A comprehensive review on ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of genus Bistorta (L.) scop.

The genus Bistorta comprises about 43 accepted species that are widely used by local people and medicinal practitioners for the treatment of rheumatism, tuberculosis, inflammation, respiratory infection, and other diseases. The objective of this review is to present up-to-date information from the scientific literature about the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Bistorta. At present, there is a lack of a comprehensive review that consolidates the various scientific studies conducted on the genus Bistorta. To address this knowledge gap, a global review has been compiled on the genus Bistorta, which emphasizes ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. To gather information about Bistorta, relevant keywords were used to search internet databases including Google scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, Web of Science, Europe PMC, CNKI, and Wiley Online Library. Additionally, published books that provided an overview of existing literature studies were consulted for reference purposes. Chemical structures and formulas of compounds were verified using the PubChem database and drawn using Chem Draw Ultra 6.0. The scientific nomenclature utilized in this review follows The World Flora Online and The Plant of the World Online (PoWo). A comprehensive evaluation of literature sources revealed that the genus Bistorta has been recognized for its ethnomedical properties and has been used in traditional healthcare for several millennia. Chemical analysis has identified various compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids saponins, terpenes, sterols, and coumarins which have been shown to have significant pharmacological effects such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant anti-rheumatic and anti-microbial properties. The pharmacological research has only partially validated the traditional and local uses of Bistorta species. Further research is required to investigate the mechanisms of the plant's active compounds, as well as its potential therapeutic applications in treating conditions like diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, there is no clinical evidence to provide the health benefits of these plants. To confirm the pharmacological activities, clinical efficacy, and non-toxicity of Bistorta species, more comprehensive and systematic preclinical studies, and clinical trials are needed.

Seed biology imperative for conservation and restoration of Swertia thomsonii C.B. Clarke-an endemic medicinal plant of Himalaya.

Endemic medicinal plants deserve immediate research priorities as they typically show a limited distribution range, represent few and fragmented populations in the wild and are currently facing anthropogenic threats like overharvesting and habitat degradation. One of the important aspects of ensuring their successful conservation and sustainable utilization lies in comprehending the fundamental seed biology, particularly the dormancy status and seed germination requirements of these plants. Here, we studied the seed eco-physiology and regeneration potential of Swertia thomsonii-an endemic medicinal plant of western Himalaya. We investigated the effect of different pre-sowing treatments, sowing media and sowing depth on seed germination parameters of S. thomsonii. Seeds of S. thomsonii exhibit morphophysiological dormancy (MPD), i.e. when the embryo of the seed is morphologically and/or physiologically immature. Wet stratification at 4 °C for 20 days, pre-sowing treatment with 50 ppm GA3 and pre-sowing treatment with 50 ppm KNO3 were found ideal for overcoming dormancy and enhancing the seed germination of S. thomsonii. Furthermore, seed germination and seedling survival were significantly influenced by pre-sowing treatments, sowing media and sowing depth. The percentage of seed germination and seedling survival got enhanced up to 84-86% and 73-75% respectively when seeds were pre-treated with GA3 or KNO3 and then sown in cocopeat + perlite (1:1) at a depth of 1 cm. The information obtained in the present study outlines an efficient protocol for large-scale cultivation of S. thomsonii thereby limiting the pressure of overexploitation from its natural habitats and may also help in the restoration and conservation of this valuable plant species.

Exploring morphological variability, in vitro antioxidant potential, and HR-LCMS phytochemical profiling of Phlomis cashmeriana Royle ex Benth. across different habitats of Kashmir Himalaya.

Phytochemicals are broadly acknowledged for their health-promoting effects owing to the fact of their capacity to counteract free radicals (e.g., superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, hydroperoxyl radical, singlet oxygen, hypochlorite, and nitric oxide) and shield against oxidative stress induced by environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between altitude, morphology, soil parameters, in vitro antioxidant potential and phytochemical composition of Phlomis cashmeriana collected from four different locations of Kashmir Himalaya characterized by diverse habitats and elevations. Various factors, such as extraction method, solvent polarity, and habitat conditions, can impact the quantity and efficacy of phytochemicals in plants. The aim of current study was to analyze phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of P. cashmeriana, an important medicinal plant found in the Kashmir Himalaya region. The antioxidant activity was accessed using several assays and the plant populations were selected based on their diverse habitat features and altitudes. HR-LCMS was conducted for both below-ground and above-ground parts. Some important compounds such as, catechin, vinainsenoside, acutilobin, and kaempferol were reported for the first time from P. cashmeriana. Results showed that methanol was the most efficient solvent for extracting phytochemicals. During the current study, it was also found that the below-ground parts exhibited superior antioxidant activity compared to the above-ground parts. Notably, Site IV demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential; a positive correlation between altitude and antioxidant activity was also found. In conclusion, present research identified specific elite populations having highest antioxidant potential and are well-suited for large-scale cultivation of P. cashmeriana.

