Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

Cultivation in Semi Arid Regions

Principal Investigator:

Dr. M. Aravindakshan, Coordinator, Centre for Environmental Studies

Advisory Board

-Nil-

Last Review

January 25, 2006 (NMPB Nodal Officer & Team)

Campus

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ettimadai

School

Centre for Environmental Studies

Department

Duration

3 years

Executive Summary

Developed countries are showing rising interest in Indian herbal products in food supplements, cosmetics and intermediates, allopathic drugs (phytopharmaceuticals).  India is a major herbal plants source having a veritable treasure with other natural resources.  Medicinal plants biodiversity is increasingly threatened by various environmental, socio-economical and institutional problems.  Conservation of medicinal plants is therefore the foremost important measure in protecting our medicinal plants biodiversity.  

At the Centre for Environmental Studies, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ettimadai Campus, Tamil Nadu, India the project work started with the objectives of ex-situ cultivation and evaluation on Ayurvedic medicinal plants at the semi-arid regions of Western Ghats.  Production of large quantity of planting material is also contemplated.  Since the onset of the project during November 2004, suitable medicinal crops have been identified by plantation trails, establishment of nursery with polyhouses, mist irrigation facilities, etc.,  Conservation of severely exploited plants like Aloe vera and other endangered plants has been carried out.  

Some of the promising herbs suited to the agroclimate situations of Ettimadai are:
1)	Aloe vera (kattarvazha)
2)	Withania somnifera (Amukkuram)
3)	Centella asiatica (Vallarai)
4)	Aegle marmelos (Vilvam)
5)	Tinospora cordifolia (Chitamaruthu)
6)	Glorisosa superba (Gloriosa lily)
7)	Ocimum sanctum (Thulasi)
8)	Andrographis paniculata (Kiriyathu / Nilavembu)
9)	Piper longum (Thipili)
10)	Curcuma aromatica (kasthrui manjal)
11)	Kampferia rotunda (Chenghzuneerkizhangu)
12)	Kampferia galanga (Kacholam)
13)	Asparagus racemosus (Satavari)
14) Caesalpinia sappan (Sappan wood)
In these regions, medicinal plants are not suitable under open conditions.  They can be grown as intercrop in Tree plantations, coconut gardens etc., Medicinal trees, shrub and herbal combination is the best for adoption.

Funding Sponsor

National Medicinal Plants Board - Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, GOI, New Delhi

Books & Publications

Growth of Pongamia glabra seedlings under different soil condition, In: Ecology, Diversity and Conservation of Plants and Ecosystems in India (Eds. H.N. Pandey & S.K. Barik ), Regency Publishers, New Delhi, pp. 190-196 (Book chapter), Bamboo seeds as a means to sustenance of the indigenous community. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 6(1), January 2007, pp. 204-216 (research article), “Pathimukam: dye yielding plantation tree” Science & Technology (Supplement to The Hindu, Daily Magazine) September 7, 2006 issue (Popular article)

Patents

-Nil-

Presentations

Conservation of Medicinal Plants for their sustainability: Challenges and Strategies for improvement. National Conference on ‘Forest Biodiversity Resources: Exploitation, Conservation & Management’, Centre for Biodiversity & Forest Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai March 21-22, 2006.

Website

http://www.amrita.edu/ces

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