Description
Psyllium is the common name used for several members of the plant genus Plantago whose seeds are used commercially for the production of mucilage. The genus Plantago contains over 200 species. P. ovata and P. Psyllium are produced commercially in several European countries, the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, and India. Plantago seed known commercially as black, French or Spanish Psyllium is obtained from P. Psyllium and P. arenaria. Seed produced from P. ovata is known in trading circles as white or blonde Psyllium, Indian Plantago or Isabgol. Isabgol, the common name in India for P. ovata, comes from the Persian words "isap" and "ghol" that mean horse ear, which is descriptive of the shape of the seed. India dominates the world market in the production and export of Psyllium.
Recent interest in Psyllium has arisen primarily due to its use in high fiber breakfast cereals and from claims that these high fiber cereals containing Psyllium are effective in reducing cholesterol. Several studies point to a cholesterol reduction attributed to a diet that includes dietary fiber such as Psyllium. Research reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concludes that the use of soluble-fiber cereals is an effective and well tolerated part of a prudent diet for the treatment of mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia. Research also indicates that Psyllium incorporated into food products is more effective at reducing blood glucose response than use of a soluble fiber supplement that is separate from the food. Although the cholesterol reducing properties and glycemic response properties of Psyllium containing foods are fairly well documented, the effect of long term inclusion of Psyllium in the diet has not been determined. Cases of allergic reaction to Psyllium containing cereal have been documented.
Uses/ Benefits
Psyllium is produced mainly for its mucilage content, which is highest in P. ovata. Mucilage describes a group of clear, colorless, gelling agents derived from plants. The mucilage obtained from Psyllium comes from the seed coat. Mucilage is obtained by mechanical milling/grinding of the outer layer of the seed. Plantago seed mucilage is often referred to as Psyllium husk and powder. The milled seed mucilage is a white fibrous material that is hydrophilic (water-loving). Upon absorbing water the clear colorless mucilaginous gel that forms increases in volume by ten-fold or more. Psyllium is mainly used as a dietary fiber, which is not digested by action in the small intestine. The purely mechanical action of Psyllium mucilage absorbs excess water while stimulating normal bowel elimination. Although its main use has been as a laxative, it is more appropriately termed a true dietary fiber.
The United States is the world's largest importer of Psyllium Husks and Powder. The Psyllium mucilage is using as a natural dietary fiber for products of Nutraceutical, Food, pharmaceutical, Animal feed and Industrial segments. The dehusked seed that remains after the seed coat is milled off is rich in starch and fatty acids and is used in India as chicken feed and as cattle feed.
Psyllium mucilage possesses several other desirable properties. As a thickener, it has been used in ice cream and frozen deserts. A 1.5% weight/volume ratio of Psyllium mucilage exhibits binding properties that are superior to a 10% weight/volume ratio of starch mucilage. The viscosity of Psyllium mucilage dispersions are relatively unaffected between temperatures of 68 to 122o F, by pH from 2 to 10 and by salt (sodium chloride) concentrations up to 0.15 M. These properties in combination with Psyllium's natural fiber characteristic may lead to increased use by the food processing industry. Technical grade Psyllium has been used as a hydrocolloidal agent to improve water retention for newly seeded grass areas and to improve transplanting success with woody plants.
Psyllium Plantation
Plantago ovata is an annual herb that grows to a height of 12 to 18 in. Leaves are opposite, linear or linear lanceolate (0.4 x 7.5 in.) The root system has a well developed tap root with few fibrous secondary roots. A large number of flowering shoots arise from the base of the plant. Flowers are numerous, small, and white. Plants flower about 60 days after planting. The seeds are enclosed in capsules that open at maturity.
