Medicinal Plant-Based Industries In Indigenous System Of Medicine

MEDICINAL PLANT-BASED INDUSTRIES IN INDIGENOUS SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

In India, it is estimated that there are about 25,000 licensed pharmacy of Indian system of medicine. Presently, about 1,000 single drugs and about 3,000 compound formulations are registered. Herbal industry in India uses about 8,000 medicinal plants. Table below contains some important manufacturer of herbal formulation. However, none of the pharma has standardized herbal medicines using active compounds as markers linked with confirmation of bioactivity of herbal drugs in experimental animal models. From about 8,000 drug manufactures in India, there are however not more than 25 manufactures that can be classified as large-scale manufactures. The annual turnover of Indian herbal industry was estimated around US$ 300 million in ayurvedic, and unani medicine was about US$ 27.7 million. In 1998–99, it again went up to US$ 31.7 million and in 1999–2000 of the total turnover was US$ 48.9 million of ayurvedic and herbal products. Export of herbal drugs in India is around US$ 80 million. Some of the highly consumed medicinal plants are presented in the Table below with reference to their turnover. Figures (a–d) are the graphical representation of some highly consumed Indian medicinal plants vs. estimated consumption per annum (in tonnes).

Table : Manufacturer of herbal formulation 

Table : Important plants with reference to trade

(a) Important Indian medicinal plants vs. estimated consumption per annum (in tonnes)

(b) Important Indian medicinal plants vs. estimated consumption per annum (in tonnes)

(c) Important Indian medicinal plants vs. estimated consumption per annum (in tonnes)

(d) Important Indian medicinal plants vs. estimated consumption per annum (in tonnes)