Scientific analysis of indigenous techniques for guggal(Commiphora wightii) tapping in India  

作　　者：Jatindra Nath Samanta Kunal Mandla 

机构地区：[1]Directorate of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Research, Borivai, Anand, Gujarat–387310, India [2]Directorate Mushroom Research, Chambaghat, Solan – 173213, India

出　　处：《Journal of Forestry Research》2014年第3期695-700,共6页林业研究（英文版）

基　　金：financially supported by the National Medicinal Plants Board,New Delhi

摘　　要：Guggal, a threatened species that is endemic to western India, is tapped to extract medicinally important oleo-gum-resin （guggul）. However, the plant dies after gum exudation. The indigenous tapping techniques used by local people were examined in Gujarat, India to dis-cover the scientific basis behind these techniques： selection of gum in-ducer, season of tapping, and plant parts to be tapped. First, the presence of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. commiphorae （Xac） in the gum suspen-sion used for tapping was established. This bacterium induces gum ooz-ing from the tapped plants and later, causes them to die off. The popula-tion of Xac in gum was found to decrease with the age of the gum. With that, fresh gum increased the tapping success. Second, local people pre-ferred tapping during the warm season, which we validated by determin-ing that Xac growth was best at 30 ＆#176;C. Tapping during September （mean temperature 25.7-30.0 ＆#176;C） clearly favoured growth of the pathogen and yielded maximum guggul. Multiple tapping on a mature tree ensured maximum gum extraction before its death. Finally, application of in-digenous technology under natural plant stands by the local people en-sured availability of this important raw drug for consumption. Our study established that the age-old traditional methods have a strong scientific basis. However, it is imperative to formulate strategies based on con-temporary scientific understanding to protect this natural resource before it becomes extinct.Guggal, a threatened species that is endemic to western India, is tapped to extract medicinally important oleo-gum-resin （guggul）. However, the plant dies after gum exudation. The indigenous tapping techniques used by local people were examined in Gujarat, India to dis-cover the scientific basis behind these techniques： selection of gum in-ducer, season of tapping, and plant parts to be tapped. First, the presence of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. commiphorae （Xac） in the gum suspen-sion used for tapping was established. This bacterium induces gum ooz-ing from the tapped plants and later, causes them to die off. The popula-tion of Xac in gum was found to decrease with the age of the gum. With that, fresh gum increased the tapping success. Second, local people pre-ferred tapping during the warm season, which we validated by determin-ing that Xac growth was best at 30 ＆#176;C. Tapping during September （mean temperature 25.7-30.0 ＆#176;C） clearly favoured growth of the pathogen and yielded maximum guggul. Multiple tapping on a mature tree ensured maximum gum extraction before its death. Finally, application of in-digenous technology under natural plant stands by the local people en-sured availability of this important raw drug for consumption. Our study established that the age-old traditional methods have a strong scientific basis. However, it is imperative to formulate strategies based on con-temporary scientific understanding to protect this natural resource before it becomes extinct.

关 键 词：BURSERACEAE GUMMOSIS medicinal plant participatory forest management xerophytes 

分 类 号：S567.19[农业科学—中草药栽培]