Research Article | Published: 01 December 2012

Medicinal Plant Resources in Sacred Forests of Garhwal Himalaya

Nazir A. Pala, A. K. Negi, Yogesh Gokhale, Sajad  Razvi and N. P. Todaria

Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products | Volume: 19 | Issue: 4 | Page No. 291-296 | 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2012-7RJ1UT | Cite this article

Abstract

The present investigation medicinal plant resources in sacred forests of Garhwal Himalaya were carried out in six sacred protected groves in four districts of Garhwal Himalaya. The aim of the study was to enlist the important plants of medicinal value in these forests. A total of 126 plant species were found of medicinal importance representing 99 genera under 53 families. Herb species contributed the maximum (46.83%) to the total medicinal plant species. The family Rosaceae was the dominant family with (13) species. Leaves are the mostly used plant part, accounting for 41 species followed by roots/rhizomes/bulb with (38) species. The medicine from a tree near temple is considered more holy (prashad) and effective in treating diseases because of penance of deities. The region is enriched with large number of religion based conservation areas with rich vegetation and if studied with wisdom and in detail may prove to be boon for communities and conservation management for such areas.

Keywords

Access Options

250/-

Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Instant access to the full article.

Get access to the full version of this article. Buy Full Access in HTML Format

References

1. Basu, R. (2009). Biodiversity and ethnobotany of sacred groves in Bankura district, West Bengal, Indian For.765-778

Google Scholar

2. Chandrashekara, U.M. and Sankar, S. (1998). Structure and functions of sacred groves: Case studies in Kerala. In: Ramakrishnan, P.S., Saxena, K.G. and Chandrashekara, U.M. (Editors), Conserving the Sacred for Biodiversity Management. UNESCO and Oxford-IBH Publishing, New Delhi

Google Scholar

3. Gadgil, M. and Vartak, V.D. (1975). Sacred groves of India-A plea of the continuous conservation. Jour. Bom. Nat. His. Society. 72(2): 313-320

Google Scholar

4. Gaur, R.D. (1999). Flora of the district Garhwal North West Himalaya (with ethnobotanical notes), Tranmedia Srinagar (Garhwal) U.P, India

Google Scholar

5. Gokhale, Y., Pala, N.A., Negi, A.K., Bhat, J.A., and Todaria, N.P. (2011). Sacred landscapes as repositories of biodiversity. a case study from the Hariyali Devi sacred landscape, Uttarakhand, Inter. Jour Conserv. Sci. 2(1) 37-44

Google Scholar

6. Israel, E., Vijai, C. and Narasimhan, D. (1997). Sacred groves: traditional ecological heritage. Inter. Jour. Ecol. and Environ. Sci. 23: 463-470

Google Scholar

7. Jeeva, S., Kingston, C., Kiruba, S., Kannan, D. and Jasmine, T. Sawian. (2007). Medicinal plants in the sacred forests of Southern Western Ghats. In:  National Conference on Recent Trends on Medicinal Plants Research (NCRTMPR – 2007). Organized by Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai

Google Scholar

8. Kala, C.P. (2004). Revitalizing traditional herbal therapy by exploring medicinal plants: A case study of Uttarakhand state in India.In indigenous knowledge: Transforming the academy, Proc. Inter. Conf. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University: 5-2

Google Scholar

9. Kala, C.P., Dhyani, P.P. and Sajwan, B.S. (2006). Developing medicinal plants sector in northern India: challenges and opportunities. Journal of Ethnobiology and ethnomedicine. 2:32-35.  https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-2-32

Google Scholar

10. Khumbongmayum, A.D., Khan, M.L. and Tripathi, R.S. (2004). Ethanomedicinal plants in the sacred groves of Manipur. Indian Jour. of Traditional Knowledge. 4(1), 21-32

Google Scholar

11. Khumbongmayum, A.D., Khan, M.L. and Tripathi, R.S. (2004). Sacred groves of Manipur: ideal centres for biodiversity conservation. Curr. Sci. 87(4): 430- 433

Google Scholar

12. Samant, S.S., Dhar, U. and Palni, L.M.S (1998). Medicinal plants of Indian Himalaya: Diversity Distribution Potential Values. G.B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development Almora

Google Scholar

13. Singh, D.K. and Hajra, P.K. (1996). Floristic diversity. In: Biodiversity Status in the Himalaya British Council, New Delhi

Google Scholar

14. Stein, R. (2004). Alternative remedies gaining popularity. The Washington Post, Friday, (28)

Google Scholar

15. Whittaker, R.H. (1975). Communities and Ecosystems. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York

16. Yadu, S., Yadu, J.P., Arya, V. and Pangal, M. (2010).  Sacred groves in Conservation of plant biodiversity in Mahenergarh district of Haryana, Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9(4)

Google Scholar

About this article

How to cite

Pala, N.A., Negi, A.K., Gokhale, Y., Razvi, S. and Todaria, N.P., 2012. Medicinal Plant Resources in Sacred Forests of Garhwal Himalaya. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 19(4), pp.291-296. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2012-7RJ1UT

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 December 2012

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: