Rajendra Chandra Padalia

• Ph.D.
• Senior Principal Scientist at Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

This study, conducted at CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Purara, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India, assessed genetic diversity among 30 fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) genotypes during 2021-22 and 2022-23. High genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic (PCV) coefficients of variation were observed for dry herb weight per hectare (47.04 % and 47.43 %, respecti...

Seaweed extracts derived from marine algae are an abundant source of bioactive compounds, encompassing phytohormones, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and nutrients. This study investigated the benefits of seaweed extract obtained from the red algae Solieria chordalis (SCE), through a field experiment (2021-22 & 2022-23) involving foliar applicati...

To enhance the yield and quality of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) essential oil, an experiment was carried out in the subtropical conditions of North India. The crop was harvested under varying soil moisture levels (9.5-26.0%). The yield and essential oil composition of rose-scented geranium varied significantly with these moisture...

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni stores over 20 glycosides in leaves and stem, the primary sweetening compounds are stevioside and rebaudioside A. Stevioside is 250–300 times and rebaudioside A is 350–450 times sweeter than sucrose. These glycosides can be substituted for free sugars being used in food and beverage industries. Due to limitations in the im...

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is a vital medicinal and aromatic plant, widely recognized for its industrial applications. However, sustainable cultivation of chamomile faces challenges due to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers, which can negatively impact soil health and the environment. There is a growing need to explore alternative...

Aromatic plants contain essential oils, potent extracts renowned for therapeutic benefits. Essential oils are commonly utilized due to their diverse range of phytochemicals that possess therapeutic properties. The present study analyses the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from shoots and roots of Blumea mollis (Family: Asteraceae...

Phosphate (Bacillus megaterium) and potassium (Frateuria aurantia) solubilizing bacteria (PSB and KSB) were assessed for their agronomic impact on chamomile performance in a pot experiment at CSIR-CIMAPRC, Bengaluru. Results demonstrated that 75% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) combined with PSB and KSB significantly improved chamomile perform...

Owing to its medicinal attributes and appealing taste, the market for oregano is steadily increasing worldwide. Consequently, there is an immense need to enhance its production to meet this growing demand. For plant cultivation, a suitable growth medium is essential as it serves as a source and sink for essential nutrients required for plant grow...

The rapid increase in the adoption of seaweed-based bioproducts in crop production systems can be attributed to their unique bioactive components and significant beneficial effects. In the growing interest of sustainable agricultural practices, the present study aims to reduce the dependency on chemical fertilizers while enhancing crop productivity...

Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) is popular for its medicinal benefits and industrial uses, in this study forty-three half-sib progenies were evaluated over three seasons at CSIR-CIMAP, Research Centre Pantnagar to study genetic variability, correlation, path coefficient analysis and Mahalanobis D2 diversity by using five morphological and two biochem...

Cymbopogon distans (Nees ex Steud.) Will. Watson (Poaceae) is a promising aromatic plant distributed in the Himalayas. In this study, five acyclic monoterpenoids, namely geranyl acetate (RS1), neral (RS2), geranial (RS3), citral (RS4) and geraniol (RS5) were isolated from the essential oil of C. distans. The isolated compounds were tested for in-vi...

Oregano offers culinary and medicinal applications for mankind. Due to its vast health benefits, its consumption has been gradually rising in the modern era. Since, the nutrients and proper spacing are critical factors influ�encing plant growth, current study endeavors to investigate the effects of four different nitrogen levels (N0: 0 kg/ ha, N1...

Zingiber zerumbet Sm. (Family: Zingiberaceae) is an important perennial medicinal oil-bearing herb that is native to the Southeast Asia. This study examines the impact of different durations of post-harvest shade drying (ranging from 1 to 12 months) on essential oil yield and chemical composition of Z. zerumbet, in comparison to the freshly collect...

The future of "High-Value Medicinal and Aromatic Plants" is a captivating exploration of the multifaceted significance, current landscape, and promising trajectory of high-value Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs). This chapter delves into their roles in health, economics, culture, and sustainability. It showcases their historical roots, contempor...

In this book chapter, we examine the enduring and multifaceted relationship between humanity and plants. Over the course of biological and cultural evolution, plants have been integral to meeting our fundamental life needs. They have provided sustenance, medicinal remedies, flavorings, and materials for clothing and shelter. We delve into the rich...

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) is a highly significant herb with versatile applications in medicine, aromatics, and cuisine. The primary chemical compounds found in the plant's essential oil include carvacrol, thymol, terpinene, cymene, and pinene. Traditionally, oregano has been harnessed for various medicinal purposes, such as its antimicrobial, a...

