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1. PRESENTATION
On
Collection and Storage Techniques of different plant parts of
Medicinal Plants
COLLEGE OF FORESTRY
SAM HIGGINBOTTOM UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, TECHNOLOGY &
SCIENCES
Prayagraj-211 007, U.P., India
By
Dr. Hemant Kumar
Assistant Professor (Forest Products & Wood Tech.)

2. As per the WHO the Global market value for herbal Industry is
expected to reached US$ 5 trillion in 2050. The global market
growth for the industry is expected to be 7% per annum from
year 2000 to 2050.
Global Demand of Medicinal Plants

3. STATUS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN INDIA
• 20 Agro-Ecological zones.
• One of 17 mega biodiversity countries.
• 12 % of world biodiversity.
• About 9000 spp. used in ISM & Folk
medicines.
• 1172 species in trade of which 242 with
consumption > 100 MT.
• 40% of species in high demand sourced
through cultivation (coverage 0.3
million ha.)
• Large network of
institutions/Universities involved in
medicinal plants R&D. 3

4. Demand of Medicinal Plants from Health Sector
About 2500 Plant Species are used in all the Codified System of
Medicine practices in India
 Ayurveda – 1587 species
 Siddha – 1128 species
 Unani – 503 species
 Homoeopathic – 468 species
 Western – 192 species 1128 Siddha
1587 Ayurveda
503 Unani
468 Homoeopathy
253 Sowa -Rigpa
192 Western

5. 1999-2000 2005-2006 2014-2015
Estimated Demand during 1999-2000 : 2,34,675 MT (study carried out by CERPA)
Estimated Demand during 2005-2006 : 3,19,500 MT (study carried out by FRLHT)
Estimated Demand during 2014-2015 : 5,12,000 MT (study carried out by ICFRE)
6,00,000
5,12,000MT
5,00,000
4,00,000
3,19,500MT
3,00,000
2,34,675MT
2,00,000
1,00,000
0
Demand of Raw Herbal Drugs: Growth Trends

6. 0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
140000
160000
2004-05
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Export
Import
Quantity(MT)
Year
Gross Volume of Foreign Trade of Botanical Raw Drugs
EXPORT
The trade volume of EXPORT of
Botanical Raw Drugs has increased from
about 56,015 MT in 2005-06 to 134,437
MT in 2014-15, registering an average
annual increase of about 11 %.
IMPORT
The trade volume of IMPORT of
Botanical Raw Drugs has increased from
about 36,143 MT in 2005-06 to 64,545
MT in 2014-15, registering an average
annual increase of about 7 %.

7. Supply of Raw Herbal Drugs from Cultivation: Growth Trends
20%
40%
50
40
30
20
10
0
2005-06 2014-15
 During 2005-06: 20% raw herbs has been procured from cultivation sources
 During 2014-15: 40% of the total volume has been procured from the cultivated
sources
 During 2014-15: 12 major medicinal plants species viz. Isabgol, Henna, Senna,
Mentha, Tulasi, Ashwagandha, Aloe, Pippali and Pippal Mool, Bach, Artemisia,
Vetiver and Kuth has been well cultivated across the country around 2,02,000ha
land cover.
 Cultivation of 30 mother species under the 5000 ha area has also been recorded.
NMPB: 2015

8. Plantago ovata Isabgol Herb >30000
Aloe vera Kumari Herb >10000
Senna alexandrina Sona patta Herb >10000
Withania somnifera Ashwagandha Herb 2000-5000
Piper longum Pippali/ Mool Herb 2000-5000
Ocimum tenuiflorum Tulasi Herb 2000-5000
Justicia adhatoda Vasa Shrub 2000-5000
Medicinal Plants Sourced from Cultivation
Demand Figures in metric tons

9. Collection/ Harvesting
 Medicinal plants should be harvested sustainably.
 ‘Sustainability’ is a principle that has been used for centuries in
forestry and in the management of natural resources.
 It’s a system that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations.
 This includes timing of harvesting, material to be harvested,
harvesting techniques, harvesting equipment and storage.

