Medicinal Plants

Fertilizer schedule

No chemical fertilizer was used, because it may lead to a much branched and fibrous roots which are not good for commercial purpose.

Weed management

 In the early stages of crop establishment, regular weeding was required, but once the crop picked up growth, the weeds were suppressed and weeding was done as and when required.

Flowering and Fruiting

Flowers opened early in the morning, anthesis was accomplished at 8:30–11 a.m. Anthers were at the same level with the stigma, so self pollination is the only means of pollination in this species. Bagging experiment also proved this contention. Fruit development was accomplished within 3-4 days after anthesis and the fruits ripened after 25-28 days of fruit development. Flowering and fruiting took place throughout the year.

Harvesting

 The plant was harvested after six months of sowing the crop (February-March). Harvesting was done by digging up the roots. Roots were lifted up, washed and dried up to 10-12 % moisture content.

Problem of cultivation

Damping off disease at seedling stage resulted in heavy seedling mortality which was identified as the main problem for the cultivation of Withania somnifera.

Data on different growth parameters

Plant height, Branch per plant, Number of fruits per plant, Number of seeds per fruit, Root length, Fresh weight of leaves, Fresh weight of stem, Fresh weight of root will be highest if plant grown in sunny environment condition supplemented with 50% cow dung and 50% soil.

Gloriosa superba Linn.

Family- Liliaceae

Introduction

Gloriosa superba Linn, commonly called Glory Lily, is an important medicinal plant and has been used to cure various aliments in the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine since ancient times. Due to expanding human population, increasing agriculture, rapid urbanization, unchecked extraction of plants or  plants parts for various uses from their natural habitat have led to many species, specially medicinal plants either becoming extinct or rare (Nayar and Sastry, 1987). This situation is causing concern not only for the loss of species diversity, but also because the availability of raw materials for uses in various medicines are becoming scarce day by day. G. superba is one of such species. Earlier, the medicinal properties were thought to be present only in its tubers (Anonymous, 1956) and these were ruthlessly extracted without any concerted attempt to re-grow these plants. However, the seeds also possess the same medicinal properties and contain colchicines (Bhakuni & Suda, 1995). The seeds contain up to 0.75 percent colchicines as compared to only 0.30 percent in its tuber (Gupta, 1997),   but the seed yield in nature is quite low and variable. Hence, the species has been listed under threatened plant category.

The seed yield of Gloriosa superba L. is variable and decreasing in nature. Moreover, the extensive collections of tubers and seeds from its natural population for widespread medicinal uses have made this species threatened in Bangladesh. Therefore, in order to understand the reasons for variable as well as less seed yield, the reproductive biology of this species needs to be studied in detail. Knowledge of reproductive biology of a desired species is necessary in order to find out the causes of low production of its propagules and to develop the convenient method and technique for its cultivation for the increase of propagules production through which its sustainable use can be facilitated.

 Here, seed germination of Gloriosa superba has been recordee  in different periods of the year to know the basic knowledge about dormancy period of seeds and germination percentage. Data on Seed germination has been recorded done in the moist blotting paper to reduce the dormancy period and seeds were pre-treated with various chemicals to know their effect or effects on plant growth and tuber size. Tuber of about 50 g weights was planted in partially shady and sunny condition with (50:50) soil-cow dung mixture. Phenological data, germination of pollen grain in sucrose solution, and comparative growth performance of this plant species under sunny and partially shady condition were recorded and presented in the following paragraphs. Data recorded for the effect of pre-sowing seed treatment on seedling growth and tuber size also presented.

Growth and productivity parameters

 Seed germination and seed sowing

From seed germination experiment conducted in earthen pots and open field condition, it was revealed that the months of April and May are suitable for seed germination. During this time, the rate of germination was maximum (34%, 30%) and the dormancy period was minimum (23-40, 28-43 days) in earthen pots and in the open field,  (Table) respectively  and this result was partially in conformity with the findings of previous work (Anonymous, 2002).