| Sowing Period | Harvesting Period | Cultivation Regions |
| November to December | February to March | Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh |
Environmental Requirements
Climate
P. ovata is a 119 to 130 day crop that responds well to cool, dry weather. In India, P. ovata is cultivated mainly in North Gujarat as a "Rabi" or post rainy season crop (October to March). During this season, which follows the monsoons, average temperatures range between 60 to 85o F and moisture is deficient. Isabgol (P. ovata) which has a moderate water requirement, is given 5 to 6 light irrigations. A very important environmental requirement of this crop is clear, sunny and dry weather preceding harvest. High night temperature and cloudy wet weather close to harvest have a large negative impact on yield. Rainfall on the mature crop may result in shattering and therefore major field losses. The growing season in Wisconsin and Minnesota is not likely to be suitable for production of Psyllium.
Soil
Isabgol grows best on light, well drained, sandy loams. The nutrient requirements of the crop are low. In North Gujarat, the soil tends to be low in nitrogen and phosphorus and high in potash with a pH between 7.2 and 7.9. Nitrogen trials under these conditions have shown a maximum seed yield response with the addition of 20 lb/acre of nitrogen.
Seed Preparation, Germination and Irrigation
P. ovata has small seeds, 1000 seeds weigh less than 2 grams. Under ideal conditions of adequate moisture and low temperature (50 to 68o F) 30% of the seed germinates in 6 to 8 days. The seed shows some innate dormancy (3 months) following harvest. Psyllium grows in 119 to 130 days and requires cool and dry weather for a better yield and the later on plantation requires dry, sunny and clear weather to grow well. It is a Rabi crop and grows from October to March. The crop requires moderate water irrigation. Immediately after sowing a light irrigation is given. Second irrigation is given after 3 weeks and third one at the time of formation of spikes. This crop needs about 7 –10 irrigation. It is given 2-3 hand weddings during the entire growing period to control the weeds.
Harvesting
Blooming begins two months after sowing and the crop becomes ready for harvest in February March (110-130 days after sowing). When mature, the crop turn yellowish and the spikes turn brownish. The seeds are shed when the spikes are pressed even slightly. At the time of harvest, the atmosphere must be dry and there should be no moisture on the plant, harvesting will lead to considerable seed shattering. Hence, the crop should be harvested after 10 am. Isabgol harvesting should not be carried out in wet conditions; equipment used should be clean and well maintained, containers for collection must be free of previously accumulated crop, damaged and spoiled crop material should be sorted and discarded, harvested material should be collected in dry sacks, baskets, trailers or hoppers and not on the ground, mechanical damage, high compaction and storage which promotes composting should be avoided.
PSYLLIUM SEEDS
PSYLLIUM IS A FORM OF FIBER MADE FROM THE HUSKS OF THE PLANTAGO OVATA PLANT'S SEEDS. IT SOMETIMES GOES BY THE NAME ISPAGHULA. IT'S MOST COMMONLY KNOW AS A LAXATIVE. HOWEVER, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT TAKING PSYLLIUM IS BENEFICIAL TO MANY PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY, INCLUDING THE HEART AND THE PANCREAS. PSYLLIUM IS A BULK-FORMING LAXATIVE.
APMC market yard
Market Yards are a long felt need of the farming community of our country as it goes a long way in ensuring higher remuneration to them through proper weighing, cleaning, grading and better price realization of their produce. Every market having open action system for selling and buying Psyllium Seeds so that farmer getting full return of their crop. The farmers look forward to a regulated market yard as a dependable infrastructure for furtherance of their economic goal. The advantages of a regulated market yard system are immense and wherever such a system exists, it has been widely appreciated. Today the farmers consider it as a boon to them where they can confidently sell their produce and get an appropriate return for the quantity and quality they produce year after year. In the market raw Isabgol Seeds is kept in the simple gunny bags of 75 kg per bag. Various APMC market place in India such as Unjha, Tharad, Dhorimanna, Nokha, Nagaur etc..
