Phyto-Pharmacological Aspects of Ethnomedicinal Plants Found in Himalayan Region: A Systematic Approach Towards Drug Natural Resources

Received: 17-Apr-2021 Accepted Date: Jul 22, 2021 ; Published: 28-Jul-2021

Introduction

Natural products, including plants, animals and minerals have been the basis of treatment of human diseases. History of medicine dates back practically to the existence of human civilization. The current accepted modern medicine or allopathy has gradually developed over the years by scientific and observational efforts of scientists. However, the basis of its development remains rooted in traditional medicine and therapies. The history of medicine includes many ludicrous therapies. Nevertheless, ancient wisdom has been the basis of modern medicine and will remain as one important source of future medicine and therapeutics. The future of natural products drug discovery will be more holistic, personalized and involve wise use of ancient and modern therapeutic skills in a complementary manner so that maximum benefits can be accrued to the patients and the community [1].

The traditional medicine is widely used for various human ailments. The usage of herbal medicine could be even traced right from the beginning of mankind. Man tried to know about the plants around him to satisfy his basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing. All plants in this planet are important because of its medicinal qualities. Traditional system of medicines has become significantly more popular all over the globe because of the effective and curative nature for chronic disease with less toxicity. Herbal medicines are not a simple task since many factors influence the biological efficacy and reproducible therapeutic effect [2].

Herbal medicines have been used in traditional medical practices for centuries. The usage of herbs and a medicinal plant to cure various diseases was in practice from the time immemorial. They have been used since ancient days as the plant and plant provide a useful source of medicine and pharmaceuticals that can be used to treat not only human disease but can also be used to enhance the animal production and health, food safety and quality [3].

Herbalism also known as herbal medicine is the study of botany and the use of medicinal plants. Plants have been the basis for medical treatments through much of human history and such traditional medicine is still widely practiced today. Herbal drugs consist of all the officially recognized system of India like Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homepathy, but still 70% of India’s population still use Non-Allopathic system .so in this there is a compilation of some of the herbal medicines from different parts of India having different therapeutic use [4].

India is sitting on a gold mine of well recorded and well-practiced knowledge of traditional herbal medicine. But, unlike china, India has not been able to capitalize on this herbal wealth by promoting its use in the developed world despite their renewed interest in herbal medicines. This can be achieved by judicious product identification based on diseases found in the developed world for which no medicine is available; such herbal medicines will find easy acess into those countries. Traditional medicine tends to be practiced outside of allopathic medicine, which is the dominant system of medicine in the developed world.

Importance of traditional medicine for indigenous peoples and local communities

Traditional medicine also known as alternative, complimentary, and indigenous or folk medicine comprises knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine.

The world health organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as “the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different culture, where explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. The WHO has referred to these system as “holistic”, i.e, that of viewing man in his totality within a wide ecological spectrum, and of emphasizing the view that ill health or disease is brought about by imbalance or disequilibrium of man in his total ecological system and not only by the causative agents and pathogenic evolution”. Traditional medicine is not only a vital source of health care, but also an important source of income for many communities. Traditional medicine include all kinds of folk medicine, unconventional medicine and indeed any kind of therapeutic method that had been handed down by the tradition of a community or ethnic group.The discovery of most of the medicinal plants is done by pre industrial communities today, and many of them are involved in domestication, collection, cultivation and management of medicinal plant source. This activity support many indigenous people and local communities, and also help in the conservation of traditional medicine [5].

Traditional medicines have been used throughout the beginning of human history and played a significant role in the treatment and Prevention of various diseases. Ancient, Indian medicinal systems viz. Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Amchi and local health traditions provides a strong base for the use of a large number of plants in terms of safety and effectiveness leads for the prevention and treatment of different disease conditions. Herbs & herbal formulations are used as rejuvenators, 80% of the people in throughout the world currently uses herbal medicine for primary health care according to World health organization WHO) [6].

Herbal medicine is the important component of Ayurvedic, homeopathic, naturopathic, traditional Chinese medicine and Native American Indian medicine. As per WHO, 74% of 119 modern plant-derived pharmaceutical medicines are used in ways that correlated directly with their traditional uses [7].

Methodology

We order to summarize the current evidences regarding the medicinal plant a systematic review and of the literature were taken. The data was collected through secondary sources mainly from the website of Government, State Medicine Plant Board. References from research papers, books, articles were taken for interpretation of data. Along with intensive survey of locally available information on the use of traditional herbal medicine some collected through personal interview and literature survey. The purpose of the study was not only collection but also to know the relationship of medicinal plants with the community. (Table 1)

Table 1: Ethnomedicinal plants found in himalayan region [8-31] [Figures 1-4]

Figure 1: Images of ethnomedicinal plants

Figure 2: Images of ethnomedicinal plants

Figure 3: Images of Ethno-medicinal plants

Figure 4: Images of Ethno-medicinal plants

Conclusion

The Himalayan people have a close relationship with nature. Food, fruits, fodder, medicinal plants and their health care they are fully dependent upon forest. Local people in this region, use these traditionally available medicinal plants for health and believe that these are easily available, less expensive and have no side effects as compare to modern medicine The present situation of traditional knowledge regarding to medicinal plants everywhere is an issue as the traditional knowledge is gradually declining and disappearing from the countryside. In north Indian medicinal plants have strong acceptance in spiritual activities by inhabitant communities, who worshiped the plants in the form of god, goddesses, and minor deities. Due to the unavailability of modern health facilities, poverty, connectivity with urban centre, awareness, etc. people in rural areas are still relying on traditional medicines for their health care. Primary healthacare uses wild plants having medicinal value due to lack of modern medicines. Due to the so many issues like deforestation, impact of tourism on natural vegetation of this region, population explosion & heavily construction and climatic change in Himalayan region .We have to make proper policies and do implement these to conserve the forests and medicinal plants . The barren land Fallow land should be used for the protection and cultivation of medicinal plants.

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