BIO PROSPECTING MARINE HALOPHYTE Salicornia Brachiata for MEDICAL IMPORTANCE and SALT ENCRUSTED LAND DEVELOPMENT

Journal of Coastal Development ISSN : 1410-5217 Volume 11, Number 2, February 2008 : 62-69

BIO PROSPECTING MARINE HALOPHYTE Salicornia brachiata FOR MEDICAL IMPORTANCE AND SALT ENCRUSTED LAND DEVELOPMENT

Oswin D. Stanley

Eco Balance Consultancy (EBC) 6B, Umiya Park Society, Subhanpura Vadodara-390 023, Gujarat, India

Received : November, 8, 2007 ; Accepted :January, 8, 2008

ABSTRACT

Halophytes continue to be either under or unexplored in India. Many halophytic plants are of economic value and have industrial applications in the form of essential oils, medicinal, alcohol, fiber, latex, pulp, cosmetics etc. Salicornia spp extensively occur along Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts in the regularly (20-50 tides month−1) inundated inter tidal zones. Expanding saline wastelands, dubious rains, recurring droughts and soil erosion due to absence of green belt between sea and land ultimately lead to low productivity and poverty in these coastal regions. Seawater Agriculture is the strategy to link ecology and livelihood. Utilizing Salicornia to rehabilitate the land and bio-prospecting biomedical compounds is a promising concept besides addressing the issues of desertification, salt intrusion and ultimately poverty alleviation. It is rational to implement pilot projects in different locations with commercial motives entangled with research concepts standardization.

Key words : Salicornia - Bio prospecting - Medicinal values - Salt land Rehabilitation - Poverty Alleviation

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INTRODUCTION

Frequent natural calamities coupled with portion of their time and energy to get water, human exploitation along the coastal belt of fodder, and fuel for the family. The poor the India had fastened the process of salt quality of water affects the productivity and intrusion causing vast saline fallow lands. income from dairy activity as well. The port Salt intrusion has to be viewed in local and and industrial development process has regional contexts. Productive land and fresh adversely affected the quantum and quality water are becoming lesser due to several of life along the coastal region, threatening developmental activities and exploitation the livelihood of many families surviving on with out water recharge. The agriculture fisheries. The hostile natural conditions and productivity has been declining due to growing degradation of natural resources increasing salinity in land and water. The have resulted in large-scale poverty in the problem forces women to spend major region. 62 Journal of Coastal Development ISSN : 1410-5217 Volume 11, Number 2, February 2008 : 62-69

High incidence of poverty, large-scale composition. It has a pleasant nut-like flavor under-employment and unemployment, high and a texture similar to olive oil. Salicornia, degree of indebtedness, extremely low paid is a succulent, bushy plant with a high salt agricultural labor force and the continuing tolerance that grow in water with salt process of land alienation among small and contents equal to or even higher than marginal farmers are common phenomena seawater and found in the salty-terrains near among the Coastal villages. Saline intrusion the coast. These are found right on the sea has also catalyzed migration of local (low on the tidal marshes) and that have community. very specialized mechanisms for dealing Seawater Agriculture is the strategy to with salt. It holds a lot of promise as an ideal link ecology and livelihood. edible-oil yielding crop and a green Biotechnological implication (Mass scale vegetable, which can be raised using Micro-propagation) of the identified seawater. An improved variety of Salicornia halophyte and exploration of novel bioactive developed by crossing with other highly compounds for biomedical applications are drought-resistant and salt-resistant species of the strategies high lightened in this paper. Salicornia, is being grown extensively in Availability of extensive arid and several parts of the world, including India. semi-arid saline coastal areas without Halophytes are rich in proteins, oils economic and ecological development and and fats that are suitable for human seawater; demand for the vegetative portion consumption. However Salicornia sp is rich of Salicornia in international markets gave in vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, iodine, the impetus to conceptualize the concept of magnesium, sodium, and amino acids, low providing Integrated Coastal Protection and in calories and fat, contain no cholesterol, Saline Land Development with linkages to and add fiber to the diet. empowered Livelihood Security and Sustainable Utilization for biomedical Serving size of 75 grams Salicornia sp applications. Illegal collection/exploitation contain: of marine halophytes (especially Salicornia) • Calories, 26-Calories from fat, 0 for many clinical applications is a major • Total fat and cholesterol, 0 threat all over globe to most of the • Sodium, 1.2 g-Percentage of daily value, halophytes which alarms the scientists to 50% seek strategy to conserve and utilize. • Total carbohydrates, 5g-Percentage of daily value, 1.8% • Dietary fiber, 2.6g-Percentage of daily SALICORNIA SPECIES value, 11% • Sugars, 0 DESCRIPTION • Protein, 1 g • Vitamin A-Percent of daily value, 36% For centuries it is said that the ancient (100% as beta carotene) Greeks ate succulent and tasty tips before • Vitamin C-Percent of daily value, 13% going in to battle, and in 1605, Shakespeare Other minerals present include magnesium, wrote about this in his play, King Lear. potassium, copper, iron, manganese, and Before 1800, George Washington said zinc. Salicornia was his favorite herb. Belonging to the family Chenopodiaceae, Salicornia is a halophyte (literally a plant that grows in salty soil), and its seeds yield high quality edible oil, which is highly poly-unsaturated and similar to safflower oil in fatty acid 63 Journal of Coastal Development ISSN : 1410-5217 Volume 11, Number 2, February 2008 : 62-69

