Dietary use and conservation concern of edible wetland plants at indo-burma hotspot: a case study from northeast India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The wetlands of the North East India fall among the global hotspots of biodiversity. However, they have received very little attention with relation to their intrinsic values to human kind; therefore their conservation is hardly addressed. These wetlands are critical for the sustenance of the tribal communities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Field research was conducted during 2003 to 2006 in seven major wetlands of four districts of Manipur state, Northeast India (viz. Imphal-East, Imphal-West, Thoubal, and Bishnupur). A total of 224 wetland-plant-collectors were interviewed for the use and economics of species using semi-structured questionnaires and interview schedules. Imphal, Bishenpur and Thoubal markets were investigated in detail for influx and consumption pattern of these plants. The collectors were also inquired for medicinal use of wetland species. Nutritive values of 21 species were analyzed in laboratory. The vouchers were collected for all the species and deposited in the CSIR-NEIST (<it>Formerly Regional Research Laboratory</it>), Substation, Lamphelpat, Imphal, Manipur, India.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We recorded 51 edible wetland species used by indigenous people for food and medicinal purposes. Thirty eight species had high medicinal values and used in the traditional system to treat over 22 diseases. At least 27 species were traded in three markets studied (i.e. Imphal, Thoubal and Bishenpur), involving an annual turnover of 113 tons of wetland edible plants and a gross revenue of Rs. 907, 770/- (US$1 = Rs. 45/-). The Imphal market alone supplies 60% of the total business. Eighty per cent of the above mentioned species are very often used by the community. The community has a general opinion that the availability of 45% species has depleted in recent times, 15 species need consideration for conservation while another 7 species deserved immediate protection measures. The nutrient analysis showed that these species contribute to the dietary balance of tribal communities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Considering the importance of wild wetland plants in local sustenance, it is suggested to protect their habitats, develop domestication protocols of selected species, and build programs for the long-term management of wetland areas by involving local people. Some medicinal plants may also be used to develop into modern medicines.</p

WSES guidelines for management of Clostridium difficile infection in surgical patients

In the last two decades there have been dramatic changes in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), with increases in incidence and severity of disease in many countries worldwide. The incidence of CDI has also increased in surgical patients. Optimization of management of C difficile, has therefore become increasingly urgent. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts prepared evidenced-based World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) guidelines for management of CDI in surgical patients.Peer reviewe

Diversity of food composition and nutritive analysis of edible wild plants in a multi-ethnic tribal land, Northeast India: an important facet for food supply

698-705In view of increasing threat of climate change, extreme whether conditions, and recent financial crisis there has been a concern for augmenting agriculture and food supply to growing population, particularly to the rural areas. Fortunately the communities living near biodiversity rich areas depend on wide variety of plant resources for their survival; selected species have high <span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;color:black" lang="EN-GB">potential for food supply in near future. In this study, we investigated a multi-ethnic area in North east India, a global hotspot, where communities show high dependence on wild plant resources for their sustenance. We addressed the issues of diversity of food plants being collected from wild habitats and their prospect as new food items, broad nutritive values of selected edible wild plants, and suggested some guiding policy concerns for management of these valuable resources. <span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;color:black" lang="EN-GB">The investigation was done during 2006 to 2011; a total of 289 plants species were recorded used by selected tribal communities for diverse needs; 75 plant species used for their fruits, 65 as vegetables, 18 as mushrooms, 163 as medicinal plants, 13 as spices, and 11 species for making local drinks and beverages. Use of an algae Prasiola crispa as vegetable was found confined to Monpa and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sherdukpens only. <span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;color:black" lang="EN-GB">Nearly 76 species were traded in markets involving a good annual turnover. Most promising medicinal plant species of the area comprised <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Aconitum fletcherianum G.Taylor, Clerodendrum colebrookianum Walp.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">, Swertia chirayita H.Karst., Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc., Picrorhiza kurrooa <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Royle, Dendrobium nobile Lindl., and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Artemisia nilagirica (C.B.Clarke) Pamp. that were harvested on commercial scale for selling in national and international markets. More species were used at higher altitudes showing greater dependence on wild plant resources. Nutritive values of 16 most preferred edible species revealed that they comprised considerable proximate and macro-nutrients; some are well comparable with commercial fruits and crops in their nutritional quality. It is found the wild edible species play an important role in dietary nutritional <span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;color:black" lang="EN-GB">balance, <span style="color:black; mso-bidi-font-style:italic" lang="EN-GB">and access to these wild plant resources ensures communities to overcome uncertain food stocks particularly during adverse and extreme weather conditions. The study highlights the need to protect these plants in their wild habitats; selected species be domesticated by developing cultivation protocols. It is also emphasized that wild edible plants is an ignored facet of food supply, however if properly planned it can facilitate to develop multifunctional agricultural policies for securing food production along with sustaining landscapes, biodiversity and cultural heritage in rural areas at any part of the globe. </span

Impact of forest fire frequency on floristic diversity in the forests of Uttarakhand, western Himalaya

The Uttarakhand State of India is rich in forest wealth with 45.4% forest cover (India State of Forest Report (2021). However, forest cover may change due to a number of anthropogenic and environmental factors. One of the factors leading to forest degradation is forest fires. Forest fires are related to factors that may be biotic, such as heavy accumulation of Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii, a dominant forest forming tree) needles on the forest floor influencing fuel load accumulation and flammability, or abiotic, such as climate, topography, or soil type influencing fuel moisture and fire spread. This study was carried out using satellite images of study area where fire was classified using the geographical information system (GIS) into four frequency classes (no fire, low fire, moderate fire, and high fire). We sampled a total of 160 quadrates for trees, 320 for shrubs and 480 for herbaceous plants to assess vegetation diversity for each forest fire frequency class. No fire was recorded for 13,619 sample points, which covers an area of 84% of the study area, whereas low fire frequency was recorded for 1784 sample points covering an area of 11%. In the present study, significant differences in species diversity were observed across the fire frequency classes. While species diversity increased in the low fire frequency class, an increase in fire frequency led to a decline in diversity and increased dominance of certain fire-tolerant species. Our results show that species richness and density decreased in higher fire frequency classes, which could be due to a poor regeneration process. We found that tree species diversity was higher for the low fire frequency class, followed by moderate fire frequency class, no fire frequency class, and was lowest for the high fire frequency class. The diversity of herbs decreased with increasing fire frequency, from a minimum of 12 species in the high fire frequency class to a maximum of 37 in the no fire frequency class. Some of the fire-adapted species were Myrica esculenta, Pyrus pashia, Lyonia ovalifolia, Carissa spinarum, Pyracantha crenulata, Desmodium microphyllum, and Micromeria biflora the regeneration of which should be promoted rehabilitate the fire damage forest ecosystem of Uttarakhand