WILD HARVESTING OF AMLA FRUITS (EMBLICA OFFICINALIS ) AND ITS IMPACT ON RAW MATERIAL QUALITY: A CASE OF DHAMTARI DISTRICT, CHHATTISGARH, INDIA

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1 J. Res. Educ. Indian Med., Vol. XVI (1-2) : (2010) ISSN WILD HARVESTING OF AMLA FRUITS (EMBLICA OFFICINALIS ) AND ITS IMPACT ON RAW MATERIAL QUALITY: A CASE OF DHAMTARI DISTRICT, CHHATTISGARH, INDIA MANISH MISHRA¹ AND P. C. KOTWAL 2 Indian Institute of Forest Management, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh (India) Abstract: Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) predominantly use plant material for the preparation of medicines. Amla (Emblica officinalis) is an important medicinal fruit bearing plant of central India and used widely by Ayurvedic industries for making Chyavanprash. Fresh (green) fruits were collected immaturely i.e. in September month, by the gatherers from the natural forest of Dhamtari district. Fruit drying process was found unhygienic and stakeholders adopted unethical practices like imbibing fruits in salt water, mixing of adulterants etc. The present study aims to find out prevailing harvesting methods impacting raw material quality. The visual inspection of forest and market samples were collected from Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh (India) and malpractices adopted by various stakeholders were also discussed in this paper. Keywords: Adulteration, Quality, Visual, Medicinal, Harvesting, Malpractices. Introduction The increase in demand of medicinal plants for the commercial herbal medicine sector led to the indiscriminate and unscientific collection without any consideration for the quality of the material collected. In many cases the immature extraction of fruits, roots, tubers etc. has drastically reduced the quality as well as quantity of the raw product to below critical level. Many studies on different species have confirmed the same. Mishra et al. and Prasad et al. conducted a number of studies on sustainable harvesting, value addition, processing of some important medicinal plants i.e. Amla (E. officinalis) in the natural forests of central India. They reported that due to immature extraction the yield per plant and quality of raw material of this species is declining in the natural forests. They suggest that the collection before maturation should not be permitted so as to maintain raw material quality. 5,6,8 A treatise published two centuries ago on adulteration in food and culinary materials is a proof of this practice as an age old one. 1 Adulteration in market samples is one of the greatest drawbacks in promotion of herbal products. 3 Many researchers have contributed in checking adulterations and authenticating them. 2,4, 9,12 At present most herbal raw materials are still harvested or wild crafted under completely uncontrollable conditions. 7 Indian Ayurvedic industries generally face the problem of adulteration and substitution at raw material stage. Few workers observed that in herbal markets of the country, sometimes not only the various species of particular genus but entirely different taxa are being sold under the same vernacular name two or more different plant species are being sold. 10,11,14,16 Study Area Dhamtari is situated between 20 o 42' N Latitude and 81 o 33' Longitude. The total area of the district is 2029 Sq. Km. and 305 Meter above sea level. The district is surrounded by District Raipur in North and South, part of Orissa state in East and West. The district is rich in flora especially in terms of medicinal plants and has a variety of species. The dependency of the primary collectors on medicinal plant collection is very high. The entire produce from the villagers are procured by the middleman and are brought to 1. Research Associate, Senior Grade 2. Professor, Faculty of Forestry

2 50 Mishra and Kotwal the Dhamtari. There were big traders of medicinal plants located in the city. A field survey of the district was done during August 2007 to March 2008, in the natural forests of Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, India. Material and Methods The aim of the present study is to find out current harvesting methods and other malpractices impacting quality of raw (dry) Amla fruits. The forest and market sample collection was done during 2008, as and when based on the availability of fruits in the natural forests and market of Dhamtari, India. 1. Survey of gatherers (primary collectors) A field survey of Dhamtari forest division was done with the help of semi structured questionnaire. Method adopted by primary collectors to harvest fruits from the natural forest was closely examined at the time of harvesting. Gatherers involved (15% house holds) in fruit collection were interviewed about the time and method of harvesting etc. 2. Survey of traders These were surveyed to get an idea of quality of raw material, the substituted species, their name, different malpractices adopted by the traders in the local market etc. Traders exclusively selling raw medicinal plants in the local market were chosen randomly for present study. Out of total twelve (12) traders, four (04) were surveyed (33%) with the help of pre designed questionnaires (Table 1). 3. Visual inspection of raw (dry) forest and market samples Fresh samples of fruits were collected after maturation from natural forests of Dhamtari. Fruits were washed thoroughly to remove sand, soil etc. and then dried, under open sunlight conditions. Processed fruits after deseeding were packed in polybags and kept under room till further analysis. Market samples (raw) of fruits were collected from local traders of Dhamtari in the month of November, The traders were asked to provide good quality and fresh samples Table 1. Places from where gatherers data, forest and market samples were collected. Fruit samples collected from 1. Forest sample: Dhamtari Forest Division (territorial) 2. Traders sample : Dhamtari market (city) Name of selected Range/ Villages Dugli, Jabarra, Kurud, Sihawa, Nagri Sihawa Road, Jagdalpur Road, Bus Stand, Shastri Chowk etc. of fruits. One kilogram raw material (dry) from each trader was procured and analyzed using different morphological parameters. The identification and documentation of adulterated species and chaff material was done with the help taxonomist, botanists and consulting flora, secondary literature etc. Besides this, local Vaidyas, forest department officials and medicinal plant experts were also consulted. For identifying adulterants present in the market sample help was taken from - Flora, Books (Publ. by ICMR), other scientific literature and through internet. Scientific digital weighing balance was used for weighing each category samples. Based on the visual observations of collected samples (Forest and Market), grading was done under room conditions (Table 2). Result and Discussions Prevalent fruit harvesting practices The Fruit harvesting process begins Dussehra festival or 3 rd week of September and ends within 15 days. In this duration the fruits were immature and small in shape. Sometimes collectors felled more fruit bearing and large Amla trees at base to harvest as much as without leaving any fruit for future regeneration. Mostly seasonal stream water is used for cleaning and boiling the fruits from forests. Boiled fruits after deseeding spread on ground floor for drying (direct contact with soil). Seed intact with fruit pulp and soil, chaff matter were generally mixed by the collectors to increase the volume of their produce to fetch more income. Traders generally mix chaff matter and other similar looking fruits to increase the volume. Sometimes traders as well as