10. When to harvest???

11. When to harvest???

12. Contd.

13. Contd.

14. What to harvest????
 Be sure that you can identify the plants that you intend to harvest
without
 doubt.
 Distinguish clearly between the medicinal plant and its closely
related relatives in order to avoid unwanted mixtures.
 Choose healthy and well-developed plant material.
 Do not harvest plant material that is infested with fungal growth or
insects (Poisonous byproducts).
 Be sure the plants you intend to harvest have not been sprayed
with pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.
 Be especially aware of this around the edges of farm fields,
roadsides, or near industrial activity.

15. How to harvest???
Gather only plants that are abundant in that area. Be conscientious
about leaving a healthy population behind.
Take special care with leaves and flowers which are much more
vulnerable to deterioration than roots due to the nature of their tissue.
Avoid any unnecessary damage to the plant i.e. exercise caution to
enable the plant can re-grow
Avoid mechanical damage to the harvested material that results in
undesirable quality changes.
Identify and discard unwanted plant materials during harvesting this
is to ensure that no foreign matter, weeds, or toxic plants are mixed
with the harvested medicinal plant materials.
Put different plant material in different containers.

16. COLLECTION
Quality
Considerations
Botanical
authenticity
Healthy
plants
Harvesting at
right stage
Weather
conditions
Right places
Sorting of
produce

17. COLLECTION
Environmental
Considerations
Conservation
status
Sensitive
species
Regeneration
Harm to
source plant
Habitat
management
Distribution

18. COLLECTION
Social
Considerations
Local use
Fair
Pricing
Benefit
Sharing
Health
Status of
Collectors
Cultural
value

19. The roots of annual plants must be dug when the plants are well
developed and mature.
Roots of perennials should be harvested late in the fall or early in
the spring.
Parts like roots and rhizomes should be collected only after the
seed shedding.
Underground parts should be collected with minimum possible
digging.
When roots are propagated vegetatively in nature are collected,
enough underground part should be left
It must be ensured that underground parts are thoroughly washed
and thereafter dried
Collection of Underground parts

21. The harvesting should be done at flower bud or flowering
stage but prior to any visual decline in any of the plant
parts.
Annuals, especially small herbs, creepers, grasses are more
prone to contamination as well as cross-contamination.
It is easier to sort the annuals immediately after the
collection rather than after drying.
Aromatic plants and delicate parts like pistils or stamens
of the other plants should not be dried in direct sunlight.
Annual herbs/ Whole plants:

22. Stem bark should not be harvested when
the tree is under new growth (like spring
season)
The bark should be collected from mature
branches of the trees leaving the main
trunk intact. .
Girdling of trees or branches by removing
the bark all the way around should not be
done,
The bark should be split in pieces of
appropriate size to ensure complete drying.
Collection of Stem Bark:

24. The mature leave should be collected
before their flowering, unless otherwise
specified.
The source plant should not be ripped off the
leaves completely. Certain percentage of
leaves should be left to ensure normal
physiological processes
Generally leaves should not be dried in direct
sunlight, should be turned periodically to
facilitate faster and even drying.
When environmental conditions are stressful for the plants leaf
harvesting should be postponed or should be harvested in less
quantity
Collection of Leaves:

26. …

27. Processing Guidelines
Certain medicinal plants need to be processed before use so as to:
 Make the drug more potent or diminish its toxicity;
 Eliminate unwanted properties or adverse side-effects;
 Improve the smell and taste of the drugs for ease of
administration;
 Assure better storage and shelf-life.

28. Water Processing
Water treatment is employed to soften medicinal plants for easy cutting
or to eliminate toxicity and reduce the potency of the drug.
 Washing: Medicinal plants are washed clean but washing must not be
too prolonged.
 Soaking: Medicinal plants may be soaked to eliminate any unpleasant
smell or reduce their bitterness.
 Rinsing: Cool or hot water is poured over the medicinal plants, which
are then left to dry. They will then be easier to peel and cut into slices.
 Precipitation: Pounded plants are dissolved in water; the solution is
then stirred well before being left to form a precipitate. The water is
then drained off, leaving a powdery deposit,

29. Water Processing
 Steaming: A double steamer is loaded with medicinal plants, which are
cooked by the hot steam rising from the bottom portion.
 Boiling: Medicinal plants are boiled with water or the juice of other
plants over a low fire until they are cooked.
 Tempering: Medicinal plants are exposed to a very high temperature
and then immediately quenched in cold water or the juice from another
plant.
 Decoction: Plants are boiled in water to extract the active principle; the
water is then evaporated to leave a concentrate of the active substance.
 Distillation: A liquid is turned to vapour by heating; the vapour is then
cooled and the condensate collected. This process is usually applied in
essential oil production.

