Cultivation Plants Bhabhar
Cultivation Plants Bhabhar
Cultivation Plants Bhabhar
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Abstract: The success of any economically viable herbal cultivation programme lies in the appropriate selection of herbal plants. Many things will have to be considered in selecting herbs viz. adaptability in natural environment, economic
demand in herbal industry and agroclimatic aspects. The present work embodies the results of the scrutiny of herbal
composition of popular branded Ayurvedic medicines. In addition, with the help of field survey and available literature,
plants were identified which are naturally growing in different habitats of the Bhabhar region of the Garhwal Himalaya,
Uttarakhand. On the basis of utility in herbal medicines and their ability to grow naturally, plants are further shortlisted
for the cultivation. The prominent herbs recommended are: Aloe barbadensis, Bacopa monnieri, Boerhavia diffusa,
Plumbago zeylanica, Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera etc. The promotion of cultivation of these useful herbs
would ensure sustainable biodiversity conservation and alleviation in the economic conditions of the rural people of the
Bhabhar region of Garhwal Himalaya.
Keywords: Ayurvedic formulation; Herbal plants; Bhabhar; Garhwal; Cultivation.
Introduction
The success of any herbal cultivation programme lies in the appropriate selection of herbal plants. The various national and local agencies have prioritized the herbal plants for cultivation. The National Medicinal Plant Board,
Government of India has published a list comprising of 32 herbal plants (CIMAP 2004), whereas Herbal Research and Development Institute
in Uttarakhand has recommended 26 herbal
plants (HRDI 2005) for cultivation. However,
these guidelines are needed to be revised for different geographical regions and local traditions.
Further, due consideration will have to be given
to the plants actually being used in the preparation of Ayurvedic prescriptions and ability of
these plants to grow in the particular region.
The prominent cultivable herbal plants of
high altitude of Uttarakhand Himalaya are extensively explored by various workers (Dhar et
al. 2002; Farooquee 1996; Kuniyal et al. 2003;
Nautiyal et al. 2002; Nautiyal and Purohit 2000;
Adhikari et al. 2010). However, little work is
done as far as plants of lower altitudinal region
of Uttarakhand are concerned. On the basis of
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Shortlisting of cultivable herbal plants in the Bhabhar region
prostrate, Plumbago zeylanica, Mucuna pruriens, Pueraria tuberosa Ricinus communis, Tinospora cordifolia and Withania somnifera.
It is strikingly evident that many herbal
plants, aboriginal to the Bhabhar region of
Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand are being used
in formation of herbal drugs and as such have
proven immense economic importance. There
are as many as 32 plants under this category
(Table 1, Figure 1).
The prominent plants included are Abutilon
indicum, Aloe barbadensis, Bacopa monnieri,
Boerhavia diffusa, Eclipta prostrata, Plumbago
zeylanica, Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera etc. Among these plants Aloe barbadensis,
Boerhavia diffusa, Eclipta prostrate, Plumbago
zeylanica, Tinospora cordifolia and Withania
somnifera, etc are regular constituents of various
herbal prescriptions. Many of these plants viz.,
Bacopa monnieri, Plumbago zeylanica, Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera, etc are also
shortlisted by NMPB for cultivation in the region. However, many other herbal plants viz.,
Boerhavia diffusa, Eclipta prostrata, etc. though
rank high in medicinal uses are left out from the
list of recommended cultivable plants by the governmental agencies so far.
Table 1: Prominent herbs from Bhabhar region (Kotdwara and Kalagarh) of Uttarakhand that are
currently being used in the popular branded herbal medicines.
Botanical Name
Vernacular Family
Name
Abrus precatorious L. Ratti
Fabaceae
Abutilon indicum (L.) Atibalaa
Vasaka
Parts used
Habit
Rutaceae
Liliaceae
Leaves
Meliaceae
Boerhavia diffusa L.
Nyctaginaceae
Punarnava
Uses
Herb
Cystone
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Shortlisting of cultivable herbal plants in the Bhabhar region
Tree
*Butea monosperma
(Lamk.)
Plash
Fabaceae
Tree
Diarrhea, dysentery
Cassia fistula L.
Amaltas
Tree
Gum, seeds
and flowers
Herb
Menisperma- Roots
ceae
Shrub
Solanaceae
Herb
Dioscoreaceae
Asteraceae
Bhringraja
Eugenia jambolana
Jamun
Lam
Ficus benghalensis (L.) Bargad
Myrtaceae
Moraceae
Tree
Fruits, barks
and leaves
Apocynaceae Barks and
seeds
Lythraceae
Euphorbiaceae
Melia azedarach L.
Daikan
Meliaceae
Mimosa pudica L.
Lajalu
Fabaceae
Kauch
Fabaceae
Diabetes
Plumbagina- Roots
ceae
Shrub
Pueraria tuberosa
(Roxb. Ex.Willd)
Siralu
Fabaceae
Tuber
Shrub
Ricinus communis L.
Arandi
Euphorbiaceae
Solanum surattense
Burm. F.
Kantakari
Solanaceae
Roots, root
Tree
bark, leaves
and seeds
Whole plants Shrub
Menisperma- Stem
ceae
Vitex negundo L.
Siwain
Withania somnifera*
(L.) Dunal
Aswagandha Solanaceae
Roots
Krmighna churn, Krimimudgar ras, Krmikutharras, Plashbeejj churn. Plash ghrit, Crush,
Lukol (Tablets & syrups)
Aragvadhadirsta, Aragvadhadi ghrita Aragvadhadi tel, Agni- kumar churn, Kankayan
gutika
Bonnisan, Geriforte, Liv 52, Herbolax
Pigmento
Pilex, styplon
Shrub
Giloy satva, Amritasava, Amritarista, Ashwaganda churn, Chandraprabha Vati, Guduchi tel, Livomyn, Calcury, Pigmento Livosyp, Dibecon, Mentat, Rumalaga, Gasex,
Geriforte, Liv- 52. Diakof, Manoll, Apimare
Rheumatism , arthritic, fever, Nirgundi ghrit, Nirgundi kwath, Nirgundi tel,
ulcer, cuts, wound, skin dis- Bishagarbh tel, Rumalagy cream, Himcolin
ease
cream
Urinary disorders, fever, cold, Asbwagandha churn, Ashwagnadha rasayan,
rheumatism
Ashwagandharista, Kamdev ghrit, Chyaranpras, Phalaghrit, Mahamash tel, Manoll, M2
tone (Tablets & syrups)
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Shortlisting of cultivable herbal plants in the Bhabhar region
A. Plumbago zeylanica
B. Cassia fistula
C. Lawsonia alba
D. Boerhavia diffusa
E. Withania somnifera
F. Datura stramonium
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Shortlisting of cultivable herbal plants in the Bhabhar region
Table 2: List of important medicinal plants recommended for the cultivation in the Bhabhar
region of the Garhwal Himalaya.
S.No. Species
1.
Aloe barbadensis
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Family
Liliaceae
Medicinal uses
Purgative constipations.
Boerhavia diffusa NyctaginaJaundice, asthma,
ceae
bronchitis, eye problems.
Eclipta prostrata Asteraceae
Intestinal parasites
anemia, hepatitis,
asthma, hair tonic.
Plumbago zeylani- Plumbagina- Dyspepsia, piles, skin
ca
ceae
disease.
Tinospora cordifo- Menisperma- Leprosy, urinary dislia
ceae
order.
Vitex negundo
Verbenaceae Rheumatism, arthritic,
fever, ulcer, cuts,
wound, skin disease.
Withania somnife- Solanaceae
Hemorrhoids, Febrira
fuge.
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