Medicinal Plants

s l ci ts t in s in i l al s c c d n a n i i l a t l e n t s a n an cina Med lan al Med ants nal edici ant l l icin ts l Pl dici s M Pla cina s l a d n l P i i i e t l P n t l cin s Me Pla cina M lan ina Med lan al Med nts al dici nts l P edic s M l P cina ts e a t a di n a M i ts P ic s t l P in la in an ina Med lan al Med ant al edic nts l P edic ts M l Pl dicin ts Plan icin Me Pla nal s n l in ic la cina M lan ina Me lan al Med nts al dici nt ed nts al Pedici nts l P edic ts M P P ic s l di ts P in a a n la cin e la al Pl dici ts M Pla icin s M lan cina s Me lan inal Med ant nal edic nts l P edi ts Mal P icin n P l l a a d e M lan ina Me lant al edi ant al P edic ts l P dici ts M Pl icin ts M lan icin Med Pla P dic ts P icin s M Pl icin s M lan ina Me an nal ed lan al P ed ts al dici l l e na M lan ina Med ant nal ed nt l P edic ts l Pl dici s M l P cin s M lan icin Me t a t P d i n a M la a l ci e P c s s nt al edi ant l P edi ts l P dicin ts M Pla icin s M lan icin Med lan nal Me nts inal n M a t s a P d n a P i ici ts l Pl icin ts MPla icin Me lan inal Med lan al Me nts al edic ant l Pl edic s n s a cin M Pl a M nt nal n na ed an l ed ts l P dic ts i P l c a l ici M Pl na M n na e n al edi nt l P di ts l icin ts Pla dici a e i a i a n M a d l c a c d s n s l e n n i s l e M l M ant ina edi ant al P edi nts l P edic ts l P icin ts MPla dici Me Pla inal s M ant i Pl edic ts Ml Pl cin ts M Pla cina M lan ina Med lan al Me nts al edic ant l Pl edic M ant M an ina edi an al edi nts l P edic ts l P icin ts Pla icin M Pl na i l s a l l a d n s d n n t P dic s M P ici s M la cin s M la in Me la al Me nts na dic nt Pl l d t P i e l l i e a t t ic P n na s M lan cina Me lan nal Med lan al PMed nts al dici nts Pla edic s M l Pl cina ts l M t a P i s t n e la i i a P P in an nal Med ant al edic nts al edic nts l Pl edici s M l P cina ts lan icin Med lan al P in s i n P d t a i l in M a n a a dic ants l P edic nts l Pl edici ts M Pl icin ts M lan icin Med Pla nal Me nts inal edic ant al l a a l P Pl icin s M Pla cina M lan ina Med lan al Med nts nal dici nts l Pl edic ts M l P icin t P in s e la a M n P ic s a ed n di ts la ci ed nt l M Pla ina Me lan inal Med ant inal edic ant l P edi ts M l P icin ts Pla dicin M Pla in l edic nts l P dic ts Pl dic M Pl ina s M an ina ed lan al Me nts al dic a n M la na Me lan al Me nts al dic nt Pl dic s M P cin s la icin Me t l i n e e t P i l n P a i a d c P n a i l edi nts l dic ts Pl ic M Pl ina M la in Me lan al Med nts al a d a s n s P ic e a n l n l c e t a P in ici ts Ml Pl dicin s M Pla ina M lan cina edi lant al Med nts al edic nts l Pl edici ts l s t l M n n a a i a in e ic la cina M lan ina ed ant al PMed nts al P edic nts Pl dici ts M l Pl icin s M Plan cina M l l i e i ed nts al P edic ts l P dicin ts Pla icin s M Pla ina M lan ina Med lant al Med nts M la in M an na e n a n s d P c c n l P dic ts Pl ici s M Pla ina Me lant inal edi ant al edi nts al P edici ts l Pl dici n M n c M l e M lan nal Med lant nal edi nts al P edic nts l P dici ts Pla icin ts M Pla cina Me lan P ici s P ici s M Pla cin M la ina Me lan nal ed an al edi nts l P edi l t l d na s Me lan ina Med ant al edi nts al P edic nts l P dici ts Ml Pl icin s M Pla cina M l cin s M la in M la na e n na ed nt l edi ts t l P edic ts P n M la ina M an al a na M an al edi ant al P edic ts l P dici ts M Pla ici l n P d s n i e n n l M a l ic nts l P ici s l P icin M la cin M la nal Me ant al edic nts l P dici nts l a na Med ant na ed nts al P edi ts l P ici ts Pl icin M Pla ina Me la na l n a ed n l P i P ici ts Pl ici d s M a ic s d ts l Pl dicin ts M Pla icin M Pla ina Me ant inal Med ant nal edic ants ed lan al e M P in M lan na Me lan al ed nts al dic nts Pl dic ts Pl ici M Pl in M e s i s c c n e d l n l l n t i P c i t a a P a ed an l edi ts al dic ts Pl dici M Pl ina M la ina Me an nal edi a M Pl in M lan in Me lan al Me nts al dic nts l P dic s Pl dici ts M l t c s c l e a e n i l n i t a a P P n d ts l ici ts Pl ici M Pl cin M la na Me an na a ed an l e n a i M lan ina ed an al M Pl in ed nts al edi nts l P dici ts Pl dici s c l s M c c s M P cin s t al edi nt l P edi s la icin M la ina Me lan nal Me nt nal n l P t i n a ci M la na M nt na ed n l d ts l P ic ts l P ici s Pla ici e i a P i i a a ed nts al dic nts Pl dic ts M l Pl cin s M lan cina Med lan ina Med ant al Med nts e n a di e a l in s P i t l s in P ic a in a Pl edic ts M l Pl cina ts MPla icin Me lan nal Med lant nal Med nts al P edic ant l Pl edic ts la cin M Pl na M an M an ina edi lan al ed ts al P dici nts l P dici ts P i i l M n e P edic ts M l P icin ts a icin M la ina Me lan nal ed nts nal edic nts l Pl edi l M an ina Med lan l P ed nts al P edic nts l P dici ts M Pla dici M Pla ina M Pl edic ts l P cina ts M Pla icin M la ina Me lan nal Me nts al edic nts M an ina edi lan al ed ts al P edic nts l P dici ts Pla icin M Pla nal n l l ici ts ed ts a na e Pl ic M P in M an in