Variability in morphology, phytochemicals and antioxidant activity in Bistorta amplexicaulis (D. Don) Greene populations under variable habitats and altitudes.

Phytochemicals have become significantly important for scientific research since these possess incredibly remarkable health benefits, especially antioxidant potential to scavenge free radicals and combat the harmful effects of oxidative stress caused by adverse environmental factors. The efficacy and quantity of these phytochemicals relies upon numerous factors including the extraction method, solvent polarity and the habitat features in which the plant is growing. In this study we emphasized on phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of Bistorta amplexicaulis, an important medicinal plant species from Kashmir Himalaya. We evaluated antioxidant activity using different assays from all the selected sites to enumerate the impact of habitat. The sites were selected based on varying habitat features and altitude. Our results revealed that Ethyl acetate is the potent solvent for the extraction of phytochemicals. Below ground parts exhibited better scavenging activity than the above ground parts. Amongst the sites, we found the maximum antioxidant potential at Site I. A positive correlation was found between antioxidant activity and altitude while soil attributes (OC, OM, N, P, and K) and most of the morphological traits showed a negative correlation. Overall, our study identified the elite populations that could be utilized for mass propagation and harness the ultimate antioxidant potential of B. amplexicaulis.

Functional trait diversity and aboveground biomass of herbaceous vegetation in temperate forests of Kashmir Himalaya.

Studying functional trait diversity can provide crucial clues about the adaptive survival strategies of regional plant species pool. Despite large-scale trait datasets available worldwide, the plant trait data from many biodiversity hotpot regions, like the Himalaya is still scarce. In this study, we aimed to investigate the plant functional traits and aboveground biomass of understory herbaceous vegetation in temperate forests of Overa-Aru wildlife sanctuary of Kashmir Himalaya. We also investigate how these functional traits correlate and what is the magnitude of trait-biomass relationship across the herbaceous species pool. For this, we conducted field sampling and measured leaf functional traits and aboveground biomass of 38 plant species in the study region during peak growing season (July-August) in the year 2021. The results revealed a significant interspecific trait variability among the species studied. We observed a high variability in leaf size and type spectra of the species, with nanophyll and simple leaf lamina, respectively, the most common types among the species studied. The correlation analysis revealed that plant height was positively correlated with aboveground biomass. The variation partitioning analysis revealed that the plant height explained the maximum fraction of variation in aboveground biomass, while least by specific leaf area. Overall, the findings from the present study provide useful insights in understanding trait-trait relationship and trait-environment interaction at the regional scale and can also help in recognizing adaptive functional traits of plant species that determine plant survival under the changing climate in this Himalayan region.

Diversity and utilization patterns of fodder resources in a Himalayan protected area.

In the Himalaya, collection of fodder from protected areas by local communities for sustenance of their livestock is an integral part of mountain farming systems. Here, we assess the diversity and utilization patterns of fodder resources collected by local communities from Overa-Aru wildlife sanctuary in Kashmir Himalaya. A multi-stage random sampling was employed to select sample villages (5) and households (81) for the survey. Data were collected through personal interviews of household heads administering an interview schedule and then analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression model. The results revealed that 74 fodder species were collected by the local communities from the sanctuary. The diversity and magnitude of fodder resource utilization varied across the study area. The fodder collection and utilization on per day and annual basis ranged from 25 to 90 and 2760 to 13,770 kg/household, respectively. Across the surveyed villages, the fodder was mainly collected by the females (60%). A positive but non-significant relationship was found between the number of persons collecting fodder and quantity of fodder collection/household/day, while a positive and significant relationship was found between the herd size and quantity of fodder collection/household/day. We also found a negative but non-significant relationship between the education status of respondents and the number of livestock holding. Based on our findings, we suggest policy and management interventions such as regulating livestock grazing, promoting plantation of frequently collected fodder species, and better use of agriculture byproducts to guide the sustainable management of fodder resources in this Himalayan protected area, with learning for elsewhere.

