Figure 1. Distribution of old (O) and new established (X) plots for purple coneflower (Echinecea pupurea (L.) Moench) cultivation in Slovenia
Purple coneflower (Echinecea pupurea Moench) is well known source of imunostimulant, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory substances from prairies of USA. First cultivation attempts for pharmaceutics in Europe were done around 1930.
In Slovenia the cultivation of the herb began in 1988. The production was organized as a cooperation with herbgrowers and it reached around 10 hectares in 1990 with average yield of 13 t/ha. The decline in production of the remedy after 1991 provoked the decline in the cultivation. In 1995 only 2.5 ha of purple coneflower were maintained. Since the demand was growing again the Institute was consulted to reestablish cultivation. In 1996 new locations were chosen and analysis of nutrients and other analyses were done. During the seasons 1997 and 1998 approximately 1 ha and 5 ha respectively of new grounds were established. Raw material production has grown from 51.930 kg in the year 1997 to 178.400 kg for the first harvest in 1999. Since the European guidelines for manufacture of herbal products anticipate the use of high quality raw materials of known origin the guidelines for Good agricultural practice (GAP) for purple coneflower cultivation are in preparation jointly with the interested participants.
Purple coneflower (Echinecea pupurea (L.) Moench) is well known plant from prairies of USA. Today it is used as a source of immunostimulant, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory substances in supportive therapy of colds, respiratory and urinary tract infections, as wound healing promoter and treatment of skin inflammations (WHO 1999). Different Echinacea species were widely used by Indians and accepted also by new settlers. In 1880 first blood purifying tonic containing Echinacea angustifolia DC was commercially available (Bauer, Wagner 1990). In the beginning of the 20th century Echinacea roots and tinctures were widely exported to Europe. During 1930ies the demand was bigger than the supply and an idea of cultivating Echinacea aroused. Purple coneflower was known as an ornamental plant in Europe from 18th century. First cultivation attempts for pharmaceutical purposes in Europe were done during late 1930ies in Germany. Due to different circumstances in Europe the cultivation of purple coneflower (Echinecea pupurea (L.) Moench) was established and predominantly the flowering herb was used for preparations. In 1956 first published instructions for growing purple coneflower (Echinecea pupurea (L.) Moench) were published by Heeger (Heeger 1956).
In Slovenia cultivation trials started in early 1980ies at Institute of Hop Research and Brewing Žalec (Wagner 1986) and commercial cultivation of the herb in 1988. The production was organized as a cooperation of pharmaceutical factory LEK with herbgrowers. It reached around 10 hectares in 1990 with average yield of 11 -13 t/ha. The technology and seedlings were supplied by the factory's technology department where also breeding for higher content of active substances was performed. From fresh expressed juice the immunostimulant remedy was produced.
The decline in production of the remedy after 1991 and the organizational changes in Lek provoked the decline in the cultivation. In 1995 only 2,5 ha of purple coneflower (Echinecea pupurea (L.) Moench) were maintained by 4 previous growers who possessed the knowledge of growing it.
In 1996 since the demand for the remedy was growing again and new markets were found the Institute of Hop Research and Brewing Žalec, where the cultivation of many medicinal and aromatic plants is studied from 1976, was consulted to reestablish the cultivation.
Technology of the cultivation
Experiences and knowledge of natural habitats confirm that purple coneflower (Echinecea pupurea (L.) Moench) grows well in Slovenian pedoclimatic conditions on wide range of soil types and on sunny or half-shady stands with no standing water.
The seedlings are prepared with sowing beginning of the March in the glasshouse and transplanted in the field in May.
Recommended planting distance is 30 to 40 centimeters between plants in the row. The distance between the rows is set according available equipment and is between 50 and 70 cm.
Nutrient requirements in the cultivation are: 70-100 kg/ha P2O5, 250 kg/ha K2O and 100-200 kg/ha of nitrogen in two or three rations during vegetation. Expected duration of the cultivation on the same place is 3-4 years.
The harvest takes place when 70-75% of the plants develop full flowers. Late in the afternoon the herb is cut approximately 10 centimeters above the ground. The harvest is done by hand or by adapted cutting or harvesting machines. The fresh herb is bound in sheaves. The sheaves are left in the field and early in the morning transported to the factory for processing. In the first growing season one harvest (September) and in the next seasons two harvests (July, October) are expected. The average expected yield of the entire flowering herb in Slovenia is 11.000-20.000 kg/ha.
New established plots
In 1996 new locations were chosen to ensure the constant supply of the fresh herb during expanded period of time since the maturity is successive in different growing regions of Slovenia. Also the danger of crop failure due to unfavorable weather conditions as drought or hail was minimized this way. The distribution of the plots is presented on the figure 1.