3 Wild Harvesting of Emblica officinalis 51 Table 2. Various grades observed in forest and market samples during sorting of Amla dry fruits. Sl. no Sorting of fruits under different categories/ grades Good quality 1 Grade I 2 Grade II 3 Mixed (Kacharia) Poor quality 4 5 Fruits infected by fungus, insect etc. Adulterants/ other species found 6 Chaff matter 7 Soil and sand Details of various grades based on quality of Amla fruits Good looking, pink colored pulp, C shaped, even sized, even shape, not infected. Uneven sized, slightly inferior, not infected by fungus. Uneven size, black color pulp, mixed with fruit stone, seeds. Fruits affected by fungus, decayed, insect attacked, hollow fruits and seeds, black spots on surface etc. Totally different species from genuine species. Husk, twigs, leaves, pods, rope pieces, very thin roots, stem, grasses etc. Particles of soil, sand adhered with dry material and small stones etc. middleman imbibe Amla in salt water to make sour taste and to increase the weight of immaturely collected fruits. The immature extraction of fruits, roots, tubers etc. has drastically reduced the quality as well as quantity of the raw product to the below critical level. Many studies on different species have confirmed the same. Scientists conducted a number of studies on sustainable harvesting, processing of some important fruit plants (i.e. Amla) of central India and reported that due to immature extraction the yield per plant and quality of raw material is declining in the natural forests. The other factors responsible are competition among collectors, unripe harvesting, high price of product in the market etc. It was suggested that collection before maturation should not be permitted so as to maintain raw material quality. 5,6,8 Market sample analysis The data depicted in Table 3 shows visual inspection analysis of forest and market samples collected from Dhamtari district. It is clear from the data that maximum (95.5%) proportion of best quality fruits i.e. grade-i (Avg.955 gms/ kg.) was found in samples collected from natural forest while comparatively low (Avg.842 gms/ kg. or 84%) in market samples. Fruits of grade- II were found more in market samples (Avg.63 gms/kg or 6.3%) while very less in forest samples (Avg.3.2% or 32 gms/kg). Fruits of grade-iii (Kacharia) and fungal infected were found more in market samples (14.75 and gms/kg.) respectively, while nil in forest samples. The soil and sand particles were found more in market samples (3.6%) while very less (0.5%) in forest samples. Chaff matter proportion was also found more in market samples while nil in forest samples. The adulterant species were recorded more (1.9%) in market samples while nil in samples collected from natural forest. The market samples analysis of Amla fruits indicates that mixing of old and diseased Amla fruits and other adulterants is rampant in the local market of Dhamtari. Mostly traders as well as gatherers mixes similar looking parts of other species (i.e broken fruits of Harad and Baheda) to increase the volume of their substandard raw material. Traders and middleman also adopted malpractices like imbibing small and unripe fruits in salt water that makes the sour taste of fruit, which otherwise is bitter. Few scientists observed that in herbal markets of the country, not only the various species of particular genus but entirely different taxa are being sold under the same vernacular name. 10,11,12 The market sample of Bhui amla botanically equated with Phyllanthus amarus are mixed with other allied species of Phyllanthus spp. 2 Similarly, scientist also reported that adulterations and substitutions are common in raw material trade of medicinal plants in the Indian markets. 7