1. Beddomes cycad/Perita/Kondaitha Scientific Name : Cycas beddomei Vernacular Name :Beddomes Cycad, Perita, Kondaitha Family & Distribution : Cycadaceae Cuddapah Hills in AP, North West of Chennai in Eastern Peninsular India. W(P)A Schedule VI CITES Appendix I

Uses The male cones of the plant are used by local herbalists as a cure for rheumatoid arthritis and muscle pains. Fire resistant property is also there.
2. Blue vanda/Autumn Ladies Tresses Orchid W(P)A Schedule VI Scientific Name : Vanda coerulea CITES Appendix Ivernacular Names: Blue Vanda, Autumn, Ladies Tresses Orchid, Vandar Vandaka, Kwaklei, Bhatou Phul (Assamese) etc. Family & Distribution : Orchidaceae INDIA: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur,Meghalaya, Nagaland. MYANMAR, THAILAND Uses This genus is one of the five most horticulturally important orchid genera. Vanda coerulea is one of the few botanical orchids with blue flowers (actually a very bluish purple), a property much appreciated for producing interspecific and intergeneric hybrids. 3. Kuth/Kustha/Pooshkarmoola/Uplet W(P)A Schedule VI Scientific Name: Saussurea lappa/Saussurea costus CITES Appendix I Vernacular Names: Kuth, Kustha, Pooshkaramoola, Uplet, Kashmjirja, Pokharmool, Costus, etc. Family + Distribution:Asteraceae/Compositae 2600-3600 M Altitude in the Himalayan Region, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh. Uses Saussurea lappa is used as an anti-inflammatory drug, and a component of the traditional Tibetan medicine The roots of the plant are used in perfumery. Dry roots (Kuth, Costus) are strongly scented and yields an aromatic oil, which is also used in making insecticides. The roots contain an alkaloid, 'saussurine', which is medicinally important.It is an antiseptic,

