2 medicinal plants of HP in 156 ‘declining herbs’ list

Chandigarh: National Medicinal Plant Board has directed the state governments to take necessary steps to protect 156 medicinal plant species that are on the decline and ensure that they do not go extinct. Some of the plants that fall in the category include neem, sandal, arjuna and sea buckthorn. In Himachal Pradesh it is Jungli Lahsun bulbs ( Fritillaria royelei) and Baccata Toxoid that are rapidly disappearing from forests.

K K Sharma, nodal officer State Medicinal Plant Board in Himachal Pradesh, said, “Different wings of the state government issue permits for extraction of medicinal plants and herbs, but illegal extraction continues unabated for plants growing in the higher reaches of the Himalayas. Monitoring is a difficult task here. Owing to this many species are facing the extinction.”

Fritillaria is an active ingredient in many medicines. Baccata Toxoid is considered to be an excellent source of anti-cancerous agents. According to experts, the escalating price of the herbal and ayurvedic products has resulted in the overexploitation of these herbs.