Natural Fostering in Fritillaria Cirrhosa Integrating Herbal Medicine

Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2012;2(1):77–82

Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Chinese Pharmaceutical Association

Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B

www.elsevier.com/locate/apsb www.sciencedirect.com

ORIGINAL ARTICLE Natural Fostering in Fritillaria cirrhosa: Integrating herbal medicine production with biodiversity conservation

Xiwen Lia,b, Jingyuan Songb, Jianhe Weib, Zhigang Huc, Caixiang Xieb, Guoan Luoa,n aDepartment of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China bInstitute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China cCollege of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China

Received 22 November 2011; revised 25 November 2011; accepted 10 December 2011

KEY WORDS Abstract Protected areas are generally regarded as a power tool to conserve biodiversity. Nonetheless, few protected areas could address three crucial problems simultaneously, namely funding, public Protected areas; participation and rural living. Here, we introduced a new protective approach, Natural Fostering, which Community integrated herbal medicine production with community conservation. The principles of Natural Fostering conservation; adopted species–species interaction at community level. Most effective chemical components of herbal Reintroduction; medicine are derived from such interaction. Fritillaria cirrhosa was selected as an economic botany, one of Herbal medicine; herbal medicines, to carry out Natural Fostering. Community habitats, herbal medicine production, Fritillaria cirrhosa funding and income of local family were investigated to verify the feasibility of Natural Fostering for biodiversity. We found the density of plant populations and the annual average personal income of rural people increased. F. cirrhosa production could provide sufﬁcient funds for sustainable conservation. Local people gradually changed their life style of wild collection and overgrazing, instead of herbal medicine production. The fostering area set up a good sustainable economic cycle. Natural Fostering can be presented as an effective and pragmatic way to conserve biological diversity and sustainable utilization of traditional medicinal resources.

nCorresponding author. Tel.: þ86 10 62781688. E-mail address: [email protected] (Guoan Luo).

Peer review under responsibility of Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Chinese Pharmaceutical Association. doi:10.1016/j.apsb.2011.12.006 78 Xiwen Li et al.