413

Used in chronic skin diseases, asthma and high blood pressure and also good for stomach ailment. Also used as carminative, stimulant, prophylactic and sedative. Dry roots constitute the drug 'Saussurea'. The roots have strong and sweet aromatic odour and a somewhat bitter taste. In Kashmir the roots are used to protect woolen fabrics. Kuth is also distilled for its essential oil. Approx. 100 kg of oil / resinoid is produced in India. Commercial / EXIM data: Roots used to be exported to China, Japan and Europe. Kulu is the biggest centre of trade for Kuth. The kuth roots are collected and supplied to State Trading Corporation by the State Forest Department and the same from Lahul is collected by Lahul Kuth Grower's Society, Manali and supplied to State Trading corporation. Presently Kuth roots are mostly exported to HongKong, France and Singapore. It is also exported to Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Siberia and Netherlands. Kuth exported to Europe, primarily France & Netherlands is used for oil production. Export to France started in 1964-65, whereas Japan in 1965-66 with steadily increasing t r e n d s . Regarding price of Kuth roots, average export price during 1965-70 was Rs. 2.65/kg, which later increased to Rs. 7.85/kg. Export price varies during a particular period varies among different countries. Export price to Thailand was highest, Rs. 9.77/kg during 1970-74 and tothat of Singapore was Rs. 6.44/kg. Adulteration of Kuth oil: Kuth oil is adulterated with oil of vetiver due to their similar physico-chemical properties, which can be detected by their odour. Oil from the roots of Inula helenium is also used for adulteration of Kuth oil. True resinoid is sometimes adulterated with resins from roots after extracting oil with steam. 4. Ladies Slipper Orchid

Scientific Name : Paphiopedilium spp. CITES Appendix I Vernacular Names : Ladies Slipper Orchid Family & Distribution : Orchidaceae South China, India, South East Asia, Pacific Islands.

W(P)A Schedule VI

414

Uses These types of orchids are mainly used as collectors items but ladys slipper is sometimes used today either alone or as a component of formulas intended to produce treat anxiety / insomnia (scientific evidence is not present). This is also sometimes used topically as a poultice or plaster for relief of muscular pain. 5. Pitcher plant W(P)A Schedule VI Scientific Name : Nepenthes khasiana CITES Appendix I IVernacular Names : Pitcher Plant, Tiewrakot, Kset Phare, Memang Koksi. Family & Distribution : Nepentheceae Endemic to Khasi Hills, Isolated populations are known to occur in Jarain Area of Jaintia Hills and the Uses The plant finds ethnomedicinal uses. Khasi and Garo tribes use the fluid of unopened pitcher of the plant as eye drops to cure cataract and night blindness, and also for treating stomach troubles, diabetes and gynaecological problems. 6. Red vanda Scientific Name : Renanthera imschootiana Vernacular Names : Red Vanda, Imschoots Renanthera Kwaklei Angangba, etc. Family & Distribution : Orchidaceae Manipur, Assam,Burma, Southern China, Laos, Vietnam. W(P)A Schedule VI CITES Appendix I

W(P)A Not Listed Scientific Name : Rauvolfia serpentina CITES Appendix II Vernacular Names : Chandrabagha, Chota chand (Hind.); Chandra (Beng.); Asrel (Urdu); Harkaya, Harki (Mar.); Paataala goni, Paataala garuda (Tel.); Chivan amelpodi (Tam.); Sarpagandhi, Shivavabhiballi, Sutranavi, Patalagondhi (Kan.);Chuvanna-vilpori, Suvapavalforiyan (Mal.); Patalgarur, Sanochada (Oriya). Family & Distribution : Apocynaceae Sub Himalayan tract from Punjab eastwards to Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Assam, Lower Hills of Gangetic Plains, Eastern & Western Ghats, parts of Central India & in theAndamans.

