Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) is considered as one of the most important tool for conservation of wild MAP species, ensure regular supply of raw material to pharmaceutical industries and also plays crucial role in the upliftment of socio-economic status of local farmers for their livelihood security. Cultivation of MAPs seems to be a viable solution for raising the economy of the farmers of Uttarakhand Himalaya as MAPs can be grown successfully in stressful and adverse conditions. To know the actual status of MAPs cultivation sector, with an aim to gather information about the initiatives and policies launched  by government for the  promotion of cultivation, prioritized species for cultivation and economic benefit of farmers through cultivation. The study revealed that various organizations were engaged in the promotion of MAPs cultivation and a number of policies were launched by the government such as subsidies to farmers on 26 prioritized species, free planting material, training, nursery development course, registration and certification of farmers, etc.

Blepharispermum subsessile DC. (Asteraceae) is a less explored folklore medicinal plant of India. It is found in the moist deciduous forests of Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Maharastra etc. It is locally known as Rasnajhadi in Odisha. The whole plant is used as Rasna, a potent Ayurvedic drug. Ethnomedicinally it is used for the treatment of diarrhea, skin diseases, eye troubles, backache and rheumatism, menstrual disorder, common cold and rhinitis. Reports suggest its use as a wormicidal and as tonic. The rhizome has an aromatic odour and is used in havan samagri. Its pharmacological activities include anti-microbial activity, oviposition deterent activity against potato tuber moth, anti-fertility, anti-implantation activity and anti-feedant activity against larvae of Spilarctia obliqua. Many different chromenes were isolated from the aerial parts and rhizomes of B. subsessile such as Desmethyl isoencecalin, 8-methoxy-2, 2-dimethyl chromene, desmethylisoencecalin, 5-hydroxy-6-acetyl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl chromene and (-)-artemesinol. Besides chromenes the plant contains 1.2% essential oil, carvacrol, Ursolic acid acetate and β-sitosterol. The present work aims at presenting a comprehensive of the plant such as its botany, ethnomedicinal uses, chemical constituents, pharmacognostic and pharmacological uses. The information reported in this work contributes scientifically to recognizing the importance of Blepharispermum subsessile as a target in the search for new biotechnological investments.

Curcuma aeruginosa L., popularly known as Travancore starch plant is an underexploited starchy tuber crop belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. An experiment was designed and carried out presently to evaluate the performance of the crop of Curcuma aeruginosa in relation to the status of the planting materials used.  Three types of planting materials such as the mother rhizome, primary fingers and secondary fingers of Curcuma aeruginosa collected from the northern districts of Kerala State of India forms the experimental material. Fifteen growth and yield characters were comparatively studied and among them only three such as the number of leaves per tiller, number of primary fingers and diameter of mother rhizome exhibited statistically significant variations in relation to the status of the planting material. The outcome of the present study indicates the advantage of using mother rhizome, primary fingers and secondary fingers as planting materials so that more number of seed rhizomes can be obtained from a single mother plant.

Traditional systems of health care by using medicinal plants have been in use since times immemorial and are becoming widely accepted globally even today. The Himalayan Mountains are known to be the store houses of biological and cultural diversity. Himachal Pradesh, a region of IHR, is a well known medicinal plant hotspot that is a rich repository of diverse flora. The local inhabitants use this diverse plant diversity for treating diverse ailments and also as a source of income generation. However, this traditional knowledge runs the risk of vanishing as it is not present in proper documented form. The present study, therefore, aimed to explore and document the commonly used medicinal plants of Anni Khad Watershed of district Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. The information was collected by personal interviews with local healers and other knowledgeable persons. A total of 353 medicinal plants species belonging to 106 families are recorded.  Also, the information regarding part used, indigenous uses, nativity and endemism and altitudinal distribution of these medicinal plants is also documented. Appropriate management options have been suggeseted for conservation.

The present communication highlights a brief description of Clerodendrum indicum (L.) Kuntze (Lamiaceae) and its unique uses in treatment of skin ailments (Agiya) in the study area.

The present study deals with 26 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 17 families used as antipsoriatic by the indigenous people in Rajasthan. The study also deals with types of Psoriasis, plant name, local name, family name, plant parts and mode in the treatment of psoriasis. The present study also gathered important information about traditional knowledge and the need to document, research and development of new drugs to fight against Psoriasis disease in Rajasthan in particular and India as a whole.

Corn silk (Stigma maydis) is an important herb used traditionally by the native Indians to treat many diseases. It is also used as traditional medicine in many parts of the world such as China, Turkey, United States and France. In present study it has been found to be very effective for the treatment of kidney stone. This valuable ethnomedicinal plant is interestingly used by the inhabitants of Ratlam district (M.P.) to cure their kidney stone.

Floristic studies of the Nawabgunj Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh revealed the occurrence of 12 toxic plants within the Sanctuary with either leaves, seeds, latex, bark and/or whole plants having toxic properties. Clearance of these from the Sanctuary is recommended for maintenance of a healthy ecosystem within.

The Endemic and Threatened Angiosperms of Chhattisgarh state are Enumerated with habit and phenology. Four species are strictly endemic to Chhattisgarh state and 116 species which are endemic to other states and found in Chhattisgarh are also reported.