Marketing Of Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Supply of Medicinal Raw Materials

The growth of the manufacturing sector in Ayurveda seems to be slowing down in the Indian state of Kerala as the prices of raw materials have increased inordinately, challenging the sustainability of ayurvedic drug production. Several reasons are responsible; in particular, the dwindling availability of plants, the excessive complexity of supply chains, the growing distances between plant sources and manufacturing units, and the control over the medicinal plant market by powerful middlemen. Substitution, adulteration, and quality control have become sensitive issues and may eventually damage the reputation of the ayurvedic drug sector in a context of high competition between manufacturers. Cultivating medicinal plants is considered to be the main solution for solving the supply crisis, but manufacturers’ demands are often too constraining for cultivators and this may not be such a viable alternative in a context of continuous modernisation efforts for production efficiency.

Perspectives and Possibilities for Development of Rural Areas in Vojvodina Through the Sector of Non-Wood Forest Products

Community living in the forest areas in and around them, often relies on non-wood forest products (NWFPs) for the purpose of personal existence. Although NWFPs are not fully involved in the economic development programs in most states, however, they provide significant cost benefits for rural entrepreneurs across the country. This is confirmed by the growing domestic and international demand for NWFPs is growing and forestry sector gets a new awareness of their importance. Aim of research is to examine the possibilities of developing the sector of NWFPs in Vojvodina, through the analysis of small and medium enterprises engaged in purchasing, processing and marketing of NWFPs. For the purpose of the research was analyzed fifteen enterprises engaged in purchasing, processing and marketing of NWFPs in Vojvodina. The method applied in this research was the modeling method, trend analysis, regression and correlation analysis. For testing the correlation coefficient and the parameter used is the F test and t-test, with significance level I± = 0.05. From research techniques applied to the survey in questionnaire with the interview. On the area of Vojvodina in NWFPs sector dominate small family businesses, primarily focused on honey production and processing and marketing of medicinal plants. Based on the trend analysis it is shown a positive trends in the purchase and sale of processed products, which indicates the existence of potential and real possibilities for starting small and medium enterprises in this part of Serbia. In recent years, domestic and international demand for NWFPs is growing and forestry sector gets a new awareness of their importance. In addition to providing a variety of economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits for society in general, NWFPs also play an important role in the life of local communities that rely on wood as their main source of income Also, raw material availability and diversity that characterizes the region of Vojvodina, encourages especially the rural population to focus on the collection of NWFPs in nature offer them on the market. This opens up the possibility of launching rural entrepreneurship based on NWFPs and indirectly to poverty reduction in rural areas.

IN VIVO AND IN VITRO RAPD ANALYSIS IN APOCYNACEAE FAMILY: POPULATION GROWING IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF RAJASTHAN, INDIA

The present investigation included five samples hence, PCR - based DNA fingerprinting namely RAPD analysis was done to establish the relationship between the selected species of Rajasthan , India and in vivo and in vitro comparison of the same species. The RAPD analysis was conducted after isolation and purification the DNA of the all sample. In the present studies, the in vivo accessions of both plant samples 1, 2, 3, 5 and 2, 3, 4, 5 were collected from different geographical locat ions of Rajasthan, India which tend to accumulate genetic variations during the course of environmental adaptations. This Genetic diversity is also of great importance to the sustainability of plant population as there is a possibility of free or random po llen flow and fertilization. The identification of desert plants is crucial for their preservation and sustainable use, as well as to prevent forgery in the marketing of medici nal plants. Expected chemicals in the herbal plant targeted for medicinal use co uld vary with the genomic or environmental variability of the species.