7. Sarpagandha

Uses As a whole orchids are collected to satisfy an ever demanding market of orchid fanciers, especially in Europe, North America and Asia. The trade is aimed at specially selected hybrids as well as botanical species.

415

Rauvolfia roots are of immense medicinal value and has steady demand. It is used for treating various central nervous system disorders. The pharmacological activity of rauvolfia is due to the presence of several alkaloids of which reserpine is the most important, which is used for its sedative action in mild anxiety states and chronic psychoses. It has a depressant action on central nervous system produces sedation and lowers blood pressure. The root extracts are used for treating intestinal disorders, particularly diarrhoea and dysentery and also anthelmintic. It is used for the treatment of cholera, colic and fever. The juice of the leaves is used as a remedy for opecity of the cornea. The total root extracts exhibits a variety of effects, viz., sedation, hypertension, brodyeardia, myosis, ptosis, tremors, which are typical of reserpine.

Uses

8. Ceropegia species.
Scientific Name : Ceropegia sp. Vernacular Names : Lantern Flower, Parasol Flower, Parachute Flower, Bushmans Pipe, String of Hearts, Snake Creeper, Wineglass Vine, Rosary Vine, Necklace Vine, etc. Family & Distribution : Apocynaceae Canary Islands, Africa, Madagascar, Arabia, India, Sri Lanka, Southern China, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Queensland. Uses Since these plants are very popular houseplants, these plants can be used as ornamental plants.

W(P)A Not Listed CITES Not Listed

Ceropegia distincta. W(P)A Not Listed CITES Appendix II

9. Shindal Mankundi
Scientific Name : Frerea indica Vernacular Names : Shindal Mankundi Family & Distribution : Apocynaceae/Asclepiadaceae INDIA: Junnar and Purandhar Hills, Pune, Maharashtra Endemic.

Uses Freria indica with sherry flowers have demand as a pretty succulent horticulture plant indoor decoration.

Freria indica

416

10. Emodi/Indian Podophyllum W(P)A Not Listed Scientific Name : Podophyllum hexandrum CITES Not Listed Vernacular Names : Emodi/Indian Podophyllum, Himalayan MayApple, Indian MayApple, etc. Bakrachimaka, bhananbakra, papra, papri (Hin.); Papra (Beng.); Padmel, patnel (Mar.); Verivel (Guj.); Vaakakri, papri (Punj.); Banwangan (Kash.); Indian podophyllum (Eng.) Family & Distribution : Berberidaceae Lower elevations in and surrounding the Himalaya. Uses Rhizomes and roots constitute the drug. Freshly collected rhizomes are reported to contain more active principles which are lost on prolonged storing. The dried rhizome from the source of medicinal resin. Podophyllin obtained from the plant is cholagogue, purgative, alterative, emetic and bitter tonic and is given in conjunction with belladonna and hyoscyamus. Podophyllin is toxic and strongly irritant to skin and mucous membranes. Large dose causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea. It is used in veterinary medicine as a cathartic for dogs and cats, also used in removing warts in animals. Cardio-vascular effects of sub-lethal doses of podophyllin are reported to be wild 11. Tree Ferns Scientific Name : Cyatheaceae spp. Vernacular Names : Tree Ferns Family & Distribution : Tropical and Subtropical areas as well Temperate Rainforests in Australia, New Zealand W(P)A Not Listed CITES Not Listed

Uses The Soft Tree Fern can be used as a food source, with the pith of the plant being eaten either cooked or raw. It is a good source of starch.
12. Cycads Scientific Name : Cycadaceae spp. Vernacular Names : Cycads Family & Distribution :Cycadaceae Stangeriaceae Zamiaceae South and Central America, Mexico, the Antilles, southeastern USA, Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and southern and tropical Africa W(P)A Not Listed CITES Not Listed

