Priyanka Agnihotri

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in sacred groves of Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE International organizations recognize the importance of sacred groves and place them into the context of sustainable development and also emphasize to conserve biodiversity through protection of sacred groves and sties. The significance of medicinal plants from Himalayan region is well known to the world. Therefore, present study was conducted in identified sacred groves of Kumaon Himalaya to investigate and document the utilization of medicinal plants by various local communities and tribal people. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted during 2008-2011 in four seasons of the year. Information was collected from 70 locals from different sacred groves by using free listing interviews with randomly selected informants and semi-structured questionnaires; plant specimens were collected, identified and deposited at the CSIR-NBRI herbarium (LWG), Lucknow, India. RESULTS Seven sacred groves viz., Dhwaj, Haat Kali, Hokra, Malay Nath, Nakuleshwar, Narayan Swami Ashram and Patal Bhuvneshwar were identified from the Pithoragarh district of Kumaon Himalaya. 89 medicinal plants belonging to 52 families and 77 genera of which, 2 are lichens, 4 are pteridophytes, 3 are gymnosperms and remaining 80 plant species are angiosperms. 6 plant species are reported with new therapeutic uses for the first time in this paper. Highest informant׳s consensus factor value was found in liver disorder (0.55) and least by body pains (0.23). 55 ethnomedicinal plants are showing 100% fidelity level against various diseases. CONCLUSION Sacred groves in Kumaon region of Indian Himalaya are rich sources and best repository of ethno-medicinally important plants with many rare, endangered and threatened species. It is an excellent example of unique traditional way of in situ conservation of different plant species.

Role of Traditional Knowledge in Conserving Biodiversity: A Case Study from Patal Bhuvneshwar Sacred Grove, Kumaon Himalaya, India

Role of Traditional Knowledge in Conserving Biodiversity: A Case Study from Patal Bhuvneshwar Sacred Grove, Kumaon Himalaya, India The paper deals with the inventory of sacred groves and its phytodiversity from Kumaon Himalaya. These groves are well recognized in the world in terms of biodiversity conservation. Kumaon Himalayan region comprises many sacred groves, different ethnic cultures, traditional way of conserving biota. Realizing the importance, the study was conducted in Patal Bhuvneshwar sacred grove conserved by Rawal, Bhandari and Guro local communities. This grove provide excellent micro-climatic habitat for the luxuriant growth of flowering and non-flowering taxa and covered by dense forest of Cedrus deodara. Total 65 species under 61 genera and 47 families of both flowering and non-flowering plants were recorded. In which, lichens are represented by 13 species, bryophytes (8 species), pteridophyte (7 species) and gymnosperm (1 species). 43 species belonging to 38 genera and 28 families are ethnobotanically used by local communities for various purposes. Although the grove is conserved on religious beliefs, but facing several threats such as anthropogenic pressure and socio-economic pressure.

High-performance thin-layer chromatographic determination of three therapeutic phenolic components in Leucas species

This study was designed to develop a simple, sensitive, selective, and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprint and quantitative estimation method for the analysis of three phenolic compounds from nine Leucas species. The developed HPTLC method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The method permits reliable quantification of one important phenolic acid (gallic acid) and two hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic and ferulic acids) in 50% hydroethanolic extracts on silica gel with toluene—ethyl acetate—formic acid 8:2:1 (v/v) as the mobile phase. The system showed good resolution and separation of caffeic, ferulic, and gallic acids (at RF values 0.48, 0.60, and 0.30, respectively) from the other constituents of the extract. Densitometric scanning was done at 300 nm in absorbance mode. All the results obtained by the developed method were statistically compared for validation parameters, for accuracy and good precision. Caffeic, ferulic, and gallic acids were estimated in all the aforesaid nine Leucas species, but the quantity varied from species to species. Further, these phenolics were reported from the aforesaid Leucas species for the first time, except for Leucas lanata and Leucas urticifolia. However, Leucas biflora, Leucas decemdentata, and Leucas stricta were documented for their chemical constituents for the first time. The proposed HPTLC method can be used for routine quality testing of Leucas species.

206) Proposal to add a new paragraph to Recommendation 9A

Type specimens are the most valuable asset in any herbarium and their value multiplies as years elapse. The importance of type specimens can be felt by their singularity and the need for taxonomists to return again and again to these definitive reference materials to address nomenclatural and classificatory questions. Since type specimens are irreplaceable, any annotations concerning latest identifications, taxonomic updates or categorisation of types (into syntype, isotype, lectotype, etc.) should neither be written directly on herbarium sheets nor on previous annotations or original labels. A serious and common issue in recent taxonomic studies all over the globe, especially concerning nomenclature and typification, where taxonomists are trying to connect a species name with a type specimen, is that the name of a person who annotated a type specimen and the date of the annotation is not indicated, thereby limiting the use of such annotations for addressing taxonomic issues. Despite standard procedures that exist for annotating herbarium specimens, taxonomists follow inconsistent practices. It is this concern that prompted the authors to propose an additional Recommendation to the Code:

Notes on the typification of four Himalayan aconites

SummaryIn the present study, four Aconitum taxa, namely, A. hookeri, A. heterophylloides var. leucanthum, A. nagarum and A. spicatum are lectotypified.