1.0 Product and its applications

Pashanbhedi ( Coleus barbatus Benth. Syn: Coleus forskohlii Brig.) is used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic healing. It is known as Pashan Bhedi in Sanskrit & Hindi, Patharchur in Hindi , Makkadiberu or Manganaberu in Kannada, Garmalu in Gujarati and Maimnul in Marathi.

Pashanbhedi plant has been used for medicinal purpose in Africa, Arabia, and Brazil . The root tubers of the plant are prepared and eaten as a condiment in India . Chemical studies on alcoholic extracts of the tubers of C. barbatus led to isolation of the labdane diterpene forskolin, which has become an important research tool in studying the roles of the enzyme adenylate cyclase and cyclic-AMP in cellular physiology. The compound may eventually become a useful drug in treating hypertension, glaucoma, asthma, and certain cancers.

It is one of the most potential medicinal crops of future, as its pharmacopieal properties have been discovered only recently. Its tuberous roots are found to be rich source of forskolin which is being developed as a drug for hypertension, glaucoma, asthma, congestive heart failures and certain types of cancers. In addition, forskolin is reported to have been used in the preparation of medicines preventing hair greying and restoring grey hairs to its normal colour. While its foliage is employed in treating intestinal disorders and used as a condiment since a long time, it is under cultivation in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra , Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

2 .0 Market Potential

Importers, buyers within the country, processors, traditional practitioners, Ayurvedic and Siddha drug manufacturers throng the markets for procurement of this plant every year.  Its domestic demand is quite large.  As the production is much less in India , the internal market itself is highly potential. 

3.0 Basis and Presumption

a) The agricultural land and related infrastructure is available with the entrepreneur.

b) Prices are calculated as per the prevailing market rates.

c) The yields depend on proper implementation of package of practices.

d) Economics of cultivation greatly improves on scale of operation.

e) This activity provides tax-free high returns. Additionally a number of government support schemes are  available. Latest provisions need to be checked up.

f) Market for medicinal plants is volatile and economics may vary from time to time.

4.0 Agri practices

4.1 Soil & Climate

The plant thrives well in porous and well drained soils with a pH ranging from 5.5 to 7. However, it does not require very fertile soils and can be economically
grown even on the soils with marginal fertility. It is a crop of tropics and found growing well at an altitude of about 2400 under tropical and subtropical conditions. It prefers humid climate with a RH ranging from 83 to 95 per cent and a temperature range between 10-25 O C for its successful growth. The annual rainfall in such areas ranges from 100 to 160 cm, mainly during June to September months. It is also found to perform well in less humid and warmer regions when grown as an irrigated crop.

4.2 Land Preparation

The land should be ploughed deep soon after pre-monsoon showers and brought to fine tilth. Rooted cuttings are planted at a spacing of 20-20cm on the ridges. One hectare area requires 84,000 soft stem cuttings for planting

4.3 Propagation

Pashanbhedi can be propagated by seeds as well as by stem cuttings. Seeds are slow and difficult to germinate and seed viability is 8-10%. Germination takes 15-20 days to complete and transplanted after 45 days when 8-10 cm high. Propagation by cuttings is more economical when grown on a large scale. Terminal cuttings of 10-12 cm length comprising of 3-4 pairs of leaves are planted in well prepared nursery beds. Planting season is April-May. Regular care with watering and shading is required. In a months time (June-July) the cuttings establish with sufficient roots and are ready to be transplanted to the main field. For this purpose about 10-12 cm long cuttings comprising 3-4 pairs of leaves are preferred. In most areas the crop is planted during June-July with the onset of South West monsoon. Before planting, the field is ploughed deep soon after the receipt of pre-monsoon showers and brought to fine tilth. Further, the land is divided into plots of convenient sizes which are prepared into ridges and furrows at a spacing of 60 cm and the rooted cuttings are planted at 30 cm apart within the row.  

4.4 Fertilizer

A combination of 40 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 50 kg K2O /ha and 10 t of compost / FYM is optimum for obtaining maximum fresh and dry tuber yield .The quantity of N, should be split into two doses, one for the basal and the remaining half after planting as top dressing.

4.5 Irrigation

The first irrigation is given immediately after transplanting if there are no rains. Irrigation at an interval of 3-5 days in the initial stages and subsequently at an interval of 7-15 days is sufficient to obtain good growth and yield. Due to frequent irrigation during the initial stages there is a lot of competition from weeds. In order to obtain economic yield frequent weeding during the early growth period is desirable. Further, as the plants cover the soil under their foliage, not much are of weeding is required.

4.6 Weed control

Weeding and intercultural operations are required only in the beginning when there is a lot of competition from the weeds.

4.7 Pest control

Spraying the plants and drenching their roots with 10mL methyl parathion in 10 L ater controls the common pests like leaf eating caterpillar and mealy bug. Root knot nematodes may be particularly controlled by applying Carbofuron granules at the rate of 20 kg per hectare. Spread of wilt can be checked by spraying and drenching the soil adjoining the affected plants with 0.2% Captan solution immediately after the appearance of the disease and later at a week's interval.  

4.8 Harvesting

Flowers should be nipped off during the growing period in order to obtain more biomass. The crop is ready for harvest after about 135-150 days of planting. During the growing period the flowers if any should be nipped off to obtain more biomass. The crop is harvested manually by uprooting the individual plants.

5.0 Post harvest operations
5.1 Drying

Once the plants are uprooted, tubers should be separated, cleaned and shade dried for extraction of Forskohlin. Tubers are dried up to 12 per cent dry matter containing 0.44 per cent Forskohlin.  

6.0 Yield

On an average a yield of 1500 kg of dried tubers per hectare is obtained. However, if proper cultivation practices are applied a yield of 2500 kg of dried tubers can be easily obtained per hectare.  

7.0 Economics of cultivation per hectare land (Rs.)

In a hectare, 84000 cuttings are planted in the first year at a cost of Rs 3 per cutting. In the subsequent years there is no cost of planting material. Even though the first year leads to negative returns, the second year onwards a profit of Rs.72000 is obtained. Thereafter a net return of Rs.110, 000 can be obtained every year.

8 .0 Addresses of Some Dealers in Medicinal plants/ Planting material

Tropical Forest Research Institute
Mandla Road , Jabalpur (M.P.)

Cedmap,
60, Jail Road , Jahangirabad,
Bhopal (M.P.)

KRD Musli Farm,10/47, Station Road , Rau,
Indore-453331 (M.P.)

Mittal Musli Farm and Research Centre,
Jamod, Jalgaon ( Maharashtra )

Regional Research Laboratory
Jorhat ( Assam )

Jeevan Herbs & Agro Farms
178,Keshav Ganj, Sagar (M.P.)

SSS Biotic.com
C/o biosourcing.com (P)Ltd.
A-41, Janpath, Ashoknagar
Bhubaneswar (Orissa)

Kasiraj Exports,
37, Santhai Road ,
Tuticorin (TN)

A.Y. Agritec Private Limited
16-7-382/18, Azampura Masjid,
Hyderabad (A.P.)

Contact for more information:

Information Manager
TIMEIS Project
E-mail: timeis@ficci.com