Therapeutic Himalayan herbs: Folklore uses, bioactive phytochemicals, and biological activities of medicinal orchids used by Nomads

94-104Natural products have bioactive properties which have been exploited for human and animal use for hundreds of years. Orchids are one of the largest, diverse, and most evolved groups of plants within monocot angiosperms. Different species under this category have been recognized as the most threatened plants due to poor seed germination, the need for endophytic mycorrhizal partners, and habitat destructions coupled with climate change. The majority of orchid taxa are known to have therapeutic potential due to the presence of bioactive substances, such as alkaloids, bibenzyls, phenanthrenes, phenanthrenequinones, glycosides, carbohydrates, flavonoids, and stilbenoids. In this study, twenty-eight indigenous Himalayan orchids were documented from six Himalayan states and one union territory of India viz., Acampe ochracea, Aerides odorata, A. multiflora, Anoectochilus setaceus, Arundina graminifolia, Bulbophyllum odoratissimum, Coelogyne corymbosa, C. punctulata, Crepidium acuminatum, Cymbidium aloifolium, C. elegans, Dendrobium densiflorum, D. fimbriatum, D. fugax, D. nobile, Eulophia graminea, Habenaria dentata, H. marginata, Herminium lanceum, Liparis nervosa, Papilionanthe teres, Phaius tankervilleae, Pholidota imbricata, P. pallida, Porpax muscicola, Rhynchostylis retusa, Vanda coerulea and V. cristata familiar to nomadic tribes for use as medicine in their daily life. Data collected on species identity and nomenclature, local names, uses, bioactive constituents, pharmacological bioactivities, and phenology are presented. These findings will help in preserving Himalayan traditional knowledge, conservation of endangered plants, and research and development associated with wild orchids or similar taxa elsewhere in the globe

Ethnobotanical plants used for gastrointestinal ailments by the inhabitants of Kishtwar plateau in Northwestern Himalaya, India

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract in human body is the most important and vulnerable organ for the diverse type of diseases such as diarrhea, reflux, constipation and parasitic infections. To treat such ailments, inhabitants of Kishtwar plateau in Jammu and Kashmir (India) use the wild medicinal herbs growing in the valleys and on the hill-top of their region. Most of these medicinal plants are common in occurrence but not reported earlier for the GI disorders. The aim of thiscommunication is to narrow down the list of the medicinal plant species on the basis of oral traditional knowledge (OTK) for treating GI disorders at Kishtwar plateau. This documentation and quantitative analysis will help the natural plant chemists to get the pure and efficacious molecules for the treatment of GI ailments. For this a semi-structured questionnaire study was used to document the OTK on use of different medicinal plants to treat GI ailments by the local people ofKishtwar plateau in Northwestern Himalaya. The information gathered during the questionnaire study has been quantified by calculating use value, family use value, factor informant consensus (Fic) and fidelity level. A total of 40 plant species representing 27 families are reported to treat various GI ailments, where in Mentha longifolia has shown the maximum use value (UV)=0.87 and Carpesium abrotanoides has shown the minimum UV=0.03. Maximum Fic (0.88) has been calculated for worm infection and constipations category, however, minimum Fic=0.75 is calculated for dyspepsia. Maximum family use value has been calculated for Plantaginaceae (FUV=0.75) and minimum for Geraniaceae and Juglandaceae (FUV=0.08). Artemisia maritima (FL=20.25%) and Elwendia persica (FL=18.18%) accounts the maximum fidelity level, therefore, considered important for the treatment of diarrhea and stomachache. From calculated use value, it has been concluded that the use of M. longifolia for treating GI ailments is relatively higher than other investigated species. Further analysis revealed that uniformity in OTK homogeneity is prevailing in the area, which indicates that OTK has not been diluted over the period of time

Ethnobotanical plants used for gastrointestinal ailments by the inhabitants of Kishtwar plateau in Northwestern Himalaya, India