Commercial cultivation by farmers of medicinal plants in northern Bangladesh

Medicinal plants (MPs) are an important component of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), which are traditionally used in healthcare and source of livelihood all over the world. In an over-populated country like Bangladesh, the pressure on natural forests is immense; thus the cultivation of MPs can significantly contribute towards improving the livelihood of poor people, reducing the pressure on natural forests and enhancing biological diversity. Notwithstanding the growing recognition of its importance and economic and ecological potential, there has been little research on MPs, especially the cultivation, management and marketing aspects, in Bangladesh. Based on extensive fieldwork in a northern district of Bangladesh, this study explores various aspects of the cultivation, management and marketing of MPs. How collective efforts have brought economic and social benefits to communities was also examined in this study. It assesses the major processes and elements of management, identifies key problems and challenges and indicates ways of maximizing the potential of this important sector. The issues covered in this research include: farmers ’ perceptions and experiences; existing research and policy-making processes related to the MP sector; constraining factors (such as lack of processing technology, inadequate transportation, logistics, financial and storage infrastructure, lack of institutional capacity); markets, finance and networking; land use; pattern of livelihood and value chain issue.

Use and management of traditional medicinal plants by Maale and Ari ethnic communities in southern Ethiopia

BackgroundAround 80% of the people of Ethiopia are estimated to be relying on medicinal plants for the treatment of different types of human health problems. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyse the use and management of medicinal plants used for the treatment of human health problems by the Maale and Ari communities in southern Ethiopia.MethodsQuantitative and qualitative ethnobotanical field inquiries and analytical methods including individual and focus group discussions (18), observations, individual interviews (n = 74), preference ranking and paired comparison were used. Data were collected in three study sites and from two markets; the latter surveyed every 15 days from February 2011 to February 2012.ResultsA total of 128 medicinal plant species, belonging to 111 genera and 49 families, used as herbal medicine by Maale and Ari communities were documented. Predominantly harvested plant parts were leaves, which are known to have relatively low impact on medicinal plant resources. Species with high familiarity indices included Solanum dasyphyllum, Indigofera spicata, Ruta chalepensis, Plumbago zeylanica and Meyna tetraphylla. Low Jaccards similarity indices (≤ 0.33) indicated little correspondence in medicinal plant use among sites and between ethnic communities. The dominant ways of medicinal plant knowledge acquisition and transfer is vertical: from parents to children through oral means. Gender and site significantly influenced the number of human medicinal plants known currently in the study sites. Age was only a factor of significance in Maale. Marketing of medicinal plants harvested from wild and semi-wild stands is not common. Expansion of agricultural land and lack of cultivation efforts by local communities are mentioned by locals to affect the availability of medicinal plant resources.ConclusionS. dasyphyllum, I. spicata, P. zeylanica, M. tetraphylla, and Oxalis radicosa need to be considered for phytochemical and pharmacological testing to verify their efficacy and determine their dosages. Land use planning and development initiatives in the area and beyond need to sharply focus on strategies that could alleviate the major threats affecting medicinal plant resources in the landscape and encourage their cultivation to enhance their availability and complement ex-and in-situ conservation.

Economics of Production and Marketing of important Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has a rich diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants. These plants have good potential of generating income. Owing to its natural habitat the economics of production of some important medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), has been examined based on the field level information from the state of Himachal Pradesh. This study was designed to appraise multistage random sampling technique to select the sample of 50 farmers cultivating MAPs. Local and distant markets were selected purposively for conducting marketing study. A total sample of five traders from local markets and five wholesalers from Amritsar market was drawn randomly from the selected markets dealing in MAPs. Cost of cultivation of these medicinal plants was calculated and the financial tools like NPV, BCR, and IRR were applied to determine the financial feasibility of the plantations. The analysis revealed that the net return per hectare was maximum from Stevia ( 173627.29), followed by Safed Musli ( 85462.01), Aloe vera ( 63832.29) and Lemon grass ( 43325.69). The benefit–cost ratio was found to be in the similar trend i.e., Safed Musli (1.30), followed by Stevia (1.27), Aloe vera (1.22) and Lemon grass (1.19). However, the internal rate of return was found to be highest in case of Lemon grass (40%), followed by Aloe vera (36%) and Stevia (32%). Hence the cultivation of MAPs seems to have good returns which farmers can opt instead of growing other plants.

