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Medicinal plants are globally valuable sources of herbal products. Plant-based remedies have been used for centuries and have had no alternative in the western medicine repertoire, while others and their bioactive derivatives are in high demand and have been the central focus of biomedical research. As Medicinal plants move from fringe to mainstream with a greater number of individuals seeking treatments free of side effects, considerable attention has been paid to utilize plant-based products for the prevention and cure of human diseases. An unintended consequence of this increased demand, however, is that the existence of many medicinal plants is now threatened, due to their small population size, narrow distribution area, habitat specificity, and destructive mode of harvesting. In addition, climate change, habitat loss and genetic drift have further endangered these unique species. Although extensive research has been carried out on medicinal and aromatic plants, there is relatively little information available on their global distribution patterns, conservation and the associated laws prevailing.

This book reviews the current status of threatened medicinal plants in light of increased surge in the demand for herbal medicine. It brings together chapters on both wild (non-cultivated) and domestic (cultivated) species having therapeutic values. Thematically, conventional and contemporary approaches to conservation of such threatened medicinal plants with commercial feasibility are presented. The topics of interest include, but not limited to, biotechnology, sustainable development, in situ and ex situ conservation, and even the relevance of IPR on threatened medicinal plants. We believe this book is useful to horticulturists, botanists, policy makers, conservationists, NGOs and researchers in the academia and the industry sectors.

Conservation and Utilization of Threatened Medicinal Plants

Section 1: Genetic Resources of threatened medicinal plants at crossroads

1          Threatened medicinal plants distribution and diversity and utilisation

P.E. Rajasekharan and K. Haridasan, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, India

2          Identification of threat status for medicinal plants: tools and methods

            Sanjay M Molur, Zoo Outreach Organization, India

3          Geospatial technologies for threatened medicinal plants conservation

N. Sivaraj, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, India

4          Information and database for threatened medicinal plants

            N. Venugopal, Foundation of Revitalization of Local Health Traditions, India

5          Utilization  of threatened medicinal plants as a livelihood option

            Madhav Karki, Centre for Green Economy Development, Nepal

Section 2: Conservation of threatened medicinal plants: concepts and practices

6          Conservation of threatened medicinal plants: Concepts and current practices

            D. K. Ved, TransDIsciplinary University, India

7          In situ conservation of threatened medicinal plants: concepts and practices

            Ranjith Mahindapala, International Union for Conservation of Nature, India

8          Ex situ conservation: seed banks, FGB and botanical garden

            K. Haridasa, Foundation for revitalization of Local Health Traditions, India

9          Biotechnology for conservation and multiplication of threatened medicinal plants

            P.E. Rajasekharan, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, India

10        Cryopreservation of threatened medicinal plants

Neelam Sharma, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, India

11        Cultivation of threatened medicinal plants as a tool for conservation

            Abdul Kareem, Foundation for revitalization of Local Health Traditions, India

12        Utilization of threatened of medicinal plants: problems, progress and prospects

            Anil Kumar, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, India

Section 3: Characterization and evaluation of threatened medicinal plants

13        Morphological characterization of threatened medicinal plants

            Hima Bindu, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, India

14        Chemical characterization of threatened medicinal  plants

            V.K. Rao, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, India

15        Genomics and Molecular characterization of threatened medicinal plants

            Sarah O'Connor, John Innes Centre, UK

16        Drugs from threatened medicinal plants

            D. D. Soejarto, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA

Section 4: Case studies on different threatened medicinal plants distributed in different agroecological regions

17        High altitude threatened medicinal plants

Ravinder Raina, Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, India

18        Threatened plants of Western Ghats

N.Sasidharan, Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), India

19        Threatened medicinal plants of Himalayan regions

Hemant K. Badola, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, India

20        Threatened medicinal plants from the other regions of the world  

Sarah A. Laird, University College London, UK

Section 5: Legal aspects of threatened medicinal plants

23                Intellectual Property Rights related to threatened medicinal plants           

P.E. Rajasekharan, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, India

24                Importance of Traditional knowledge related to medicinal plants its utilisation and protection

Gerry Bodeker, Mathematical Institute, Oxford

25                Access and benefit sharing in threatened medicinal plants 

Suneetha M. Subramanian, United Nations University, Japan