Int. J. Med. Arom.

Plants, ISSN 2249 4340

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 2327, June 2011

Shortlisting of cultivable herbal plants in the Bhabhar region of the

Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India
Rakhi RAWAT*, D.P. VASHISTHA
Department of Botany, H.N.B. Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal- 246 174, Uttarakhand,
India
Article History: Received 12th May 2011, Revised 24th May 2011, Accepted 28th May 2011.

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

demand of medicinal plants in herbal industry

and their ability to grow in the region, in the
present study important medicinal plants are
shortlisted for cultivation in foothills of Garhwal
Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India.
Material and methods
The extensive scrutiny of different herbal
drugs sold in the medical stores in Uttarakhand
was conducted and comprehensive list of the
herbal components used in these drugs was prepared. A list of plants was prepared which are
aboriginal and have recognized medicinal value
in drug industry. Other important information
about these shortlisted plants were collected
from the available literature. Plants were categorized on the basis of their altitudinal distribution
and further shortlisted those grow in the Bhabhar region of Garhwal Himalaya. The present
study was conducted in the Kotdwara (29 45'
N, 78 32' E) and Kalaghar (29 30' N, 78 45'
E) towns of the Bhabhar area of Uttarakhand
Himalaya. These are the representative towns of
Bhabhar region and are the gateway for central

*Corresponding author: (E-mail) drrakhi.rawat@gmail.com, roylea_rakhi@rediffmail.com

2011 Open Access Science Research Publisher

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Shortlisting of cultivable herbal plants in the Bhabhar region

Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants

and eastern parts of Himalaya. These areas are

situated at an elevation of 400 (Kotdwara), and
370 (Kalaghar) meters above mean sea level
(msl), respectively. Extensive field surveys were
conducted in these towns to find out the availability and distribution of the shortlisted plants.
Every plant under the study was given complete
scientific description viz, botanical name, vernacular name, taxonomical details, etc. The specimens of each species were collected and identified with the help of flora (Gaur 1999) and existing Herbarium of Botany Department HNB
Garhwal University (GUH). The shortlisted
plant species are alphabetically arranged in the
results table. Additional information about botanical name, vernacular name, and medicinal
properties were also collected from primary and
secondary sources for each plant species.
Results and discussion
A scrutiny of popular herbal drugs being
sold as Ayurvedic medicines in Uttarakhand has
revealed that the herbal prescriptions are being
derived from less than 100 plants. The most important plants being used in the preparation of
various drugs to treat different ailments are Aloe
barbadensis, Adhotoda zeylanica, Aegle marmelos, Bacopa monnieri, Boerhavia diffusa, Eclipta

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

Achyranthes aspera L Apamarga

Adhatoda zeylanica
Medic.

Vasaka

Parts used

Habit

Seed and roots Climber Skin disease, ulcer, nervous

disease
Malvaceae Fruit, leaves, Shrub
Demulcent, aphrodisiac,
bark, seed and
laxative, diuretic, diuretic,
roots
leprosy
Amaranta- Roots and
Herb
Fever
caea
leaves
Acanthaceae Leaves and
Shrub
Whooping cough, skin disroots
ease, dysentery

*Aegle marmelos (L.) Bael

Correa

Rutaceae

Fruit and root Tree

bark

Aloe barbadensis (Mil- Kumari

ler)
Azadirachta indica
Neem
A.H.L Juss

Liliaceae

Leaves

Meliaceae

Boerhavia diffusa L.

Nyctaginaceae

Leaves, wood, Tree

seeds and
flowers
Roots
Herb

Punarnava

Rawat and Vashistha

Uses

Herb

Ayurvedic formulation (Himalaya and

Cahrak, Ayurvedic drugs )
Tranquil
Diabecon

Cystone

Vasakamadu, Vasavaleha, Diakof, Vasakasva, Kasni, Kankasava Livomyn, M2-Tone,

Styplon, Geriforte (tablets & syrup)
Diarrhea, diabetes
Bilvadi kwath, Bilava churn, Bilva-majjadi
yog, Dasamoolarist, Tentex forte, Lukol,
Diarex, Sumento (Tablets)
Purgative, constipation
Livomyn, Pigmento, Livosyp, Diabecon,
Herbolax, Reostra
Skin disease, ulcer , eczema, Livosyp, Hepatogard, Pilex
diabetes
Jaundice, asthma, bronchitis, Punarnava kwath, Punarnava -sova, Punarnaeye problems
vadi mandoor, Punarnavadi guggulu, Abana,
Crush, Lukol, Geriforte, Livomyne,(Tablets
& syrups)
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Shortlisting of cultivable herbal plants in the Bhabhar region

Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants

Bombax malabaricum Semal
DC
*Bacopa monnieri (L.) Jal birahmi
Pennell.

Bombaceae Bark , fruits

and seeds
Scrophula- Whole plant
riaceae

Tree

*Butea monosperma
(Lamk.)

Plash

Fabaceae

Tree

Diarrhea, dysentery

Cassia fistula L.

Amaltas

Caesalpinia- Fruits and

ceae
roots

Tree

Fever, heart disease, urinary

trouble

Gum, seeds
and flowers

Herb

Cassia Occidentalis L. Kasonda

Leguminosae Seed, root and Herb

flower

Cissampelos pareira L. Pahre

Menisperma- Roots
ceae

Shrub

Datura stramonium L. Dhatura

Solanaceae

Herb

Dioscorea bulbifera L. Genthi

Dioscoreaceae
Asteraceae

Eclipta prostrata (L.)

L.