Economic effectiveness of mechanized harvesting of chamomile

Summary Chamomile as a medicinal and aromatic plant is very important as a valuable product in the world market of medicinal plants. Regardless of that, there have been only a few researches so far concerning economic effects of its production. Costs of chamomile harvesting require special attention as these costs, as a rule, account for a major portion in the structure of total costs. The aim of this paper is to show when it is economically justified to substitute hand harvesting by machine harvesting as well as to determine the largest possible investment in purchasing different harvesters for chamomile harvesting. For that purpose were used enterprise budgeting (analytical calculations) of chamomile production, calculations of costs of agricultural machinery, as well as dynamic methods for investment evaluation (present value method). It was determined that it is economically justified to substitute hand harvesting with mechanized harvesting of chamomile on land area of over 2.5, i.e. 4 ha of chamomile, depending on the harvester type. If harvesters are used on land areas smaller than this economical effectiveness of the investments in purchasing them, i.e. their present value, depends on the harvester type and the land area on which chamomile is grown.

Quantifying the domestic market in herbal medicine in Benin, West Africa

Ethnopharmacological relevanceHerbal medicine markets are essential in understanding the importance of medicinal plants amongst a country's inhabitants. They are also instrumental in identifying plant species with resource management priorities. To document the diversity of the medicinal plant market in Benin (West Africa), to quantify the weight of traded species in order to evaluate their economic value, and to make a first assessment of their vulnerability for commercial extraction. Materials and methodsWe quantitatively surveyed 22 market stalls of 16 markets in the country's eight largest urban areas. We collected all plant (parts) following standard botanical methods and recorded uses, prices and local names, and weighed and counted the numbers of sales units. ResultsWe recorded 307 medicinal products corresponding to ca. 283 species. Thirty-five species were encountered in at least 25% of the surveyed stalls, from which ten are locally endangered or red-listed by the IUCN. Examples of vulnerable species included Caesalpinia bonduc, which has been declared extinct in the wild but is largely cultivated in home gardens, and was exploited for its seeds, roots, and leaves, and Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides which was harvested for its bark, roots, and leaves. Other top-selling fruits and seeds included red-listed species: Monodora myristica, Xylopia aethiopica, and Schrebera arborea. Top-selling woody plant parts included the roots of Sarcocephalus latifolius, Mondia whitei, and the barks of Khaya senegalensis and Pteleopsis suberosa. All but Sarcocephalus latifolius and Pteleopsis subersosa were species with some threat status. Plants sold at the market were mainly used for ritual purposes, women's health, and to treat malaria and its symptoms. ConclusionOur results suggest that the domestic medicinal plant market in Benin is of substantial economic importance. A volume of approximately 655 metric tons worth 2.7 million USD is offered for sale annually. Traditional spiritual beliefs seem to be a major driving force behind the trade in herbal medicine.

Trends in the marketing of some important medicinal plants in Uttarakhand, India

Cultivation of threatened medicinal plants and sustainable harvesting of minor forest products is important for the conservation of rare species and improvement of rural economies. An analysis of the trends in marketing of four medicinal plants was conducted in Uttarakhand, India from 2007 to 2010; two cultivated (Saussurea lappa and Picrorhiza kurrooa), and two off-farm harvested medicinal plants (Sapindus mukorossi and Cinnamomum tamala). Data on volumes harvested and marketed was obtained from the Herbal Research and Development Institute and the Herbal Pharmaceutical Development Unit. Despite the low volume produced from the two cultivated species (on average 4.19 MT/year) compared to over 600.00 MT/year for the two off-farm species, they were marketed at better prices as compared to the off-farm harvested species: about 3.0 US$/kg as opposed to almost 0.50 $/kg. The total annual value of the cultivated species was almost 11.000 $/year and 290.000 US$ for the off-farm harvested species (based on sustainable use levels).In general, harvesting rates of all selected species increased in the years studied. The cultivated Saussurea lappa and Picrorhiza kurrooa are among the rare but globally significant medicinal plants, therefore, cultivation of these herbs is important for their conservation. Considerable quantities of Sapindus mukorossi and Cinnamomum tamala are marketed and these species seems to be pivotal for improvement of the rural economy.Little information is available on the policies for documentation of cultivation, sustainable harvesting, and trends in the marketing of medicinal plants from Indian Himalayan region (IHR). This communication is therefore important to understand the trends in the use of the selected species in the Uttarakhand, IHR.

