Ecological features and traditional knowledge of Roscoea alpina Royle a medicinal plant in Himalaya

Abstract

<em>Roscoea alpina</em> Royle (Zingiberaceae) commonly known as <em>Kakoli</em> is a perennial medicinal plant endemic to the Himalayas. It has been used in vitality strengthening Ayurveda groups i.e., <em>Astavarga</em> and <em>Jeevaniyagana</em> and in preparation of Ayurvedic formulations e.g., <em>Chyavanprasha</em> and <em>Divya Pidantak Tail</em>. Considering its medicinal uses, high demand and overexploitation, natural habitats were surveyed in subalpine and alpine regions of Garhwal Himalaya for population estimation and to identify elite germplasm. <em>R. alpina</em> frequency was recorded more than 60% in Tungnath, Dayara, Valley of Flowers and Kedarnath populations. However, plant density and area occupied were low compared to other species of subalpine and alpine site. For threat category assessment, IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria were used and conservation status was assigned, based on site to site and for entire Garhwal region of the Western Himalaya. <em>R. alpina</em>, based on extent of occurrence was categorized as Vulnerable and based on number of mature individuals as Endangered for the Garhwal Himalaya. Further, habitat destruction and degradation were the major threats for population reduction in the wild. Morphological variation revealed plants from Tungnath and Kedarnath may be used for future propagation and domestication programs.