The historical and cultural significance of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) spans centuries, with roots in ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China, where they were used for medicinal, religious, and culinary purposes. Indigenous cultures and figures like Hippocrates further enriched the traditions of herbal medicine. Beyond th...

Melaleuca linariifolia Sm. (Genus: Melaleuca; Family: Myrtaceae) cultivated for its ornamental usages in the Kumaun Himalayan region of Uttarakhand is commercially known as flax-leaved paper bark tree. The present study analyzes the chemical variation of the essential oils obtained from aerial parts and flowers of M. linariifolia. The effect of pos...

The Trigonella genus, encompassing Trigonella foenum gracum L. and other species, exhibits annual growth patterns and thrives in arid and semiarid environments worldwide. India stands at the forefront of Trigonella diversity, showcasing its adaptability to challenging climatic conditions. This meticulous review consolidates existing scientific lite...

Agriculture and Food Science Book series aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to publish their experiences and research results on all aspects of Agriculture and Food Science. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the...

Artemisia pallens Wall. ex DC (Asteraceae) is cultivated for the production of high‐value essential oil from its aerial biomass. In this study, the chemical composition of the root (crop‐residue) essential oil was investigated for the first time, using column‐chromatography, GC−FID, GC−MS, LC−QTOF, and NMR techniques, which led to the identificatio...

This study, carried out at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research Centre Purara, Bageshwar (Uttarakhand), investigated the growth and productivity of geranium crops under different NPK doses in the lower hills of Uttarakhand. Nine different NPK treatments, varying from 60:40:20 to 220:200:180 kg ha-1, were applied using a R...

In the delicate balance of plant vitality, moisture-stress emerges as a critical determinant. Its stifling impact on stomatal regulation and photosynthesis underscores its role in shaping agronomic outcomes and essential oil production. Addressing this challenge is imperative. Hence, the present investigation intended to find out the consequence of...

The experiment was conducted to compare the phenological development and production potential of seven varieties of holy basil (Ocimum sanctum L.) at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre in Purara, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, during 2018-19 and 2019-20. The varieties tested were CIM-Jyoti, CIM-Surabhi, CIM-Snigdha, CI...

To test this hypothesis in a representative location of the western Himalayan region, we study the intercropping of fodder and vegetable crops with basil. This experiment was laid out at CIMAP research Centre Purara, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, during the years 2020-21 and 2021-22. Maize, sorghum, and pearl millet were cultivated as fodder crops, and o...

The effect of harvesting seasons, storage period and distillation time were studied on the essential oil composition of Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) growing in India, which were analysed using gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Eighteen constituents were identified in each of the thr...

The field experiment was conducted during the winter (kharif) seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23 at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre Purara, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand. The study's objective was to investigate the most effective combinations of plant spacing configurations and NPK levels to enhance biomass and seed yi...

The field experiment was conducted during the winter (kharif) seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23 at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre Purara, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand. The study's objective was to investigate the most effective combinations of plant spacing configurations and NPK levels to enhance biomass and seed yi...

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is an important spice and medicinal herb that is widely cultivated in Uttarakhand, India. The state of Uttarakhand is known for its rich diversity of fenugreek, which provides a valuable source of genetic material for breeding programs to improve the crop's productivity, quality, and resilience. Fenugreek ha...

Purpose: A favorable environment is available for the cultivation of Pyrethrum in the hilly regions of India, as well as in some mountainous areas of India. In view of the demand for Pyrethrin, it is very necessary to promote the huge cultivation of Pyrethrum. There is no misconception that research work has not been done to promote Pyrethrum, but...

Purpose: A favorable environment is available for the cultivation of Pyrethrum in the hilly regions of India, as well as in some mountainous areas of India. In view of the demand for Pyrethrin, it is very necessary to promote the huge cultivation of Pyrethrum. There is no misconception that research work has not been done to promote Pyrethrum, but...

Cinnamomum species have applications in the pharmaceutical and fragrance industry for wide biological and pharmaceutical activities. The present study investigates the chemical composition of the essential oils extracted from two species of Cinnamomum namely C. tamala and C. camphora. Chemical analysis showed E‐cinnamyl acetate (56.14 %), E‐cinnama...

The topical application of essential oils is considered an effective treatment for skin diseases. Cymbopogon distans (Nees ex Steud.) Wats (Poaceae) is a promising aromatic grass widespread in the Himalayan temperate zone. Therefore, using in-vitro and in-vivo bioassays, we examined the chemical and pharmacological characteristics of essential oil...

