[MPWG] Re: Medicinal plant Germplasm - food for thought
Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov
Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov
Wed Jan 5 10:50:37 CST 2005
Dear Kamal, et al.,
Because MPWG focuses on sustainable sourcing and conservation of medicinal
plants, I felt compelled to do a quick rundown on the 5 species that Kamal
mentioned in the previous e-mail.
I found an interesting assortment of information that illustrates the
complexity of the medicinal plant issues where sustainable use and
conservation are concerned. I have included excerpts below to demonstrate
the range of issues. This is neither a complete picture nor is it intended
as an endorsement of a specific research program. It's intended as a
starting point to provide food for thought.
I am not certain of the current status of these research efforts today.
Some of the status information comes from van Wyk and Wink's 2004
"Medicinal Plants of the World." Please excuse any errors.
Read on...
1. Artemisia annua (african)
Common Name: Chinese wormwood
Native: ?Eastern Europe and Asia
Status: Considered a weedy invader; cultivated on a commercial scale in
China, Balkans, India and Africa
Here's a powerpoint regarding the invasive nature of the species:
http://opus.tu-bs.de/opus/volltexte/2003/397/pdf/Artemisia_Freising.pdf
Portions of an article from:
http://www.afro.who.int/press/2003/pr2003042502.html
25 April 2003 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) is to provide
technical support for the development and commercial production of
dihydro-artemisinin, a plant-based anti-malarial medicine reputed to
have the highest cure rate for the disease, the WHO Regional Director
for Africa, Dr E.M. Samba, has said.
The medicine is extracted from Artemisia annua, a Chinese medicinal
plant which also flourishes in Tanzania, and grown in commercial
quantities in the country's Southern and Northern highlands.
"This year, WHO plans to provide the government of Tanzania with the
process technology for the local production of the medicine" Dr Samba,
affirmed at a press interview in the Congolese capital. "We will also
provide the country with pure dihydroartemisin to serve as reference
substances so as to guarantee the quality of local production. The
third element of our support will be provision of technical monitoring
to ensure the development of the requisite process technology
locally."
Dr Samba added that WHO would also encourage the government of
Tanzania to increase the quantity of commercial cultivation and
conservation of Artemisia Annua in order to ensure sustainable raw
materials.
Presently, Artemisia annua grown in Tanzania is exported to Europe
where it is processed into antimalarial medicine which are
subsequently imported by African countries and sold for US$6-7 per
dose, far beyond the reach of most people who need them.
A feasibility study conducted by Tanzania's National Institute for
Medical Research shows that dihydro-artemisinin, if produced locally,
could be sold for an affordable US$2 per dose in Tanzania and other
parts of Africa.
2. Camptotheca acuminata (chinese)
Common Name: Cancer tree
Native: China
Status: On the endangered list in China (although I am unable to find this
information on http://www.cnbg.net/en_cnplant.asp); widely cultivated in
India, Japan and the US
Portions of an article from the International Symposium on Medicinal
Plants, held in Philadelphia in 1993:
http://www.bgci.org.uk/botanic_gardens/Plants_That_Save_Lives.html
Plants That Save Lives: a report from an International Symposium on
Medicinal Plants
The Morris Arboretum and the World Health Organization (WHO)
co-sponsored an International Symposium on Medicinal Plants, April
19-21, 1993, in Philadelphia, U.S.A.. Sessions were held at the
Arboretum, Temple University Conference Center, and The University
Museum. The 139 participants, from 24 countries and 26 states in the
United States, included plant science researchers, university
scholars, government officials, and health-care experts.
In 1988, the Morris Arboretum began a collaborative project with
SmithKline Beecham (SKB). Using state-of-the-art techniques,
Arboretum staff investigate and report on the propagation and
production of a potentially valuable medicinal plant, Camptotheca
acuminata. SKB had been working for several years with this tree
species, native to China, because it contains camptothecin, a
chemical that has shown promise in the treatment of several cancers.
The collaborative effort enables SKB staff to focus on
pharmacological research while Arboretum staff work to ensure that
production techniques are capable of producing sufficient Camptotheca
biomass when it is needed.
3. Mappia foetida (indian)
(aka: Nothapodytes nimmoniana )
Common Name: Mappia
Native: Southern China to India
Status: Vulnerable (according to www.ias.ac.in/currsci/nov102002/1077.pdf)
Portions of an article from: http://www.indiamart.com/arunaplanta/
Aruna Planta likes to introduce itself as one of
one of the largest cultivators of medicinal plants
and herbs in India. From the last twenty five
years, the company is working for conservation &
cultivation of medicinal herbs and plants. The
company takes pride in pioneering the cultivation
of various species of plants which are in great
demand for export and industrial use, but are found
very sparsely in nature.