417

Uses The generic name refers to the starch obtained from the stems which was used as food by some indigenous tribes. Tribal people grind and soak the nuts to remove the nerve toxin, making the food source generally safe to eat, although often not all the toxin is removed. In addition, consumers of bush meat may face a health threat as the meat comes from game which may have eaten cycad nuts and carry traces of the toxin in body fat. There is some indication that the regular consumption of starch derived from cycads is a factor in the development of Lytico-Bodig disease, a neurological disease with symptoms similar to those of Parkinson's disease and ALS. Lytico-Bodic and its potential connection to cycasin ingestion is one of the subjects explored in Oliver Sacks' 1997 book Island of the Colourblind. 13. Elephants foot W(P)A Not Listed CITES Appendix II

Scientific Name : Dioscorea deltoidea Vernacular Names : Elephants Foot, SingliMingli, etc. Family & Distribution : D i o s c o r e a c e a e Throughout the North Western Himalayas extending from Kashmir and Punjab eastwards to Nepal and China at the altitude of 900- 3000 meters above msl.

Uses Commercial source of Diosgenin (a steroid sapogenin, is the product of hydrolysis by acids, strong bases, or enzymes of saponins, extracted from the tubers of Dioscorea wild yam. The sugar-free (aglycone), diosgenin is used for the commercial synthesis of cortisone, pregnenolone, progesterone, and other steroid products.) 14. Euphorbians Scientific Name : Euphorbia spp. Vernacular Names : Euphorbians, Spurge. Family & Distribution : Euphorbiaceae Primarily found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and the Americas, but also in temperate zones worldwide. Succulent species originate mostly from Africa, the Americas and Madagascar. W(P)A Not Listed CITES Not Listed

418

Uses Plants sap used to purgative, several spurges are grown as garden plants, among them Poinsettia (E. pulcherrima) and the succulent E. trigona. E. pekinensis; pinyin: d ) is used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is regarded as one of the 50 fundamental herbs. W(P)A Not Listed Scientific Name : Orchidaceae spp. CITES Not Listed Vernacular Names : Orchids Family & Distribution : O r c h i d a c e a e O r c h i d a c e a e a r e cosmopolitan, occurring in almost every habitat apart from deserts and glaciers. The great majority are to be found in the tropics, mostly Asia, South America and Central America, but they are also found above the Arctic Circle, in southern Patagonia and even on Macquarie Island, close to Antarctica. Uses The genus Vanilla used as flavouring agent, underground tubers of some orchids are powdered and used for cooking, cultivation for the enjoyment of the flowers, some species used in perfumery industries, collectors species. Orchids are quite popular among professionals as well as amateurs orchid lovers all over the world. Orchid trade is sharing about 8% of international flower market is a very productive with centres concentrated in Europe (the Netherlands), America (California), Japan, Thailand, Bangkok, Singapore. India has rich orchid genetic resources. Orchid cultivation has been initiated by some entrepreneurs at Bangalore, Chandigarh, Gangtok, Mumbai, Chingelpet, Cochin, Ernakulam, Quilon, Kalimpong, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. Breeding work has also been initiated at Orchid Research & Development Centre (ORDC); Tipi, Arunachal Pradesh; Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, Karnataka and in some Indian Universities. Orchid trade may be classified into four categories: Plants; species; (iii) hybrids; and cut flowers. The value of orchid plants vary according to the quality of flowers and rarity of occurrence. Some orchids have high demand in international market. Northeast India has got tremendous potential of orchid cut flower trade which may prove to be a fruitful industry in southeast Asia, Australia and Hawaii. The major threat to orchids are due to extraction of wild plants for trade and habitat alteration or destruction. About 147 orchid species are under threat of extinction worldwide, ca 35 species in Indian region (including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan) are considered extinct or on the verge of extinction and over 100 species are threatened (Pradhan, 1996). In many north east states particularly in Manipur and Meghalaya, rural people collect orchids from the wild and sell them in the market at a very cheap rate for their livelihood.

