Endangered Medicinal Plants of India - Conservation and Uses

1. IUCN Redlisted Medicinal plants

2. Gardenia gummifera • Status- Least concern • Gummy gardenia • Rubiaceae family Medicinal uses • Digestive problems (Dyspepsia, Diarrhoea) • Astringent • Expectorant for nervous conditions and spasms • Gum-resin from leaf buds- treatment of cutaneous diseases

4. Ilex khasiana • Status- Critically endangered • Aquifoliaceae family • Endemic to India • Four rare specimens grow in Shillong, Meghalaya •  The bark and root decoction in cold and cough, tuberculosis

5. Kingiodendron pinnatum • Status- Endangered • Fabaceae family • Population declined due to overexploitation and habitat degradation • Regeneration is very poor • Threatened by habitat loss Medicinal uses • Oleo-gum resin used in gonorrhoea • Catarrhal conditions of genito-urinary and respiratory tracts

7. Madhuca diplostemon • Status- Endangered • Sapotaceae family Medicinal uses • Madhuca preparations are used for removing intestinal worms • Respiratory infections • In cases of debility and emaciation • Astringent bark extract- dental related problems, rheumatism and diabetes

9. Myristica malabarica • Status- Vulnerable • Wild nutmeg • Myristicaceae family • Endemic to western Ghats of southwest india • Threatened by habitat loss Medicinal uses • Seeds are astringent • Oil from the seed is used as an ointment to treat ulcers, ease rheumatism and allay pain • Aril – used as nerve tonic and to stop vomiting • To cure dysentry

11. Ochreinauclea missionis • Status- Vulnerable • Rubiaceae family • Threatened by habitat loss • Distributed in the west coast of India in Malabar and Travancore Medicinal Uses • Stem-bark- antileprotic, antirheumatic, in constipation, ulcers • Root & Root-bark- antirheumatic, in skin diseases, eye diseases, dropsy, piles, fever, jaundice, oedema and haemophilic disorders

13. Saracaasoca • Status- Vulnerable • Cesalpiniodeae subfamily of legume family • Ashoka tree is prized for its beautiful foliage and fragrant flowers • Flowers are bright orange-yellow and occur in heavy lush branches • Rarer in natural habitat, found in the foothills of centraland eastern himalayas Medicinal Uses • Stem bark of asoka tree is strongly astringent and a uterine sedative, uterine tonic, and styptic • Bark- Dyspepsia, fever and burning sensation • Treatment of menorrhagia, leucorrhoea, internal bleeding, hemorrhoids,and hemorrhagic dysentry

15. Syzygium travancoricum • Status- Critically endangered • Myrtaceae family • First discovered in the swampy lowlands of ravancore • Rare spp. Found in the Western Ghats of India, chiefly in Kerala Medicinal Uses • Curing diabetes and arthritis • Astringent • Hypoglycemic • Bactericidal • Antifungal • Neuropsychopharmalogical effects

17. Woodfordia fruticosa • Status- Least concern • Lythraceae family • Frost tolerant • Flowers are used as food and used in the preparation of a cooling drink Medicinal Uses • Flowers are astringent • Treatment of dysentery • Beaten up with honey into a confection • Treating of menorrhagia • Other uses- flowers- 20%tannin, dye is obtained from flowers, wood- fuel

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