Medicinal plants have been discovered in various forests in Northeast India, ranging from raw drug markets to areas where medicinal plant produce is sold. Many efforts have also been made for adaptation through cultivation of medicinal plants from one region to another in the region. Crude pharmaceutical products from this region are traded in the central market of Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and even Delhi. The highly valued medicinal plants of the North Eastern states are Acorus calamus, Aconitum heterophyllum, Aquilaria malaccensis, Bacopa monnieri, Berberis aristata, Coptis teta, Costus speciosus, Curcuma cassia, Elaeocarpus sphaericus, Ambelia ribes, Gmelina arborea, Gynocordia odorata, Hydnocarpus kurzi, Homalomena. Aromatica, Mi Sua Feria, Nardostachys Jatamansi, Paris Polyphylla, Picrorhiza Kurua, Rheum Australe, Rubia Cordifolia, Smilax China, Solanum Anguivi, Swertia Chiraita Taxus Wallichiana, Trichosanthis Bracteata, Valeriana Jatamansi, Zanthoxylum Armatum, etc. To study potential and sustainable collections from forest areas, involve interacting with local people either in the collection or having knowledge about the collection and in nearby areas. Various conservation related aspects for in situ conservation and easy methods for cultivation have been worked out which are easily acceptable by the residents of nearby forest areas which have been included in this article.
Introduction
North-eastern India has hilly forest areas as well as the plains of Assam. This includes the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh fall under the Himalayan Hills, while Manipur and Nagaland are surrounded by the Naga Hills and Meghalaya is surrounded by the Garo, Jaintia and Khasi Hills; Mizoram state comes under the Lusai Hills. As the hills are named, each has a variable range of altitude and topographic variations that control the occurrence and distribution of biodiversity covering the distribution of medicinal plants. The topographic range of the region varies from tropical foothills to snow-covered alpine hills. According to the variation of climatic zones, medicinal plants are found in different hills. Some medicinal plants are distributed in high capacity while some others are lost from their natural habitat. This depletion is due to high pressure for their disorganized exploitation through shifting cultivation, urbanization, expansion of agricultural lands and road development as well as some natural disasters like landslides etc.
The population density in this region is low compared to other parts of the country and most of the land is unused by the public sector throughout the region, which needs to be conserved to enrich the medicinal flora (Mudaiah et al., 1987; Majumdar, 1981 ; Rawat et al., 1999; Website IUCN, 2009. Several efforts have been made to discover the medicinal wealth in various forest lands of the region (Kharkongar and Joseph, 1981; Tiwari et al, 1993; Mahanty, 1994; Sharma and Sharma, 1994; Rai and Sharma, 1994; Sinha, 1996; Rawat et al, 2003; Rai and Rawat, 2008; Islam, 2009. 2009). Selected species of medicinal plants from popular parts of the region have also been exploited in various ways. Medicinal plants have also been cultivated on a large scale in the region so that plants growing in one part can be adapted to other parts. The present study was conducted for selection of medicinal plants in different forests for conservation as well as cultivation by local residents on their own or community lands. For the cultivation of various medicinal plants, adaptations ranging from seed germination to obtaining planting material for transplanting in the field were adopted. Viability of seeds, survival of plants in the field after transplantation were considered as tools for the study.
Materials and Methods
Forest area and distribution of high value medicinal plants became the main means of study. Extensive exploration of medicinal plants was carried out with the aim of identifying the potential and abundance in distribution of most of the medicinal plants in high demand in nature and selection for their conservation by systematic use of essential medicinal parts. Samples of each locally available medicinal plant were collected from time to time. Emphasis was also laid on collecting records of medicinal plants grown for medicine or any other purpose. Germplasm of medicinal plants for various cultivation purposes was also collected in the medicinal plant garden of the Institute. Many medicinal plants growing under trees were also developed for the study. For each high value medicinal plant, trials were conducted on vegetative propagation involving young and mature root and stem cuttings, propagation of rhizome as well as seed germination at different stages.
