Alpine and Sub-Alpine Flowering Plant Diversity Vis-á-Vis Medicinal Plants in the Sikkim Himalaya

The alpine region of the Sikkim Himalaya is well known as an important biodiversity rich area of the world. The biodiversity of these regions is under high anthropogenic pressure and falls within the Himalaya biodiversity hotspots as recognised by Conservation International. As a result, during the last three centuries, the entire region has drawn botanists, plant enthusiasts, and plant hunters worldwide to study and investigate its lush vegetation. Many East Himalayan species are no longer found in their natural environment. Sikkim is one of the world’s most floristically diverse regions. Numerous groups of indigenous people have established native traditional wisdom there, nearly in isolation, without the assistance of sophisticated civilization. The importance of Sikkim Himalayan alpine and sub-alpine vegetation from a utilitarian point of view is immense. There are numerous publications related to several types of useful plants native to the region, including numerous medicinally important species of plants. The present communication deals with a review of the different uses of 169 plant species belonging to 47 families for the treatment of 33 major ailments among rural communities in the Sikkim Himalaya. During the different explorations of plants in the alpine and subalpine regions of the Sikkim Himalaya, the different traditional uses associated with the plants were collected from selected informants and from published literature. The traditional use patterns, parts used, modes of preparation and administration of doses were reviewed and documented in detail.