Bhringraja

Eugenia jambolana
Jamun
Lam
Ficus benghalensis (L.) Bargad

Leaves, flowering tops

and seeds
Roots

Demulcent tonic, stimulant, Femiplex, M2-tone (Tablets & syrups)

expectorant, diuretic
Nervine tonic, diuretic blood Bharmi churn, Bharmi ghrit, Brahmi rasayan
purifier

Asthma, fevers, menstrual

problems, tuberculosis, anemia, liver complaints, general
weakness and illness
Antiperiodic, diuretic, purgative, dyspepsia, urinary
trouble
Control motion , sickness,
asthma, rheumatism, jaundice

Climber Bronchial cough, antiseptic

burn, wound
Whole plants Herb
Intestinal parasites, anemia,
hepatitis, asthma, hair tonic

Myrtaceae

Bark and seed Tree

Moraceae

Tree

Holarrhena antidysen- Karu

terica Wall. ex. A. DC

Fruits, barks
and leaves
Apocynaceae Barks and
seeds

Lawsonia alba Lam. Mehandi

Mallotus philippensis Kmbhal
(Lamk.)

Lythraceae
Euphorbiaceae

Melia azedarach L.

Daikan

Meliaceae

Mimosa pudica L.

Lajalu

Fabaceae

Mucun pruriens (L.)

DC.

Kauch

Fabaceae

Diabetes

Rheumatism, dysentery, diabetes

Shrub
Dysentery, dropsy, astringent,
fever, diarrhoca, intestinal
worm
Leaves
Shrub
Blood dysentery, wounds, cut
Ripe fruits
Tree
Tapeworm killer, skin
disease, snakebite, ulcer,
constipation, purgative,
external parasites
Leaves barks Tree
Anthelmintic, diuretic, leproand fruits
sy, rheumatism, skin disease,
cuts, wounds
Whole plant Herb
Piles, ulcers, fistula, scrofula,
hydrocele, conjunctivitis
Roots and
Climber Eczema and diabetes
hairs on pods

*Plumbago zeylanica Chitrak

L.

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

*Tinospora cordifolia Giloy

(Willd.) Hook Fr

Menisperma- Stem
ceae

Vitex negundo L.

Siwain

Verbenaceae Leaves, roots Shrub

and fruits

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

Pusyanug churn, Pathadi kwath, Mahayograj

guggulu Agnimukh churn
Kankasava, Maha laxmi vilas ras, Asthma
relief Alarex, Spasmolin (Tablets & syrups)
Chayavanpras, Mahamash tel, Narsingh tel,
Grabbdharin vati
Bhringrajasava, Sutsekherras Anand bhairas,
Neo, Ojus, Acidocid syrup, Geriforte Mahabhringraj tel, Gandhak rasayana, Livomyn,
M2-tone, Hepatogard
M2-Tone
M2-Tone
Kutajarista, Kutajahan vati, Kutajawteha ras,
Karpur ras
Femiplex
Krimikuthar ras, Krimighatini vati, Kshisadi
ghrit, Herbinol cream

Pigmento

Pilex, styplon

Kawanch pak, Kawanch churn, Kamdev

ghrit, Ashwagandha churn, Musli pak, Dhatupaustic churn, Agstya haritaka, Badam pak,
Strenex, Tentax forte, Speman tab.
Dyspepsia, piles, skin disease Chitrakadi vati, Chitrak haritake, Chitrak
ghrit, Mahasankh vati, Mahamritaunjay ras,
Pigmento, Liv-52, Alarsin, Vigiroll (Tablets
& syrups)
Fever
Vidari churn, Laxamivilasras, Narsing churn,
Ashwagandha churn, Saraswatista, Chyvanpras.
Asthma , bronchitis, skin
Erand pak, Erand tel Balarista, Pradrantak
disease, jaundice, nervous
lauh, Bishgorbh tel, Cibolic capsules
disease
Cough , asthma, chest pain, Kantakariavleha, Kantakari ghrit, Vyaghihafever, diuretic
ritaki, Chyavanpras, Dasamoolarist, Dasamool kwath

Climber Debility, leprosy, urinary

trouble, malaria

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)

*recommended by NMPB (CIMAP 2004)

Rawat and Vashistha

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Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants

26
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

Figure 1: Some of the important medicinal plants in their natural habitat.

It is strongly felt that there cannot be a generalized list of herbal plants for all climatic regions but region wise amendments will have to
make. While considering the prospective cultivation of herbs in the Bhabhar region of Uttarakhand, ability of plants to grow under natural
Rawat and Vashistha

conditions and its marketability should be of

foremost consideration. The present study has
revealed that seven aboriginal plants with important medicinal uses can be used for cultivation in
the Bhabhar region (Table 2).
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Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants

27
Shortlisting of cultivable herbal plants in the Bhabhar region

However, agrotechnological data of only few

herbals plants are available so far (Sharma et al.
2004) and actually only few selected plants viz.,
Centella asiatica, Gloriosa superb and Asparagus racemosus are under significant cultivation.
Therefore, before undertaking actual cultivation
of the listed herbal plants, extensive agro technological studies will have to be undertaken.
Promotion of cultivation of these economically
important medicinal plants will also help in alleviating the economic conditions of the rural
people of the region.

CIMAP. 2004. Technical Manual for Entrepreneurship in Cultivation and processing of

Medicinal and Aromatic plants.

Table 2: List of important medicinal plants recommended for the cultivation in the Bhabhar
region of the Garhwal Himalaya.

Gaur, R.D. 1999. Flora of the District Garhwal

North West Himalaya (With Ethnobotanical
Notes). Trans Media, Srinagar-Garhwal, India.

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.

Acknowledgements: Financial support provided by University Grants commission, New

Delhi, India is thankfully acknowledged.
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