Arunachal conserving medicinal plants

The Himalayan state hosts an estimated 1,500 species of medicinal flora which have wide application in Indian systems of medicine, specially in Ayurveda.

The Arunachal Pradesh State Medicinal Plant Board (APSMPB) has already started the process in collaboration with the Bangalore-based Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions.

The conservation of medicinal plants was undertaken under the aegis of the UNDP-Centre-GEF (Global Environment Facility) project.

Dr Mao of the Botanical Survey of India, Itanagar said that the figure 1,500 (species of medicinal plants) found in Arunachal Pradesh had been arrived at under a conservative estimation.

"The number of actual species available may be more as we are still to publish a comprehensive list of flora for the state, which the BSI is working on," he said.

He stresses on collaboration with other institutes in Itanagar like the State Forest Research Institute that are engaged in the research on medicinal plants.

"The regional Ayurveda research institute in Itanagar has been endeavouring to utilise the valuable medicinal plants available for the treatment of patients," Ramashakar said. MORE