In moist blotting chamber, the percentage of seed germination was increased to some extent (28%) and dormancy period was reduced to a greater extent (14-38 days) by incubating the seeds in moist blotting camber, compared to those that were sown in earthen pot and in the field condition on the same date

Table 3. Seed germination of Gloriosa superba in earthen pot under shady condition and open field condition.

  Seed germination conducted in open field  condition.

Table 4. Seed germination of Gloriosa superba in moist blotting chamber

 Table 5. Effect of 1% NaOCl and Thiourea (4000 ppm and 5000 ppm) on seed germination of Gloriosa superba.

 The result was in partial agreement with the findings of Kozolowski et al. (1994) who reported that Platycodon grandiflorum seeds germinated well in the laboratory conditions.

From the seeds those were pre-treated with different chemicals; it was revealed that the maximum seed germination percentage (60%) and the minimum time required for germination (19-32 days) could be achieved from the seeds pre-treated with 1% NaOCl followed by soaking in distilled water for 24 hours (Table 19.3). The germination percentage of seeds was also high (40%) in the seeds pre-treated with 4000 ppm Thiourea which was in conformity with the results obtained by Supari et al. (1993).

In the field conditions seeds that fall on ground were found to germinate from the last of April to the middle of May. This period was recorded as the optimum time for seed germination of G. superba. It was also found to vary owing to the effect of the first rainfall. Plants that were developed from germinated seeds were found to be dried up within 5-7 months without developing any flower. In the following year, new seedlings were observed to grow from the one-year old underground tuber.

Propagation

It was propagated through seeds or by the sprouting of under ground tuber. Plants propagated from the seeds do not flower in the same year.

Growing distance

The crops were raised using large sized (above 50 g) tubers spaced at 60 cm × 45 cm in sunny and partially shady condition. Seedlings of about 30 days old were transplanted to polythene bags filled with soil: crow dung (50:50) mixture.

 Sprouting of tubers

Tubers were sown in both sunny and partially shady conditions on the same date (14.04.2003) which were sprouted on the 12^thday after planting in partially shady condition, but on the 15^th day in sunny condition. This observation agrees well with the findings of Mamatha et al. (1993).

Problems of cultivation

Natural regeneration of Gloriosa superba is hampered by the low seed germination percentage.

Effect of pre-germination seed treatment on initial growth parameters

 It is recorded that initial growth parameters were significantly influenced by different seed treating chemicals. Significantly highest value was obtained for most of the parameters   (Table 3) from the plants grown with 4000 ppm Thiourea treated seeds

Table-6. Effect of pre-germination seed treatments on initial growth parameters of Gloriosa superba seedlings.

 In the field conditions, the existence or survival period of different phenological parameters (PP) of Gloriosa superba have been presented in Table 21.

 Table 7. The existence or survival period of different phonological parameters of Gloriosa superba.

In Gloriosa superba, when non-emasculated flowers were covered completely with polythene bags from the period of budding stage and allowed for pollination after anthesis of the stamens of same the flower, pollination occurred successfully. This observation indicated that G. superba is self-pollinated. At maturity, the flowers of G. superba also develop a special mechanism of stigmatic movement for ensuring the natural self-pollination. Fruit formation was not recorded from the emasculated flowers, which indicate the absence of apomictic fruit formation in this species. Moths, butterflies and ants were found as visitors for the red-coloured flowers of G. superba which exhibit noticeable colour change from the young (yellow) to the mature (red)   stage.

Growth performance in different environmental condition

Plant height (cm) at flower initiation

 In sunny condition, the average plant height was recorded to be as 57-90 cm, but in the partially shady condition, the average plant height was recorded to be 155-180 cm. This indicated that the plant under investigation is a shade-loving one.

Number of leaves at flower initiation

Number of average fully open leaves at flowering stage ranged from 52 to 80 in the sunny condition and 57-180 in the partially shady condition. This was also indicated of the shade-loving nature of Glory Lily plant.

Average seed output of Gloriosa superba L.

