Morphological studies and meiotic chromosome analysis of Epimedium elatum (Morr & Decne) - Rare endemic medicinal plant of Northwestern Himalayas in India.

Abstract

<p><em>Epimedium elatum</em> (Berberidaceace) is a rare endemic medicinal herb of Northwestern Himalayas in India. Recent ethnopharmacological reports have demonstrated its traditional medicinal use against various bone related diseases in the Kashmir Himalayas. It owes its pharmaceutical importance due to high concentration of flavonoid glycosides like Epimedin A, B, C and Icariin which are known mainly for aphrodisiac, antiosteoporosis, anticancer, antioxidant, antiaging, antifatigue and antiviral activities. It is a neglected medicinal plant in Northwestern Himalayan region and may fall in the list of endangered species due to continuous anthropogenic pressures in its native habitats. In this study, we investigated distributional and altitudinal range of this prized species from twenty diverse eco-geographical zones of Kashmir Himalayas for the first time. We also report here its diversity in morphological attributes both in wild and captive cultivation. The species has a very small population size in most of the surveyed habitats with no natural protection. Under cultivation it showed increased plant height (63.09±4.9cm), more number of leaves (95.53±11cm) and flowers (160.76±20cm), indicating importance of high altitude medicinal garden for its immediate <em>ex situ</em> conservation. Further, the acetocarmine staining and squashing of young anthers confirmed it as a diploid species (2n=12) like other <em>Epimedium</em> species. Chromosome number and meiotic abnormalities are also reported for the first time in the species. Finally, constant anthropogenic pressures in Northwestern Himalayas demand immediate <em>in situ</em> and <em>ex situ</em> conservation programmes for <em>E.elatum</em>.<strong></strong></p>

Genetic diversity of Epimedium elatum (Morren & Decne) revealed by RAPD characterization

“…We surveyed 8 districts out of 10 in the valley. Most of the populations of E. elatum were facing severe threats and had small population size [37]. Therefore, this plant needs immediate protection as there are chances of its extinction from many surveyed areas in the Kashmir Himalayas, India.…”

Dwindling status of Epimedium elatum (Morren & Decne) and its geographical distribution in Kashmir Himalaya, India

“…Previously, there was no ethnomedicinal evidence for E.elatum in the Northwest Himalayas in India. But, local researchers are now keen to document its ethnobotany, phytochemistry, cytogenetics etc [11][12][13][14][15][16]. More ethnobotanical surveys should be done in Kashmir Himalayas for documenting its traditional usage for future medicinal effectiveness in Indian system of medicine.…”

“…Epimedium elatum (Morren & Decne) is one such medicinal plant of Kashmir valley facing very high extinction risk. It is a medicinal herb (Fig.1), endemic to shady thick forests in India and Pakistan [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. The plant has representative 'three branches and nine leaves' morphology in Himalayas, a character universal to all Epimedium species.…”