Studies on the Medicinal Flora of Amritsar District

Abstract

World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that traditional medicines are used by 70-80% of the world s population. Use of plants as a source of medicine has been inherited and is an important component of healthcare system in India. The interest in traditional medicines is growing exponentially in public, academic and government circles due to the increased incidences of adverse drug reactions and economic burden of modern system of medicine. India is the largest producer of medicinal herbs and is appropriately called the Botanical Gardens of the World . Several workers have investigated the ethnobotany of Northern, Southern and Central India. Amritsar is an export hub of North-West India dealing in export of a large number of products, raw materials, crude drugs and medicinal plants. After searching the detailed review it was found that no specific information is available on the plants of district Amritsar. Keeping this in view present study of medicinal flora of Amritsar district was undertaken with the following objectives: To survey existing medicinal flora (wild and cultivated) of Amritsar district. To collect, describe and identify medicinal plants and their preservation in the form of herbarium sheets. To compile therapeutic properties of the above plants from literature, local people, herbal doctors, internet etc. To photograph plants in flowering/fruiting season so as to focus on complete plant and its parts of medicinal importance. To document the use of these plants in various Ayurvedic formulations being undertaken by different companies. Survey of medicinal plants of Amritsar district was started in August, 2004 and completed in March, 2010. District Amritsar is divided into seven Tehsils i.e. Amrirsar I, Amritsar II, Ajnala, Baba Bakala, Patti, Tarn Taran, Khadur Sahib. From all the seven tehsils mentioned above, 8-10 villages were surveyed at random. The field trips to different localities were undertaken during all the four seasons of the year - viz. summer, rainy, autumn and winter.