1. Introduction voluntary local participation while maintaining local community livelihoods and solving the problem of funding shortfalls The rate of global species extinction has accelerated many simultaneously. times due to human exploitation. Natural sources of treat- ments for diseases ranging from cancer to kidney failure will 1 be lost unless biodiversity can be maintained . Biological 2. Materials and methods diversity is valuable, and may be exploited for new resources. However, the conflict between economic forces and biological 2.1. Materials conservation has not been effectively resolved2,3, although, particularly in developing nations, governments have empha- 4–8 Fritillaria cirrhosa is perennial herbaceous plant primarily sized biodiversity and conservation . distributed in the Sichuan province and belongs to threatened In China, as in other regions, considerable biodiversity has species, and it is regarded as the best medicine for relieving been lost due to economic factors. Conservation scientists coughs and eliminating phlegm in many Asian countries. The have done a considerable amount of research on subjects such 6,7 manufacture of Fritillaria preparations has developed into a as protected areas, cultivation and strategies . Nonetheless, large-scale industry worth an estimated US $400 million a year environmental degradation has continued because these in China, and there are currently 400 manufacturers producing approaches may solve one or two problems in conservation over 200 kinds of Fritillaria preparations21. This species lives and do not always address all issues of ecological integrity. 9 at an attitude from 3200 m to 4500 m in shady and humid Bonn and Gaston asserted that focusing on any single environments. Its medicinal materials from wild collections biodiversity component was not sufficient for protecting other can be harvested at least six years22. There is not enough components, which means that focusing on parks or cultivat- natural supply to meet the demands of the medicine industry. ing single species might be able to save some endangered Unfortunately, cultivation in fields on a large scale could not species, but it may not solve the larger problem of conserving produce qualified medicinal products. The price of raw biodiversity. materials is beyond $250 per kilogram in 2011, eightfold what Protected areas are regarded as a power tool to conserve 10,11 it was in 2004. Concomitant species are divided into six biodiversity . Nonetheless, their effectiveness may also be community types of which Rhododendron litangense is the limited because of three problems encountered: funding, 10,12–14 primary type and includes areas where produce the best public participation and rural living . Up to now, few medicinal materials of F. cirrhosa23. Considering the ecological protected areas could address the three crucial problems in fragility of F. cirrhosa11 and other unsuitable conditions for conservation simultaneously. Increasing costs and limited 15 cultivation, F. cirrhosa is thus the suitable target medicinal revenues are the main obstacles. Inamdar et al. considered species for NF24. that a business-oriented approach could help protected areas go further. However, protected areas related to pure economic functions may encounter ecological degradation16. Therefore, 2.2. Analysis on the adaptive area and site selection we need a special kind of approach towards a conjunction of ecological integrity and economic function. Analysis of adaptive cultivated area used the traditional Natural Fostering (NF) is such an approach integrating Chinese medicine adaptability analyzing system (TCMGIS) herbal medicine production with biodiversity conservation. based on GIS to find suitable regions to carry out fostering NF was an improved method of biological conservation, programs25. Clustering analysis and spatial analysis technol- which has been used to increase the prevalence of wild species ogies were implemented to analyze traditional Chinese med- with high economic value through re-introduction of plants to icine adaptability to determine the most equivalent growth their natural habitats since Qing dynasty (300 years ago) in condition regions comparable to natural areas. Biotic factors 17 China . In recent years, this method was used to increase the were considered based on several factors: (1) direct informa- productivity and quality of medicinal materials while main- tion on species distributions; (2) market analysis on potential taining community stability. Raw medicinal materials with medical plants; (3) community types or biotic units according high content of functional components are produced due to to the evaluation of effective components; (4) transportation 18 19 plant–plant allelopathy and special habitats . Tian et al. convenience. analyzed the volatile oil content of Ganoderma lucidum and found that there were 22 compounds in wild species, while only 10 compounds existed in cultivated species. Efficacy of 2.3. Construction of a seedling base medical materials will not be maintained without ecological integrity. In essence, the principles of NF employed interac- Production of vigorous seedlings or healthy seeds is necessary tion of species–species at community level. We can regard to this process. The aims of fostering seedlings are somewhat natural reserves with NF as a special kind of protected areas different from those of breeding for agriculture. The para- between category IV and category VI20. In order to achieve meters of germplasm resources should include not only the aims of economic function and attracting private compa- abilities to resist different stresses and high production, but nies to join in, the potential medicinal species should has a also high effective chemical component content. Seeds are the high economic value and be suitable for local habitats. NF can best selection for planting. In order to guarantee a high rate of be adopted in all kinds of protected areas, private lands and germination, standard seeds with high quality are required. government lands. Therefore, we set up a seeding base occupied 1.8 km2 for Here, we investigated the conservation potential of NF with producing high quality seeds of F. cirrhosa. In each Septem- a case study and evaluated whether NF can encourage ber, fruits were harvested and obtained a large quantity of Natural Fostering in F. cirrhosa 79 seeds stored in a cellar or storeroom to speed physiological performed in the base to avoid disturbing local habitat. Seedling growth. reproduction base (N 291520, E 1011340, 3530 m) was established in 2002, about 35 km west of the fostering base. Seedling base 2.4. Yielding of NF employed local people to produce seeds for NF and we encouraged them to cultivate F. cirrhosa in their private land and sell seeds to the base. In the following years, when the In each spring, planting began before seeds are set as buds and ground was still covered with snow, planting work should begin before the snow melts. Mathematical models from crops are to reduce more damages to community structure. used as references to estimate the yield and to adjust for the In 2009, there were about eight young F. cirrhosa plants per subsequent year’s plan26. In addition, the evaluation of square meter in the fostering area, while less than one (on production conducted through community investigation each average) in control area (Table 1). The value of relative year in the chosen sites27. parameters (density, coverage and frequency) of concomitant species increased significantly in NF. The control areas only 2.5. Evaluation of feasibility of NF contained 65% of the total species and less than 50% of the vegetation coverage in the fostering areas. The family living In order to be sure whether NF can protect biodiversity in the near the NF regions had average six yaks more than control face of industrialization, three aspects are used to evaluate the families (5 miles away from protected areas). The changing adaptive ability: community status, local economic growth trend was not obvious but a t-test indicated significant and sustainability. For community condition, we chose 20 difference. A paired-sample t-test (1995–2007) showed that primary plant species, which constitute the main part of differences were significant (Po0.05), especially from 2003 to R. litangense community, and determined their densities, 2007 (Po0.01) (Fig. 2). In addition, we studied the effect of coverage and frequencies. A quadrat samples was determined NF on the annual average and personal income of local along a 50 m-length line and marked a dot every 5 m. The dot people. From 2000 to 2003, there were no differences in was the center of each square which area covered 1 m2. The income (P40.05), while the following six years were different 50 m-length line was randomly lain on 10 different big target (Po0.05) (Fig. 3). regions. The three parameters were investigated in each square and total squares were 100. F. cirrhosa was the target core plant used to test the method of community conservation. A 4. Discussion 10-year income-related questionnaire was designed and sent to 30 families randomly to investigate the effect of NF on the This paper proposed a special protected area named NF that annual average and personal income of local people. To would encourage voluntary local participation while main- investigate the influence of NF on surrounding habitat, a taining local community livelihoods and solving the problem yak-related questionnaire was designed and sent to 20 families of funding shortfalls simultaneously. NF was in fact a randomly. cultivated type of traditional Chinese medicinal materials based on community biodiversity and ecological conservation from a holistic perspective. 3. Results Ecosystems are defined as biological communities that interact with the physical and chemical environment, with In 2001, we built a fostering bases demonstrated protected adjacent ecosystems and with the atmosphere28. The concept area, covered 200 ha, 50 km west of Kangding County of the ecosystem emphasizes the importance of the whole and (N 301040, E 1011470, 4100 m) according to the results of adaptive the interdependence of various components. The Chinese analysis (Fig. 1). Except for semination, no manual works were traditional herbal medicine industry also emphasizes a holistic perspective. Although there were certain disadvantages, experimental data showed NF made a great progress on solving the conflict between biodiversity and economy. The community index (density, coverage and frequency) in the fostering areas has increased despite the changing environment. Partial habitat remained at an acceptable level. Comparative analysis of concomitant species between 2003 and 2009 showed that NF brought a positive effect on population renewing and community conservation. Much research has confirmed that various protected areas have a direct influence on local people, especially on their previous rural living4,5,8. We investigated the amount of yaks in each family in recent years because primary assets for local families are derived from the amount of yaks they owned. Yaks live on various grasses, whose growing conditions depend on surrounding habitats. There- fore, the community environments have a close relationship with yaks’ breeding. Climate changes and ecological degrada- Figure 1 Location of fostering base and the adaptive areas of tion previously caused a low rate of coverage of vegetation, F. cirrhosa in the primary. which hardly provide sufficient food for yaks which were the 80 Xiwen Li et al.

