MEDICINAL PLANT VARIETIES RELEASED FROM

KAU

HORT.3206

INTRODUCTION-Medicinal plants constitute an important

component of the plant resource spectrum of Kerala. It is estimated that out of 4600 flowering plants ,about 900 possess medicinal values.

-About 60-65% of plants required for ayurvedic medicines and almost 80% of plants used in Sidha medicine are found in forest of kerala.

-The demand for Ayurvedic medicine in the state is growing at a compound rate of 10-12% per annum.

-Govt of Kerala through Department of Agriculture is supporting cultivation of medicinal plants.

YEAR AREA

2012-13 2,378 Ha

2011-12 2,006 Ha

KAU RELEASED VARIETIESKAU has released 8 varieties:

1.KACHOLAM-Kasthuri & Rajani

2.ADAPATHIYAN-Jeeva

3.CHETHIKODUVELI-Agni & Mridula

4.ADALOTAKAM-Ajagandhi & Vasika

5.THIPALLI-Viswam

KACHOLAM (Galanga)Scientific name-kaempferia galanga LinnFamily-Zingiberaceae

Part used-Leaves, Rhizome

Medicinal Properties & use

-Respiratory ailment :Cough ,bronchitis & asthma.

-carminative &expectorant.-Adding rhizome powder in herbal shampoo

helps to prevent dandruff.-Administering dry rhizome powder mixed

with honey can prevent vomiting.-For tooth ache ,apply rhizome pulp on the

gum.

VARIETIESKASTHURI RAJANILeaves-More in no. & larger in size

Leaves-Fewer & small

Rhizome-Light brown & larger in size

Rhizome-Medium bold, creamy white & more in number

Productivity-900 kg /acre dry rhizome

Productivity-870 kg/acre dry rhizome(High oleoresin content- 7.68%)

‘Kasthuri' (left) is a variety highly suited for perfumery, while `Rajani' (right) is best preferred for medicinal value.

ADAPATHIYAN (Holostemma)

Scientific name-Holostemma adakodienFamily-Asclipidaceae

Part used-Root

Medicinal Properties & use-It is useful in opthalmopathy, bronchitis , cough,

burning sensation ,constipation & fever.-It is used in the preparation of VIDARYADI

GANAM,DHANWANDHARAM, BALARISHTA,ANUTHAILA.

-It is useful in eye disease & it imparts resistance to disease.

VARIETIESJEEVA-Clonal Selection -Purple cordate plant type with

long internodes.-High yield of thick, sweet

roots(1.50 t/ ha dry root) ,fresh tuber yield(4.5 t/ha),with high soluble sugar content(8.33%).

CHETHIKODUVELI (Red flowered leadwort)

Scientific name-Plumbago indica linn Plumbago rosea linnFamily-Plumbaginaceae

Part used-Root

Medicinal Properties & use-Esteemed remedy for leucoderma, leprosy &

other skin disease.-Koduveli tubers are effective in piles & skin

diseases.-Preparation “AGNITHUNDIVATI” in which koduveli

is important ingredient is highly effective for problems related to indigestion.

-Effective in piles & skin diseases.-Also used in cancer treatment.

VARIETIESAGNI(2006) MRIDHULA(2006)-Clonal selection -Clonal selection -Higher yield(root)- 2.65t/ha dryHigh plumbagin content 0.80%

-Higher yield(root)-2.94t/ha dry low plumbagin content 0.22%

-suitable for the extraction of plumbagin

-Can be used without curing in the preparation of indigenous medicines

-Robust ,tall plants ,long broad leaves , thick roots.

Medium tall plants ,small leaves , lengthy narrow roots

-Productivity 3400 kg raw roots/acre 1100 kg dry roots/acre

-Productivity 4000 raw roots/acre 1200 dry roots/acre

ADALOTAKAM Scientific name-Adathoda beddomei clarke Family-Acanthaceae

Part used-Root, Leaves, whole plant.

