Top 10 herbs MAP (medicinally active plants) for cultivation in Pakistan A Pakistani Perspective

1. 2017
Dr Hk S Arshad Raza
AHL Herbal Pharma
1/1/2017
10 Most Profitable
Medicinal Herbs
A Pakistani
Perspective

2. Ginseng:
Wild-simulated ginseng
presents the best
opportunity to
successfully cultivate and
market ginseng for profit.
Ginseng seeds will only sprout after two years natural
storage (stratified seed). Many folks prefer our roots which
are two or three year old entire roots (the ginseng root must
remain whole to grow, unlike the goldenseal root which can
be cut into sections/rootlets).
Ginseng has fairly stringent environmental requirements. It
requires at least 70 percent shade. The soil must have
enough base nutrients (15-20 percent base saturation) to
meet its needs, but not so much that the soil pH exceeds 6
(liming is out of the question unless pH is too low). The soil
must be moist, but well-drained. To achieve this, the organic
matter content has to be pretty high. Heavy clays and very
sandy soils are poor for ginseng. Ginseng does not compete
will with other plants, so vegetation control is necessary.

3. Vaccinium myrtillus “bilberry” is a species of shrub
with edible fruit of blue color, commonly called "bilberry"
The bilberry is the king of small and tasty fruits - a tiny
explosion of
intense
flavour
compared to
its blander,
plumper
relative, the
blueberry.

4. Scutellaria Baicalensis:
Scutellaria
baicalensis (Chinese
Skullcap) is a traditional
chinese medicine for
the purposes of
cardiovascular and
cognitive health as well
as longevity. It appears
to be a good source for
flavonoid compounds,
and some components
are quite potent.

5. Salvia miltiorrhiza
Danshen 丹参, one of the
most commonly used
Chinese herbal medicines
(CHMs), has a long
history of clinical
application for treating
cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular diseases. It
has nearly 2000 years
history for therapeutic use
in China. Currently, the
annual demand of Danshen
raw materials
was over 10,000 tonnes globally (8,000 tonnes in China and
2,000 tonnes in the other
countries) (Wei, 2002).

6. Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica :
Gotu kola is regarded as perhaps the most spiritual of all
herbs in India. Growing in some areas of the Himalayas, gotu
kola is used by yogis to improve meditation.
Due to great medicinal importance of Centella asiatica in the
preparati
on of
different
pharmac
eutical
compoun
ds, this
plant
has been
overexplo
ited and
marked
as
threatened plant species by
the International Union for Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources (IUCN), and also as an endangered plant
species

7. Withania
Sominefera:
Ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera) is also known as
subcontinent ginseng is an
annual to perennial,
branched wonder herb with
multiple medicinal
properties. It is widely
grown in drys parts of
subtropical regions of India.
All plant parts of
ashwagandha have
medicinal properties and re
used in preparation of various drugs, however, roots are
mainly used for preparation of vital tonics. It is Aphrodisiac,
tonic, rasayan drug, general tonic in arthritis and debility
from old age. It is used in anxiety, depression, phobias,
alcoholic paranoia, schizophrenia etc. This crop has already
brought under cultivation and being cultivated by the
farmers.

8. Horny goat Epimedium
Horny goat weed, or epimedium, is an ornamental herb from
Asia and the Mediterranean. The rise to popularity of the
horny goat weed as a remedy for erectile dysfunction has
been phenomenal.
The herb is now a
byword not only in
traditional Chinese
medicine but even
in the Western
World’s
mainstream
medical industry.
The increasing
demand for a solution to sexual wellness problems has led to
a proportional demand for alternative medications. There
are still people averse to taking in commercialized erectile
dysfunction medications and who would want to try the
effects of herbal solutions first like the horny goat weed.

9. MUSHROOMS:
oyster:
Exotic mushrooms are enjoying a high level of demand.
Oyster
mushrooms,
a type of
exotic
mushroom,
are one of the
easiest exotic
mushrooms
to grow. They
can grow in
about six
weeks’ time,
and are currently selling for about $6 a pound wholesale and
$12 a pound retail. They’re fairly easy to grow, they grow
quickly, Oyster mushrooms are grown from mycelium
(threadlike filaments that become interwoven) propagated
on a base of steam-sterilized cereal grain (usually rye or
millet). This cereal grain/mycelium mixture is called spawn
and is used to seed mushroom substrate.

10. Shiitake
Among various
cultivated species
of mushrooms,
Shiitake variety has
a good demand
among consumers
for its taste.
Presently, China
and Japan are the
bulk producers of this prized mushroom variety.
Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) have many
nutritional and
medicinal benefits. The cultivation of log-grown shiitake
mushrooms encourages
forest farming and can be an opportunity for farmers
interested in developing an
additional enterprise.

11. Reishi:
Reishi mushrooms, or
Ganoderma lucidium, is
well-known as the King
of Herbs and
the Mushroom of
mortality. It has earned its reputation due to its ability to
promote vitality and overall
body balance, strengthening
the immune system and
preventing a wide range of
diseases. Throughout
Chinese history dating back
2000 years, Reishi
mushrooms were widely
used for medicinal and
health purposes.
With more than 400
bioactive compounds, Reishi has attracted the attention of
researchers world-wide. Evidence of its efficacy is shown to
the extent that it is officially accepted for use in
conventional medical sectors in some countries.

12. The demand for Reishi mushrooms continues to escalate due
to the wide range of pharmacological properties found in
this ancient herb. There is a wide range of available products
from which to benefit from Reishi’s potent properties
including, supplements in all forms, Reishi coffee, Reishi tea,
Reishi spore oil, Reishi shampoo and Reishi hand cream.