Collection & Cultivation of Medicinal Plants

Collection and Cultivation of Medicinal Plants

       Record extant from ancient Egypt, Assyria, China and India show that the use of plants for medicinal purpose extends back to earliest recorded history. Indeed their use is probably a natural progression from the instinctiveness of animals to utilize such plants and constitutions a recognition of the complete spectrum of consumable plants, commencing with those that are purely dietary; passing through those food known to be necessary for health (e.g. fresh vegetables, carrots, fruits etc.) on to products consumed in reasonable quantity as food but known to have medicinal effects (e.g. figs, prunes, mucilage acting as mild laxatives) and finally the recognition of purely medicinal plants, some apparently quite ‘safe’ and other more potent, which can be consumed only in small quantity but which at such dosage are suitable for treatment of certain diseases.

         Herbal therapy forms the very basis of treatment in all major indigenous systems of medicine that have been in vogue in our country. Most of the medicaments used in these systems consist solely of herbal ingredients. Unfortunately, we have not so far been able to boost the production of necessary herbs to anywhere near their demand. The problem is not only of production but there are other problems equally knotty which also require utmost attention. These relate to preparation of soil, propagation by vegetative means, collection, drying, storage, identification, gradation and preservation for which proper arrangements do not exist. Pakistan is a big country with varying climatic condition. Plant growth and development, and often the nature and quantity of secondary metabolites, are affected by temperature, rainfall, aspect, length of day (including by growing particular plants in different climatic areas and observing variation; however, it is impossible to control all the variables in such experiments, and special laboratories shall be constructed in which all the factors are independently controllable.

         In Pakistan, different types of herbs abound in different parts of the country. Extensive research is needed to find out the therapeutical value of these herbs. The Unani system of medicine occupy pivotal place in the national health programmes of the country, but these Unani medicines provide medical relief to our vast masses.

         I would therefore, not be an exaggeration if  I write that the Unani system is nearly a national system of medical treatment.The Status of Unani system of medicine is still a vogue. A question arises “whether a Unani system of medicine can be termed as scientific.” In my opinion any standardized action/procedure which is repeated again and again and gives consistently the same in order to prove or disapprove a given hypothesis, can be called a scientific, therefore Unani system of medicine said to be a scientific system of medicine.

         The common man as well as government, would judge Unani system on the basis of the quality of treatment offered. Efficacy of treatment is assessed on the basis of clinical results which is their turn solely depend upon the availability of authentic sample of crude drugs. Even the slightest error in the identification of the crude drugs or preparation made their form would affect efficacy. Such drugs if employed in research or clinical trials would naturally given fully results, thereby marring the image of the Unani system. The identification of drugs, therefore, occupies a pivotal position.

         The plants have played significant role as the basic sources for the establishment of several pharmaceutical industries which are important for establishing and in enhancing the economy of a developing country like Pakistan.    

         The importance of plants as valuable source of medicine in Unani system is well known. Herbalism and folklore medicine have yielded several important therapeutic agents. The development of the industry has been linked with proper elucidation of the structure of plants, drug like morphine, reserpine, salicylic acid, cocain, quinine, atropine, to name a few, which, in turn, have enabled chemist and pharmacist to synthesise some of the important anti-malarial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hypotensive drugs. Chemical, Pharmacological and clinical investigation on more drugs of Unani origin can be expected to lead to the discovery of valuable new drug.

         The World Health Organization has also recognised the important role which the traditional medicine has to play in developing countries.

         In Pakistan, at present plant explorations are being carried out under Forest Department of varies province, the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, in different universities and academic institutions some of them aim at intensive exploration, while other pay attention on selective surveys.

         The greatest handicaps in the Unani Pharmaceutical industry is that there exists no organization at the federal level, which can provide information in respect of plant material requirements of this industry are either arrange by ministerial hands or the industry itself as a consequence of which both the industry as well as foreign exchange suffer. Malpractices are flourishing in such a state of affairs.

         The Unani pharmaceutical industry at the moment in Pakistan is staggering for want of precise, accurate, and dependable information of techno-economic nature in relation to the multitude of drugs used in the Unani Pharmaceutical industry. There is, therefore, need to bring out such information by ledgering existing information provided by research or applied research spheres. This work will obviously have to be undertaken by specialists in collaboration with Hakims and Industries of Unani System of Medicine.

         With a view to properly coordinating import/export collection and cultivation off drugs a commercial wing will have to be organized with the National Council for Tibb and National Institute of Health at the level of Government of Pakistan, so that economic and efficient management is available, through techno-economic guidance.

         Though we have rich vegetable wealth in Pakistan we should have no complacency about its quantum with growing needs the pressure on vegetable drugs has be mounting year after year. The bulk of collections are made from the forests where they are categorized as “minor forest produce” and exploited through contracts. The contract system has the inherent defect that the holder of the contract exploits the lot under the contract to the maximum. In case of medical plants where no working plan is so far its operation in Pakistan, the result has been that forest exploitation has been heavy and fairly large numbers of species are on the verge of extinction. Besides this, forest areas have also diminished. Village lands have considerable shrunk. These factors strongly suggest that cultivation of medicinal plants as well as proper management of wild sources should receive priority of attention in the national interest.

         There is no doubt that there are a number of organizations in the country which claim to look after these activities but the question is which of them and to what extent really does it cater to the needs of Unani Pharmaceutical manufactures. Experience suggests that though the Forest Departments hold the monopoly of release of its medicinal plant wealth, it is a pity that this department has no integration with Unani pharmaceutical manufacture.                

         In the year 1965 the Federal Government allotted an area of ten acres near National Institute of Health to National Council for Tibb with a view to carry out Research on medicinal plants. The botanical garden was set up in 1968 on experimental basis to find out whether the climate of Federal Capital suits various medicinal plants which are important and save lot of foreign exchange. The National Council for Tibb had arranged cultivation of some medicinal plants with successful experiments. The Farm could not be developed further due to the lack of money.

         It would be appropriate to mention some recommendations in relation to collection and cultivation in Botanical garden of National Council for Tibb.

1.         As a first step we should undertake training of village folk in identification of medicinal herb, Proper collection, grading, storage and dissemination of marketing intelligence.

2.        Village co-operative, panchayats and Patwari should be moblised to exploit the plant wealth in their vicinity through the manpower available in the village.
3.         Special attention shall be made, of tribes which are specially suited for the work in high altitudes.
4.         Facilities in the shape of loans grant and subside for collection expenses, equipments, packing material etc. should be provided or extended.
5.         The federal Government should be avail of the assistance of small business corporation and agricultural banks in such programme.
6.         Centers for collection of herbs at leading motor heads should be established.
7.         The National Council for Tibb should be asked to publicise the programme and secure orders for the products.

The Profits of the drug trade should go to:-

1. Regeneration of herb and botanical gardens.
2. Establishment of drug store in public sector.

• Development of Unani system of medicine.

8.        Establishment of nurseries of medicinal herbs for supply of seeds and planting stock following by large scale plantation of fasting selling drugs consumed in the Unani system of medicine.

MUNIR NABI KHAN

President

National Council for Tibb

Islamabad