Plants

Banana: Introduction, Geographical distribution, Morphology, Phytochemical constituents, Pharmacological activities and Traditional Uses

Leave a Comment / Botany, Plants /

1. The banana plant, Musa paradisiaca, is a big herb with a succulent, very juicy stem that is a cylinder of leaf-petiole sheaths. It is often mistakenly called a “tree” and can grow up to 20 to 25 feet (6 to 7.5 meters) tall, emerging from a thick rhizome or corm.
2. The leaves are smooth, soft, elliptic or oblong, and they are numbered 4 or 5 to 15. They are spirally arranged, and they unfold once a week as the plant grows.
3. The inflorescence, a terminal spike that emerges from the heart at the tip of the stem, is an altered growth point. Initially, it appears as a big, tapering, long-oval bud covered in purple. The slender, nectar-rich, serrated, white blooms are arranged in whorled double rows along the flowering stalk as it opens, with a thick, waxy bract that resembles a hood and is deep red inside.

Banana: Introduction, Geographical distribution, Morphology, Phytochemical constituents, Pharmacological activities and Traditional Uses Read More »

Queen’s-tears: Introduction, Classification, Habitat, and Morphology

Leave a Comment / Botany, Plants /

The Bromeliaceae family includes the vascular plant species known as Billbergia spp. The Queens Tears plant, or Billbergia nutans H. Wendl. Ex Regel, is one of the most widely marketed species. The species of the Bromeliaceae family, also known as bromeliads, are sold as attractive plants and are frequently utilized in landscaping and interior design projects. Some species are in danger of going extinct as a result of increased unlawful harvest in their native growing habitats in recent years because of the growing demand for these ornamental species (Cooper and Cave, 2019; Rejane et al., 2012).

Queen’s-tears: Introduction, Classification, Habitat, and Morphology Read More »

Hollyhocks: Introduction, Taxonomy, Habitat, Cultivation, propagation and collection, Plant Description, Phytochemicals, Properties and uses

Leave a Comment / Botany, Plants /

Althaea rosea is a member of the Malvaceae family. The Greek word altho, which means to cure, is the source of the generic name Althaea. Hollyhocks are tall, unbranched plants that can be annual, biennial, or perennial. Star-shaped hairs typically cover the herbage. The leaf blades are carried on long petioles and are frequently serrated or lobed.

Hollyhocks: Introduction, Taxonomy, Habitat, Cultivation, propagation and collection, Plant Description, Phytochemicals, Properties and uses Read More »

Happiness tree: Introduction, Classification, Distribution, Chemical constituents, Morphological Characters and Uses

Leave a Comment / Botany, Plants /

Garcinia subelliptica, widely referred to as the Fukugi tree or happy tree, is an evergreen that grows in coastal forests in East and Southeast Asia, particularly in the Ryukyu Islands of India, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Native to the tropics and subtropics of Asia and Africa, fukugi trees are members of the Clusiaceae family, specifically the species Garcinia. The genus includes beautiful plants with a thick green leaf canopy. When fully grown, fukugi trees—evergreen tropical trees—are 10 to 15 meters tall. Because they only have one primary trunk supporting alternating pairs of erect branches, fukugi trees are very unique. This results in compact, conical crowns. Because they are compact and erect, these trees are planted as windbreaks on Okinawa.

Happiness tree: Introduction, Classification, Distribution, Chemical constituents, Morphological Characters and Uses Read More »

Snake Plant (mother-in-law’s tongue,): Introduction, Classification, Taxonomy, Distribution, Morphological Characters, Phytochemistry, and  Uses

Leave a Comment / Botany, Plants /

Dracaena trifasciata belonging to the family Asparagaceae, is a perennial herb, native to tropical West Africa, but widely grown as an ornamental plant in houses, gardens and thickets in many parts of the world. The plant is commonly known as mother-in-law’s tongue, snake plant, viper’s bowstring hemp or Saint George’s sword, because of the shape and sharp margins of its leaves that resemble snakes. It is also known as the “viper’s bowstring hemp” because it is one of the sources of plant fibres used to make bowstrings.

Snake Plant (mother-in-law’s tongue,): Introduction, Classification, Taxonomy, Distribution, Morphological Characters, Phytochemistry, and  Uses Read More »

Saussurea lappa (Kuth): Introduction, Scientific classification, Origin, Discovery, Description, Phytochemistry and Uses

Leave a Comment / Medicinal Plants of Kashmir, Plants /

Saussurea lappa, commonly known as Kuth or Costus, is a perennial medicinal plant that holds a significant place in traditional herbal medicine systems due to its various therapeutic properties. Kuth (Saussurea lappa) is a herb belonging to the family Asteraceae. The genus Saussurea contains a range of about 300 species native to regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. The essential oil content of aromatic plants varies considerably between species, relating to growing conditions and the region where it is found. The majority of essential oil is concentrated in roots while other parts also contain a small amount of volatile oil. S. lappa has a huge demand in the pharmaceutical industry, but in the past decades, it has become more popular over the globe as endangered species.