Various developmental stages were observed. Work was also carried out to develop in-situ conservation aspects for conservation conservation. Rhizomes and tubers were taken for cultivation of Zingiber and aroids like Costus speciosus, Curcuma cassia, Hedychium spicatum, Homalomena aromatica etc. Seed germination of Embelia ribes, Gynocordia odorata, Mesua ferrea, Oroxylum indicum, Picrorhiza kurua, Rubia manjith, Circa asoka, Valeriana jatamansi, Zanthoxylum armatum etc. within natural climate and beds was studied. The germinated plants were transplanted into the field after 4–6 months (herbs) and one year (shrubs and tree species). Seed germination of plants in the surrounding area was seen as a tool for conservation within the field as well as for transfer to the same area. Hemidesmus indicus, R. Stem cuttings of Manjith, Taxus wallichiana and Woodfordia fruticosa were placed in sand mixed beds and treated with gibberellic acid for root and seedling initiation, which were then stored in the field in polythene bags after complete rooting and seedling development. Was transferred to. The seed coats of Elaeocarpus sphaericus were broken or treated with concentrated nitric acid before sowing in the beds.
Result
During the field study in North Eastern India including the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura (Figure 1). It was observed that the distribution of medicinal plants was classified under tropical, subtropical, temperate and alpine regions as per species wise classification. R. Manjeeth and Z. Plants like armatum were distributed in the temperate zone while R. sikkimensis and Z. Acanthopodium were restricted to tropical and subtropical regions only. The two plant species growing in temperate forests have very high medicinal values for the purpose of commercial development. Terminalia species such as T. arjuna, T. belerica, T. chebula and T. citrina were restricted to tropical regions and had high commercial medicinal value. Furthermore, it was observed that Embelia ribes plants growing in tropical regions were different from E. ribes plants growing in temperate forests, however, they had the same medicinal value. Despite similar climatic conditions in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, the alpine N. Spikenard plants are used extensively in Sikkim and are rarely found in Arunachal Pradesh.
In the matter of distribution of medicinal plants, Sikkim N. Spikenard, Panax species, P. curua, S. Absinthe and Jade. There is a better source for Armatu; Arunachal Pradesh A. melasensis, C. cassia, M. ferrea, H. aromatica, L. Citrata, O. Indicum, P. longum, P. mulleinua, T. arjuna, T. bellerica, T. chebula. , T. citrina from tropical regions and B. ciliata, I. griffithii, P. polyphylla, R. Manjith, V. Spikenard, S. from temperate and alpine regions. absinthe, and Z. armatum. From Nagaland and Manipur, C. buchanani, C. orchioides, S. glabra and T. wallichiana are subject to a high degree of exploitation from their natural habitat. Mizoram state on a large scale Arboria is cultivated. In Assam A. Galangal, A. malaccensis, C. cassia, M. feria, O. Indicum and P. longum are cultivated. Its plants are found in Tripura state. H. antidysenterica and M. philippinensis and the distribution of H. antidysenterica in the hills of West Garo Hill district of Meghalaya were observed for in-situ conservation.
During the cultivation of tree species, it was realized that flowers and fruits occur only in the parts exposed to sunlight. This is especially true of E. sphaericus, G. Arborea, M. ferrea, T. bellerica and T. chebula. As a result many tree species need to be removed. For the purpose of conservation in the area where the plant occurs, the most suitable species is A. heterophyllum, B. Aristata, C. Tita, E. Ribes, N. Jatamansi, P. Kurrua, R. Manjith and Jade. armatum because their seeds germinate within a week or two of coming in contact with soil on the ground. Newly germinated plants can be transplanted to the same area. E. Ribes and Z. In case of Armatum, during the season after maturity of fruits, dense plants germinated in the same shade whereas if the habitat is changed, growth till flowering stage is observed but there is failure in fruiting and the fruits are used for pharmaceutics. Are the major components. A. Malacensis, G. Arboria, M. Feria and S. Asoka cultivation is very favorable in the hilly areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Acorus calamus is highly adaptable to variable climatic conditions due to its versatility. Costus speciosus is another dangerous medicinal plant whose seed germination as well as rhizome replication provides new plants.
Conservation Measures
North Eastern region of India has tropical, subtropical, temperate and alpine climatic conditions under which various types of medicinal plants grow naturally and these medicinal plants are subjected to intense pressure through unscientific collection of medicines from their natural habitat. . Some plants drop their fruits on the ground when mature and as soon as favorable climatic conditions are found, these seeds germinate and new plants grow in the same surrounding area. These plants require protection from wild animals and unwanted forest practices such as fires and soil erosion. Secondly, these young plants need to be transplanted to their place of origin and nearby areas. This practice B. Aristata, E. Ribes, N. Jatamansi, P. Kurua, S. Chiraita, V. jatamansi and Z. Feasible in case of armatum etc.