irrigated crop as that the amount of biomass ALOPHYTE, Salicornia Brachiata H a seawater-irrigated crop yields depend on CULTIVATION the amount of seawater used. Although Salicornia can thrive when the salinity of A few private companies have taken up the water bathing its roots exceeds 100 ppt- large-scale Salicornia cultivation in roughly three times the normal saltiness of Rajasthan and Gujarat with improved the ocean-it needs approximately 35 percent variety SOS 10, and some research more irrigation when grown using seawater institutions such as the Central Salt and than conventional crops grown using Marine Chemicals Research Institute freshwater. Salicornia requires this extra (CSMCRI), Bhavanagar, Gujarat, and the water because as it selectively absorbs water M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation from the seawater, it quickly renders the (MSSRF), Chennai, are conducting research remaining seawater too salty for use. on the nutritional value and the cultivation The greatest expense in irrigated techniques for growing Salicornia. agriculture is in pumping the water. The Government and Entrepreneurs pumping costs are directly proportional to collaborative attempts on Sea water the amount of water pumped and the height agriculture and grass root level technology to which it is lifted. Although halophytes transfer for long-term sustainable utilization require more water than conventional crops, of land and higher economic development seawater farms near sea level require less through established national/ international water lifting than conventional farms, which market is suggested as the appropriate often lift water from wells deeper than 100 approach. meters. Because pumping seawater at sea level is cheaper than pumping freshwater from wells, seawater agriculture should be cost-effective in desert regions-even though CULTIVATION METHOD its yields are smaller than traditional, freshwater agriculture. Seawater irrigation Though the farming pattern is anything like does not require special equipment. Either a regular farming the duration of irrigation, flood irrigation of large basins or moving- water logging systems, soil porosity and boom sprinkler irrigation can be used. land elevation makes difference. Irrigation is Moving booms can be used in many types of the major part of the cultivation process. crop production. For seawater use, a plastic Direct salt water from sea or estuaries/creeks pipe is inserted in the boom so the seawater may be irrigated. Normal farm and irrigation does not contact metal. equipment can be modified so that it is The plant grows well in sand and protected from salt damage from the sandy loam soils endowed well adequate seawater. Normally, crops are irrigated only drainage. The crop responds to increased when the soil dries to about 50 percent of its application of nitrogen and phosphorus. field capacity, the amount of water it is However, the plant takes from the sea all the capable of holding. In addition, in nutrients it needs, so it does not consume freshwater irrigation, farmers add only any of the precious fresh water that by enough water to replace what the plants human need so desperately. Seawater have used. In contrast, seawater irrigation contains sufficient quantities of other requires copious and frequent -even daily- nutrients and micronutrients to eliminate the irrigation to prevent salt from building up in need for supplementation with other the root zone to a level that inhibits growth. fertilizers. Earlier estimations reveal that the water and salt balances required for a seawater- 64 Journal of Coastal Development ISSN : 1410-5217 Volume 11, Number 2, February 2008 : 62-69

