Sign In
Learn bits
Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

11/12/22 11:53 AM IST

Himalayan Medicinal Plants

In News
  • Three medicinal plant species found in the Himalayas have made it to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species following a recent assessment.
  • These are Meizotropis pellita (critically endangered), Fritilloria cirrhosa (vulnerable) and Dactylorhiza hatagirea (endangered).
About Meizotropis pellita
  • Meizotropis pellita is commonly known as Patwa. It is a perennial shrub that is found only in Uttarakhand.
  • The species was listed as critically endangered in the IUCN List based on its limited area of occupation (less than 10 square kilometres).
  • Its survival is currently under threat because of deforestation, habitat fragmentation and wildfires.
  • The essential oil extracted from the leaves of Patwa is found to have strong antioxidants.
Fritillaria cirrhosa
  • Fritillaria cirrhosa (Himalayan fritillary) is a perennial bulbous herb.
  • According to the study, a decline of at least 30% of its population over the assessment period (22 to 26 years).
  • Considering the rate of decline, long generation length, poor germination potential, high trade value, extensive harvesting pressure and illegal trade, the species is listed as ‘vulnerable’.
  • In China, the species is used for the treatment of bronchial disorders and pneumonia.
  • The plant is also a strong cough suppressant.
Dactylorhiza hatagirea
  • The third listed species, Dactylorhiza hatagirea (Salampanja), is threatened by habitat loss, livestock grazing, deforestation, and climate change.
  • It is extensively used in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and other alternative systems of medicine to cure dysentery, gastritis, chronic fever, cough and stomach aches.
  • It is a perennial tuberous species endemic to the Hindu Kush and Himalayan ranges of Afghanistan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Source- The Hindu

More Related Current Affairs View All

05 Mar

First-ever comprehensive survey of India’s river dolphins

'Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the results of the first-ever comprehensive population estimation of riverine dolphins – Gangetic and Indus dolphins – done in In

Read More

05 Mar

Arresting women at night

'The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in Deepa versus S. Vijayalakshmi and Others ruled that the legal provision in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which

Read More

05 Mar

Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023

'The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) looking to wrap up public consultations on the draft Rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 by Mar

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps