Ecological status, traditional knowledge and conservation status of Gentiana kurroo Royle, a critically endangered medicinal plant in Kashmir Himalaya, India
Nazir Ahmad Najar
Department of environmental biology, Awadhesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa-486003 (India) email : nazirnajar45@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Kashmir Himalaya harbours a number of medicinal plants. A large number of medicinal plants of Kashmir Himalaya are being used extensively from their natural habitats. Gentiana kurroo is one of the most important medicinal plant of Kashmir Himalaya which is being used continuously from the ages by the local indigenous people of the region. This medicinal plant is especially useful in states of exhaustion from chronic disease and in all cases of debility, weakness of the digestive system and lack of appetite. It is one of the best strengtheners of the human system, stimulating the liver, gallbladder and digestive system and is an excellent tonic to combine with a purgative in order to prevent its debilitating effects. The root is anthelmintic, anti inflammatory, antiseptic, better tonic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, refrigerant, stomachic. It is taken internally in the treatment of liver diseases; gastric infections .The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for latter use which is rich in medicinal properties. Ecological information of Gentiana kurroo was collected by using random quadrants in a random sampling technique in Khrew hills in Kashmir Himalaya. Different surveys were conducted in the year 2019-20 to access the extensive use of Gentiana kurroo from the Khrew hills of Kashmir valley. The present research work was carried out to collect and gather local knowledge from tribal and nomadic people about traditional medicinal use of Gentiana kurroo. Indigenous knowledge was collected by interviewing people of different age groups in different regions of the Kashmir valley. An appropriate strategy and action plan for the conservation and sustainable utilization of this marvellous medicinal plant of the region need to be formulated and implemented effectively on the ground level which is lacking in Kashmir Himalayas.