Traditional and indigenous uses of medicinal plants by local residents in Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya, India

Abstract

In the hilly areas of Indian Himalaya, the inhabitants largely depend on plants for curing various diseases. The indigenous knowledge and traditional practices of medicinal plants are vanishing fast. Therefore, we aimed to document indigenous uses of some important medicinal plants of Kullu district; analyze distribution pattern, nativity and endemism of these medicinal plants; and suggest conservation strategies. We recorded information on 75 species of medicinal plants. The recorded species represent trees (12 spp.), shrubs (15), herbs (47), and fungi (1). Of these, 29 medicinal plants were native, 1 endemic, 11 near-endemic, and 46 non-native. Of all species, various plant parts such as leaves (32 spp.), roots (29), tubers (2), seeds (8), fruits (10), flowers (8), fruiting body (1), bark (8), stem (3), and wood (2) were used in curing various diseases. We recommend further studies on habitat ecology of the species, mass multiplication of commercially viable species through conventional and in vitro methods, and their establishment in the in situ and ex situ conditions. Furthermore, it is important to develop farming techniques of commercially viable species and disseminate knowledge among stakeholders through education and awareness raising.

Diversity and distribution of medicinal plants in the Universitas Sumatera Utara Arboretum of Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, Indonesia

“…According to Kala (2006), plant species were rarely uniformly distributed. The distribution of medicinal plants varies in each location as shown by Al-Bakri (2011), Vidyarthi et al (2013), Mashayekhan (2016) and Biswas (2017). Several seedlings were obtained from the Wampu Sei Ular Watershed Management Office.…”

Protecting biodiversity and safeguarding ecosystem services provision in a changing world

“…Rahman et al (2013) contribute to the ever increasing literature on medicinal plants in Bangladesh (e.g. Chowdhury et al 2009;Rahman et al 2011), and the same counts for Kuniyal et al (2013) but then in the case of findings from India (Negi et al 2010;Vidyarthi et al 2013). In the light of this seemingly improved data availability on medicinal plants in Bangladesh and India, we would like to call for further research into (1) mainstreaming research methods (both ecological and social methods), (2) compiling the available data into more comprehensive and large-scale assessments and databases and (3) more generally applicable management implications.…”

Ecosystem services assessments to improve management of marine habitats, amphibians and reptiles, forest biodiversity and silviculture, and medicinal plants

“…Topic-wise the papers are equally diverse. More 'traditional' topics of the journal are dealt with by Vidyarthi et al (2013) and Lawal and Adekunle (2013), respectively, presenting novel findings from India and Nigeria on the influence of land use and ecosystem management on biodiversity. Papers by Ezebilo (2013) and Krause and Zambonino (2013) follow up on papers that have been recently published in this journal, in which the role of local knowledge and support for biodiversity conservation was highlighted (see Van Oudenhoven & De Groot (2012, 2013 for more information).…”

“…For this purpose, short research papers (<5000 words) or short communications (<2000 words) are especially suitable, to present new findings of exceptional interest in a short, but complete form. In this Issue, a short research paper by Vidyarthi et al (2013) documents indigenous uses of some important medicinal plants in a district of the Indian Himalaya, analyses their distribution pattern, nativity and endemism, and finally suggests conservation strategies. Of the 75 recorded medicinal plant species, 29 medicinal plants were native, 1 endemic, 11 near-endemic and 46 non-native.…”