Salinity stress is known to have a detrimental effect on mint plants. The aim of the present work was to investigate the possible effects of salinity stress on Mentha spicata, Mentha piperita and Mentha arvensis. Plants were exposed to salinity stress using different concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 100, 150 mM). Under salinity stress, plant growth,...

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) is a well-known spice with many applications in the flavoring business. Various liquor preparations, tomato sauces, condiments, baked meals like pizza, and salad dressings all contain dried Oregano leaves and essential oil. Due to no commercial cultivars or varieties, Oregano cultivation is currently not widespread in...

Cinnamomum camphora L. belonging to family Lauraceae, is an aromatic evergreen plant which has been traditionally used to heal several health problems such as cold, fever, pneumonia, diarrhea and various infections. In this study, four drying treatments (sun, shade, blower and oven) were applied on the leaves of C. camphora collected in summer seas...

Abstract of Chapter2

Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm. (Family: Zingiberaceae) traditionally known as bitter ginger or shampoo ginger in India is cultivated mostly in tropical and subtropical regions all across the world. All the plant parts of Z. zerumbet have wide applications for traditional as well as medicinal purposes. The present communication phytochemically...

The essential oils, synthesized and stored in complex secretary structures, are volatile plant secondary metabolites, also commonly known as ethereal oil or aromatic oil. Essential oils are extensively used in perfumes, in cosmetics, in beverages, in food flavors, and as potential therapeutic agents in aromatherapy and phytomedicines. There are var...

Natural products are used by local and tribal communities to cure various diseases and alignment. According to the World Health Organization, traditional medicine is the primary line of treatment for numerous ailments for millions of people (80%) all over the world. Due to their active phytoconstituents like flavonoids, steroids, saponins, and tann...

Plants produce variety of secondary metabolites in response to stress. The study aimed to evaluate the soil moisture stress on oil content & composition of German chamomile conducted in, 2020 and 2021 at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant, Research Centre, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. The treatments were T1 (just before irriga...

German chamomile otherwise known as Matricaria chamomilla L. syn Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert is widely used in herbal teas and cosmetics given its outstanding antioxidant properties. Two released cultivars of German chamomile viz. ‘CIM-Sammohak’ and ‘CIM-Ujjwala’ were chemically profiled to investigate the constitutional makeup of their aeri...

The needle powder of Taxus wallichiana is in use for the management of diabetes and inflammation-related complications in the Indian and Chinese Systems of Traditional Medicine but the lack of proper pharmacological intervention has prompted us to investigate the pharmacological mechanism against inflammation-induced insulin resistance in high-fat...

Menthol-mint (Mentha arvensis L.), cultivated worldwide in tropical and subtropical countries, is a major source of natural menthol and dementholized oil. A field experiment was conducted at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Research Centre, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India, to study the effect of different aerial parts of menth...

Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm. is an important perennial medicinal plant native to Southeast Asia. In this communication, the physicochemical differences in essential oil yield and chemical composition are investigated in relation to different comminution methods of Z. zerumbet rhizomes. The essential oils were extracted from the rhizomes usi...

Globally, Ocimum species are widely grown aromatic crops for its herb & essential oils. In India, it is the most promising and demanding crop for farmers and industries. The study was aimed to compare the varieties of Ocimum species majorly grown in sub-tropical humid climatic condition. The selected varieties were Angana and Ayu of Ocimum tenuiflo...

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) is a well-known spice with many applications in the flavoring business. Various liquor preparations, tomato sauces, condiments, baked meals like pizza, and salad dressings all contain dried Oregano leaves and essential oil. Due to no commercial cultivars or varieties, Oregano cultivation is currently not widespread in...

Ocimum basilicum L., popularly known as "sweet basil," is native to South Africa, America, and Asia. In India, numerous cultivars and varieties of O. basilicum have been released for commercial cultivation, which are rich in specific essential oils. In this study, the effects of phenological stages and plant density on the productivity of high-qual...

Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. the plant is known to synthesize the precious and most valuable essential oil available today on perfumers pellet. Because of its limited production in South East Asian countries like Indonesia, the high demand is always a challenge for the producing countries. To meet the market demand, CSIR-CIMAP has developed a...

Medicinal plants that produce various secondary metabolites are quite useful to us owing to their anti-microbial properties, presence of huge amounts of anti-oxidants, cytotoxic nature, and various other medically significant properties. Medicinal plants, therefore, serve as raw materials for modern pharmaceutical medicines and several herbal medic...