15. Orchid

419

16. Redsanders

W(P)A Not Listed Scientific Name : Pterocarpus santalinus CITES Appendix II Vernacular Names : Raktachandan (Hind., Beng.); Tambada chandana (Mar.); Ratanjali (Guj.); Rakta ghandhamu, Agaru gandhamu (Tel.); Atti, Sivaffu chandanam (Tam.); Agslue, Honne (Kan.); Patrangam, Tilaparni (Mal.); Rad Sandal wood, Red Sanders (Eng.). Family & Distribution : Leguminaceae INDIA: Parts of Andhra Pradesh, Mysore, Chennai. Uses Pterocarpus santilanus The wood is heavily impregnated with reddish brown gum and contains a red dye santalin. The timber is immune to white ants and other insects and doesnot require antiseptic treatment. The timber is used for house posts, agricultural implements, poles, shafts and Log bent rims of carts, boxes and picture frames. They are also carved into dolls and images. It is exported to Japan where it is used in the manufacture of a musical instrument called Shamisou. The wood yields charcoal and fuel obtained from diseased and crooked trees. The ground wood, roots and stumps is used for dyeing wool, cotton and leather. It is also Chips used for staining other woods. The dye is also used for colouring pharmaceutical preparations and food stuffs. Paste of the wood is cooling, astringent, tonic and diaphoretic, also useful in bilious affections and skin diseases. Decoction of the fruit is used as an astringent tonic in chronic dysentery. Leaves are used as cattle fodder. W(P)A Not Listed CITES Appendix II

17. Common Yew or Birmi Leaves Scientific Name : Taxus wallichiana Vernacular Names : Common Yew, Birmi, etc. Family & Distribution : Taxaceae INDIA: Himalayas, Meghalaya Naga hills, Manipur. MYANMAR, AFGANISTAN, South West CHINA, VIETNAM.

Uses Parts used commercially: Used as hedge, also used in topiary in Europe. In Britain it has been used for making bows and for archery sports. In Ladakh the bark is used in place of tea. It also used for ploughs and axils of carts. The wood is strong and elastic All parts of the plant are highly poisonous except the scarlet aril. Poisioning results in gastroenteritis, heart and respiratory failure. Sometimes death occurs within 5 minutes.

420

18. Agarwood Scientific Name : Aquilaria mallaccensis Vernacular Names : Agarwood, Oud, Aloe wood, Eagle wood, Aguruh, Krsnaguruh, etc. Family & Distribution : Thymelaeaceae INDIA: Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal MYANMAR, extends through South East Asia to PHILIPPINES. W(P)A Not Listed CITES Appendix II

Wood is stimulant, tonic, aphrodisiac, carminative, Aquilaria astringent, also used in malaccensis-Logs diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting and snakebite. Agar is a pathological product, formed due to a fungal Aquilaria disease on wound or boring in the trunk, the fluid malaccensis resin does not exude naturally or on tapping. Trees, about 50 yrs old, have the highest concentration of agar. Sometimes all the tissues under the bark of the tree may be converted into agar. True agar is heavier than water, and is hard, brown and rich in resin. Agar is sold in the market as chips, splinters and blocks. Sylhet agar has Aquilaria the highest price; Dhum, of inferior quality, is softer and agallocha (agar) yellowish-white, and is used distilling volatile oil called agar attar. Clothes and skins dusted with agar powder repel fleas and lice. Agar is a stimulant and carminative. The wood used for making bows and sticks. It is also highly scented and yields on distillation, agar attar. The resinous wood is used for making incense sticks. The wood is also used by cabinet makers and inlayers for making beads, rosaries, crucifixes,ornaments, etc.
19. Aconite/Monkshood/Wolfsbane

Uses

Scientific Name :Aconitum sp. Vernacular Names : Aconite, Monkshood, Wolfsbane, Atees, etc. Family & Distribution : Ranunculaceae Found in sub-alpine and alpine regions; Himalayas from Indus to Kumaon

W(P)A Not Listed CITES Appendix II

Uses

Monkshood root

Aconitum is a valuable herb for combating debility after fevers. It is an excellent tonic and aphrodisiac. It is used as a remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, acute inflammatory affections, cough, and dyspepsia.

