Pharmacognostic Studies on Two Himalayan Species of Traditional Medicinal Value: <i>Allium wallichii</i> and <i>Allium stracheyi<i/>

Abstract

Abstract AbstractThe present research was aimed as a pharmacognostic study of whole plants of Allium wallichii and Allium stracheyi, both of which are very important traditional medicinal plants of North-West Himalayas. This study was carried out in terms of macroscopic and microscopic analyses and standard histochemical methods were followed for detecting starch, calcium oxalate, tannins, total lipids and alkaloids. Allium wallichi can be distinguished from A. stracheyi by possessing polyarch roots, mycorrhizal fungi in the outer cortical cells and triangular leaf midrib. The present study is the first to describe the pharmacognosy in terms of anatomical and histochemical features of these two Himalayan Allium species. Although they are listed in Ayurvedic database, the API so far has not given an account on these two species and hence this work is of high importance. Also, the herbal industries, researchers and traditional medicine can now use the distinguishing characters of these species listed in the current paper, while specifically acquiring them from local markets without any confusion.

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“…Spices and aromatic vegetables, which are commonly employed as food ingredients and flavouring agents, can represent a good source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds (25,26). However, chemical food structure, fat content, proteins, water activity, pH, and enzymes are factors that can potentially decrease essential oil efficacy in real food (21,27).…”

“…Tribal communities in North West Himalayas use A. wallichii and A. stracheyi as both food and traditional treatments for several ailments. Ingested boiled and fried bulbs of these two species are used as a remedy for cholera and dysentery, while chewed raw bulb can cure cold, cough and altitude disease (27). The extract of A. hirtifolium is used in traditional treatment of rheumatism, inflammation and infectious diseases (75).…”

TLC and Nutritional Composition Analysis of Allium wallichii Kunth (Himalayan Onion)

“…Worldwide, many ethnobotanical and plant-based traditional medicines after extensive research leads to identification of several useful bioactive and nutraceutical leads for the prevention and treatment of several diseases and health promoting action [1][2][3][4] . Recently, based on several ethanomedicinal application, Allium wallichii Kunth (Family: Amaryllidaceae; Local name: Himalayan onion), was found to be as a high valued nutraceutical underutilized medicinal plant of hilly regions of Himalaya [5][6] . A. wallichii has been documented for both culinary with high nutraceutical value and medicinal purposes in both past and current literature.…”