Cymbopogon martini variety sofia, commonly known as ginger-grass, is an important aromatic crop used by the perfumery, medicinal and cosmetic industries worldwide. This study explores the chemical and possible pharmacological profile of hydro-distilled essential oil of C. martini variety sofia against skin inflammation. The essential oil extracted...

Rosa damascena Mill is a popular Rosa species cultivated for industrial rose oil production in the world. Besides its major application in aroma and cosmetic industries, rose essential oil has been reported with valuable pharmacological properties such as antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. Poor oil yield, short flowering period,...

In order to analyze the effects of zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) on growth, yield, oil production and oil quality of German chamomile, an open field experiment was conducted at the Research Center, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India in 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. The experiment was set according to...

Artemisia pallens Wall. ex DC, commonly known as davana, is cultivated in India for extraction of its essential oil (DO). In this study, DO collected from thirteen locations (DO1-DO13) and those extracted from six different phenophases and different plant parts were investigated using GC-FID and GC-MS. Altogether, 84 constituents were identified, f...

Thymus linearis (Benth. ex Benth), commonly known as Himalayan thyme, is used extensively in folk medicines, food-flavours due its extract and aromatic constituents. The impact of plant densities on dry herb productivity and quality essential oil of T. linearis, as well as the effect of drying procedures on essential oil quality, were investigated...

Mentha spicata L. is cultivated for its essential oil which has various industrial uses. There are several species of Mentha genus but M. spicata is the only one which is rich in carvone. The present study was carried out at Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Research Centre, Pantnagar in 2020 to evaluate the yield potentia...

Enhancing growth and productivity of medicinal and aromatic plants using natural plant growth promoters such as moringa (Moringa oleifera, Lam.) has recently gained wide attention. However, there are no elaborate reports on the impact of Moringa Leaf Extract (MLE) as growth promoter in mint crop. This study was conducted to investigate the effect o...

A field study was conducted at CSIR-CIMAP, Research Centre, Bengaluru, during 2018-2019 to evaluate the performance and chemical compositions of six citronella cultivars (Medini, Jalpallavi, Bio-13, C-Line, CIM-Jeeva and Manjusha) under southern climatic regions of Karnataka, India. Results revealed that significant differences in growth, yield and...

Aromatic plants produce aromatic compounds, generally in form of essential oils which can be brought to use for several purposes. Essential oils are examples of secondary metabolites that are produced by only a few species of plants and the production of secondary metabolites in plants is in direct proportion to the crop yield which is highly regul...

Artemisia pallens Wall. ex DC., popularly known as davana, has gained considerable attention because of its unique fragrance, high economic value, and pharmacological properties. The compositional complexity of davana essential oil (DO) has been a challenge for quality control. In this study, the chemical profile of DO was developed using polarity‐...

Ravenia spectabilis Engl. belongs to the family Rutaceae is known to possess several biologically active phytomolecules. This study was planned to investigate the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the leaf essential oil of R. spectabilis. The hydrodistillation of fresh leaves of R. spectabilis gave 0.19 ± 0.02% essential oil. The r...

Background The member of the genus Alpinia (family: Zingiberaceae) is used in traditional medicine for various formulations for the food, spices, medicines, and perfume. Objective The present study was carried out to analyse the compositional variability in leaf and rhizome essential oils of Alpinia calcarata Roscoe and Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B....

The present investigation deals with the genetic divergence, correlation, and path coefficient study for the six characters among sixty-two accessions of Ammi visnaga L. grown during two consecutive years, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, in India. Morphological variability was detected for stem and umbel color from center reddish to pink during vegetative...

The present study describes the results of phytochemical, antimicrobial and antioxidant study on the essential oil of Cymbopogon jwarancusa from India. The major constituents identified were cis-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (25.3–31.8%), trans-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (14.0–16.6%), δ-2-carene (11.8–15.8%), cis-p-menth-1-en-3-ol (10.5–14.2%) and trans-p-menth-1-en-3-...

Background: Sarpagandha is an indigenous medicinal herb of Indian continent. It has many medicinal properties. Due to increasing demand of Sarpagandha, its exploitation is increasing continuously but for lack of cultivation, this plant has been listed in endangered category. Commercially, it is propagated through seeds but the main barrier of seed...

Geranium is an economically important aromatic plant for its highly priced essential oil. The essential oil yield and composition influenced by genetic, agronomical and environmental factors but at maturity, the right harvesting time during the day without affecting the quality is not clear. Present study was undertaken to study the change in essen...

Essential oil yield and composition in aromatic crops might be affected by genetic, agronomical and environmental factors but till date there is no clear information about the harvesting time and distillation for higher essential oil content without affecting quality. The current study was carried out to evaluate harvesting of chamomile flowers wit...

