Introduction

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 Isabgul. Isabgul, 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. Psyllium research and field trials in the U.S. have been conducted mainly in Arizona and also in Washington.

Isabgul was a native of Persia, now grown in the western part of India. The main producing states are Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP & Harayana as a cash crop in the Mehsana, Patan and Banaskantha districts of north Gujarat. Presently, India is the largest producer as well as exporter of Isabgul and Psyllium husk in the world. It is also grown in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar states. The crop is mainly cultivated in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Among the above states Gujarat is the main hub for the production as well as processing. Gujarat and Rajasthan are reported to have an area of around 60,000 hectares under its cultivation. The climatic conditions of the Gujarat & Rajasthan are most suitable for the Isabgul cultivation; and both the states contribute almost equally in terms of production, but regarding further processing and manufacturing of husk, Gujarat is the leading state.

Isabgul is an important medicinal crop of India. It is a stemless herb. The husk is the rosy-white membranous covering of the seed, which constitutes the drug, mainly given as a safe laxative, particularly beneficial in habitual constipation, chronic diarrhea and dysentery. It is a 100% natural product. It is a soluble fiber (is viscous and forms gel in water). The soluble fiber comes from the dried husk of the psyllium seed. That is, psyllium husk is the cleaned dried outer coating of the Psyllium Seed.