Question : Conservation of Medicinal Plants

Will the Minister of AYURVEDA,YOGA AND NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

(a) whether National Medicinal Plant Board is conserving, cultivating, processing and storing all the available medicinal and aromatic plants across the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise and plant-wise;

(c) whether it is fact that many medicinal plants are becoming endangered and on the verge of extinction, if so, the details thereof indicating such medicinal and aromatic plants that are endangered along with the efforts being made to conserve them;

(d) whether the Government is aware that there are many tribes, such as Yanadi Tribes in Seshachalam hills in Andhra Pradesh who have been using many medicinal plants for therapeutic use and for relief from different ailments; and

(e) if so, whether the Government has conducted any study to explore such medicinal plants for commercial use in the country and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA,
YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a): Yes, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH is conserving, cultivating, processing and storing the medicinal plants across the country.

(b): National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) has been implementing following Schemes w.e.f. 2008-09 for overall development of the Medicinal Plants sector in the country:
(i) Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” aimed at providing project based support for survey, inventorization, in-situ conservation, ex-situ conservation / herbal gardens, linkage with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), Research and Development etc.


Under Central Sector Scheme, the medicinal plants supported for conservation and resource augmentation in different states through State Forest Department are Commiphora wighttii (Gugulu), Rauvolfia serpentina (Sarpagandha), Asparagus racemosus (Satawar), Aegle marmelos (Bael), Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh), Aquilaria malaccensis syn.A. agallocha (Agar), Swertia chirata (Chirata), Aconitum heterophyllum (Atis), Ocimum sanctam(Tulsi), Sanatalum album (Chandan), Saraca asoca (Ashok), Saussarea costus (Kuth), Bacopa monnieri (Brahami), Acorus calamus (Vach), Solanum nigrum (Makoy), Terminalia arjuna (Arjun), Picrorhiza kurrooa (Kutki), , Hipphophae rhamnoides (Seabuck thorn), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Nardostachys jatamansi (Jatamansi), Cinnamomum tamala (Tejpat), Berberis aristata (Daruhaldi), Pterocarpus santalinus(Rakta chandan), Terminalia ballerica (Baheda), Taxus wallichiana (Talispatra), Embelia ribes (Vai vidang), Rubia cordifolia (Mangistha), Mucuna pruriens (Kawanch), Cinnamomum verum (Dalchini), Terminalia chebula (Haritaki), Phyllanthus emblica (Amla), Boswellia serrata, Origanum vulgare (Van Tulsi), Oroxylum indicum (Shyonaka, Sona), Garcinia indiaca (Kokum), Gmelina arborea (Gambhari), Tinospora cordifolia (Giloe), Pterocarpus marsupium (Beejasar), Podophyllum hexandrum (Bankakari), Panax pseudo- ginseng (Ginseng), Ficus racemosa (Anjir), Aconitum balfouri (Vatsanabh), Alpinia galanga (Kalanjan), Ficus racemosa (Anjir),Rheum emodi (Revand chini), Dioscorea deltoidea (Baniatakari), Valeriana jatamansi (Tagar), Aconitum ferox (Vatsnabh), Stereospermum suaveolens (Padla), Gymnema sylvestre (Gudmar), Strychnos nux-vomica (Kuchla), Crataeva nurvala (Varun), Sterculia urens (Gular), Salacia oblonga (Saptarangi), Oroxylum indicum (Syonaka), Ptreospermum chelenoides (Padal), Premna corymbosa (Agnimanth), Uraria picta (Prishmnparni), Solanum surratens (Choti Knatakari), Solanum indicum (Brihati), Gloriosa superba (Kalihari), Coscinium fenestatum (Pita-chandana),Paris polyphylla (Satwa) etc.


(ii) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “National Mission on Medicinal Plants” primarily aimed at supporting cultivation of medicinal plants on private land with backwards linkages for establishment of nurseries, for supply of quality planting material and forward linkages for post-harvest management etc. Since 2014-15, the Scheme is being implemented as “Medicinal Plants” component under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) of Ministry of AYUSH. Presently, under the scheme, cultivation / farming of 140 prioritized medicinal plants species are being supported @30%, 50% and 75% of cost of its cultivation. The list of 140 medicinal plants is at Annexure –I.

Under NAM Scheme, Ministry of AYUSH has supported Storage/ Godown to different States/UT,details at Annexure – II.

(c): According to Botanical Survey of India (BSI), an organization under Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has reported that some of the medicinal & aromatic plants with high commercial value became endangered or critically endangered due to over exploitation and anthropogenic activities. About 76 threatened and critically endangered species are given as follows:
Aconitum balfouri, Aconitum chasmanthum, Aconitum deinorrhizum, Aconitum falconeri var latilobum, Aconitum ferox, Aconitum heterophyllum, Acorus gramineus, Allium stracheyi, Amyris balsamifera, Angelica glauca, Anogeissus sericea var. numularia, Aquillaria mallaccensis, Aquilaria khasiana, Aristolochia bracteolata, Aristolochia indica, Arnebia benthamii, Atropa acuminata, Berberis affinis, Berberis apiculata, Berberis aristata, Bergenia stracheyi, Boronia megastigma, Capparis pachyphylla, Carum villosum, Cedrus deodara,Chlorophytum borivilianum, Colchicum luteum, Commiphora wightii, Coptis teeta, Coscinium fenestratum, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Dioscorea deltoidea, Elaeocarpus prunifolius, Ephedra gerardiana, Ferrula gummosa, Gaultheria fragrantissima, Gentiana kurooa, Gloriosa superba, Gymnocladus assamicus, Hedychium coronarium, Hedychium spicatum, Hyoscyamus niger, Hydnocarpus macrocarpa, Inula racemosa, Iphigenia indica, Iphigenia pallida, Iphigenia stellata, Jurinea dolomiaea, Kolanchoe roseus,Lilium polyphyllum, Madhuca insignis, Myristica fragrans, Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae, Nardostachys grandiflora, Origanum vulgare, Panax pseudoginseng, Picrorhiza kurrooa, Podophyllum hexandrum, Pogostemon cablin, Pterocarpus santalinus, Rauvolfia serpentina, Rheum emodi, Santalum album, Satureja horensis, Saussurea bracteata, Saussurea costus, Saussurea gnaphalodes, Swertia chirayita, Taxus wallichiana, Taxocarpus kurzii,Tribulus rajasthanensis, Urginea indica, Urginea maritima and Valeriana leschenaultia, Vitex peduncularis.

Under NMPB’s Central Sector Scheme on Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants special attention is being given to conserve endangered species of medicinal plants in their natural habitat by way of in-situ conservation through development of Medicinal Plants Conservation& Development Areas (MPCDAs) and by way of ex-situ conservation through development of Herbal Gardens.

(d) & (e): Yes, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) is actively engaged in the Collection, Local Health Traditions/ folklore practiced by Local health traditional/Folk healers/tribes related to therapeutic use of medicinal plants under Tribal Health Care Research Program (THCRP) which has been implemented in 15 States/UTs.