288-298Gastrointestinal (GI) tract in human body is the most important and vulnerable organ for the diverse type of diseases such as diarrhea, reflux, constipation and parasitic infections. To treat such ailments, inhabitants of Kishtwar plateau in Jammu and Kashmir (India) use the wild medicinal herbs growing in the valleys and on the hill-top of their region. Most of these medicinal plants are common in occurrence but not reported earlier for the GI disorders. The aim of this communication is to narrow down the list of the medicinal plant species on the basis of oral traditional knowledge (OTK) for treating GI disorders at Kishtwar plateau. This documentation and quantitative analysis will help the natural plant chemists to get the pure and efficacious molecules for the treatment of GI ailments. For this a semi-structured questionnaire study was used to document the OTK on use of different medicinal plants to treat GI ailments by the local people of Kishtwar plateau in Northwestern Himalaya. The information gathered during the questionnaire study has been quantified by calculating use value, family use value, factor informant consensus (Fic) and fidelity level. A total of 40 plant species representing 27 families are reported to treat various GI ailments, where in Mentha longifolia has shown the maximum use value (UV)=0.87 and Carpesium abrotanoides has shown the minimum UV=0.03. Maximum Fic (0.88) has been calculated for worm infection and constipations category, however, minimum Fic=0.75 is calculated for dyspepsia. Maximum family use value has been calculated for Plantaginaceae (FUV=0.75) and minimum for Geraniaceae and Juglandaceae (FUV=0.08). Artemisia maritima (FL=20.25%) and Elwendia persica (FL=18.18%) accounts the maximum fidelity level, therefore, considered important for the treatment of diarrhea and stomachache. From calculated use value, it has been concluded that the use of M. longifolia for treating GI ailments is relatively higher than other investigated species. Further analysis revealed that uniformity in OTK homogeneity is prevailing in the area, which indicates that OTK has not been diluted over the period of time

Traditional usage of medicinal plants in humans and animals health care and their chemical constituents from hills and valleys of Jammu province, Western Himalaya

84-100In this work, a systematic attempt to explore the ethnobotanical research on native plants of Jammu province located in Western Himalaya and their phytochemical constituents is presented. The village people use locally available plants to cure frequently occurring diseases in their communities and as a tonic to maintain their health. These plants are also responsible for animal health. The main aim of this research was to establish the botanical knowledge on usages of herbal plants through systematic documentation and identification of the species involved, ecological aspects and how they were used in the biological form. During the investigation, the authors explored the entire territory examining 17 different communities. In total, 226 species of plants categorized in 73 families used by the native inhabitants as plants used in their day-to-day life for health care were observed. Scientific names, localized vernacular name, parts used, mode of usages and reported chemical constituents of particular species are reported in this report. The study indicates the existence of a very strong tie between the local people and these particular plants. While studying, the authors found peculiar uses, species, parts used and recipes, which could be very helpful in developing new formulation for human and animal health care

Traditional usage of medicinal plants in humans and animals health care and their chemical constituents from hills and valleys of Jammu province, Western Himalaya

In this work, a systematic attempt to explore the ethnobotanical research on native plants of Jammu province located in Western Himalaya and their phytochemical constituents is presented. The village people use locally available plants to cure frequently occurring diseases in their communities and as a tonic to maintain their health. These plants are also responsible for animal health. The main aim of this research was to establish the botanical knowledge on usages of herbal plants through systematic documentation and identification of the species involved, ecological aspects and how they were used in the biological form. During the investigation, the authors explored the entire territory examining 17 different communities. In total, 226 species of plants categorized in 73 families used by the native inhabitants as plants used in their day-to-day life for health care were observed. Scientific names, localized vernacular name, parts used, mode of usages and reported chemical constituents of particular species are reported in this report. The study indicates the existence of a very strong tie between the local people and these particular plants. While studying, the authors found peculiar uses, species, parts used and recipes, which could be very helpful in developing new formulation for human and animal health care

CONSERVATION STRATEGIES FOR NEPENTHES KHASIANA IN THE NOKREK BIOSPHERE RESERVE OF GARO HILLS, NORTHEAST, INDIA

The present paper focuses on the various disturbance agents such as coal mining, limestone extraction, stone quarrying, jhum cultivation, fire, grazing, over-exploitation of resources, road constructions etc., affecting the natural growth of Nepethes khasiana in the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve of India. N. khasiana is the prominent insectivorous scandent shrubs species of this biosphere reserve and is an important source of medicine and basic ornamental uses for the local garo tribal people of north-east India. The inevitable pressure due to commercialization of the N. khasiana is leading to severe destruction of the species and may create the scarcity of that species in the near future. Therefore, joint efforts need to be implemented by the local garo villagers with governmental and non-governmental agencies for conservation and sustainable use of N. khasiana. The government may also take initiative by allotting demarcated forests areas to the villagers as village forest, thus motivating the villagers to take special care for its protection and rehabilitation and for a sustainable output

