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Only 1-2 % of the world’s more than 250,000 flowering plants have been
analyzed for medicinal value.
In India, 4.5% of its total geographical area constitutes protected area network, comprising 8
designated biospheres, 87 national parks, 447 wildlife sanctuaries and over 7000
different species of plants found in different ecosystems are said to be used for
medical purposes. About 90% of medicinal plants used by the industries are collected
from the wild. Presently Indian System of Medicine (ISM) uses over 1100 medicinal
plants of which over five dozen species are said to be in great demand. There are
around 10,000 licensed pharmacies practicing ISM today whose requirements have to
me met. Modern Pharmacopoeia contains at least 25% drugs derived from plants and
their synthetic analogues built on prototype compounds isolated from plants. Over
800 species are used in production by Industry, yet less than 20 species of plants are
under commercial cultivation.
Flora of Kashmir comprises about 3054 species, Ladakh about 880 species and
Jammu about 500 species which include angiosperms, gymnosperms and
pteridophytes. About 372 plant species belonging to 209 families have
been reported to be of high medicinal and aromatic value. Only 65
species belonging to 36 families have been phytochemically, taxonomically and
pharmacologically studied. Kashmir with its vast biodiversity and potential for
commercial exploitation could become national leader in the supply of raw material
for the Phytopharmaceutical industry. More than 5000 aromatic/medicinal
plants have been discovered in Jammu Kashmir till date. On August
16th 2007, it was reported in this very Daily by its ex-executive
editor, Zahir-ud-din that more than 5000 medicinal and aromatic
plants have been discovered in J&K state till date out of which
around 3000 are found in the Valley forests. Scientists have so far
prioritized over 700 medicinal plants yielding high quality chemicals and other
ingredients used in life saving medicaments, aromatherapy and in cosmetics. At least
50 plant species used in the Indian system of medicine and found in Jammu and
Kashmir are on the brink of extinction, according to a working group on medicinal
plants project. If cultivation of medicinal crops is organized on an area-wise basis,
their production and returns shall be boosted. Introduction of medicinal plants into the
cropping patterns of farming communities in dry land and watershed areas could
provide a strong thrust to the need for soil and water conservation also.
Prospects:
Constraints:
Only 1-2 % of the world’s more than 250,000 flowering plants have been
analyzed for medicinal value.
In India, 4.5% of its total geographical area constitutes protected area network, comprising 8
designated biospheres, 87 national parks, 447 wildlife sanctuaries and over 7000
different species of plants found in different ecosystems are said to be used for
medical purposes. About 90% of medicinal plants used by the industries are collected
from the wild. Presently Indian System of Medicine (ISM) uses over 1100 medicinal
plants of which over five dozen species are said to be in great demand. There are
around 10,000 licensed pharmacies practicing ISM today whose requirements have to
me met. Modern Pharmacopoeia contains at least 25% drugs derived from plants and
their synthetic analogues built on prototype compounds isolated from plants. Over
800 species are used in production by Industry, yet less than 20 species of plants are
under commercial cultivation.
Flora of Kashmir comprises about 3054 species, Ladakh about 880 species and
Jammu about 500 species which include angiosperms, gymnosperms and
pteridophytes. Only 65 species belonging to 36 families have been phytochemically,
taxonomically and pharmacologically studied. Kashmir with its vast biodiversity and
potential for commercial exploitation could become national leader in the supply of
raw material for the Phytopharmaceutical industry. If cultivation of medicinal crops is
organized on an area-wise basis, their production and returns shall be boosted.
Introduction of medicinal plants into the cropping patterns of farming communities in
dry land and watershed areas could provide a strong thrust to the need for soil and
water conservation also.
Prospects:
Constraints:
In spite of all these constraints, many threats and weaknesses could be turned
into opportunities by strategically planned efforts for successful commercial
exploitation of this tremedous enterprise. For this to happen, our premier research
institutions who have working for years on the conservation and cultivation of
medicinal and aromatic plants need to transfer their technologies to the common
masses, publish literature on their accomplishments in terms of successful cultivation
packages, conduct frequent training programmes for prospective candidates,
recommend incentives in the shape of soft loans, land on lease etc and thereby help in
tapping the vast potential of this resourceful industry. Some of the high yielding,
economically viable, medicinally important species that can be successfully cultivated
in Kashmir on a large scale include, Digitalis, Hyoscymus, Belladona, Valeriana,
Banafsha, Saussurea, Dill, Podophyllum, Colchicum, Bitter Almonds, Rose,
Lavender, Geranium, Artemesia, Hypericum, Dioscorreoa, Kuth and many more.