30. Storage Guidelines
 Medicinal plants must be kept under good conditions of storage in
order to preserve their properties. There are many factors that
affect the quality of medicinal herbs.
Moisture
 The excessive moisture causes fungi, moulds and pests to develop in the herbs.
 To control the risk, moisture must be eliminated either from the herbs or from the
atmosphere.
 Medicinal herbs must be dried thoroughly, until they contain only 10-12% moisture,
which is considered to be the safe percentage.
 15% moisture content is permissible in the case of roots (radices) or sugar-containing
herbs. Storehouses must be clean and well-aired. Quicklime, silica gel or roasted rice
are used as desiccants.
 Air-tight packaging is desirable, wooden boxes, drums and earthenware jars being
used.

32. Storage Guidelines
Temperature:
 All the raw herbal drugs may be stored at cool place between 8°-25°C and
must be protected from freezing, light and high temp.
 The optimum temperature for medicinal herb storage is 25°C.
 High temperature evaporates the essential oils contained in herbs and also
decomposes lipid-containing herbs, giving them a sharp bitter taste.
 Storage places must be well-ventilated.
 Transport must be fast and prompt Loading and unloading must be done in
shady, cool places.
 When stored, herbs must be periodically moved, sorted and graded.
Self life:
 Prolonged shelf storage is labour-consuming and may lead to a deterioration in quality.
 It is recommended that stored herbs be distributed every year as the new crops become
available.

33. Storage Guidelines
Packaging:
 Appropriate packing materials, dust-free and water-proof, are used to
contain particular herbs.
 Herbal drugs are usually kept in fibre sacks or reed-bags.
 Seeds prone to infestation by pests and insects, or essential oils
containing herbs, are packed in wooden cases.
 Precious items are stored with desiccants in hermetically sealed tin
boxes.

34. Storage
Factors affecting the
quality of herbal product :
 Conservation measures,
 Protection against light,
 Low temperature,
 Low humidity,
 Suitable packaging type,
 Correct tag

37. Warehouse
Optimum environmental conditions through
temperature and humidity control.
Correct sorting of materials to find them quickly.
Products correctly labeled with lot number and closed
container.
Adequate place, walls, ceilings, floors and lighting.
Clean, lightly ventilated, of sufficient capacity and
easy access.
A management with trained personnel with license
and separation of raw materials, semi‐finished
products,
finished product and conditioning material.
Correct identification of the reception, identification,
warehouse and dispatch zones.
It has to ensure the rotation of the materials so that the
oldest lots are always used or marketed.

38. Storage Guidelines
Medicinal plant produce should be stored in a dedicated storehouse, constructed in such way as to avoid
entry of rodents, birds and other animals and should be free from dampness, dirt and dust.
The storehouse should have provision for keeping approved, rejected and untested lots separately with
appropriate signboards.
Properly sealed and labeled containers of medicinal plant produce should be kept preferably on wooden
pallets, at cool and dry places. Never stack the containers, especially gunny bags, jute bags, woven sacks,
corrugated box etc. directly on the floor.
Dedicated areas for each species should be clearly earmarked and enough space should be left between two
species and different parts of same species to ensure smooth movement of persons and machine and to avoid
any cross-contamination. Containers of two or more medicinal plant produces should never be stacked one
above the other.
Each lot of the produce should have its shelf life clearly marked on its label and the produce should be used
within the valid shelf life period. In case of traders, the supplies of the produce should be done in a way so as
to allow enough shelf life periods to the manufacturers.
Documentation of produce coming in and going out should be displayed at an appropriate place to know
the exact availability of the medicinal plant produce in stock.
Inflammable produce like resins, gum-resins, oils etc. should be stored at isolated place in closed containers
Materials used for packaging should be non-polluting, clean, dry and in undamaged condition and should
conform to the quality requirements for the medicinal plant materials concerned.

39. …