Veterinary Ethnomedicinal Plants in Uttarakhand Himalayan Region, India

Drug research has enriched human life in many ways. The health care and resulting social and economic benefits of new drugs to society are most remarkable, are quite well recognized. Drug research has been the driving force for many basic scientific developments, such as that of many new synthetic methods, of the understanding of the physiology and pharmacology of biological systems and has contributed much too molecular recognition. The Uttarakhand Himalayas have a great wealth of medicinal plants and traditional medicinal knowledge. The medicinal plant that has been widely used as veterinary ethno-medicine in Uttarakhand region has been studied. These do not either occur elsewhere or have not so far been exploited commercially. Attempts have been made to explore the new possible species having medicinal importance especially for veterinary and to grow them in suitable areas so as to meet national industrial demands. The present paper deals with the traditional uses of 100 plant species employed in ethno-medicine and ethno-veterinary practice in Uttarakhand

Record of vegetation, climate change, human impact and retting of hemp in Garhwal Himalaya (India) during the past 4600 years

This study is focused on a 3.55-m-long sediment core retrieved from Badanital (i.e. the BT core) in 2008. Badanital (30°29′50″N, 78°55′26″E, 2083 m a.s.l.) is a small lake located in the upper catchment area of the Ganges in Garhwal Himalaya, northern India. The lake and the regional broad-leaved semi- evergreen forests are under the influence of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) and westerly associated cyclones. Palynological investigation of the BT core revealed past vegetation changes reflecting both climate and human impact during the last 4600 years. Maximum spread of oaks occurred during c. AD 550–1100 and c. AD 1400–1630, that is, the intervals which partly overlap with the ‘Medieval Warm Period’ and the ‘Little Ice Age’, respectively. Three intervals of decreased oak pollen percentages are attributed to (1) continuously drier and cooler climatic conditions and fire activity (c. 2600–500 BC), (2) severe reduction in oak forests followed by secondary succession of alder woods (c. AD 1150–1270) and (3) pre-modern settlement activities since the British imperial occupation (after c. AD 1700). We argue that the high percentages (i.e. up to 28%) of Humulus/Cannabis type and Cannabis type pollen point to intense local retting of hemp c. 500 BC–AD 1050. Based on our age model, Cannabis fibre production at Badanital is contemporaneous with archaeological records of ancient hemp products from different parts of Eurasia suggesting possible linkages to early trade and knowledge exchange routes connecting India and the Himalaya with Central and East Asia and possibly Europe

Taxonomical Description, Nativity and Endemism with Particular Reference to Threatened Ethnomedicinal Plants of Almora District of Western Himalaya

Out of 187 ethno-medicinal plants of Almora district (Kumari et. al. 2011), identifications, distribution, nativity and endemic/near endemic of 21 threatened ethno-medicinal plant species were studied. These 21 species of ethno medicinal plants belonging to 16 families were recorded. Of these, 2 species were trees, 1 shrub, 16 herbs and 2 climbers. The families Taxaceae, Ranunculaceae, Berberadaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Saxifragaceae,Verbenaceae,Bignonoaceae, Celastraceae, Costaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Valerianaceae and Gentianaceae having single species,  Lamiaceae, having two species and Orchidaceae, Liliaceae having three species were identified

Psychological health of Indian youth during COVID-19: a study through three chronological surveys

The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftereffects have affected human lives psychologically, economically, and socially. The study examines the dynamics of mental health problems faced by young adults and the consequent effects on their daily lives during the pandemic period. Three surveys were conducted among colleges/universities going students in India during the time periods May-June 2020, October 2020-February 2021, and January-February 2022; using Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) 17+ self-reported extended version. Through 1,021, 743, and 932 responses in the three surveys respectively, the effect of the pandemic on the mental health (characterized by behavioral problems and social dysfunction) of respondents, categorized on basis of demographic variables and ‘COVID-19’ status was studied. Females were found to be more ‘distressed’ than during this period. There was no effect of age and family income. The 45% of the respondents in the Non-COVID group and 48% in the COVID-19 group had severe distress. With the passing of time, both the number of problem areas and the severity of problems faced by young adults increased thus affecting their day-to-day activities. The proportions of the respondents in borderline and abnormal categories were much higher both for difficulty and the impact scores of SDQ than the standard proportions

Quantitative assessment and antibacterial activity of Origanum vulgare L.

Biodiversity, which twenty years ago was considered unimportant by most ecologists, has now been shown to impact significantly upon many aspects of ecosystem functioning. Diversity must now be added to the list of factors — including species composition, disturbance regime, soil type and climate — that influence ecosystem functioning. The recent knowledge of the importance of biodiversity highlights an under-appreciated truth — although society is dependent on natural and managed ecosystems for goods and services that are essential for human survival, we know all too little about how ecosystems work. Origanum vulgare L. is one of the important ethno medicinal plants, are found spread over to sub-temperate forest zone. They are of Ayurvedic importance and have trade value as well. Due to over exploitation and habitat degradation they are now turning into a rare species. Threat assessments of this species revealed that they are vulnerable in study area under reference. Their dominance too was found less as compare to other species. Their diversity profile in study areas also went down. Origanum vulgare L. has antimicrobial activities but Becillus subtillis, Pseudomonas aereuguinosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherchia coli bacteria were shown to be proactive. Due to fast growing urbanization of life, people are being attracted towards use of natural products and as such utility of such plants are gaining ground. Thus the need is to protect, promote and conserve such natural resources to have advantage of biodiversity conservation.Â

Evaluating the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of young adults in India

COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of individuals, particularly young adults. Using the ‘strength and difficulty questionnaire 17+ extended version’, we studied the severity of psychological problems and the resultant distress in young adults; the relationship between the ‘difficulty’ and ‘impact’ scores; and the effect of distress in terms of a number of day-to-day activities affected during a pandemic. Data was collected from 743 college/university students (December 2020-February 2021) in India. Descriptive, relative frequencies, and nonparametric tests are applied here. Females were facing more psychological behavioral problems as compared to males as the p-value is less than 0.001. Males with age<20 years were least affected by COVID-19. Day-to-day activities are affected by almost 45% of young adults because of distress. ‘difficulty’ and ‘impact’ severity bands were significantly different from the previous standard proportions. No significant association was there between ‘difficulty’ and ‘impact’ scores (p-value<0.001). 53% of those contracting COVID-19 had severe distress as against 45% of those who did not. 46% of the respondents were in the ‘abnormal’ category and 59 out of 327 were facing ’a great deal’ problems in more than two areas