Abstract

EXPLORATION AND CONSERVATION OF SUGANDHAMANTRI (HOMALOMENA AROMATICA (SPRENG.) SCHOTT.): A VALUABLE MEDICINAL PLANT OF NORTH EAST INDIA

*Sanjay Kumar Mishra and RamaShankar

ABSTRACT

Homalomena aromatica is a highly demanded medicinal plant used in the name of Sugandhmantri for the cure of rheumatoid Arthritis, ulcer and related disorders as well as in perfumeries for the preparation of oriental perfumes. It is widely distributed in Northeastern India i.e. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura and is widely traded from Manipur to the markets of Kanpur, Kannauj etc. in Uttar Pradesh, Kolkata in West Bengal and other part of the Country. Thus to fulfill the requirement of pharmaceuticals there will be need for cultivation and conservation of this plant. Accordingly, study has been aimed to develop easily accessible agro- technique for cultivation by the farmers at an easily accessible manner. H. aromatica, The native of Northeast India is a highly demanded medicinal plant. In Northeast India the plants of H. aromatica is distributed in Mizoram in Serchip and Mamit forest divisions, Senapati, Ukhrul, East Imphal and West Imphal and different foot hill areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland and several part of Meghalaya. It is also distributed in Bangladesh and China. Its cultivation is through rhizome with bulbils initiating from the mature rhizome. Authors had developed various cultivation parameters in Moonbul Nursery, Tinali bazar, Longding road, Hozai (Assam) and Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) through rhizome bulbils.Since traded drug is the rhizome of the plants there is an urgent need of cultivation through the techniques described in the present communication cultivation, of H. aromatica can be made by establishing plant nurseries.

Keywords: Rhizomatous, Araceae, Sugandhmantri, Sesqueterpenoids, Rhizome cuttings.