(a) whether the attention of the Union Government has been drawn to the news-item appearing in Telugu regional daily, `EENADU` dated 23.2.2001, that one medicinal plant named Bog Mirtal is having Medicinal and curative properties for many modern diseases found by British scientists; and
(b) if so, whether the Union Government propose to know the details for further research on the medicinal plant in our country ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (SHRI BACHI SINGH RAWAT)
(a) & (b) : Bog Myrtle (Botanical name: Myrica gale) also known as Bayberry or Dutch Myrtle found most
comonly in the higher latitudes of Northern Hemisphere; especially Great Britain is a plant having medicinal
and other uses. Since this species is not commonly found in our country, there are no programmes for
research. However, there are a number of other indigenously available plant species with properties more or
less similar to those of the Bog Myrtle. Species of Myrica occuring in India is Myrica nagi synonym Myrica
esculenta which has been reported to attenuates stress and toxicity in animal models. Anti-diabetic effect
of M. nagi on animal models has also been reported.