Disponibilidade de nutrientes e elementos potencialmente tóxicos para as plantas de hissopo em solo arenoso sob adubação mineral e orgânica

The technologies developed for agricultural production in recent years have faced constant pressure between the increase of production with a sustainable development. Co-products such as swine waste are generally used for soils fertilization. The use of this waste has presented great acceptance by farmers, being used mainly in crops and pastures. However, the inappropriate use of those wastes, results in toxicity for the plant. Nowadays, the scientific study with medicinal plants present itself in constant growth, once that the population demonstrates a tendency for natural or herbal treatments. Consequently, the market for medicinal plants tends to improve their production technologies, looking for higher productions, with high quality and sustainability. The hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), is a shrub originated from Europe, its leaves, flowers and stems are used as pharmaceutical raw materials, with antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antitussive and expectorant proprieties, beyond antispasmodic effects. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of minerals and the heavy metals in hyssop plants subjected to different treatments with organic and mineral fertilization on sandy soil. The treatments were arranged in factorial scheme (2x3), in complete randomized design (CRD), with 2 types of fertilizers (organic and mineral) and 3 doses of fertilization (without fertilization, the recommended dose and the double recommended dose), totalizing 6 treatments with 4 replications. The results demonstrate that in sandy soils, the organic fertilization provides higher levels of P, Ca and Zn, while cultivation with mineral fertilizer promoted the accumulation of K, Fe and Mn in plant tissue.

The Expanding Market for Herbal, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants In Nigeria and the International Scene

Herbal, medicinal and aromatic plants (HMAP) are popular sources of materials used in alternative medicine, new drugs and other products used for health care. The trade in HMAP, especially medicinal plants (MP), is expanding into new market segments whether as herbal components of health foods or preventative medicines. They are processed into varying products which address similar diseases to which over-the-counter (OTC) medications are applied. This paper attempts a review of the global market for HMAP products focusing on product identification and classification, size and scope of the market, standards and regulations and key players in the global trade. Despite the problem encountered in classifying some traditional products of MP, fortified foods and dietary supplements as “food supplements” or “phyto-medicines,” one popular basis for classification of HMAP products is the purpose of use. Another classification used when considering export of HMAP products is the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding (HCDC) system which uses an internationally standardized tariff nomenclature for traded commodities. The market for HMAP products is a relatively young, emerging and small one in Nigeria and there is difficulty in establishing for the market, a reasonable monetary value. The Nigerian HMAP product market is dichotomized into two distinct categories of suppliers; local producers and those distributing imported products. While local producers offer products claimed to have the potency to treat some disease conditions addressed by OTC drugs, distributors of imported HMAP products usually market dietary supplements. At the global level also, there is a small but growing niche market for HMAP products which was valued at about USD13 billion in 2010. In both Nigeria and the global scene, there is the tendency for the market for HMAP products to continue to grow due to increasing consumer preference for natural, healthy, sustainably produced and fairly traded products over synthetic ones. Even though standards and regulations for HMAP products market are still not fully developed, they have been established and are operational in countries such as Canada, China, Nigeria and USA. A significant and commendable stride is being made by the European Union in establishing standards and regulations governing the market for HMAP products. These standards and regulations encompass good manufacturing practice relating to medicinal products which are meant especially for human and veterinary use.