Profile
The quantity of these medicinal plants available in nature was not sufficient to cater to the rising demand.
The company introduced these plants into cultivation and made it a commercial success. The company fills its
complete export requirement from the cultivation. All the plantations are inspected by the district forest
officials regularly since 1984.
Painstaking Efforts
The company believes in development without destruction. As a matter of specialisation, the company works on
selected important medicinal plants which are in demand but not cultivated at least in India. Excessive survey
is done throughout the country to study the distribution, morphology, ecology, botanical aspects, analytical
variations of the active principals and its co-relation with soil, climate and natural strains. The best
variety is selected and tried at few suitable agro-climatic zones. After evaluation of agro-climatic
requirements, the company goes in for the large scale plantation. The company also encourages and trains
farmers to take up the cultivation of medicinal plants.
Portions of an article from the 1001-2 Annual Report of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests (in India):
http://envfor.nic.in/report/0102/chap07.html
Introduction
Research is basic to any developmental activity. The Ministry supports
research in multidisciplinary aspects of environment protection,
conservation and development in identified thrust areas. The primary
objectives of research promotion are to develop strategies, technologies
and methodologies for better environment management and also to create
infrastructure for environmental research and a pool of trained manpower
to shoulder the responsibility of environment management in the country
. Environmental Research particularly aims at attempting solutions to
the practical problems of resource management and provides necessary
inputs for the twin objective of conservation of natural resources and
restoration of environmental quality.
Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore
A database of 250 commercially exploitable medicinal plants was
created. Cost benefit analysis of cultivating Gloriosa superba was
worked out and network established for marketing Gloriosa superba
and Mappia foetida and other farm grown medicinal plants for
farming community.
4. Ophiorrhiza mungos (indian)
Common Name: Heen aratta (yam), mongoose
Native: Sri Lanka (Little Andaman Islands)
Status:
Excerpt from 1994 FAO report on Non-Wood Forest Products in Asia:
http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/X5334e/x5334e0a.htm
This forest herbal is used in Ayurvedic medicine. According to the report
approximately 3500 kg of this species was utilized annually (in 1994) by
the Ayurvedic Corporation of Sri Lanka. According to the report,
Research
Research programs have to be strengthened to propagate the rare and very
important non-wood forest products. More assistance is required for
continuing research carried out by the universities and the Forest
Department.
The ADB-funded Participatory Forestry Project of the Forest Department,
to commence at the beginning of 1992, will provide opportunities for the
development of non-wood forest products at the village level. Special
attention will be given to the medicinal herbs which are in high demand.
Propagation of the herbs at the village garden level will contribute
towards ex-situ conservation of these rare herbs and generate income for
the rural poor.
Summary taken from Aruna Planta website:
http://members.rediff.com/arunapem/
They have cultivated this species since 1993 and report current levels
of cultivation at 100 acres.
5. Rauwolfia vomitoria (african)
Common Name: African serpentwood
Native: Senegal to Congo
Status: ?
Excerpt from: http://lucy.ukc.ac.uk/Sonja/RF/Ukpr/Report17.htm
When it is a question of obtaining dry plants from the forest, there is
always a risk that those gathering these products might falsify them in
some way or other. This was the main reason why the trade of Rauwolfia
vomitoria roots was abandoned in Equatorial Africa for example.
Excerpt from People and Plants Online:
http://peopleandplants.org/wp/wp2/alternative.htm
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning, Cameroon
In 1976, the government of Cameroon noted that "There also exist in
Cameroon a number of foreign companies (Plantecam, Hollando, Sodex,
Sodexpharm, Continaf, etc.) which export medicinal plants such as
Voacanga, Strophanthus gratus, Yohiimbe [Pausinstylia johimbe],
Rauwolfia vomitoria, Vinca rosea, Funtumia elastica, Pygeum and
aromatic plants.
The result of this disorderly exploitation is a gradual reduction of
the potential supply of medicinal plants. For example, 800 tons of
Voacanga and 50 tons of Pygeum are traded each year (United Republic of
Cameroon, 1976).
To resolve this problem, the government recommended that a para-statal
corporation should be set up "to control the production and marketing
of medicinal plants, and to absorb the companies and private
individuals now engaged in those activities. In addition, 100 million
CPA francs were set aside for inventory, organization of harvesting,
marketing and regeneration. The enrichment planting near Dschang was
implemented as part of this five-year plan and is a useful source of
information on yields and economics of Pt-anus air/cane cultivation.
The quantity of h-anus air/cane bark extracted from the wild annually
has increased, however, from 50 tons (United Republic of Cameroon,
1976) to an average of 1923 tons.
Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
Arlington, VA 22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>
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