Cultivation Patterns and Harvesting Stage of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino

Abstract

Panjakan or Jiaogulan or Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino is a medicinal herb that has gained considerable interest among Thai people, as research has shown that it possesses various pharmacological activities. This study was conducted to determine an appropriate pattern of cultivating and harvesting G. pentaphyllum in order to obtain the highest yield and highest total saponin content. Cultivation pattern, the staking or non-staking of G. pentaphyllum did not show any difference in the yield of G. pentaphyllum cultivar Sibsongpunna No.1. However, harvesting times of two, three and four and a half months showed differences in yield, and the differences were statistically significant. The weight of fresh G. pentaphyllum at three periods of harvest ranged from 35 to 1,005 kg/rai. A harvesting period of 4.5 months showed the highest yield at 1,005 kg/rai. The dry weight of G. pentaphyllum at three periods of harvest ranged from 19.5 to 176 kg/rai. A harvesting time of 4.5 months showed the highest yield, at 176 kg/rai. Analysis of total saponin content showed that the staked herbs had a content of 11.44 g/100 g dry weight and non-staked herbs yielded a content of 8.92 g/100 g dry weight. The difference was not statistically significant. Planting with stakes for any period of harvesting yielded a higher total saponin contents than non-staked crops; however, the differences were not statistically significant.