World over there is an immense demand for Traditional Medicine, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, natural products. The rampantly growing industry and interests of consumers have resulted in excessive demand of the botanical materials for manufacturing products. The major challenges herbal industries are facing relates to quality assurance, use of authenticated raw materials, conforming to the regulations, sourcing of botanicals, processing protocols and more. To meet the ever increasing demand, supply chain inturn bargains on the quality material which has a cascading effect on the quality of  Traditional formulations. In the process, during shortfall, it is observed that alternatives/ substitutes and context based aberrations areidentified and supplied to fulfilthe demand. This has obviously affected the Quality Assurance of the traditional formulations and the credibility. The article is a revelation of a market study in southern India related to botanical trade w.r.t to the making of different commodities at regional levels. Here attempts to define the various commodities based on biological and non-biological factors is undertaken and examples shared.

The present paper deals with the survey and documentation of ethno- medicinal plants used by the local vaidyas of Champawat district, Uttarakhand, in the treatment of various diseases and disorders. A total of 50 plant species belonging to 49 genera under 36 families have been reported from the study area, which are being used as ethno-medicines by the local vaidyas.

High soil salinity is a major environmental stress in the world’s cultivated land that limits plant growth, metabolism and productivity of crop plants. Anthocyanins are water soluble pigments found in all plant tissues throughout the plant kingdom, derived from flavonoids via the shikimic acid pathway and are known to be inducible under stress. Anthocyanin can act as antioxidant by donating hydrogen to highly reactive radicals, thereby preventing further radical formation. The objective of this study was to determine effect of salinity on total anthocyanin content of five native rice cultivars collected from a traditional saline rice tract and two collected from a traditional non-saline rice tract of Kerala State of India.  All the cultivars showed proportionate and significant increase in anthocyanin accumulation in relation to increase in salt stress. The variation was cultivar specific showing their differential response to stress.

Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr. is a fast growing, large size deciduous tree which is widely used for Jhingan gum extraction, timber, ornamental and medicinal purpose. The better understanding of phenology will help us to efficient utilization of these trees in urban landscapes and agroforestry systems. The present investigation revealed that L. coromandelica was starts flowering from Mid-January to March. It has a mean of 26 flowers per inflorescence with 0.54 % fruit set and 0.80% seed set around.The fruits attain harvest maturity at 18^th week after anthesis with a distinctive colour change from light red to darker red colour. Seeds are orthodox in nature and have maximum of 52.67% germination.

This paper deals with the 44 medicinal plants used by aboriginal tribes of Andaman & Nicobar Islands mentioned in Ayurvedic classics and their traditional uses in most common ailments.

The Rudraksha beads are traditionally used as prayer beads in Hinduism (especially Shaivism) throughout India. Apart from the religious importance, medicinal, bio-magnetic and electrical properties of the Rudraksha beads have also been reported. This commodity is in high demand from the devotees across the world. Therefore, this is in trade throughout the country and abroad. The recent trends in import and export of Rudraksha beads in India have been described in the present article, considering scant publications on this aspect.

Glochidion tomentosum (Euphorbiaceae) is an endangered medicinal tree endemic to Peninsular India region.  The present study aimed to assess the extent of damage caused by seed predator insect larvae and seed germination in Glochidion tomentosum. Different type of soils like Garden soil, Forest soil and Sandy soil were used for germination studies and also seedling survival and mean germination time were determined. Maximum germination percentage 56 % and seedling survival  87% was recorded in garden soil. Mean germination time was also varied among the different type of soil. Seedlings were successfully grown in botanical garden. This germination procedure would help for establishment of seedlings for considering ex situ conservation of Glochidion tomentosum.

Survey and observations were carried out in Kudiraimozhi theri to identify the wild dye yielding plants and their utilization by the local people. The paper deals with 33 dye yielding plant species of 29 genera and provides botanical names, vernacular name, families, plant parts used for producing dye etc.

Leaf epidermal studies, pollen and seed morphology of two species of Rauvolfia i.e. R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla were studied using compound and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) to facilitate the correct identification and authentication of these significant crude drugs and also as an aid to plant systematics. The microscopic and SEM studies of these species showed significant differences in the  morphology of the analyzed parts.

Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabaceae), an economic plant species, so far reported from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, in India is now being reported for the first time from the Valley of Flowers National Park as a new distributional record for Uttarakhand. Detailed description and photoplate of the taxon are provided for identification in the field.