Market yard can be classified into three categories according to the mode of sellers i.e. primary, secondary and terminal. Sellers of a primary market yard are mainly farmers of the command area; in case of secondary market yard, farmers and traders beyond the command area bring Psyllium Seeds for sale and in the terminal market yard mainly the traders bring in their commodities for marketing. A primary market yard should be suitably located for easy accessibility and have provisions to sell produces grown by farmers in the command area and have sundry shops to meet the immediate requirements of a farmer when he comes there to sell his produce. It should also have facilities for the traders, commission agents and other market functionaries to facilitate easy trading and smooth price realization to the farmers. The facilities should match to the functional requirements of the commodities to be traded and also to the surrounding locality where the market yard is to function. Secondary and terminal market yards are located in semi urban and urban areas and the facilities are planned for the commodities to be traded.
Psyllium Process
Typical process of manufacturing raisins requires following steps. The raw Psyllium seeds need to be cleaned by mechanical process through various steps of processing where no chemicals are used. After cleaning seeds from the cleaning and pre cleaning chambers, de-husking processes begin. The process consists of crushing the seed with emery mills and separation of husk in a closed circuit of an automatic pneumatic aspiration system. The Psyllium seed husk is then separated from the remainder of the seed by using slight mechanic pressure. The seeds are crashed between rotating rollers and plates. Psyllium husk is then purified by sieving the mixture to separate the husk from the remainder of the seed part. To obtain high yield of pure quality Psyllium seed husk, there is intact milling of Psyllium seed in a mill which causes the husk to be fragmented by collision under certain conditions. The husk is fractured separating non-husk portion of the isabgol seed. Psyllium powder is obtained through crashing the pure husk Psyllium. The products are then packaged under total hygienic control. Packaging includes uncoated and coated Uv stabilized PP woven fabric without liner, HDPE laminated paper bags with inner poly-liner, laminated PP woven bags with inner poly, fiber paper drum and silver plated ring with inner poly-liner. Finished products can be treated with Ethylene Oxide, Methyl Bromide , Aluminium Phosphate, Gamma Rays Irradiation and steam sterilization as per customer’s specified requirements.
Psyllium Husks and Powder
Psyllium Husk is a white fiber husk derived from the seeds of the medicinal plant Plantago Ovata. It is a layer of mucilage around top of the Psyllium seeds which is separated through mechanical process and rest of seeds called by-product use in cattle feed.
Psyllium husk Powder is pulverized form of Psyllium Husk, which is derived from seeds of medicinal plant Plantago Ovata. Psyllium husk powder is considered pure natural dietary fiber and widely consumed as bulk forming Laxative across the world. Psyllium husk powder can be consumed in natural form as well in flavoured form with Liquid like water, juice, milk etc.
Psyllium is a soluble fiber used primarily as a gentle bulk-forming laxative in products. It comes from a shrub-like herb called Plantago ovata that grows worldwide but is most common in India.
Psyllium seed husk is the fibrous seed coating of a plant native to India. Psyllium is soluble in water, it expands and become sticky and glutinous. It is indigestible in humans. Psyllium is used to relieve gastrointestinal disorders.
The soluble fiber found in Psyllium husks and powder can help lower cholesterol. Psyllium can help relieve both constipation and diarrhea, and is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, and other intestinal problems. Psyllium has also been used to help regulate blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. When Psyllium husk comes in contact with water, it swells and forms a gelatin-like-mass that helps transport waste through the intestinal tract. Several large population based studies also suggest that increased fiber intake may reduce risk of colon cancer, but other studies have been conflicting.
Psyllium Cattle feed
The by-product acquired while processing Psyllium Husk from Psyllium Seeds is called Psyllium Gola, Lali & Kha-Kha powder. Psyllium by-products is extensively used as an ingredient for animal feed which are rich in protein, carbohydrate and other nutritions. It may also help to increase milk yield and improves the digestive system of cattle. Due to sticky gel that acts like a sponge to absorb some toxins, sugars and carbohydrates in the gut.