Mentha arvensis L. which belongs to Lamiaceae family and it is also know as cornmint or japanese mint.The plant as been used for medicinal and aromatic purpose since from ancient time. The present study was planned to estimate the variability among morpho-economic traits, to estimate magnitude of association between essential oil yield and its cont...

The variations in essential oil yield and composition of Cymbopogon flexuosus var. GRL-1 were compared with respect to four different harvesting regimes in monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate of north India. The essential oil yield was found to vary from 0.65 to 0.75% during different harvesting mode. GC and GC–MS analysis revealed 28 cons...

Menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) is cultivated commercially for extraction of essential oil from upper ground herbage (leaves + stem). The essential oil of menthol mint is mainly used for production of menthol and the by-product dementholised oil (DMO) that find extensive applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. A new genotype of ment...

A new geraniol-rich variety of lemongrass, named as CIM-Atal, has been developed by CSIR-CIMAP through directed breeding approach. Before releasing the superiority of the clone 14-3 was checked in different trials over the years. It has a mean oil content of 1.85-2.10 percent, which is higher than that of the best check variety Krishna that has oil...

Citronella (Cymbopogon spp.) essential oil is an important component of various fragrances, cosmetics, and household products. In this study, comparative chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor) essential oil, extracted by different methods, namely hydro-distillation and steam-distill...

Pelargonium graveolens is a species in the Pelargonium genus and falls within the plant family of Geraniaceae. The total production of essential oil is estimated at 300-350 tone, whereas the world market demands more than 400 t per year. Now geranium crop has been cultivated for commercial purpose in areas with high altitude and milder climate. P....

A field experiment was carried out at during 2014 and 2015 in sandy loam soil on Influence of NPK levels on plant growth and yield of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni under lower hills of Kumaon Uttarakhand were tested in a randomized block design with factorial concept in three replications. Four harvestings were taken in a year. Stevia were treated with...

Menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) is cultivated commercially for extraction of essential oil from upper ground herbage (leaves + stem). The essential oil of menthol mint is mainly used for production of menthol and the by-product dementholised oil (DMO) that find extensive applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. A new genotype of ment...

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth) is an aromatic bushy herb of the Family- Lamiaceae, commonly called the, “Mint or deadnettle family”. The crop is mainly cultivated for its oil used in the manufacture of perfumes, cosmetics, medicines, beverages and in bakery. The oil is a perfume by itself and is highly valued in perfumes, soaps, cosme...

The plant Chamomilla recutita (Family: Asteraceae), popularly known as ‘Chamomile’, is a natural source of essential oil containing terpenoides and flavonoids that have high value and demand in pharmaceutical and perfumery industries. Its dried flowers are also traded owing to their extensive use in herbal tea, mouth wash and bathing products. Alth...

Productivity and essential oil composition of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) were evaluated under the subtropical region of north India. The crop was planted in mid-November and harvested at six different stages. The crop harvested at 225 days after transplanting yielded 88.03 L ha⁻¹ essential oil which was at par with the yield obtained at 2...

The genus Cymbopogon (Poaceae) comprised of many species of grasses that grow in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Some of the commercially important aromatic species of Cymbopogon are cultivated for the extraction of the essential oils from their aerial-parts. In spite of wide distribution and large scale cultivation, the essentia...

Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson, commonly known as lemongrass, is a member of Cymbopogon genus renowned for their highly prized essential oils for flavor and fragrance industries. A field experiment was conducted to standardize the postharvest storage practices for a prevalent high oil yielding cultivar ‘Krishna’ of lemongrass durin...

In this study, antimicrobial activity of the essential oil (EO) and extracts of Himalayan-thyme (Thymus linearis Benth.) was evaluated against nine pathogenic microbial strains using disc diffusion and microdilution broth assays. The chemical composition of the EO was determined by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) and gas chrom...

Presence of differences in the essential oil content, chromosome count and the morphology, led to consider Ocimum gratissimum as a polymorphic complex species often subcategorized into subspecies, varieties, and forms. Characterization of O. gratissimum complex is carried out using morphological, molecular markers combined with chemical analysis of...

The composition of the steam volatile constituents of leaf, fruit and bark of Neolitsea pallens (D.Don) syn. Litsea umbrosa var. consimilis Nees Hook f. syn. L. consimilis Nees were analyzed by GC, GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy. The major constituents of the leaf oil were furanogermenone (30.6%), beta-caryophyllene (19.3%) and germacrene D (12.7%), wh...