4 52 Mishra and Kotwal Table 3. Visual inspection of forest and market sample of raw (dry) Emblica officinalis. Sample collected from Grade- I Grade-II Grade III (Kacharia) Fig.2. Showing various grades of Amla found in Forest and Trader s samples collected from Dhamtari district. Conclusion Substitution or intentional adulteration is not a common practice in the local market of Dhamtari. The adulteration was found more intense only during less production of fruits form natural forests and high demand by Ayurvedic industries. More demand and less supply forces stakeholders to adopt malpractices like mixing of Infected by fungus, insect fruit samples collected from natural forests of Dhamtari, processed under lab. Forest (control) (95.5%) (3.2%) Adulterant/ Other* species Chaff matter Market samples dry (raw) collected from four local traders of Dhamtari city Trader (89.5%) Trader (84.2%) Trader (80%) Trader (83.4%) Traders Avg (84.2%) (5.5%) (7%) (7.3%) (5.6%) (6.3%) (1.6%) (2.5%) (3.7%) (2.2%) (1.4%) (3%) (3.1%) (2.2%) (3.8%) (1.1%) (1.9%) *Adulterants found in market samples are: Broken fruits of Baheda (Terminalia bellerica) and Harad (Terminalia chebula) fruits. Soil and sand (0.5%) (3.4%) (2.5%) (0.5%) (0.7%) (5%) (3.6%) (3.6%) similar looking fruits, chaff matter etc. in genuine material. End users are generally unaware about the similar appearance of the fruits and fail to differentiate from genuine species. The present paper suggests some measures to prevent substitution in Amla fruits in the market. Intensive training on scientific harvesting methods and awareness to all stakeholders is required on priority basis so as to maintain raw material quality. Fruit harvesting should be allowed not before than November month and some fruits should be left on plant for future regeneration. Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and local level NGOs may be involved along with forest department staff to prevent mixing and other malpractices at primary level. The local traders and medicinal plant suppliers should be trained and educated about World Health Organization (WHO) standards for medicinal plants. Certification by the authorities (G.Os and NGOs) for raw material can immediately promoted to encourage quality awareness amongst consumers. After proper botanical identification, WHO guidelines should be followed for collecting plant material in terms of proper season, correct plant part, practices that are non-

5 Wild Harvesting of Emblica officinalis 53 destructive and would prevent contamination from soil, microbes etc. References 1. Accum MF: A Treaties on Adulterations of Food and Culinary Poisons. A.B. & M Small, Philadelphia (1820). 2. Brataiti DE and Dutta PC: Pharmacognostic evaluation of Phyllanthus amarus. Inter. Jour. of Cru. Drug Res. 28(2): (1990). 3. Dubey NK, Kumar R and Tripathi P: Global promotion of herbal medicines Indias opportunity. Curr. Sci. 86(1): (2004). 4. Lange D: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Trade, Production, and Management of Botanical Resources. In: Cracker, L. E., Simon, J. E., Medicinal and Aromatic Plants R&D, Rte des Lucioles, F Sophia Antipolis, France (2004). 5. Mishra M, Teki S and Mishra RP: Sustainable harvesting, value addition and marketing of selected non timber forest products: A case study of Koraput, Malkangiri Districts, Orissa. Project report submitted to RCNEAB, Regional center, Indian Institute of Forest management, Bhopal (M.P) (2003). 6. Prasad R, Kotwal PC and Mishra M: Standardizing methodologies for sustainable harvesting of non timber forest products in Madhya Pradesh. Project report submitted to Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal (M.P) (2001). 7. Mitra SK and Kannan R: A note on unintentional adulterations in Ayurvedic herbs. R&D Center, The Himalaya Drug Company, Bangalore, India. (2007). 8. Prasad R, Kotwal PC and Mishra M: Impact of harvesting of Emblica officinalis (Amla) on natural regeneration, health, vitality and ecosystem in central Indian forests. Jour. of Sust. For. 14(4): 1-12 (2002). 9. Puri HS and Jain SP: Ainsliaea latifolia: an adulterant of Podophyllum. Plan. Med. 54: 269 (1988). 10. Rawat AKS, Mehrotra AS and Shome U: Comparative pharmacognostic studies of Abies spectabilis and Taxus wallichiana. Intern. Jour. of Pharm. 34(5): (1996). 11. Rawat AKS: Importance of quality control of raw material in Ayurvedic medicine. Proceedings in herbal medicine phytopharmaceuticals and other natural products: trends and advances. Jointly published by Centre for S & T of NAM & other countries and Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon, Sri Lanka (2005). 12. Saraswathy A: Adulterants and substitutes in Ayurveda. Sach. Ayur. 54(1): (2001). 13. Sarin YK: Medicinal plant raw materials for Indian drug and pharmaceutical industry I. An appraisal of resources. Ind. For. 129(1): 3-24 (2003). 14. Tewari NN: Some crude drugs: source, substitute and adulterant with special reference to KTM crude drug market. Sach. Ayur. 44(4): (1991). 15. Uniyal MR and Joshi GC: Historical view of the basic principals of the identification of controversial drugs, problems and suggestions. Sach. Ayur. 45(7): (1993). 16. Vasudevan N, Yoganarasimhan KR, Kehava M and Shantha TR: Studies on some South Indian market samples of Ayurvedic drugs II. Anc. Sci. of Life. 3(2): (1983). Address for correspondence: Dr. Manish Mishra, Research Associate, Sr. Grade, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal M.P. (India). manishm@iifm.ac.in 023_2009