Antioxidant capacity and combinatorial antimicrobial effects of Nardostachys jatamansi essential oil with conventional antibiotics against some drug resistant bacteria

The antibacterial and antioxidant properties of essential oils (EOs) have long been recognized. The present study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant capability of Nardostachys jatamansi essential oil and to see if it has a synergistic antimicrobial effect with antibiotics against two Gram negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli) and three Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial strains. Guaia-6,9-diene (11.96 %), calarene (10.44 %), jatamansone (8.11 %), α-gurjunene (7.42 %), valencene (6.46 %), α-maaliene (5.24 %), sprojatamol (5.06 %), and caratol (5.06 %) were found to be the primary components of N. jatamansi EO. According to antioxidant studies, N. jatamansi EO has moderate DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. Similarly, N. jatamansi EO also showed significant antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones, MIC, and MBC values ranging from 10.5 ± 0.5 to 14.0 ± 0.4 mm, 1.5 to 3.1 mg/mL, and 1.8 to 3.5 mg/mL respectively. The results of N. jatamansi EO interactions with conventional antibiotics revealed that amoxicillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and ampicillin MICs were reduced by 5 to 10 fold, 4 to 9.09 fold, 4 to 10.5 fold, and 4 to 8.0 fold, respectively. The findings of this study are noteworthy because no previous reports of N. jatamansi EO's synergistic interaction with conventional antibiotics have been published, and therefore may constitute an important strategy for addressing problem of drug resistant bacteria

Therapeutic Himalayan herbs: Folklore uses, bioactive phytochemicals, and biological activities of medicinal orchids used by Nomads

Natural products have bioactive properties which have been exploited for human and animal use for hundreds of years. Orchids are one of the largest, diverse, and most evolved groups of plants within monocot angiosperms. Different species under this category have been recognized as the most threatened plants due to poor seed germination, the need for endophytic mycorrhizal partners, and habitat destructions coupled with climate change. The majority of orchid taxa are known to have therapeutic potential due to the presence of bioactive substances, such as alkaloids, bibenzyls, phenanthrenes, phenanthrenequinones, glycosides, carbohydrates, flavonoids, and stilbenoids. In this study, twenty-eight indigenous Himalayan orchids were documented from six Himalayan states and one union territory of India viz., Acampe ochracea, Aerides odorata, A. multiflora, Anoectochilus setaceus, Arundina graminifolia, Bulbophyllum odoratissimum, Coelogyne corymbosa, C. punctulata, Crepidium acuminatum, Cymbidium aloifolium, C. elegans, Dendrobium densiflorum, D. fimbriatum, D. fugax, D. nobile, Eulophia graminea, Habenaria dentata, H. marginata, Herminium lanceum, Liparis nervosa, Papilionanthe teres, Phaius tankervilleae, Pholidota imbricata, P. pallida, Porpax muscicola, Rhynchostylis retusa, Vanda coerulea and V. cristata familiar to nomadic tribes for use as medicine in their daily life. Data collected on species identity and nomenclature, local names, uses, bioactive constituents, pharmacological bioactivities, and phenology are presented. These findings will help in preserving Himalayan traditional knowledge, conservation of endangered plants, and research and development associated with wild orchids or similar taxa elsewhere in the globe

Eating from raw wild plants in Himalaya: Traditional knowledge documentary on <em>Sheena </em> tribe in Kashmir

269-275Present investigation describes the ethnobotanical information of 42 raw edible plants used by the Sheena tribe residing in Kashmir. Most of these species are consumed as wild fruits (22 spp.), some are eaten as greens salads or used in the preparation of local chutney (15 spp.), and tubers are eaten raw or occasionally boiled (5 spp.). These raw foods are considered as rich source of minerals and vitamins and are sold by locals to supplement their income. Besides food value, more than half of the investigated species (60 %) have multiple uses in the form of medicine, drugs or as NTFPs. Ethnobotanical information on four species Oxalis acetosella, Crataegus rhipidophylla, Rubus caesius, and Rubus saxatilis are recorded for the first time from India. In addition, existing ethnobotanical information on these documented plants have been reviewed along with their availability and population status on global level have been provided