Innovative Farmer Institutions and Market Imperfections

The herbal sector, as it is currently structured, is unable to improve the living standards of the underprivileged communities, who are the gatherers of the medicinal plants, The role of grass-roots organisations and rural networks to reduce transaction costs and enhance market coordination, has been object of study in different sectors but there is a gap in the literature in the herbal sector. The article portraits the supply relations in the medicinal plant market and suggests to promote medicinal plant enterprises such as Gram Mooligai Company Limited (GMCL), the first community based enterprise active in the herbal sector. Lessons to promote a more equitable sharing of benefits in the sector, to reform the supply chain and to promote new forms of partnership between ayurvedic firms and communities are discussed.

Comercialização de plantas medicinais no contexto da cadeia produtiva em Minas Gerais

A Política Nacional de Práticas Integrativas e Complementares no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) contribuiu para o incremento do uso e conhecimento das plantas medicinais brasileiras, incentivando e respaldando o cultivo por agricultores familiares e a inserção no mercado. O Programa de Desenvolvimento de Plantas Medicinais prioriza ações em toda a cadeia produtiva do cultivo à distribuição. O conhecimento da demanda e dos padrões de qualidade adequados permite que distribuidores e consumidores possam tomar decisões sobre a aquisição e oferta dos produtos medicinais. Entretanto, há carência de informações e tecnologias na cadeia produtiva, o que desfavorece o seu pleno desenvolvimento, condizente com o potencial de geração de renda e promoção da saúde. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar e analisar o padrão atual de obtenção e comercialização de plantas medicinais no Mercado Central de Belo Horizonte. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com amostra representativa de 9 comerciantes das 23 lojas de plantas medicinais do Mercado Central, de acordo com o critério de acessibilidade descrito por Berquó. Os resultados demonstraram a precariedade desse setor quanto à obtenção das plantas medicinais, principalmente pela falta de conhecimento e informações na aquisição e venda dos produtos pelos consumidores e vendedores, respectivamente.

Structure, control and regulation of the formal market for medicinal plants' products in Nigeria

There are informal and formal markets for medicinal plants' products in Nigeria. The formal market is subject to the national regulatory framework for Food and Drug Administration and Control. It is relatively new and underdeveloped. This study was designed to appraise this market with special emphasis on the market participants, market structure, marketing functions performed, conduct of sellers in the market and; standards and regulations to which the market is subject. Information used for this study was collected through personal interviews and interactions with key participants in the market; especially the officials of regulatory agency. The market structure was analysed in terms of the share of market controlled by participants and product types. Concentration Ratios (CR2 and CR4) were used to assess the market share. Marketing functions being performed were described in terms of the exchange, physical and facilitating functions while the conduct was described in terms of pricing and promotional strategies. The regulatory framework under which the market operates was appraised. The market was highly concentrated with a CR2 and CR4 of 58.5% and 80.8 %; respectively. Imported products accounted for only 12.3% of the market. The predominant modes of presentation of the product were capsule (41.6%) and liquid (36.2%). About 20.77% of the products were classified as multivitamins, 13.85% were antibiotics while 10.77% addressed sexual dysfunctional problems. These products were regulated under the Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) decrees, 1993-1999. Only 2.3% of the products have received full registration status while the others were only listed.

