International Journal of Conservation Science (Mar 2013)
Quantitative Enhancement of Active Content and Biomass of Two Aconitum Species Through Suitable Cultivation Technology
Abstract
High altitude medicinal plants are facing problem due to their unsustainable utilization. So, the cultivation of these plants with appropriate technology may fulfill the demand of pharmaceutical industry and may also promote the conservation at their natural habitat. Highly important two species of Aconitum were studied for the enhancement of net profit by applying protected farming system. Both the experimental species were grown under natural and greenhouse conditions. Very positive results were obtained in plants of both Aconitum species grown under greenhouse as compared to natural conditions. Enhancement in yield was 12 and 9 times high in Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle and Aconitum balfourii Stapf. respectively grown under greenhouse as compared to natural condition. Pseudoaconitine and aconitine were also observed high in greenhouse grown (0.51% and 0.42% respectively) than naturally grown plants (0.49% and 0.40% respectively). The quantity of atisine and aconitine was also found high (0.35% & 0.27% respectively) in greenhouse than naturally grown plants (0.19% & 0.16% respectively). It was noticed that plant height, leaf number, and average length of tubers were high in plants grown inside greenhouse in contrast to natural habitat. Almost five and two folds more tubers were found in A. balfourii and A. heterophyllum respectively in plants grown under greenhouse in comparison to natural conditions.
