Is time period (few month to years) has any effect on medicinal value of a herb?
Dear Dr. Vinesh
The synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites (which are responsible for the medicinal properties of a species) in medicinal herbs are under the control of genes or gene clusters (genotype, chemotype, hybrids etc.) and is influenced by the environment (macro and micro), plant physiology (stage of plant growth, age of plant part containing the secondary metabolites), agronomic management in the case of cultivated species (manures/fertilizers, irrigation/drought, planting time, harvesting time/method etc.), incidence of pests and diseases and post-harvest practices (drying, storage method/period/place etc.). The time of harvest, season, crop age have bearing on the composition and percentages of secondary metabolites. You can check my publications on aromatic plants how different factors affect the essential oil yield and composition. You can also check the publications of R. Ramesh Kumar on Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Untimely harvesting of the roots of this crop adversely affects the quality of the roots.
Best wishes.
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