The average seed out put of this species is assumed to be moderately high in partially shady condition (204.27) than that of the sunny condition (171.15) that might be due the formation of good number of seeds per fruit in partially shady condition (Table 24).

Table 8. Average seed output of Gloriosa superba L.

 Plumbago zeylanica Linn.

Family- Plumbaginaceae

Intrduction

Plumbago zeylanica L., common name- Chita, English name- Ceylon Leadwort, is an important plant species in Ayurveda and also cultivated in gardens for its profuse white flowers. In the present study, several experiments have been conducted (field experiment and pot experiment) to know about its growing condition and growth performance in different environmental conditions with the application of different treatments. Data obtained from the growth parameters and phonological parameters are presented.

Growth and productivity parameters

Seed germination and seed sowing

 June is the appropriate time for seed sowing. During this period, seed germination rate was maximum (50 %), followed by 42 % during November and minimum (36-28 %) during March to April. Time required for seed germination was minimum (6-15 days), followed by maximum (17-30 days) during March to April (Table-40.1). Seed germination rate can be increased and the time required for germination can be minimized many fold times by incubating the seeds in moist blotting chamber (Table-41.2)

 Mode of germination: Hypogeal

Seed dormancy: Seeds have a dormancy period of about 6-31 days.

 Propagation

This plant is propagated through seeds and can also be propagated easily by means of stem cuttings.

Table 9. Seed germination experiments of Plumbago zeylanica in earthen pots.

 Table 10. Seed germination experiments of Plumbago zeylanica in moist blotting chamber.

 Irrigation

Irrigation was done as and when required.

Fertilizer schedule

 No chemical fertilizer was used.

Flowering and fruiting

In this plant, flowering and fruiting took place from November to April. Anthesis was accomplished at 9-11:30 a.m. and when the non-emasculated flowers were covered completely with polythene bags from the period of budding stage and allowed for pollination after anthesis of the stamens of the same flower, then pollination occurred successfully. The plants produced fruits after the bagging, which indicated that it is a self pollinated plant. Fruit development was accomplished within 5-6 days after anthesis and the fruits ripened after 15-17 days of fruit set.

Harvesting

Plants were harvested during March-April after the ripening of fruits. The plants were lifted up along with the roots washed and dried up in shade.

Data on different growth parameters

Plant height, Branches per plant, Number of fruits per plant, Root length, Fresh weight of stem, Fresh weight of root will be highest if plants are grown in sunny conditions supplemented with 50% soil and 50% cow-dung which is supported by Supratik et al.(1998) who reported that cow dung along with bone meal and Neem seed cake gave the best vegetative growth, root yield and alkaloid contents in roots.

CHAPTER-5: DISCUSSION

Medicinal plants are important natural wealth of our country. They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to most of the indigenous people as well as the major bulk of the rural population. The quality and growth of indigenous medicinal plants can be substantially improved by bringing them under planned cultivation process.

In the present research it was found from the data  of Withania somnifera Dunal grown under sunny condition with 50% soil and 50% cow-dung mixture performed better results in terms of plant height, number of nodes per plant, number of fruits per plant, number of seeds per fruit, fresh weight of leaves, stem and root, and higher root length. Similar findings are found  in case of Plumbago zeylanica Linn. This result is in partial agreement with the findings of Supratik et al. (1998) who reported that cow dung along with bone meal and Neem seed cake gave the best vegetative growth, root yield and alkaloid contents in roots.

From the data of  Gloriosa superba Linn. it was revealed that seeds those were pre-treated with different chemicals showed maximum seed germination percentage (60%) and the minimum time required for germination (19-32 days) could be achieved from the seeds pre-treated with 1% NaOCl followed by soaking in distilled water for 24 hours. The germination percentage of seeds was also high (40%) in the seeds pre-treated with 4000 ppm Thiourea which was in conformity with the results obtained by Supari et al. (1993). Tuber sprouting time was recorded 12 days both in partially shady and sunny environmental  condition and this observation agrees well with the findings of Mamatha et al. (1993). In sunny condition, the average plant height was recorded to be as 57-90 cm, but in the partially shady condition, the average plant height was recorded to be 155-180 cm. This indicated that the plant under investigation is a shade-loving one. The average seed out put of this species is assumed to be moderately high in partially shady condition (204.27) than that of the sunny condition (171.15) that might be due the formation of good number of seeds per fruit in partially shady condition.