Table 1 Changes (density, coverage and frequency) of different species in areas of Natural Fostering (NF) (n¼100).

Species Density (n/m2) Coverage (%) Frequency (%)

NF CK NF CK NF CK

2003 2009 2003 2009 2003 2009 2003 2009 2003 2009 2003 2009

Rhododendron litangense 2 2 2 2 25–35 30–35 20–25 15–20 66 70 66 67 Fritilalria cirrhosa 0.03 8 0.03 0.01 0–5 1–5 0–5 0 6 53 4 0 Berberis approximata 0.28 0.33 0.27 0.27 0–5 1–5 0–5 0–1 26 33 24 7 Spirea alpine 0.9 2 0.9 0.5 0–5 1–5 0–5 0–1 33 40 28 7 Potentilla fruticosa 3.5 6 3.4 1 0–5 5–10 0–5 0–1 25 27 24 10 Polygonum viviparum 4.0 6.6 4.0 1.1 0–5 1–5 0–5 0–1 54 67 50 30 Kobrecia spp. 3.3 6 3.3 4.2 1–5 5–10 1–5 1–5 95 100 97 100 Pedicularis spp. 5.4 5.6 3.9 2 1–5 5–10 1–5 1–5 64 67 53 33 Gentiana spp. 0.2 0.3 0.2 0 0–1 0–1 0–1 0 17 30 13 0 Potentilla anserin 5.9 7.6 5.9 2.3 1–5 5–10 1–5 1–5 76 100 62 31 Festuca rubra 6.2 8 6.2 3 1–5 5–10 1–5 1–5 88 100 76 64 Poa spp. 21 34 23 26 15–20 20–25 15–20 10–15 100 100 100 100 Trollius ranunculoide 1.3 2.2 1.3 0 0–5 1–5 0–5 0 35 50 30 0 Saussurea gramine 0.8 1.8 0.9 0 0–5 1–5 0–5 0 20 23 28 0 Moconopsis horridula 0.19 0.33 0.19 0 0–5 1–5 0–5 0 18 20 24 0 Aster batangensis 5.5 7.5 5.5 4 1–5 5–10 1–5 1–5 67 77 43 50 Nardostachys chinensis 0.43 0.7 0.37 0 0–1 0–1 0–1 0 21 40 33 0 Lamiopholomis rotate 1.2 1.5 1.2 0 1–5 1–5 1–5 0 24 50 19 0 Sabina pingii 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.7 5–10 5–10 5–10 10–15 44 47 32 60 Scutellaris hyperricifolia 1 2 1 0 0–1 1–5 0–1 0 52 53 39 0

Figure 3 Annual average and personal income of local people in the Figure 2 Changes of amount of yak of local family in Natural Natural Fostering area and in regions without NF from 2000 to 2009. Fostering area and in regions without NF from 1990 to 2007. primary economic source. Yaks usually stayed in a hungry and After 6-year reintroduction, there were about 22 million plants hypogenetic state which led to a decline in yak numbers since of F. cirrhosa in fostering areas. We could harvest 17% of total 2001. However, the family living near the NF region still had plants every year since 2009 because bulbs of F. cirrhosa should an average of six yaks more than control families (25 miles be picked for medicinal materials at least six years after away from protected areas) since the fostering base was semination. On the other hand, original small release groups of established. Furthermore, the NF activity provided an impor- F. cirrhosa can fail to establish populations owing to either tant income supplement to the local community during the chance fates of those individuals, or to low survival rates at low time that raising yak had become less profitable and more densities29. We should firstly ensure that F. cirrhosa populations damaging to the local environment. They realized that NF was were under the condition of sustainable utilization before wild a better way for the living. These changes were brought by collection. The weight of each bulb is about 0.2 g and we can get NF. Gradually, NF changed former living style of the local approximately 1500 kg/yr. In terms of price in 2009 ($200/kg), people which regarded stockbreeding as their main income. the total income was more than $300,000. Annual expenditure Retrogression of vegetation caused by overgrazing disap- was about $150,000 including wages, raw materials and building peared in this region. costs. 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