Sustaining Traditional Ethnomedicinal Knowledge and Protected Areas in Synergy: A Case Study of Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary in Kashmir Himalaya.

The ethnic communities living near protected areas are critically dependent on medicinal plants for their healthcare. Although several ethnomedicinal studies are available from the Himalaya, quantitative studies focusing on protected areas in this region are largely overlooked. In this study, we aimed to document the ethnomedicinal plants of the Overa-Aru wildlife sanctuary in Kashmir Himalaya. We conducted a systematic field survey in the study area during 2020 - 2021 to collect primary data from 110 participants through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The data was analyzed using quantitative indices and Pearson's correlation. We recorded 64 plant species used against 8 human disease categories, including some first-time reports from the region. Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the most dominant families and herbs were the dominant growth form. The most common plant part used were leaves, and the main method of preparation was decoction. Plant species with the highest relative frequency of citation was Achillea millifolium (0.83). Informant consensus factor for each disease category ranged from 0.94 to 0.97. We found a strong positive correlation between participants' age and citations (r = 0.85), but a negative correlation between the participants' education status and citations (r = - 0.11). Our results revealed that the younger generation possesses the least ethnomedicinal information. We recommend that the species with high use values and fidelity level merit priority in phytochemical and pharmaceutical studies. Our findings highlight that protected areas, besides their prime importance in biodiversity conservation, play a pivotal role in providing the healthcare provisioning ecosystem services to the ethnic communities.

Fungal endophytes as prolific source of phytochemicals and other bioactive natural products: A review.

Endophytic fungi are those that live internally in apparently healthy and asymptomatic hosts. Endophytic fungi appear to be ubiquitous; indeed, no study has yet shown the existence of a plant species without endophytes. High species diversity is another characteristic of endophytic mycobiota which is depicted by the fact that it is quite common for endophyte surveys to find assemblages consisting of more than 30 fungal species per host plant species. Medicinal plants had been used to isolate and characterize directly the bioactive metabolites. However, the discovery of fungal endophytes inside these plants with capacity to produce the same compounds shifted the focus of new drug sources from plants to fungi. Bioactive natural products from endophytic fungi, isolated from different plant species, are attracting considerable attention from natural product chemists and biologists alike which is clearly depicted by the steady increase of publications devoted to this topic during the recent years. This review will highlight the chemical potential of endophytic fungi with focus on the detection of pharmaceutically valuable plant constituents as products of fungal biosynthesis. In addition, it will cover newly discovered endophytic fungi and also new bioactive metabolites reported in recent years from fungal endophytes. It summarizes the up-to-date and comprehensive information on bioactive compounds from endophytic fungi by having done a thorough survey of literature.

Improvement of sexual destination in Atropa acuminata Royle (Solanaceae)--a critically endangered medicinal plant of Northwestern Himalaya.

Good seed set is no guarantee of absolute sexual destination in plants. Seed viability and seed vigour are crucial phases in the life cycle of every sexually reproducing plant. The present study was an attempt to improve the sexual destination-the germination and seedling survival of Atropa acuminata Royle (Solanaceae), an endemic and extremely restricted sub-alpine medicinal plant of North West Himalayas under ex situ conditions at (1580 m) with an aim to develop a successful germination protocol and agrotechnique in order to revegetate disturbed areas. Among various treatments given to the seeds, GA3, Scarification, warm water treatment and chilling at 4 degrees C for 90 days were found to be most effective with percentage germination of 73.3 +/- 18.80, 79.95 +/- 9.40, 66.6 +/- 6.6, 45 +/- 7.07 (X +/- SE), respectively. The results reveal that the seeds do not germinate unless specific environmental signals or events occur which trigger the genetic and hormonal response of the seeds thereby facilitating their germination. The diversity and the extent of the dormancy mechanisms encountered here suggest that under harsh conditions, natural selection may favour seeds with a genetic system for dormancy and delayed germination. A relation was observed between seed size/weight, % age germination and subsequent seedling survival. Seedling survival is also effected by specific habitat requirement and stiff intra and inter-specific competition particularly the whimsical behaviour of Sambucus wigthiana (an alien species which grows in the vicinity of Atropa) is beyond the ken of Atropa, adding fuel to the already burning candle apart from habitat fragmentation and herbivory.