The analysis of nutrients in the soil and selection of suitable stands were performed according to plant demands and previous crops. The growers were acquainted with basic information about the preparation of the ground, planting, maintaining and harvesting the crop.
At the Institute of hop research and brewing the whole technology for preparing the plantlets was devised. The seeds were sown by automated sowing machine into the multi plates with 104 holes and covered with perlite. Plates were placed on the heated tables with mist irrigation and maintained on constant temperature around 20°C for the period of germination. After approximately 60 days plantlets were transferred outdoors to adapt and harden. The success of the sowing and germination was around 75%. Growers received plantlets ready to plant. Planting was performed predominantly by planting machines on bigger plots and by hand on smaller plots. In one case also the covering of the soil and drip irrigation system was installed. The plantations were maintained by hand or by different cultivators.
In the season 1997 1 ha and in 1998 approximately 5 ha of new grounds were established. Raw material production has grown from 51.930 kg in the year 1997, to 100.822 kg in the year 1998 and 178.400 kg for the first harvest in 1999.
Quality control
The quality of the fresh expressed juice is constantly controlled by Lek (factory) by their internal standardized methods. The content of caffeic acid derivatives in fresh expressed juice is measured by HPLC method with external standards (caffeic, ferulic, chlorogenic and chumaric acid). The use of standards proposed by polish researchers (Glowniak et al. 1993) are more suitable for routine work comparing to cichoric acid also used in standardization of coneflower preparations (Bauer 1997). The reproducibility of the method is good. The lower acceptable limit of the caffeic acid derivatives content is set to 0.5 %. The results confirm high quality with around 1% of caffeic acid derivatives in fresh expressed juice. The identification of the raw material is confirmed by TLC (thin layer chromatography) of polysaccharides and cichoric acid.
Good Agricultural Practice
Since the European Guidelines for good manufacturing practice for herbal products (EU-CPMP-GDL 33919/90) and quality guidelines (EU-CPMP-GDL 297/97) anticipate the use of high quality raw materials of known origin the Guidelines for Good agricultural practice (GAP) were devised by experts in medicinal and aromatic plants growing and proposed by EUROPAM to EU commission in 1998. The aim of Guidelines is assurance of the highest quality of medicinal and aromatic plant raw materials for different uses. The most important thing is to meet the demands of the customers by avoiding the negative impacts affecting plants during cultivation, processing and storage, reducing the contamination of raw material and avoiding the damage to existing wildlife habitats. Guidelines provide additional standards for the production and processing of raw materials mainly in the most critical production steps that are needed to achieve good quality.
Guidelines for Good agricultural practice (GAP) for purple coneflower cultivation in Slovenia are in preparation jointly with the interested participants to assure the transparency of the whole process of the cultivation, harvest and transport of the raw material.
All this activities are justified with the possibilities, which will be given when Slovenia joins the common European market and are directed to the future prosperity of the agriculture, which seeks new ways of living in changed circumstances. Some of the tasks for the future are also the study of parameters of ripening, storing technology and selection of the most suitable cultivars for field production in Slovenia.
The activity is also a model of cooperation between buyers, growers and experts in the field of medicinal and aromatic plant production. All participants have bidirectional communications between them. The buyer has opportunity to follow all steps of raw material production and the guarantee of high quality, which is hardly achieved by raw material gathered in the nature. The herbgrower is acquainted with all quality requirements, conditions of production and has guaranteed market for the crop. Experts assure the seeds and plants of high quality, consult the growers and are involved in research and development activities for the buyer. This model is universal and could be applied in case of any other medicinal or aromatic plant cultivation in the future.
WHO (1999): Herba Echinaceae Purpureae In: WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants, Vol 1, World Health Organization, Geneva, 136 - 144
Bauer R., Wagner H. (1990): Echinacea, Hanbuch für Ärtzte, Apotheker und andere Naturwissenschaftler, Wissenschafliche Verlagsgeselschaft mbH, Stuttgart
Heeger E.F. (1956): Handbuch der Arznei- ind Gewürztpflanzenbaues Drogengevinnung, Deutcher Bauerverlag, 388 - 393
Wagner T. (1986) Experimenteler Anbau der Heilpflanzen in Berggegenden Sloweniens, lecture at congress "La coltivazione delle piante officinali", Trento, 9 - 10. October, Italy
Glowniak K., Zgorka G., Dragan T. (1993): Appllication of SPE-HPLC method to the separation and determination of phenolic acids in extracts and preparations of Echinacea sp., Farm. Pol. 49, No. 20, 38-33
Bauer R. (1997): Standardisierung von Echinacea-purpurea-Preb saft auf Cichoirensäure und Alkamide, Zeitschift für Phytoterapie 18, 270 - 276