Saussurea species in Indian Himalayan Region: diversity, distribution and indigenous uses

In spite of the high economic value of the Saussurea species in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), the potential of most of the species is yet to be investigated. Therefore, an attempt has been made to study the diversity, distribution, habitat preference, nativity, endemism, status and indigenous uses of Saussurea species in the IHR. A total of 62 species were recorded from the IHR; of these, 37 species were native to the Himalayan region, 8 were endemic and 21 were near endemic to the IHR. Twenty-seven of the 28 species that were known to have indigenous uses also had medicinal value and are used for the treatment of various diseases/ailments. Many species, e.g., S. affinis (Ganga Mula*), S. auriculata (Pachak Kut), S. bracteata (Prerak Mul), S. costus (Kuth), S. gossypiphora (Kasturi Kamal) and S. obvallata (Brahm Kamal), have multiple uses. The genus showed high habitat specificity in that 16 species were recorded to be restricted to one or two habitats only. As many as 44 species were identified as rare in the study region. Considering the high industrial demand for raw materials and the endangered status of S. costus, S. gossypiphora, S. obvallata and S. simpsoniana (Fen Kamal), these species should be prioritized for conservation (in situ and ex situ) throughout the IHR. Population assessment of the rare-endangered, native, endemic and economically important species using standard ecological methods has been suggested for the quantification of the existing stock of these species in their natural habitats. Further, phyto-chemical investigations for the identification of active ingredients are suggested. Propagation and cultivation techniques are lacking for most of the species of Saussurea except for S. costus, S. obvallata and S. medusa (Snow Lotus). Furthermore, the native communities need to be sensitized to the sustainable use and conservation value of the species in this genus. *Local names given in parentheses throughout are in the Pahari language, spoken by native communities in the Himalayan region.

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Diversity, Distribution, Indigenous Uses and Conservation of Medicinal Plants in Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, North Western Himalaya

Journal of Non Timber Forest Products ◽

10.54207/bsmps2000-2015-1t1240 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 181-201

Author(s):

Pankaj Sharma ◽

Sher Samant ◽

Lalit Tewari

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Plant Species ◽

Gastrointestinal Disease ◽

Himalayan Region ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Herbal Remedies ◽

Poor People ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Medicinal Species ◽

Natural Habitats

In the Indian Himalayan Region, the use of medicinal plants is still a tradition continued by local people or ethnic communities and Traditional Medicine Systems play an important role in daily health care of poor people. The use of plants as medicine is slowly increasing in the developed world because they have minor or no side effects. The present study was conducted in Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh as the total dependency of the stakeholders on nearby forests for medicinal resources. In the present study, we reported 371 plant species that are used by the people in and around Nargu WLS as medicine. Distribution of maximum species (297 spp.) occurred between 1801-2800 m zone and only 40 species were present above 3800m. Of the total medicinal species recorded, 163 spp. were native to the Himalayan region and 24 spp. native to the Himalaya and other biogeographically regions. Rests (184 spp.) were non-native. The most frequently cured disease category (108 spp.) was gastrointestinal disease. Stakeholders of the Sanctuary and surrounding villages have rich indigenous knowledge of the use of medicinal plants to maintain their primary health. Traditional herbal remedies are important and effective because many traditional uses are scientifically proven through phytochemical and pharmacological studies. However, a large number of plant species remain untested for bio-efficacy and toxicity. Such tests may reveal novel remedies that have bioprospecting potential. Moreover, the study emphasizes the need for the conservation of such precious medicinal resource of the area by managing and conserving the natural habitats, checking unscientific exploitation and by applying in-situ and various ex-situ conservation methods.

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Diversity, Distribution Pattern, Indigenous Uses and Conservation of the Economically Important Floristic Diversity in Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary, North Western Himalaya, India

Journal of Non Timber Forest Products ◽

10.54207/bsmps2000-2017-cwsp43 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 109-126

Author(s):

Monika Bodh ◽

Sher Samant ◽

Lalit Tewari ◽

Vijay Kumar

Keyword(s):

Distribution Pattern ◽

Western Himalaya ◽

Himalayan Region ◽

Floristic Diversity ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Indian Himalayan Region ◽

Indigenous Uses ◽

North Western

The present paper is an attempt to assess the ethnobotanical floristic diversity of Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.Two species (i.e., Pimpinella acuminata and Scrophularia himalensis) were found endemic to the Indian Himalayan Region.