Aconitum heterophyllum Wall

421

20. Yunnan Goldthread Scientific Name : Coptis teeta Vernacular Names : Yunnan Goldthread Family & Distribution : Ranunculaceae It is endemic to a very small area in the eastern Himalayas. Uses Rhizome is used as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory Coptis teeta W(P)A Not Listed CITES Not Listed

Coptis occidentalis

Coptis teeta

Coptis teeta

21. Calumba wood (Coscinium fenestratum). W(P)A Not Listed Scientific Name : Coscinium fenestratum CITES Not Listed Vernacular Names : Calumba Wood, Jhar Haldi (Hindi), Maradrashina (Kannada), Jhadehalade (Marathi), Darvi (Sanskrit), Manu-pasupu (Telegu). Family & Distribution : Menispermaceae Global: Indo-Malaya (southern India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and West Malaysia). National: Western Ghats of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Regional: In Karnataka, occurs in the dense semi-evergreen forests of Coorg, Uduppi, Dakshina and Uttara Kannada districts. In Kerala, found in semi-evergreen and evergreen forests of Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Wynaad, Idukki and Coscinium fenestratum Palakkad districts. In Tamil Nadu, occurs in Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli and Nilgiri districts. Uses Stem is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Used to treat tastelessness, bleeding piles, cough, wounds, ulcers, skin diseases, abdominal disorders, jaundice, liver disorders, intrinsic haemorrhage, diabetes, snake bite, Coscinium fenestratum fever and general debility.

422

22. Marsh Orchids

Scientific Name : Dactylorhiza hatagirea Vernacular Names : Marsh Orchids Salem Panja (Kashmir), Hatajari (Uttaranchal), etc. Family & Distribution: Orchidaceae Temperate to alpine regions (2500-5000 m asl) in India, Pakistan & Nepal. The tuber is used as nervine tonic, aphrodisiac and to relieve hoarseness. Salep, obtained from tubers of D. hatagirea, is used as a sizing material in silk industry.
Dactylorhiza hatagirea

W(P)A Not Listed CITES Not Listed

Uses

Dactylorhiza hatagirea

23. Kuru/Kutki Scientific Name : Gentiana kurroo Vernacular Names : Kuru, Kutki, etc. Family & Distribution : Gentianaceae E. Asia N.W.Himalayas. W(P)A Not Listed CITES Not Listed

Uses

The root is anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bitter tonic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, refrigerant, stomachic. It is taken internally in the treatment of liver complaints, indigestion, gastric infections and anorexia. It should not be prescribed for patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
24. Gnetum species.

Gentiana kurroo

Vernacular Names : Kuru, Kutki, etc. Scientific Name : Gnetum spp. Vernacular Names : Mamelet (Ass.); Thaulping-rhui (Lusai, Mizo); Mailar-iong-une (Khasi); Ula (Mal.); Umlli (Mar.); Lolori (Ori). Family & Distribution : Gnetaceae INDIA: Eastern Himalayas from Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa to the Andamans, western India and Tamil Nadu. Thailand, China, Vietnam, Nepal. Uses Stem and roots are antiperiodic. Seeds produce oil for massage for rheumatism. Plant is also used as fish poison.

