CONSERVATION AND S USTAINABILITY OF ASHWAGANDHA: A MEDICINAL PLANT

Ayurveda become a globally popular healthcare sy stem leading to constant rise in the demand for herbal medicines resulting in increased world herbal trade which stands at US$ 120 billion and is expected to reach US$ 7 trillion by 2050. As majority of Ayurvedic medicines are plant based, this demand has resulted in a huge pressure on the traditional sources of raw materials. Obviously, the wild sources are not able to meet the demand of raw materials. To overcome this situation alternate sources of raw materials like cultivated fields are look for supply. Dwindling forest cover, unscientific and exploitative collection leads to loss of supply source and threat to germplasm. Germplasm conservation and cultivation seems to be the best way forward for sustainable utilization of medicinal plants. Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera Dunal) is widely used, prioritised Ayurvedic herb having annual demand 7000 tonnes /yr but its actual production is 1500 tonnes/yr. It grows naturally in subtropical region and is collected from wild and fields. Its r ampant collection has once leaded to critical pressure situation on its germplasm. This was noticed and a lot of effort was put in for its sustainable production. There i s lot of evidence we will discuss in the various research field of Ashwagandha like Agronomic research , Phy tochemical and Clinical research and Market Linkage . Ashwagndha due to such sustained and concerted multi - disciplinary effort has come near to a sustainable use mode. It is thus logical to extend the Ashwagandha model to other high demand medicinal plants and its feasibility.