Extent, Abundance, Threats and Information Gap on Alpine Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Western Himalaya, India: A Review

Alpine region of western Himalaya arbours rich array of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) owing to diverse topography and climatic conditions. These MAPs are significant for traditional system of medicine. However, our understanding on their extent, abundance and management strategies are meagre, leading their population declined at an unprecedented rate. Hence, the present study assesses the directionality, quality and sufficiency of past and ongoing research for conservation and management of MAPs wealth in the region. We analysed over 300 research articles on MAPs of alpine region to consolidate the knowledge on population status, ethnobotany, biotechnological studies, anthropogenic pressure and information gaps and future scope for research. The results reveal that the landscape has long history of MAPs studies dates back to 1849 and progressed remarkably after 1990. Initially (until 2000) most of the studies were on surveys (diversity) and ethnobotanical aspects, extended to biochemistry and biotechnology after 2000. Studies are very site specific (of the total reported alpine meadows (82) of the state, about 45% of the studies conducted only in 10 meadows) and species specific, where of the total MAPs reported from the region, only 8–10 species are studies across meadows viz., Angelica glauca in 25 meadows, Picrorhiza kurroa in 16 meadows and Dactylorhiza hatagirea in 14 meadows. Majority of the studies are confined to biochemistry (23%), followed by biotechnology (12.2%) and ethnobotany (9.4%). Till date, the abundance of only 31 MAPs is studied in few meadows, having average 1–2 individuals/m2. Only 16 species have been studies for multiplication in laboratories using biotechnological tools, however none of them succeed in producing at large scale. Inadequate information on geo-spatial extant of species, habitat suitability, lack of information on demand and supply ratio, climate change impact, no clear-cut management strategies for MAPs were identified as area of immediate concern. Therefore, despite some national, state and scattered local initiatives on management, conservation and sustainable utilization of MAPs, there still exist gaps in our knowledge and understanding in extent and availability of MAPs resource base in the alpine region of western Himalaya.