CHAPTER-6: RESEARCH FINDINGS

In this research work the following concern have found.

1.      For Withania somnifera Dunal.

i. appropriate seed sowing time is July to August

ii. Seed has dormancy period of 7-46 days

iii. Propagates through seeds

iv. Plants can be harvested after six months of seed sown

v. Growth and productivity will highest if plant is grown in sunny condition supplemented with 50% soil and 50% cow-dung.

 2.      Incase of Gloriosa superba Linn

i. appropriate seed sowing time is April to May

ii. Seed has dormancy period of 28-43 days, Seed germination rate is 30-34% but it may be increased up to 60% after treated with 1% NaOCl.

iii. Propagates through seeds and tuber

iv. Plants produced from the seed will not provide flowering in the next year but produced from tuber arise flower and fruit in the following year.

v. Growth and productivity will highest if plant is grown in partially shady condition.

 3.      For Plumbago zeylanica Linn.

i. appropriate seed sowing time is June to November

ii. Seed has dormancy period of 6-31days

iii. Propagates through seeds and stem cuttings

iv. Plants can be harvested after five months of seed sown

v. Growth and productivity will highest if plant is grown in sunny condition supplemented with 50% soil and 50% cow-dung.

CHAPTER-7:  RECOMMENDATIONS

Bangladesh falls within one of the World’s Biodiversity Centres, encompassing 8 vegetation zones having different habitats of specific species. It has been estimated that about 5,000 plant species (nearly 2.2% of the global species) occurs in Bangladesh. About 2,500 species of both higher and lower plant groups are of medicinal value, among them, more than 500 plants are identified as medicinal plants (Yusuf et al., 1994). But indiscriminate exploitation, overpopulation and deforestation have led to 106 plant species being listed as threatened by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and the Bangladesh National Herbarium (Khan et al., 2001). Here some suggestion and recommendation is given to reverse this situation:

i. Appropriate steps must therefore be taken immediately in order to cope up with this situation with regard to growth, conservation and supply of medicinal plants in this country

ii. We should stop the indiscriminate and extensive collection of rare and commercially important medicinal plant from the wild.

iii. We should aware people by transferring cultivation technologies to homestead growers, cultivators through training, workshops, pamphlets, brochures, seminars etc.

iv. We need Sporadic and diverse researches on various aspects of medicinal plants

v. We should develop standardized cultivation practice of all commercially important medicinal plant gradually

vi. If required the threatened plant species may be multiplied through appropriate technique/s and bulk production of seeds/propagules for preservation, distribution to homestead growers and also for commercial purposes.

vii. Necessary steps should be taken for ex situ conservation of endangered and commercially important medicinal plants

 CHAPTER-8:  CONCLUSION

Medicinal plants of Bangladesh has drawn the attention of Botanists as well as the environmentalists during the recent years. These plants are important natural wealth of our country. They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to most of the indigenous people as well as the major bulk of the rural population. They serve as an important therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicines. Substantial amount of foreign exchange can be earned by exporting medicinal plants. Cultivation of medicinal plants has several advantages. Firstly this would ease the stress on the natural populations and also can assure a constant supply of the required medicinal plants to the user industries. Consequently, medicinal plants are important for a better daily life and better national economic condition.

Market value of a number of highly priced medicinal plant species used in Bangladesh are given as. Many countries of the world for example India, Kenya, Nepal, Japan, Germany, and England have taken systematic conservation and cultivation programmes of medicinal plants as a result of which they are also earning significant amount of valuable foreign exchange. It is also possible for Bangladesh by developing  sustainable improved and planed cultivation process of commercially important medicinal plants

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