powranikam
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KASTHURIMANJAL
Scientific name : Curcuma aromatica Salisb.
Family : Zingiberaceae
Vernacular namesView attachment 6199
English : Wild Turmeric
Malayalam : Kasthuri manjal
Hindi : Jangli haldi
Sanskrit : Aranyaharidra
Tamil : Kasturimanjal
It is a perennial rhizomatous herb with annulate, aromatic, cream coloured rhizome.
Leaves are elliptic or lanceolate-oblong, 30-45 cm long, lower sides of leaves are hairy and smooth.
Flowering not usually observed under Kerala conditions.
At present, only local types are available for cultivation
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENT
Dry rhizome contains:
0.8% Essential oil 10-11.5% Oleoresin 0.7% Crude fibre 0.04% Curcumin
Curcumin content, which is responsible for the yellow colour of the rhizome, is very low in Kasthurimanjal as compared to turmeric and yellow zedoary.
Main constituents of essential oil :Camphene, Methoxy cinnamic acid, Curcumene
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES & USE
Parts used: Rhizome
The rhizome is an esteemed drug for skin care.
It possesses good germicidal activity, hence ideal for protection against skin infections.
Traditionally used in bathing new born babies.
It is an ingredient of many cosmetics, skin care products and tonics for women after childbirth
Application of rhizome paste in rose water control pimples
Rhizome is an anti-dote for scorpion and other poisonous stings.
It is effective for fever, cough and worm infestations
PROPAGATION
Well developed healthy and disease free rhizomes are selected for seed material. These are stored in cool dry place or in mud or cowdung plastered pits dug in a sheltered area.
Rhizome bits with one healthy sprout is used as planting material.
Seed rate : 600-800 kg rhizomes/ acre
PLANTING & AFTERCARE
Planting is done in May-June with the receipt of 4 or 5 pre-monsoon showers.
The field is ploughed to a fine tilth and raised beds of 1m width and convenient length are taken and seed rhizomes are placed in small pits taken at spacing 25 X 25 cm spacing and covered with dry cowdung. The beds are then mulched with green leaves or dry straw.
Manures and fertilizers
Basal: FYM 4 tons/ acre Topdressing: At 45 and 90 days of planting, the field is to be cleared of weeds and 40 kg urea, 50 kg rajphos & 18 kg potash per acre are to be applied and earthed up.
HARVEST & PROCESSING
The crop matures in 7- 8 months. Drying up of leaves is the indication of maturity. Dig out the rhizomes without causing damage, remove dried leaves and roots.
The average yield of fresh rhizome is 10-12 tons /acre. The rhizomes can be marketed as fresh or sliced into pieces and sundried. Drying gives 20-25% recovery.
Value added products
1. Rhizome powder : sundried rhizome slices are powdered and sieved and packed airtight.
1 kg powder is obtained from 6 kg fresh rhizome .
2. Essential oil :
The rhizome is thinly sliced and steam distilled for 3-4 hours for extracting the essential oil
Oil yield: 0.33 % on fresh weight basis and 1.05 % on dry weight basis
Oleoresin : Extraction in alcohol solvent yield 10-11.5% oleoresin on dry weight basis.
Yellow zedoary/ Manjakoova (Curcuma zedoaria)View attachment 6200
The plant is seen wild in homesteads and wastelands.
It is robust in appearance compared to Kasthurinamjal; besides, a violet colouration is seen in the leaf midrib and the rhizomes are light yellow.
Very low medicinal value compared to Curcuma aromatica
In most cases, the product now available in market under the label Kasthurimanjal powder, is yellow zedoary powder. The cream coloured powder of Kasthurimanjal is rarely available in market.
Scientific name : Curcuma aromatica Salisb.
Family : Zingiberaceae
Vernacular namesView attachment 6199
English : Wild Turmeric
Malayalam : Kasthuri manjal
Hindi : Jangli haldi
Sanskrit : Aranyaharidra
Tamil : Kasturimanjal
It is a perennial rhizomatous herb with annulate, aromatic, cream coloured rhizome.
Leaves are elliptic or lanceolate-oblong, 30-45 cm long, lower sides of leaves are hairy and smooth.
Flowering not usually observed under Kerala conditions.
At present, only local types are available for cultivation
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENT
Dry rhizome contains:
0.8% Essential oil 10-11.5% Oleoresin 0.7% Crude fibre 0.04% Curcumin
Curcumin content, which is responsible for the yellow colour of the rhizome, is very low in Kasthurimanjal as compared to turmeric and yellow zedoary.
Main constituents of essential oil :Camphene, Methoxy cinnamic acid, Curcumene
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES & USE
Parts used: Rhizome
The rhizome is an esteemed drug for skin care.
It possesses good germicidal activity, hence ideal for protection against skin infections.
Traditionally used in bathing new born babies.
It is an ingredient of many cosmetics, skin care products and tonics for women after childbirth
Application of rhizome paste in rose water control pimples
Rhizome is an anti-dote for scorpion and other poisonous stings.
It is effective for fever, cough and worm infestations
PROPAGATION
Well developed healthy and disease free rhizomes are selected for seed material. These are stored in cool dry place or in mud or cowdung plastered pits dug in a sheltered area.
Rhizome bits with one healthy sprout is used as planting material.
Seed rate : 600-800 kg rhizomes/ acre
PLANTING & AFTERCARE
Planting is done in May-June with the receipt of 4 or 5 pre-monsoon showers.
The field is ploughed to a fine tilth and raised beds of 1m width and convenient length are taken and seed rhizomes are placed in small pits taken at spacing 25 X 25 cm spacing and covered with dry cowdung. The beds are then mulched with green leaves or dry straw.
Manures and fertilizers
Basal: FYM 4 tons/ acre Topdressing: At 45 and 90 days of planting, the field is to be cleared of weeds and 40 kg urea, 50 kg rajphos & 18 kg potash per acre are to be applied and earthed up.
HARVEST & PROCESSING
The crop matures in 7- 8 months. Drying up of leaves is the indication of maturity. Dig out the rhizomes without causing damage, remove dried leaves and roots.
The average yield of fresh rhizome is 10-12 tons /acre. The rhizomes can be marketed as fresh or sliced into pieces and sundried. Drying gives 20-25% recovery.
Value added products
1. Rhizome powder : sundried rhizome slices are powdered and sieved and packed airtight.
1 kg powder is obtained from 6 kg fresh rhizome .
2. Essential oil :
The rhizome is thinly sliced and steam distilled for 3-4 hours for extracting the essential oil
Oil yield: 0.33 % on fresh weight basis and 1.05 % on dry weight basis
Oleoresin : Extraction in alcohol solvent yield 10-11.5% oleoresin on dry weight basis.
Yellow zedoary/ Manjakoova (Curcuma zedoaria)View attachment 6200
The plant is seen wild in homesteads and wastelands.
It is robust in appearance compared to Kasthurinamjal; besides, a violet colouration is seen in the leaf midrib and the rhizomes are light yellow.
Very low medicinal value compared to Curcuma aromatica
In most cases, the product now available in market under the label Kasthurimanjal powder, is yellow zedoary powder. The cream coloured powder of Kasthurimanjal is rarely available in market.