Agro-Techniques of Medicinal Plants

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Important tips for cultivation of medicinal plants. 1. Introduction. 2. Nursery technology. 3. Biofertilizers and biological pest control. 4. Organic farming: an approach for sustainable Herbi-culture. 5. Agro-techniques of medicinal plants. 6. Harvesting technology and value-addition of medicinal plants. 7. Adulteration and substitution of crude (herbal) drugs. 8. Market potential (export/import) of crude drugs. 9. Standardization and quality control of medicinal plants. 10. Legislation and policy of medicinal plants. 11. Sustainable conservation and developmental strategies for medicinal plants. List of endangered medicinal plants. Glossary of technical medicinal terms. Bibliography. Index of scientific Botanical names. Index of common Vernacular names.

"Medicines are the second most essential requisite after food for mankind. For medicines, medicinal plants are the important sources of raw drugs. Therefore, the demand on plant based therapeutics has increased many fold in both developing and developed countries due to the growing recognition that they are natural products, being non-narcotic, having no side effects, easily available at affordable prices. Due to huge demand of plant-based crude drugs throughout the world, today urgent need to domesticate or cultivate the medicinal plants in large scale to fulfill the unexpected demand. But due to lack of systematic information on cultivation of medicinal crops at one place, growers are not ready to adopt such practices in their agro-system.

Changing herbal market scenario rapidly and expanding local and global market and immense export potential to Europe, America and other Western Countries has opened up a new prospective field for Indian agriculture. To fully make-use of this emerging demands world-wide, appropriate knowledge regarding their value addition, processing market potential (export/import) of crude drugs, adulterants & substitutions of crude drugs and standardization & quality control is of utmost important.

This unique book ventures to probe into this very important area covering almost the entire gamut of the burning issues relating to medicinal plants. The export of crude (herbal) drugs in gaining strength due to its inherent advantage coupled with the pro-liberalization.   

This invaluable book consisting of 11 chapters contributed every aspects related to the cultivation of medicinal plants viz. nursery technology, biofertilizers & biological pest control, organic farming, agro-technique (50 commercial important medicinal plants), harvesting technology & value addition, adulterants & substitutions, market potential (export/import), standardization and quality control, legistration & policy, sustainable conservation & development strategies. This book is a ready manual and information database for policy makers, administrators, academia, exporters, extension workers, manufactures, growers and general readers interested in medicinal plants." (jacket)