Distribution, medicinal properties, uses and conservation assessment of ten threat­ened medicinal plant species namely Aconitum heterophyllum Wallich, Angelica glauca Edgew., Atropa acuminata Royle ex Lindl., Berberis spp., Coptis teeta Wallich, Dioscorea deltoidea Wallich, Gentiana kurroo Royle, Nardostachys jatamansi DC., Podophyllum hexandrum Royle ex Camb., and Rauvolfia serpentina Benth. ex Kurz is discussed. These plant species have been exploited indiscriminately by the local people, tribals, forest contractors, government agencies and by various pharmaceutical houses for their extensive use in household remedies, Allopathic and Aurvedic medicines. They possess great medicinal properties and have been used in the ancient as well as modern systems of medicine. Their over-exploitation has resulted in the depletion of the natural population of these taxa and many of them are facing increased risk of their extinction. During this study, field surveys have been undertaken to various phytogeographical regions representing the species to assess the population size of each taxon. Herbaria were consulted to study the past and present distribution of each species. Information on the medicinal uses have been collected from the local informants during the field study besides scrutinies of existing literature on biological activities and medicinal properties of these taxa. In this study conservation status of each species is discussed with recommendation of suitable measures either in situ or ex situ.

Neem fruits were collected from eight agro-climatic zones of Gujarat State and the samples were analysed for variation in physical constants, viz., seed index and kernel to seed ratio and chemical constituents, viz., fatty oil content and azadirachtin content. Method was optimised for quantitative determination of azadirachtin content in neem seed kernels using High Performance Liquid Chromatographic system. The azadirachtin content was determined in neem seed kernel using this optimised method.

Protein, oil, carbohydrate, aminoacid contents of seeds, which were collected from places with latitude 18o 49' N to 27o 11' N and longitude 78o 0' E to 84o 14' E and rainfall 765 mm to 2087 mm, varied significantly (P < 0.05) among 11 provenances carbohydrate content could be positively correlated with protein (r = 0.6019, P < 0.05) content of seed and negatively with latitude (r = - 06696) of seed source. Signif­icant P < 0.05 variation was also observed for N, P, K, Mg. Nitrogen content was significantly and positively correlated with protein and carbohydrate present (r = 0.9317; r = 0.7219; P < 0.001 and .05 respectively). Seeds collected from Gorchiro­li, Hoshangabad and Balaghat provenances were found to contain good amount of oil (50-56%), carbohydrate and protein while seeds of Juspur Nagar and Gondia prove­nances contain lower amount of chemical contents investigated. The results are useful from the points of view of genetical variation and selection of superior provenances for tropical and sub-tropical region of India.

In the present communication, the information on 45 less known edible plants of Sikkim Himalaya used by the different local tribal inhabitants has been provided.

The present paper records 50 plants of medicinal value from Doon Valley and adjacent Siwaliks. They have been arranged alphabetically with their vernacular names if any, places of occurrence, flowering and fruiting period, uses. Several of the plant species are likely to go under the category of threatened plants due to over-exploitation and habitat destruction if timely measures are not taken to conserve them.

Amla seedlings subjected to Azospirillum and Phosphobacterium treatments were analysed for their physiological and biochemical parameters. The effects of these bacteroids on the soil have shown a significant improvement in the seed germination and seedling vigour along with an improvement in soil quality.

Plants, on account of their curative effects, have been used by ancient people prior to the modern scientific advancement. The validity and utility of traditional ideas and concepts need to be scientifically tested and explained for their worldwide acceptance. In view of the fact that the curative parts of a medicinal plant are not simply its woody stem or its leaves, but the chemical compounds it produces for its own growth and development. Attempts have been made to analyse a number of medicinal species for their active chemical compounds. The present paper deals with some of the important medicinal species investigated by modern chemical and pharmacological techniques.

Simple, partial and multiple correlation studies were conducted on the yield and its components in 19 diverse genotypes of Dioscorea deltoidea Hook. In simple correlation tuber yield was significantly correlated with leaf area/plant, tuber girth/plant, number of bines/plant and weight of vine/plant, while partial correlation co-efficients indicated positive relationship with number of bines/plant, leaf area/plant and tuber girth/plant. Multiple correlation co-efficients revealed that leaf area, number of bines and weight of vine were better combinations than others for enhancing the tuber yield.

The present studies reveal that in the old conventional methods of preparation of Asava and Aarishta, the poor extractability of plant material manifest due to diverse factors and their non-sterility results in the curtailment of their therapeutic effects. The use of appropriate organic solvents ensure antimicrobial activity and complete sterility.

Effective rooting failed to take place under normal circumstances. However the exogenous application of growth hormones, viz., IAA, IBA and NAA had a pronounced impact on rooting percentage in Plectranthus rugosus, Lonicera quinquelocularis and Coriaria nepalensis with the application of growth hormones. Of all the auxins under study IBA had shown maximum per cent success in rooting while IAA and NAA were significantly superior over control.

This paper records the effect of GA3 treatment on the germination and seedling growth of T. arjuna. The seeds treated with Gibberellic acid took 7 to 10 days to commence germination as against 19 days in control.

Quinquennial and decade-wise simple growth rates and instability for lac production in India over a 65 year period have been computed. The data revealed that except during thirties, fifties and nineties, the growth rates were negative. Highest negative growth rate and instability was witnessed during the sixties. Study of the year-wise per cent fluctuation from trend line established that the shortfall in lac production is not cyclic in nature.

The essential oil bearing plants have a very short history of cultivation compared to other crops. Previously due to limited demand, these plants were collected from wild sources. But with the increased industrial demand of essential oils and aroma chemicals and depleted natural sources, it has become necessary to evaluate, cultivate and genetically upgrade these industrial crops. To achieve these goals, certain basic scientific and commercial principles are to be followed which have been highlighted in this communication.

Seeds of Taxus baccata are fairly good in kernel percentage and the oil content is quite high (69.93%). This species, therefore, holds tremendous scope for commercial exploitation and to increase the production of oil from tree borne oilseeds. The oil is found to be quite rich in oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. Linoleic and linolenic acids are nutritionally essential fatty acids. Therefore, the oil may be a potential source for edible uses, provided toxicological investigations also support it. However, detailed pharmacological investigations are desirable. The species is well known all the world for its ‘taxol’ contents which is used for the cure of cancer. However, the seeds of this species are not being used at the present for any specific purpose and hence hold good future prospects for multipurpose utilization.

Studies on monthly recruitment of culms in Bambusa bambos were made for one year during 1993. It revealed that, culm recruitment was monsoon dependent and was enhanced by a pre-shower preceding the onset of monsoon. The annual recruitment of culms indicated a steady increasing trend from first year (1250 culms/ha.) to sixth year (4250 culms/ha.). Based on the recruitment and performance of culms, harvesting year suggested.

During study of the fern flora of Singhbhum District in Bihar, the authors have recorded 16 fern species which are economically important to mankind in various ways.

The present communication records antimicrobial activity of total plant extract obtained from Ocimum sanctum, Adhatoda vasica, Emblica officinalis, Saussurea lappa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Zingiber officinales, Piper longum, Piper nigrum, Onosma bracteatum, Tinospora cordifolia, Fagonia cretica and Terminalia chebula as well as of Asava and Aarishta.

Bamboo resources in their natural habitat, 60% of the raw material supply to pulp and paper industries, dwindled due to over-exploitation, shifting cultivation practices, gregarious flowering and extensive forest fires. Hence, the need for cultivation of bamboo is stressed. A brief note on bamboo farming is described.