The present status of Medicinal Plants in Bangladesh

In an estimate, the international market of medicinal plants related to trade stood at 60 billion US Dollar per year. The demand for medicinal plants based raw materials are growing at an approximate rate of 10-15% per year internationally. Medicinal plant sector has traditionally occupied an important position in the socio-cultural, spiritual and medicinal arena of rural and tribal lives of Bangladesh. In recent years, the growing demand for herbal product has led to a quantum jumping in volume of plants materials trade within and across the country. Bangladesh there is no systematic cultivation process or conservation strategies about medicinal plants. The local people conserve traditional knowledge through their experience and practice, which is handed down orally without any documentation. This knowledge now under threat to extinction. This is a very alarming situation with regard to natural growth of medicinal plants in the wilderness in this country. In this scenario, the survey on “Traditional and industrial use and market Scenario of Medicinal plants in Bangladesh.” has been conducted by the DEBTEC researchers at Chakbazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. We have found that there is worth of 11 million US dollars medicinal plant market in Bangladesh, which have been imported but not in the name of medicinal plants rather in the name of spices and other products. This research aimed at documenting the ‘Present Status and Market Scenario of Medicinal Plants’ in Bangladesh. Our research finding shows that 84.1% of the respondent use medicinal plants in health care. 18.3% of the villagers use Kabirazi in the disease in medium category.55.0% of our respondent’s source of knowledge of using medicinal plant is family where 34.7% gained knowledge from neighbor. Only 14.3% of the respondents are involved with trading of medicinal plant. About 10.4% of the villagers are involved in cultivation, collection or business of medicinal plant. From the survey report it has been found that 46.6% industries are using above 60% of imported medicinal plants as their raw materials and 53.3% of the industries are using below 40%. The study revealed that 86.7% industries are importing Indian raw materials, 53.3% are importing the Pakistani one and very few of them are importing the raw materials from Nepal, Iran and Korea. According to the response of shop owners, the local raw materials of their products are mostly coming from 5 different areas of the country. Among those 90% are coming from Chittagong and again 76.6% from Tangail, 30% from Gazipur and another 30% from Khulna. In this scenario, appropriate steps must therefore be taken immediately in order to save this situation with regard to growth, conservation and supply of medicinal plants in the country. The best possible way of doing this is to bringing this more and more of these plants under planned cultivation. The cultivation of medicinal plants in Bangladesh will lead to the conservation and also protect the biodiversity. Ecological and biotic factors are suitable in Bangladesh for the cultivation of medicinal plants. We have been successful to sensitize the policy makers. In Bangladesh there is no facilities and skilled manpower for the processing of MPs. Our research is now aiming to develop processing unit and to train the garden owner for skilled manpower to value addition of MP, which will create the income generating women in rural areas.

Ethnopharmaceutically important medicinal plants and its utilization in traditional system of medicine, observation from the Northern Parts of Pakistan.

Wild medicinal plants gathering for the treatment of various human ailments is an ancient tradition that has endured in mountainous areas of Pakistan. In order to understand the pattern and uses of plants, a study on the Ethnopharmaceutically important medicinal plants of Shawar valley, District Swat was conducted during summer 2008. Information’s about these plant resources were collected through semi-structured interviews, field observation and group discussion. In order to documents the preset use of medicinal plants growing in and around the study area an elderly person up to age group 60 was mostly interviewed. The study revealed that 87 plants species of 58 families of having ethnomedicinal importance. There were 50 Dicotyledonous families, 3 Monocotyledons families (Aliaceae, Iridacea and Poaceae), 2 Gymnosperms families (Pinaceae and Taxaceae) 2 Pteridophytes families (Polypodiaceae and Pteridaceae) and family Halvelaceae of fungi. These species were used for the curing of various human ailments in indigenous system of medicines. Some plants are used singly while many others are used in combination with other plants or edible items. Similarly, few plants species are considered for the treatment of only one specific disease while several other have multiple such medicinal uses. These are mostly used for the curing of gastro-intestinal problems, emmenagogue and antispasmodic and also for general body tonic. The detail local uses, local method of recipe preparation and application along with their local name and disease treated were reported for each species. The study also observed that the availability of pharmaceutically and therapeutically important MAP species is declining and the number of rare and threatened species among the MAPs is increasing in the area. Further study is, therefore, required to quantify the availability of species and to suggest suitable method for their production and conservation. Recommendations are, therefore, given in the spheres of training in identification, sustainable collection, value addition, trade monitoring and cooperative system of marketing of medicinal plants.

