9. Status of medicinal plants in India

In India, medicinal plants are widely used by all sections of the population and it has been estimated that, in total over 7500 species of plants are used by several ethnic communities (AICEP 1994; Anthropological survey of India 1994).

Presently, medicinal plants play a very important role in the modern economy. NTFPs account for 70% of India’s forest product exports and the demand for phytochemicals is expected to increase in future as a new frontier for trade. India has probably the oldest, richest and most diverse cultural traditions in the use of medicinal plants (Table 9).

Table 9. Medicinal plants: species diversity and representative species of different biogeographic zones of India (Ved et al. 2001)

Exploration for forest-based plant products for new pharmaceuticals and the demand for medicinal plants are increasing in both developing and developed countries especially among the youth (Farnsworth and Soejarto 1991). Surprisingly, the bulk of the traded material is still from the wild and a very small number of species are cultivated. According to the data compiled by the International Trade Centre, Geneva, India is ranked second amongst the exporting countries, after China, with an annual export of 326 000 tonnes with a value of Rs 45.95 million (about US$ 1.4 million) during 1992-95. Recent trends have indicated further increase in this trade with the herbal cosmetic industry playing a major role in fuelling the demand for herbals worldwide. In addition to the international trade, there is a substantial volume of internal trade in medicinal plants in India. One estimate (Ved 1997; Ved et al. 2001) has projected the turnover of the herbal industry in India to be Rs 4000 million (about US$ 88 million) for the year 2000. The expanding trade in medicinal plants has serious implications on the survival of several plant species, many of which are under threat of becoming extinct. Today this rich biodiversity of medicinal plants is facing a serious threat because of the rapid loss of natural habitats and overexploitation of plants from the wild. To meet the demands of the Indian herbal industry, which has an annual turnover of about US$ 300 million medicinal plants are being harvested every year from some of 165 000 ha of forests (FRLHT 1997).

The following species of medicinal plants from India have been considered to be endangered and threatened for over a decade (Ayensu 1986): Acorus calamus, Alpinia galanga, Commiphora wightii, Dendrobium nobile, Dendrobium pauciflorum, Dioscorea deltoidea, Diplomeris hirsuta, Gentiana kurroo, Nelumbo nucifera, Paphiopedilum druryi, Podophyllum hexandrum, Rauvolfia serpentina, Santalum album and Saussurea lappa. A very large number of other species of medicinal plants can be added to this list, for example Saraca asoca, Picrorrhiza kurroa, Costus speciosus, Berberis aristata, Gloriosa superba, etc.

The Medicinal Plant Specialist Group met in September 1996 in Nairobi and resolved to identify the ‘Top 50’ medicinal plant species for conservation. The Group listed five steps to identify both global and regional priority species. The Indian Subcontinent Plant Specialist Group that met in January 1998, identified the following species of medicinal plants for detailed study and protection: Abrus precatorius, Adhatoda vasica, Centella asiatica, Costus speciosus, Gloriosa superba, Rauvolfia serpentina, Saraca asoca, Streblus asper, Tribulus terrestris and Withania somnifera.

State Forest Departments (SFDs) of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, in consultation with the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT) and with the support of DANIDA and UNDP have established 54 forest genebank sites called Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas (MPCA). The network of 54 MPCAs, measuring 200 ha to 500 ha each, has been established gradually since 1993 and represents all forest types with large bio-climatic and soil regime variation. These gene banks harbour 45% of recorded populations of flowering and medicinal plants of Peninsular India, including 70% of the red-listed. The intra-specific diversity, that is germplasm conserved in the MPCA network can be used to provide authenticated quality planting material for commercial cultivation to meet rising demands of the herbal industry. MPCAs also constitute ‘study sites’ for threatened species recovery research. MPCAs have proved crucial in capacity building of forestry staff, local communities and researchers in the conservation of medicinal plants for sustainable use and equitable benefit sharing. This experience can help in implementing plans and programmes under the Biological Diversity Act 2002, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and Medicinal Plants Board. Various states have established Medicinal Plan Boards to improve the status of existing medicinal plants in their respective areas either by in situ or ex situ conservation.

9.1. Conservation and cultivation strategies for medicinal plants

Since the beginning of this century, more than half of the world’s tropical forest area has been destroyed. Experts estimate that only 5-10% of all plants in the world have been systematically investigated for their pharmacological activity. Many of them are threatened in the tropical forest. A strong strategy in terms of conservation through biotechnology and legal matters has to be developed. Institutes of ICFRE have established herbaria and medicinal plant gardens and developed packages for cultivation of economically important medicinal plants with modern techniques including tissue culture, and genetic engineering. To address the need for conservation of native medicinal plant species of India, the country needs to establish a network of forest sites across the biogeographic regions of the country. However, a network of in situ (field) genebanks, in the forest habitats is the most cost-effective way to manage the intra- and interspecific diversity. Various institutes under ICFRE are working on specific species for the conservation of germplasm.