W(P)A Not Listed CITES Appendix II

24 Gnetum sp.

423

25. Kencur/Aromatic Ginger W(P)A Not Listed Scientific Name : Kaempferia galanga CITES Not Listed Vernacular Names: Kencur, Aromatc Ginger, Zedoary, etc. Family & Distribution : Zingiberaceae. Open areas in southern China, Taiwan, Cambodia and India, but is also widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. Uses The rhizomes of the plant, which contains essential oils, have been used in Chinese medicine as a decoction or powder for treating indigestion, cold, pectoral and abdominal pains, headache and toothache. Its alcoholic maceration has also been applied as liniment for rheumatism. 26. Jatamansi W(P)A Not Listed Scientific Name : Nardostachys grandiflora CITES Appendix II Vernacular Names : Jatamansi (Sans.); Jatamansi, Bal-chir (Hind.); Jatamansi (Beng.); Jatamanshi (Mar.); Jatamasi, Kalichhad (Guj.); Jatamanshi (Tel., Kan. & Mal.); Bhutijatt, Kukilipot (Kash.); Masi (Garh.); Haswa, Naswa, Jatamangsi (Nepal); Pampe, Jatamansi (Bhutan), SPIKENARD Family & Distribution : Valerianaceae INDIA: Himalayas, Punjab to Sikkim. TIBET, BHUTAN, WEST CHINA. Uses The rhizomes are used as a drug and also in perfumery. The Nardostachys grandiflora rhizomes are collected from wild plants and sent to markets; about 18,650 kg of the drug are brought in to Punjab markets annually. The roots and rhizomes of Cymbopogon schoenanthus and Selimum vaginatum are often found as adulterants of valerin. Spikenard oil obtained from the roots is used in many medicinal preparations and is well known as a hair tonic and also imparts black colour. It has antiarrhythmic activity with possible therapeutical usefulness in cases of auricular flatter; it is less effective than quinidine but has the advantage of being less toxic. Jatamansi - Nardostachys The oil exerts hypotensive effects and in moderate doses it has a grandiflora DC distinct depressant action on central nervous system; lethal doses cause deep narcotic and ultimately death within a few hrs. The rhizome is a stimulant, antispasmodic, diuretic, stomachic, laxative and tonic. An infusion of rhizome is useful in epilepsy, hysteria, palpitation of heart. A tincture is given in colic and

424

27. Ginseng Scientific Name : Panax pseudoginseng Vernacular Names : Notoginseng Family & Distribution : Araliaceae China & Japan. Uses It has acquired a very favorable reputation for treatment of blood disorders, including blood stasis, bleeding, and blood deficiency 28. Picrorhiza kurrooa. W(P)A Not Listed Scientific Name : Picrorhiza kurroa CITES Appendix II Vernacular Names : Kuru, Kutki (Hin. & Beng.); Kutaki (Mar.); Kadu (Guj.); Katukarogani, Kadugurohini (Tel., Tam., Mal.); Kaur (Kash.); Karru (Punj.); Katuka katurohini (Sans.); Kuruwa (Garh.). Family & Distribution : Scrophulariaceae INDIA: Himalayas Jammu & Kashmir to Sikkim. NEPAL and extending to the mountains of YUNNAN in CHINA. W(P)A Not Listed CITES Not Listed

Uses

The drug Picrorhiza (Greek: picros means bitter; rhiza means root), obtained as dried rhizomes, Picrorrhiza kurroa consists of cylindrical, dark greyish brown pieces, usually 3 6 cm long and 0.5 1 cm dia., longitudinally wrinkled with annulations at the tip. It is a highly potential medicinal herb extensively used in various ailments and diseases both in India and abroad since ancient times. Both white and black varieties are used in herbal medicines and drugs. The drug is useful in cases of dropsy. It is stomachic, cardiac and cerebral tonic, antipyretic, anthelmintic, laxative in small doses, antiemetic, cathartic in large doses; useful in bilous fever, dyspepsia, urinary trouble, asthma, hiccough, blood circulation,burns, liver complaints, paralysis, epilepsy, ringworm infection, scabies and gout.

425

29. Charayatah Scientific Name : Swertia chirata Vernacular Names : Chiraytah Family & Distribution : Gentianaceae Endemic to Khasi Hills, Isolated populations are known to occur in Jarain Area of Jaintia Hills and the Baghmara Area of Garo Hills, adjacent to the Khasi Hills region of Meghalaya. W(P)A Not Listed CITES Not Listed

Uses

S. chirayita is used in British & American pharmacopoeias as tinctures and infusions. According to Ayurvedic pharmacology chirata is described as bitter in taste. The thermal action of chirayta is defined as cooling. Chirata is light, i.e. easily digestible and ruksha i.e. dry. These characteristics drain heat from blood and liver.

kiratatikta-Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Flem.)

426