Abstract

ETHNOBOTANICAL USES, CHROMOSOME COUNTS AND MALE MEIOTIC STUDIES IN SELECTED MEDICINAL HERBS FROM KINNAUR DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH (INDIA)

Dalvir Kaur* and Vijay Kumar Singhal

ABSTRACT

Chromosome counts and detailed male meiotic studies have been made on locally used medicinal herbs from Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. Five species, Clematis graveolens (n=8), Astragalus strobiliferous (n=8), Lonicera hypholeuca (n=9), Saussurea albescens (n=17) and Elaeagnus parvifolia (n=9) have been counted chromosomally for the first time at world level. Additional/variant chromosome counts/cytotypes have been reported for Thalictrum foetidicum (n=21, 6x), Geranium pratense (n=28, 4x), Oenothera glazioviana (n=14, 4x) and Hipphophae salicifolia (n=9, 2x). Chromosome counts have been made for the first time from India for 12 species. Present studies also adds the first ever report of diploid/polyploid cytotypes for Geranium wallichianum (n=14, 2x), Indigofera heterantha (n=8, 2x), Trigonella emodii (n=8, 2x), Plantago depressa (n=6, 2x), Rumex nepalensis (n=50, 10x), Capparis spinosa (n=12, 2x), and Physochlaina praealta (n=21, 2x). All the species have been studied cytologically for the first time from study area. Of the 82 species included for present studies, the leaves and whole plant is used for curing various ailments compared to other plant parts. The herbs are taken in the form of decoction, extracts, paste, juices and in the powdered form to cure various ailments such as gastric disorders asthma, cholera, diabetes, constipation, cold, cough, fever, pneumonia, jaundice, cardiac and skin problems, pain, headache, toothache and body ache.

Keywords: Medicinal herbs, ethnobotanical uses, chromosome counts, cytomixis, pollen fertility.