Medicinal plants play an important role in primary healthcare and are an important source of income in rural areas. Herbal medicines are gaining popularity in both developing and developed countries. This trend is attributed to a growing awareness of the harmful side effects associated with many modern drugs. The current global trade value of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) stands at approximately US$ 62 billion. There is a projection that this trade could reach an impressive US$ 5 trillion by 2050. The rising global demand for herbal drugs has led to large-scale collection from the wild, resulting in the overexploitation of many medicinal plants. Some of these plants are now facing the threat of extinction due to this increased demand. The concept of good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) is introduced as a set of guidelines aimed at ensuring the sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation and harvesting of medicinal plants. These guidelines are crucial for maintaining the quality and efficacy of the final herbal products. GACP is presented as a way to meet the increasing demand for medicinal plants while safeguarding their populations and ecosystems. The chapter focuses on seven commercially important medicinal plants, providing an account of GACPs for Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh), Asparagus racemosus (Shatavar), Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi), Gymnema sylvestre (Gudmar), Rauvolfia serpentina (Sarpagandha), Tinospora cordifolia (Giloe), and Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha). The implementation of GACPs is highlighted as a means to ensure the conservation and sustainable utilization of these plants, maintaining quality, involving communities, and optimizing returns for all stakeholders, including farmers and collectors. Overall, the chapter underscores the importance of GACP in the medicinal plant industry to balance the increasing demand for herbal medicines with environmental conservation and sustainable resource management.

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Good Agricultural and Collection Practices of Important Medicinal Plants

  • A. K. Pandey

摘要

Medicinal plants play an important role in primary healthcare and are an important source of income in rural areas. Herbal medicines are gaining popularity in both developing and developed countries. This trend is attributed to a growing awareness of the harmful side effects associated with many modern drugs. The current global trade value of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) stands at approximately US$ 62 billion. There is a projection that this trade could reach an impressive US$ 5 trillion by 2050. The rising global demand for herbal drugs has led to large-scale collection from the wild, resulting in the overexploitation of many medicinal plants. Some of these plants are now facing the threat of extinction due to this increased demand. The concept of good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) is introduced as a set of guidelines aimed at ensuring the sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation and harvesting of medicinal plants. These guidelines are crucial for maintaining the quality and efficacy of the final herbal products. GACP is presented as a way to meet the increasing demand for medicinal plants while safeguarding their populations and ecosystems. The chapter focuses on seven commercially important medicinal plants, providing an account of GACPs for Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh), Asparagus racemosus (Shatavar), Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi), Gymnema sylvestre (Gudmar), Rauvolfia serpentina (Sarpagandha), Tinospora cordifolia (Giloe), and Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha). The implementation of GACPs is highlighted as a means to ensure the conservation and sustainable utilization of these plants, maintaining quality, involving communities, and optimizing returns for all stakeholders, including farmers and collectors. Overall, the chapter underscores the importance of GACP in the medicinal plant industry to balance the increasing demand for herbal medicines with environmental conservation and sustainable resource management.