NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: IJNPR Vol.1(1) [March 2010]

Nutrient profile and antioxidant components of Costus speciosus Sm. and Costus igneus Nak.

Title: Nutrient profile and antioxidant components of Costus speciosus Sm. and Costus igneus Nak.

Authors: D, Vishalakshi Devi; Urooj, Asna

Abstract: Leaves powder of two medicinal plants, viz. Costus speciosus (Koenig) Sm. and Costus igneus N.E.Br. was analyzed for their proximate composition and antioxidant components. Both the species contain 18 and 15.3% protein, 46 and 120 mg iron, 81 and 216 mg ascorbic acid, 660 and 1833μg β-carotene, 149 and 25 mg α-tocopherol, 75 and 400 mmol of GSH, 4.4 and 2.1g total phenols and 0.848 and 1.89 mg/g extract of total flavonoids, respectively. The powders were subjected to sequential extraction and screened for phytochemicals. The data revealed that both the plants are good sources of nutrients and natural antioxidant components. Further studies are needed to evaluate the medicinal properties of these plants.

Page(s): 116-118

Traditional medicinal practices among the tribal people of Raigarh (Chhatisgarh), India

Title: Traditional medicinal practices among the tribal people of Raigarh (Chhatisgarh), India

Authors: Jain, S P; Singh, J

Abstract: The ethno-medico-botanical studies have been carried out in different tribal pockets of Raigarh district of Chhatisgharh State. This has led to the documenting of uses of 35 plant species in various diseases ranging from liver disorders to simple application for body pain. The findings reported may form the basis for bioprospection and consequently development of scientifically validated new and novel drugs for diseases like hepatitis, cancer, malaria, rheumatism and other various infectious diseases, where no satisfactory cure is available.

Page(s): 109-115

Traditional Herbal Medicinal Knowledge in Sagar Taluk of Shimoga District, Karnataka, India

Title: Traditional Herbal Medicinal Knowledge in Sagar Taluk of Shimoga District, Karnataka, India

Authors: Rajakumar, N; Shivanna, M B

Abstract: An ethno-medico-botanical field survey was conducted from May 2006 to July 2007 to document the uses of medicinal plants by traditional herbal healers in Sagar taluk of Shimoga district, Karnataka State, India. The information about plant species and their local name, part used, mode of drug preparation, dosage and duration was collected from 22 herbal practitioners and knowledgeable elder people residing in 10 randomly selected villages using semi-structured and questionnaire based interviews. In the present study, a total of 48 plant species belonging to 44 genera and 31 families used by folk practitioners to treat various common to chronic human and veterinary ailments were documented. Traditional healers in the study villages have a fairly good knowledge about the medicinal values of locally available plants, discussed in this paper.

Page(s): 102-108

Native plant genetic resources and traditional foods of Uttarakhand Himalaya for sustainable food security and livelihood

Title: Native plant genetic resources and traditional foods of Uttarakhand Himalaya for sustainable food security and livelihood

Authors: Mehta, P S; Negi, K S; Ojha, S N

Abstract: In view of changing of food habits of local communities of Uttarakhand Himalaya, a study to document the native plant genetic resources of food importance and traditional recipes was conducted. Both cultivated and wild edible plant species were documented through scheduled interviews. With the help of respondents the questionnaires were filled up. After conducting the survey in the whole Uttarakhand state the plant species of food importance were identified and a large number of traditional food items were enumerated. The relationship between plant species of food importance and sustainable livelihood was also discussed.

Page(s): 89-96