Medicinal Properties & use-The leaf juice mixed with honey can reduce cough.-Inhaling the smoke from burning of dried leaf,

gives relief to asthma.-The leaf juice is used in anaemia and

haemorrhage. -Use of leaf juice and jaggery mixture helps to

control excessive bleeding during menstrual periods.

-Flowers and leaves are considered efficacious against rheumatic painful swellings and form a good application to scabies and other skin complaints.

-The juice of the leaves cures vomiting, thirst, fever, dermatitis, jaundice and diseases due to the morbidity of kapha and pitta.

-Roots form ingredient of several ayurvedic medicines.  

-Formulations: Vasavaleha, Vasarishta, Vasahareethaki, Kanakasava, Visagulachadhikashayam, Punarnavasava

-The shrub is the source of the drug vasaka well known in the indigenous systems of medicines.

- It is a reputed remedy for cough, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory disorders due to its expectorant action.

VARIETIES

AJAGANDHI-Medium tall plants with long and broad

leaves.- High proportion of leaves and preferred

for leaf crop.  - Vasicine content in root - 2.46%. - Productivity: 16 t whole plant /acre(fresh)

   6 t whole plant /acre(dry)

AJAGANDHI

VASIKA-Medium tall plants with long and

narrow leaves. - High proportion of roots and

preferred for root crop.- Vasicine content in root - 2.55%. -Productivity: 14 t whole plant /acre (fresh)              4.5 t  whole plant /acre (dry)

VASIKA

THIPALLI (Long pepper)Scientific name-Piper longum linn Family-Piperaceae

Part used-Root, Dried Spikes.

Medicinal Properties & use-The well known ayurvedic formulations like Trikatu,

Panchakolam etc. contains Thipplai as the main ingredient

-Trikatu contains   Thippali, black pepper and dried gingerPanchakolam  contains Thippali spikes, Thipplai root, Wild Thippali root, Koduveli tubers and dried ginger

-The root and fruit decoction are used in acute and chronic bronchitis and cough.

-2 g thippali fried in ghee, taken twice a day prevents cough.It is useful in relieving cold, headache, arthritic pains, back pain etc.

-Thippali spikes and root detoxifies liver and cures digestive problems.

-It is also used against insomnia, fits etc.

-It is an ingredient of medicinal preparations used to cure fever, jaundice, snake venom, leprosy, kidney problems

etc.

- It also improves eye vision and is effective against night blindness.

-Thippali is also useful as a spice ingredient in food preparations. Addition of Thippali in pickles improves its

shelf life.

-Formulations: Trikatu choornam, Pipalarishta, Pippalyasava, Panchakola, Pippalayadilauha, Lavana bhaskar churam, vyoshativatakam, Abhayarishtam, Drasharishtam, Chyavanaprasham,Agastyarasayanam,Thaleespatradichoornamm,Karppoorai choornam.

VARIETIESViswam(1996)

-It is a Sri Lankan type.(Chemmathipali)

-Bearing period – 240 to 270 days /year-Yield -800-850 kg dry spikes/ha-300 -350 kg per acre from second year onwards

(Coconut gardens)-Alkaloid content  - 2.83%  

CONCLUSION Scope for commercial cultivation of medicinal plants as per

crop is very much limited in kerala due to the smaller land holding size & high pressure on land.

But medicinal plants fits well into a variety of cropping systems ,ensuring effective harnessing of solar energy & increasing return from unit area to farmers.

Homestead in the state are ideal for cultivating medicinal plants .Many of medicinal plants comes up well in shaded condition & hence can be profitably intercropped in coconut & rubber plantations.

Most profitable medicinal plants are Thippali,vayambu,Sarpagandhi,satavari etc.

More of research work has to be carried out in medicinal plants in order to completely harness the immense benefit associated with the plants.

REFERENCE• Ajithkumar, R. Potential of medicinal

plants.www.oldkerala.gov.in• Agricultural statistics 2012-13,Department of

Economics,Kearala.January 2014,Trivandrum.• Package of practice recommendations,Crops

2011,KAU,Thrisur.

THANK YOU

HASEENA BIBI11-41-323