with greater than 90 percent for most crops. RODUCTION NALYSIS P A Further, to support high seed yields Salicornia must grow for approximately 100 Salicornia brachiata, is an erect annual herb days at cool temperatures before flowering. distributed mainly in the salt marshes of Currently production of this crop is Tamil Nadu, Andra, Orissa, Gujarat, Bengal restricted to the subtropics, which have cool and Sri Lanka. Extensive Salicornia beds winters and hot summers; however, some of occur along the Gulf of Kachchh (northwest) the largest areas of coastal desert in the and Tamilnadu (southeast) coasts with width world are in the comparatively hotter of the beds varying from approximately 5 m tropics. to 1000 m, depending upon the topography In seven months the crop reaches and tidal influence. The large and healthy maturity, and in many locales a high yield of Salicornia formation occur in the regularly −1 18 tonnes of dry biomass has been (20-50 tides month ) inundated inter tidal harvested. The field seed-yield is about 10- zones. The width of Salicornia beds in the 12 per cent of the total dry biomass. A 2000- Gulf of Kutchchh is greater than those along hectare farm would yield a total biomass of the Tamilnadu coast due to greater (0.83-7.2 30,000 tonnes and a seed yield of 2,500- m) tidal amplitude and flat topography. 3000 tonnes of seeds. Plant biomass, density, height, and In Indian context, at CSMCRI's frequency of occurrence is more in the demonstration project in the coastal village frequently inundated inter tidal regions. The Hathab in Saurashtra, Salicornia brachiata average total biomass of aboveground farms give 1200-1500 kg seeds and 10 components varies from 0.2 to 4.5 kg (dry −2 tonnes of biomass per hectare that would weight) m . Peak biomass production of provide 3-4 tonnes of vegetable salt. The Salicornia is during September to February economics of vegetable salt has been in the Gulf of Kutchchh, and in southeast worked out to be about Rs. 10-12 per kg coast, during December to March. The which is expensive than the common salt. growth of the Salicornia is considerably influenced by the frequency of inundation, duration of atmospheric exposure at ebb tide, rainfall and salt content of the water MARKET DEMAND and sediments. Salicornia has a seed yield of 100 kg There is a demand for Salicornia in per hectare, and the oil content is 20 per different countries for food (salads), cent. Salicornia produced an average annual medical and pharmaceutical industries. crop of 1.7 kilograms per square meter of Many of the pharmaceutical countries in total biomass and 0.2 kilogram per square the developed countries are illegally meter of oilseed. These yields equal or exploiting the halophytic resources from exceed the yields of soybeans and other oilseeds grown using freshwater irrigation in developing countries. The demand for Mexico. Yield from portions of a two- Salicornia may be legally dealt with hectare field at Jubail Industrial City in such massive cultivation process and Saudi Arabia reached 3.5 tons per hectare. illegal bio-piracy can be ceased. The The plants tend to lodge as harvest local/Indian demand can be also approaches, and the seeds, which are explored to popularize the halophyte roughly one milligram in weight, may utilization. shatter. In addition, seed recoveries are only about 75 percent for Salicornia, compared

65 Journal of Coastal Development ISSN : 1410-5217 Volume 11, Number 2, February 2008 : 62-69

Table 1. Cost Analysis of Salicornia Cultivation

Salicornia - Cost Analysis per hectare

Detail Kg /ha Cost / kg Total Cost (Rs)

Seeds 1200-1500 (1.2-1.5 tonnes) Rs. 15 22, 500

Vegetative Biomass 10000 (10 tonnes) Rs. 0.5 5, 000

Vegetable salt 3000 – 4000 (3-4 tonnes) Rs. 10-12 30,000

multiplication/micro propagation ICRO-PROPAGATION M technology for sustainable utilization of the marine halophyte of biomedical As a part of germ plasm preservation and importance. mass scale extraction of effective • Through bio-prospecting marine biologically active principles, steps may be halophyte Salicornia, potential bioactive undertaken to develop techniques for compounds will be identified and regeneration and callus production through brought to the sustainable commercial callus development or by protoplast shelf through micro propagation isolation and regeneration. Root, stems, technology. flowers and seeds from the Salicornia plant • The major problem of salt ingression may be used as explants. Methods involving and vast areas of salt encrusted land left the prevention of microbial contamination fallow in coastal areas is addressed. and over production of oxidized phenolics in • The ecological up gradation of degraded media will be standardized. Mass scale wasteland would be a noteworthy extraction of biologically effective active impact. principles may be done by mass culturing of • The green belt created between the callus tissues by adopting appropriate waters and inland would have a greater methodology. effect as a bio-shield against natural vagaries and soil erosion. BENEFITS OF SALICORNIA • Enhance the monthly economical income of the community or stakeholder CULTIVATION involved during the processes of cultivation, drying, packing, transport Benefits of Salicornia cultivation qualify the and marketing or research activities. 3 “E” criteria: (a) ecology (sustainability) • Resource base would be formed for (b) economy (viability) (c) equity (benefit identification and development of sharing). Pilot projects on Salicornia formulations of novel bioactive cultivation would facilitate: compounds through biotechnological • Salt water Halophyte cultivation modules technology transfer • The coastal “model village farm” may • Application of biotechnology in create opportunity for large scale standardization of mass

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technology extension with different new linked to sustenance of the local community strategies designed by the scientists is some thing prudent. The Salicornia sp • The entrepreneurship formations would cultivation renders development and pave way for the development of protection by biomass production and empowered benefit sharing mechanism checking soil erosion. and administration bodies. So much water is diverted from the rivers and tributaries for irrigation whereas; the downstream river is becoming more and more saline and have dramatic implications URTHER ALICORNIA F S in the vast agricultural land in the delta. CULTIVATION OFFERS Salicornia brachiata cultivation would subsequently hold the land productive. It BENEFITS IN VARIOUS also improves land in terms of both ASPECTS: landscape and ecological values in order to create more attractive areas for tourism.

