Buchu (Barosma betulina) Research

Latin Name: Barosma betulina

GENERAL

Since bucha is a potentially threatened species, no therapeutic research is provided. Here is some information about its threatened status.

Buchu growing in South Africa has a global commercial value and provides income to the poor who harvest it, but conservationists believe overharvesting will lead to its extinction. From: Williams, S., & Kepe, T. (2008). Discordant harvest: Debating the harvesting and commercialization of wild Buchu (Agathosma betulina) in Elandskloof, South Africa. Mountain Research and Development, 28(1), 58-64.
This study recommends a sustainable harvesting cycle of wild bucha at three years, but with prices for the plant being so high and people in the area being so poor, it will likely be over-harvested. From: de PONTE MACHADO, M. (2003). Is buchu (Agathosma betulina) harvesting sustainable? Effects of current harvesting practices on biomass, reproduction and mortality (Doctoral dissertation, MSc thesis, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa).
Controls need to be set into place to enforce sustainable harvesting, cultivation and export permits, and fair sharing of profit within the industry. From: Muller, C. (2015). THE ROLE OF BUCHU (Agathosma betulina & Agathosma crenulata) CULTIVATION IN LIVELIHOODS AND CONSERVATION (Doctoral dissertation, University of Cape Town).
One ton of plant wet material is required to make 2.2 pounds of essential oil. From:ACHS, 2017 course material, HERB502, 2017, www.achs.edu).
Poachers can make $250 US in one night of harvesting of buchu. From: ACHS course material, HERB502, 2017, www.achs.edu.

By: Kathy Sadowski

Last Updated: 10/1/18