Standardization of Cassia spectabilis with Respect to Authenticity, Assay and Chemical Constituent Analysis

Quality control standardizations of the various medicinal plants used in traditional medicine is becoming more important today in view of the commercialization of formulations based on these plants. An attempt at standardization of Cassia spectabilis leaf has been carried out with respect to authenticity, assay and chemical constituent analysis. The authentication involved many parameters, including gross morphology, microscopy of the leaves and functional group analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The assay part of standardization involved determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract which could help assess the chemical effects and establish curative values. The MIC of the C. spectabilis leaf extracts was investigated using the Broth Dilution Method. The extracts showed a MIC value of 6.25 mg/mL, independent of the extraction time. The chemical constituent aspect of standardization involves quantification of the main chemical components in C. spectabilis. The GCMS method used for quantification of 2,4-(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione in the extract was rapid, accurate, precise, linear (R2 = 0.8685), rugged and robust. Hence this method was suitable for quantification of this component in C. spectabilis. The standardization of C. spectabilis is needed to facilitate marketing of medicinal plants, with a view to promoting the export of valuable Malaysian Traditional Medicinal plants such as C. spectabilis.

Global challenges of graduate level Ayurvedic education: A survey

In the present day scenario, Ayurveda is globally being perceived in several contradictory ways. Poor quality of Ayurveda graduates produced as a result of poorly structured and poorly regulated education system is at least one of the important factors responsible for this scenario. The present study was carried out to evaluate the ‘Global challenges of graduate level Ayurvedic education’ and is based on the responses of Ayurvedic students and Ayurvedic teachers from various educational institutions of India to a methodically validated questionnaire. As the study indicates, the poor standard of Ayurvedic education in India is definitely a cause of concern. The curriculum of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course of studies is required to be reviewed and restructured. The syllabi are required to be updated with certain relevant topics like laws governing the intellectual property rights, basic procedures of standardization of medicinal products, fundamental methods of evaluating the toxicity of the medicinal products, essentials of healthcare management and the basics of cultivation and marketing of medicinal plants. Furthermore, the study suggests that the Ayurvedic academicians are required to be trained in standard methods of research and documentation skills, and the educational institutions are required to be encouraged to contribute their share in building up the evidence base for Ayurveda in the form of quality education and research.

Market efficiency and benefit distribution in medicinal plant markets: empirical evidence from South Asia

A large number of people rely on medicinal plants for maintaining their health and treating diseases. Official data on medicinal plant markets are, however, virtually non-existent and available local-level case studies do not allow generalisations. This study investigates the market efficiency and benefit distribution in the Nepal–India medicinal plant market by building a national-level dataset along the market chain from harvester in Nepal to regional wholesaler in India. Data were collected using open-ended questionnaires administered to medicinal plant harvesters (n = 639), traders (n = 166) and central wholesalers (n = 90) in 15 districts in Nepal and regional wholesalers (n = 53) in India. Results show indications of market inefficiency; there are spatial arbitrage opportunities and skewed distribution of net marketing margins. Harvesters operate with net margins at 34–55% of the Indian wholesaler price, while net margins for traders and central wholesalers are − 5–20% and 25–36%, respectively. There seems to be an exploitative relationship between central wholesalers and traders. The average annual value of unprocessed medicinal plant exports from Nepal is estimated at PPP US$39–159 million, making this the country's fifth most important export commodity; only a third of the potential government revenue is collected. It is argued that medicinal plants are currently neglected in national development interventions and policies in Nepal.

Premature harvesting of wild Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum, Baker) and its impact on raw material quality: A case of Katni forest division, Madhya Pradesh

Katni is a major raw medicinal plant market of Central India. An attempt has been made to find out prevalent harvesting method of Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) and visual inspection of raw (dry) market samples collected from Katni market. Musli tubers were found adulterated both intentionally and unintentionally by various stakeholders in the market. The stakeholders adopted malpractices like selling similar looking C. tuberosum, C. arundinaceum species of musli along with genuine (C. borivilianum) material and occasionally dried roots of different species. Major reasons for poor quality in the study area are premature root harvesting, mis-identification of species, mixing of similar looking species etc. The study recommends that harvesting should be done after maturation (November) and awareness about species identification, processing among various stakeholders is required.