Climate Technology Transfer

In a broader context it contributes to Any technology is considered successful if it improvement of the world’s climatic has the wholesome penetration and conditions. It positively responds to an utilization among stakeholders. This project international goal, the sequestration of CO , 2 would provide opportunity for the by planting on a large scale on otherwise technology transfer from the scientific worthless saline ground. community to the grass root user groups,

bringing up refined standardized site- Utilization of saline land with halophytes specific technologies, which users shall

patent. Besides ecological recovery and the formation of new local biological Market Exploration ecosystems, the salt lands branded as wastelands may be converted in to something special and more productive. The The prospects for halophytes in the world economical value of the land rises from nil markets for food, animal feed and fine to considerable dollars, which also improves chemicals seem unlimited. Halophytes have the status of the dependent community their greatest potential in contributing to the thereof. world’s food and pharmaceutical supply. The domestic market is yet to be explored. Coastal development and protection Biomedical Application Attempts are being made in different places throughout the world to establish new forms The grown up plants should be further of coastal development and protection. It is analyzed for utility in the field of essential to have an understanding of how biomedicines. Parts of the plants may be the dynamic of the water and the land can be collected and processed for the extraction of harnessed in order to make nature an ally bioactive compounds by standard methods rather than a foe. Different concepts and and further screening of extracts against projects are being implemented in different various infectious diseases including AIDS areas. The combination of the saline land should be undertaken in collaboration with conservation and production of halophytes several National Research Institutes for exploring novel bioactive principles and 67 Journal of Coastal Development ISSN : 1410-5217 Volume 11, Number 2, February 2008 : 62-69

further by using the standard formulations, CO2 sequestration. The project would end up clinical and pre-clinical studies should be in bringing up many private and community done as per the WHO guidelines. Further, based entrepreneurs for sustainable from Salicornia structural elucidation of coastland management. The further effective bioactive principles should also be development of this potential field requires explored. immediate attention as it brings out subsequent socio-ecology development.

CONCLUDING REMARKS REFERENCES The issues which the coastal land posses are salt ingression due to over exploitation of Arthur Clark, 1994. Samphire from Sea to fresh water bases without recharging, Shining Seed, Saudi Aramco World. infrequent and less rainfall leading to 45 (6) : 2-9 recurrent drought, land degradation and crop failures, fallow salt encrusted land, reduced Bandaranayake, W.M. 1989. Traditional and income from agriculture ultimately medicinal uses of mangroves. unemployment and poverty. Illegal Mangroves. Salt. Marshes. 2(3): 133- exploitation of halophytes (salt tolerant 148. plants) for various medical and other purposes is also a threat to biodiversity. Edward P. Glenn, J. Jed Brown and James Utilizing the resources available in plenty in W. O’Leary, 1998. Irrigating Crops the coast may be a rational move to find with Seawater, Scientific American solution. Cultivation of halophytes with August 1998 seawater is a strategy suggested to address the issues mentioned. Cultivation of Jagtap, T.G., S. H. Bhosale, and V. L. halophytes may render benefits based in Nagle.2002. Ecological observation terms of ecological, economical and equity. on major Salicornia beds from The ecological benefits may be listed as salt highly saline coastal wetlands of encrusted wasteland utilization, model farm, India. Wetlands. 22(3): 443-450. technology, green belt, coastal development and protection, combating desertification, Van Oosten H.J. and J.G. de Wilt, 2000. germ plasm preservation. The economical Bio-production and ecosystem benefits are production, marketing and development in saline conditions patenting of effective biomedical NRLO report 2000/10E National compounds, ecosystem restoration and Council for Agricultural Research, employment opportunities for villagers, The Hague women entrepreneurship and poverty alleviation. The equity benefits may be www.hindu.com/seta/2003/09/05/stories/200 counted as export market networking, 3090500300300.htm. technology extension facility, standard eco- techniques and bio-techniques, industry or www.csmcri.org/PHP/Research/body_phyto institutional collaboration. salinity.php Salicornia cultivation brings about ecological recovery of saline areas that have fallen into disuse, coastal development and protection, production of cheap biomass for renewable energy, climate improvement and

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