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

Fragmented Forest Patches in the Indian Himalayas Preserve Unique Components of Biodiversity: Investigation of the Floristic Composition and Phytoclimate of the Unexplored Bani Valley

Subtropical and temperate forests are amongst the most threatened habitats of Asia, due to large-scale habitat loss and the fragmentation of landscapes. Inspite of these, the Asiatic regions preserve their endemic biodiversity, and provide a favorable environment for the abundant growth of vegetation. In the Himalayas, many interior regions are still unexplored from a biodiversity perspective, due to remote locations and high snow-clad mountains. In this study, we investigated the unexplored Bani Valley in order to reduce the gap of uninventorized areas of rich biodiversity in the Himalayas and formulate plant conservation and management strategies. Thirteen field expedition tours were undertaken during 2017 and 2020 for data collection in different growing seasons in the study area. All plant species were collected as voucher samples, identified, and deposited in the internationally recognized Janaki Ammal Herbarium (acronym RRLH). GPS points were recorded in order to study the forest types and vegetation components of the study area. A total of 196 plant species belonging to 166 genera and 68 families were identified in Bani Valley, covering a total area of 2651 km2. Approximately 70.62% of the species were native and 29.38% were non-native. In total, 46% of species were Indo-Malayan, followed by 22% Palearctic species. In angiosperms, dicotyledon species (68.37%) dominated. Poales were the most dominant order, with 38 species (19.38%). The most abundant families were Poaceae with 29 species (14.79%), Fabaceae (17, 8.67%), Rosaceae, Cyperaceae, and Asteraceae (9, 4.59% each). The life form analysis showed 50% of species as phanerophytes, followed by therophytes (25.77%). The leaf size spectra show mesophyllous species (34.69%) as the dominant group. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants categorized Ailanthus altissima as endangered (EN), Aegle marmelos and Quercus oblongata as near threatened (NT), Ulmus wallichiana and Plantago lanceolata as vulnerable (VU), Taxus baccata and 75 other species as least concern (LC), and 2 species as data deficient (DD). The remaining 113 species of plants had not been evaluated according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This study will help to shape conservation and management plans for threatened species for future implementation, and will help in biodiversity conservation. This study will serve as a database for future reference materials in terms of biodiversity management

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