Saussurea lappa (Kuth): Introduction, Scientific classification, Origin, Discovery, Description, Phytochemistry and Uses Read More »

Rheum emodi (Gol chotial): Introduction, Scientific Classification, Origin, Discovery, Description, Phytochemistry and Uses

Leave a Comment / Medicinal Plants of Kashmir, Plants /

Rheum emodi (Rhubarb) is a perineal stout herb belonging to the family polygonaceae and has been cultivated for over 5000 years for its medicinal properties. It is distributed in the temperate and subtropical regions of the world, especially in Asia and can be cultivated at an altitude above 1800m. The herb is reported to possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, wound healing and immune enhancing activity and is commonly used worldwide herb and often known as “the wondrous drug” because of its extensive medicinal uses. Rhubarb contains a variety of compounds like flavonoids, anthraquinone glycosides, tannins, volatile oils and saponins and has long been used as an ingredient of purgative, laxative and stomachic. Paradoxically, although larger doses were used as a laxative, small doses were used to treat dysentery and diarrhoea. Rhubarb has also been used in jams, jelly and sauces of its tart flavour. There are three main types of rhubarbs, viz. the Chinese Rhubarb, the Indian Rhubarb, and the Rhapontic Rhubarb. Chinese Rhubarb comprises of dried rhizomes of Rheum palmatum L., and Rheum officinaleBaill. Rheum emodi, commonly known as Indian or Himalayan Rhubarb, is official in Indian Pharmacopeia

Rheum emodi (Gol chotial): Introduction, Scientific Classification, Origin, Discovery, Description, Phytochemistry and Uses Read More »

Jurinea dolmiaea:  Introduction, Scientific Classification, Origin, Discovery, Description, Phytochemistry and Uses of Jurinea dolmiaea (Gugaldhoop)

Leave a Comment / Medicinal Plants of Kashmir, Plants /

Jurinea dolomiaea Boiss., commonly known in Kashmir as dhup, is of the family Asteraceae. It is endemic to the Himalayas and is distributed from Pakistan to East Nepal between 3000 and 4300 m in open slopes (Chauhan, 1999). It is an important medicinal and aromatic herb of North Western Himalaya and is being exploited because of its medicinal value. A decoction of the roots is cordial. It is given in the treatment of colic and puerperal fever. The juice of the roots is used in the treatment of fevers, diarrhoea and stomachache. The crushed root is applied as a poultice to eruptions (Chopra et al., 1956). The root extract is used as incense (Manandhar, 2002). In India, J. dolomiaea has been used as an aphrodisiac (Sekar and Srivastava, 2005). In Jammu and Kashmir, the plant is used for the treatment of eye infections and it aromatic oil from its roots is useful in gout and rheumatism (Kumar et al., 2009).

Jurinea dolmiaea:  Introduction, Scientific Classification, Origin, Discovery, Description, Phytochemistry and Uses of Jurinea dolmiaea (Gugaldhoop) Read More »

Inula royleana: Introduction, Scientific Classification, Origin, Discovery, Description, Phytochemistry and Uses

Leave a Comment / Medicinal Plants of Kashmir, Plants /

Inula royleana, commonly known as Poshgar, is a medicinal plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It has been widely used in traditional medicine systems for its therapeutic properties. The plant is native to the Himalayan regions and has gained attention due to its various bioactive compounds and potential medicinal uses.

Inula royleana: Introduction, Scientific Classification, Origin, Discovery, Description, Phytochemistry and Uses Read More »

Berberis lycium: Introduction, Scientific Classification, Origin, Discovery, Description, Chemical Constituents and Uses

Leave a Comment / Medicinal Plants of Kashmir, Plants /

Berberis lycium, commonly known as Indian Barberry or Kasmal, is a shrub that belongs to the Berberidaceae family. It is native to the Himalayan region and is widely distributed in countries such as India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nepal. Berberis lycium has been recognized for its medicinal properties and is an important component of traditional medicine systems in these regions. In recent years, scientific research has also shed light on its various bioactive constituents and potential therapeutic uses.

Berberis lycium: Introduction, Scientific Classification, Origin, Discovery, Description, Chemical Constituents and Uses Read More »