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Cytology, morphology and ecology were determined from 21 natural populations of Aconitum heterophyllum in Kashmir and Ladakh Himalayas. Data revealed a high body of variability among various morphological characters including plant height, foliage, floral and tuber attributes at intra-population levels. Plant height varied from 98 ± 4.6cm to 36.1 ± 4.5cm. The tuber crude drug production values ranged from 1.22 to 1.7 g/plant. It was generally lower at lower altitudes and higher at higher altitudes. The number of flowers varied from nine to 11; however, it was directly linked with altitude. A similar trend was observed for number of seeds/fruit. Despite this variability, the species was restricted to specific ecological niches with critically low population density facing onslaught of over-exploitation. The present study contributes to insight some aspects of the cytogenetic diversity related to the distribution range of the studied populations with respect to different ecological factors. In addition, the chromosome study depicted that all the populations were diploid (2n = 16); however, the meiotic course varied from normal to abnormal with 11 populations showing abnormalities. These populations exhibited reduction of pollen fertilities up to 20-40% as well as formation of heterogeneous sized pollen grains.

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Medicinal plants have assumed global importance in view of their ever increasing usage in health care system. This resurgence of interest in herbal medicine has largely been an outcome of the realization of ill effects which other systems are inflicting on human beings. In India more than 7500 of the plants are being regularly employed in treating different ailments. Nearly 40% of known medicinal plants of Kashmir Himalaya are used in the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry alone. However, the continued exploitation of this resource from natural habitats in the absence of any cultivation programme has resulted in the extirpation of many herbs which require formulation of pound policies on the part of Government. Besides to empower the local communities the development of General Awareness Programs and their execution at the farmer's field is highly desirable. This may involve the establishment of Medicinal Plant Conservation Parks. The combination of nanotechnology and traditional medicine may provide a very useful tool in designing future medicines with improved bioavailability profile.