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Identifying Potential Erosion-Prone Areas in the Indian Himalayan Region Using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)

Asian Journal of Water Environment and Pollution ◽

10.3233/ajw210003 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 15-23

Author(s):

Dorje Dawa ◽

Vairaj Arjune

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Large Scale ◽

Equation Model ◽

Universal Soil Loss Equation ◽

Himalayan Region ◽

Remotely Sensed Data ◽

Study Region ◽

Indian Himalayan Region ◽

Soil Loss Equation

Soil erosion is one of the most critical environmental issues with severe consequences. Hence, it continues to be a significant limitation in the progress of many developing countries. Prediction and assessment of soil loss are, therefore, of utmost importance for soil fertility conservation, land and water management. Recent technological advances have provided useful models through which remotely-sensed data for a large scale area can be analysed and interpreted. The present study adopts a physiographically, biologically and climatically unique model for the assessment of soil erosion in the Indian Himalayan Region. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model was applied in conjunction with Geographic Information System to estimate the average annual rate of soil erosion at both state and district levels in India. The model was deployed using coarse resolution datasets to identify specific areas vulnerable to soil erosion. In determining the spatial distribution of average annual soil erosion within the study region, all cell-based parameters of the model were multiplied in the specified 500 m × 500 m spatial resolution. The spatial pattern of annual soil erosion indicates that maximum soil loss occurs in northern and eastern states whereas low rates of erosion is observed in the eastern-most part of the study area.

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Diversity, Distribution, Indigenous Uses and Conservation of the Medicinal Plants of Indian Himalayan Region Used in Cancer

Journal of Biodiversity ◽

10.1080/09766901.2011.11884732 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 117-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

S.S. Samant ◽

Shalini Vidyarthi ◽

S. Pant ◽

P. Sharma ◽

S. Marpa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Himalayan Region ◽

Indian Himalayan Region ◽

Indigenous Uses

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Physiological, Biochemical and Reproductive Studies on Valeriana wallichii, a Critically Endangered Medicinal Plant of the Himalayan Region Grown under In-Situ and Ex-Situ Conditions

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9020131 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 131 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mohd Asgher ◽

Susheel Verma ◽

Nafees A. Khan ◽

Dhiraj Vyas ◽

Priyanka Kumari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Shikimic Acid ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Himalayan Region ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Perennial Herb ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Term Survival ◽

The Difference ◽

Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase

Valeriana wallichii, a perennial herb belonging to family Valerianaceae, is an important medicinal herb of the Himalayan region. The incessant exploitation of nature for meeting the demands of the pharmaceutical industry has put unbearable pressure on its natural habitats. A study on its physiological, biochemical, growth and reproductive attributes was planned. Physiological study revealed that ex-situ (outside their natural habitat) populations faced severe stress as compared to in-situ (natural habitat) plants. The difference in the performance of these habitat plants was related to superoxide and H2O2 in the leaves. Photosynthetic attributes were increased in in-situ populations. Proline content and its biosynthetic enzymes ornithine aminotransferase, and pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase showed an increase in ex-situ plants; proline oxidase decreased. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, shikimic acid dehydrogenese, phenylalanine lyase, and flavonoids content showed an increment in ex-situ plants. Antioxidants enzyme superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and reduced glutathione showed an increment in ex-situ conditions. Growth and reproductive attributes were more in ex-situ plants. The observations made are suggestive that a comprehensive conservation programme involving in-situ as well as ex-situ strategies will be effective for the conservation and long term survival of the species.

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Impact of terrain complexity on the turbulence drag coefficient: A case study from the Indian Himalayan region

Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans ◽

10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2021.101201 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 93 ◽

pp. 101201

Author(s):

Priyanka Lohani ◽

Sandipan Mukherjee

Keyword(s):

Drag Coefficient ◽

Himalayan Region ◽

Indian Himalayan Region

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Buddhist Business and Benevolence in Leh, Ladakh

Journal of Human Values ◽

10.1177/0971685820973188 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 60-71

Author(s):

Elizabeth Williams-Oerberg

Keyword(s):

Financial Support ◽

Business Owners ◽

Economic Transformation ◽

Tourism Industry ◽

Economic Resources ◽

Himalayan Region ◽

Indian Himalayan Region ◽

Leading Role ◽

The Social ◽

Donor System

Due to a burgeoning tourism industry in the Indian Himalayan region of Ladakh, Buddhist monasteries now have lucrative means for generating income through tourism-related business and financial support from international sponsors and local business owners. Where previously Buddhist monasteries were dependent on the donations and labour of the lay community, currently, with the accumulation of surplus wealth, many Buddhist leaders of prominent monasteries have begun flipping this donor system around. Throughout this article, I look at how Buddhist monastic leaders have invested surplus economic resources into philanthropic projects as a way to ‘give back’ to the wider community. I argue that the philanthropic initiatives by Buddhist leaders in Ladakh help to position Buddhist monastics as taking a leading role in the social and economic transformation of the region, thus working to push back against processes of secularization that threaten to decrease the influence of Buddhist monastic institutions.

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