polianthes tuberosa, Rosa damascena, Ureria
picta, and Vetiver zizanioides.
B.
Scope of utilizing wastelands
There is great scope of cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants on marginal
soils/ wastelands without disturbing the food priorities for the increasing population of
the country. A large number of species belonging to this category have been screened for
their adaptability and feasibility for large-scale cultivation on alkaline soils, extensively
occurring in the Gangetic alluvial plains of Uttar Pradesh. For utilising these soils,
knowledge about the availability of nutrients, toxic concentrations of elements, soil
microbial population and physical condition of the soil is essential. The cultivation on
these soils requires special agronomic management and amelioration before starting the
cultivation. The plants have varying degree of tolerance to such soils and the cropping
systems shall be adopted accordingly. Therefore, concerted efforts are required for R&D
work on these crops for their cultivation in wastelands to release the ever increasing
pressure on normal soils. Keeping in view the above facts, a number of experiments have
been conducted at NBRI which have revealed the suitability of some of these crops to
sodic soils. The special agronomic management and amelioration is required for these
soils before starting the cultivation.
Under a sponsored project on screening suitable medicinal and aromatic plants for
sodic soils, the field experiments were conducted on 30 medicinal and aromatic crop
plants, at three sites, having 8.47, 8.86 and 9.39 pH. Among the tested medicinal crop
plants, Vacha (Acorus calamus), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Bhringraj (Wedelia
calendulacea), Babchi (Psorelia corylifolia) and Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) were
classified as tolerant to sodic soil conditions. The semi-tolerant crops included Khurasani
ajowain (Hyoscyamus niger), Kasni (Cichorium intybus), Atrilal (Ammi majus), Kewanch
(Mucuna pruriens), Kasoori methi (Trigonella corniculata), Pippali (Piper longum),
Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), Saunf (Foeniculum vulgare), Chandrasoor
(Lepedium sativum), Shatawar (Asparagus racemosus), Isabgol (Plantago ovata),
Shalparni (Desmodium gangeticum) and Gorakhmundi (Spilanthes acmella). Safed
moosali (Chlorophytum borivillianum), Ajmoda (Apium graveolens), Pristhaparni
(Ureria picta), Ajowain (Trachyspermum ammi), Kulanjan (Alpinia galanga), Haldi
group (Curcuma amada, C. longa and C. zeoderia) were found sensitive.
C. Bio-prospecting of Withania somnifera
BIOPROSPECTING OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA
More than 100 accessions were collected from
different geographical locations across India.
These were analyzed for chemo-profiling using
marker compounds (Withaferin A, Withanone,
Withanolide D and Glycowithanolide).
Among these five accessions were distinct in
their
chemo-profiling
and
selected
for
pharmacological studies.
Data from chemo-profiling with marker compounds
Accessions
Withaferin A
Withanone
Withanolide D
Glycowithanolide
Accession-1
++++
++++
-
-
Accession-2
++++
-
-
-
Accession-3
-
++++
-
-
Accession-4
-
-
++++
++++
Experimental
hybrid
++++
++++
++++
-
Pharmacological properties of marker compounds under investigation
Withaferin A
Withanone
Withanolide D
Glycowithanolides
Anti-tumour, Anti inflammatory, Immunosupressive, antiarthritis
Effect on CNS
Antitumour, antiinflammatory, immunosupressant
Immunostimulant, antistress, phagocytotic, antioxidant, antistress
D.
Cropping Systems Research on Medicinal Plants
A significant constraint in commercial cultivation of medicinal and aromatic
plants is availability of cultivable land. In view of the increasing demand for food grains
production with increasing population, there is no scope of bringing cultivable lands
under cultivation of this category of plants. In order to derive maximum benefit of soil
moisture, nutrients and other inputs, medicinal crops can be grown as inter-crops. Intercropping of medicinal crops with crops of same category or with food and vegetable
crops, requiring wider rows or with medicinal and fruit trees will give extra income
without affecting growth and yield of the main crop. Keeping in view the above facts, a
number of experiments have been conducted at NBRI to study the feasibility of their
cultivation in different inter-cropping systems.
Medicinal and aromatic plants for water-logged sites
Acorus calamus (Vacha)
Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi)
Inter-cropping medicinal and aromatic plants
Curcuma longa (Turmeric) grown with Teak
Other MAPs as inter-crop with Teak
Medicinal and aromatic plants for sodic wastelands
Chamomilla recutita (Chamomile): An excellent choice for sodic soils
MAPs growing moderately well in sodic wastelands
Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh)
Asparagus racemosus (Shatawari)
MAPs growing moderately well in sodic wastelands
Mucuna pruriens (Kewanch)
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)