Farming
The second practice is through farming. Under this practice, writers like A. Racemosus, B. aristata, C. cassia, D. fimbriatum, E. sphaericus, E. ribes, G. Arborea, H. indicus, H. aromatica, H. kurzi, R. Serpentina, R. Manjith, S. Various attempts have been made to grow planting material or seedlings of T. asoca and T. wallichiana. Asparagus racemosus seeds germinate within 25–30 days, but seedling growth is very slow, taking at least 6 months to develop seedlings fit for transplanting. B. Aristata plants are cultivated by growing planting material through stem cuttings and seed germination. The seeds of E. ribes mature at different time intervals and both immature and mature seeds appear red, making it difficult to identify mature fruits. Only fully mature fruits with low moisture content germinate and young seedlings suitable for transplantation develop within 3-4 months. The seeds of E. sphaericus germinate by breaking the stony covering. To break the stony covering, the seeds are treated with nitric acid or broken with a hammer. Young plants are transplanted into planting pits. H. indicus is cultivated through stem cuttings with nodes. Root initiation occurs easily after the stem cuttings are treated with a dilute solution of gibberellic acid. For cultivation of H. kurzi, fresh seeds extracted from fruits are sown in polythene bags filled with soil and compost in sandy soil. Seed germination begins within 25-30 days. Plants are ready for transplanting within 5-6 months. For the cultivation of Zingiber and Aroids Curcuma cassia, Homalomena aromatica and Meranthiaceae and Liliaceae members Paris polyphylla and Polygonatum cirrifolium, the rhizomes, tubers and bulbs are used for planting and regeneration.
Discussion
Studies of medicinal plants in the north-eastern states of India have attracted the interest of scientists, businessmen and the pharmaceutical industry and are conducted regularly. Kharkongar and Joseph (1981) and Tiwari et al. (1993) highlighted aspects of medicinal plants used by local traditional healers in Meghalaya. Rai and Sharma (1994) and Pandey et al. (1991) have extensively studied the medicinal plants and folklore of Sikkim, while Rai and Lalram Lingilova (2010) and Mahanty (1994) have described the medicinal plants and folklore of Mizoram.
Sinha (1996) reported medicinal plants of Manipur and Nair et al. (2009) listed the medicinal plants of Tripura and the medicinal plants of Assam were described by Basumatary (1981); Sharma and Sharma (1994). The status of endangered medicinal plants of Sikkim, North-East and Arunachal Pradesh is described by Muddaiya et al. (1987), Majumdar (1981), Rawat et al. (1997) and Shankar and Rawat (2008) and by the website IUCN (2009), while the conservation and cultivation aspects in different states are yet to be described and the current efforts are based on endangered as well as high-risk species in different states of North-East India. The aspect of conservation and cultivation of demanding medicinal plants was to be met.
E. Ribbs and W. fruticosa has been described in detail by Shankar et al., 2012 and Shankar and Rawat (2012). The present effort was to explore the possibilities of conservation and adaptation behavior of high value endangered plants in different climatic conditions in the North Eastern States. The emphasis in this communication is on the details of various experiences. While selecting plants for specific climatic condition of one and another state, all necessary efforts were made by involving local farmers by providing planting material and through regular inspection. During the study, it was necessary to plant those tree species whose flowers and fruits are used as medicine with greater intervals or in scattered form until the produce was procured for a longer period. For plants whose leaves, roots and bark are used as medicines, a distance of 5 meters is sufficient. Like Mr. Arboria, O. Indicum, S. Esoka, T. Arjun etc. Apart from the medicinal plants mentioned in the list of rare, endangered and threatened plants, there are some other plants which are under high pressure of exploitation and which may be endangered; Berginia ciliata, Hemidesmus indicus, Rubia manjith, Tylophora indica etc. Their conservation through farming is necessary. Various methods of cultivation of endangered medicinal plants have been discussed in detail.
Conclusion
Studies show that there is a lot of pressure on the natural habitat of medicinal plants due to unorganized collection of medicinal plants and habitat destruction. Important medicinal plants used in making medicines are under threat in north-east India. Therefore, there should be conservation measures such as establishment of Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas (MPCAs) in the potential habitats and species of such important and endemic medicinal plants of the region. Moreover, local residents need to be aware about conservation and farming activities for their socio-economic upliftment.
