CIMAP develops new variety to save endangered ayurvedic herb
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Lucknow: A critically endangered herb used in your Chyawanprash, Dasmoolarisht and several other ayurvedic tonics and medicines will soon no longer be under threat. You will be able to easily find it in nearby agricultural fields and jungles, just like in the late 80s.
The CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (
CIMAP
) has accomplished this herb-saving task.
The institute's scientists have developed a new, improved variety of the rare, endangered and threatened herb,
Prishniparni
, a medicinal herb used in Ayurveda for various ailments. It is specifically known for its wound healing, anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. CIMAP released this new and improved variety of Prishniparni (Uraria picta) named '
CIM-Rhoi Gold
' for cultivation.
"This plant is very important from a medicinal point of view. It is used in ayurvedic medicines like Dashmularishta, Amritarishta and others, which are prepared for strength-enhancing and women-related health issues, but it has become critically endangered," said chief scientist Dr Birendra Kumar, who, along with his team, developed it after intensive research, development and field trials.
He said, "We travelled to seven states: UP, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Telangana and Karnataka, and collected it from around 20 districts in these states.
W
e brought 53 germplasm from these places and cultivated it in our institute at Lucknow, of which only 23 survived and grew. We studied and researched the characteristics of these and developed a new Prishniparni genotype by taking the best traits from available germplasm, specifically the one we brought from Kushinagar that had high Rhoifolin content, a substance found in the herb that has medicinal properties.
"
"This variety not only has high yield potential, but it also has a high amount of Rhoifolin (1.0-1.5%). Therefore, this variety is capable of meeting the requirements of the ayurvedic and medicinal industries," said CIMAP director Prabodh Kumar Trivedi.
He said the institute aims to conserve and promote those medicinal plants which are used in traditional medicine but are on the verge of extinction today. This variety is part of the institute's commitment, under which scientific cultivation of medicinal plants is promoted by providing quality planting material to farmers. It is an important initiative towards preserving India's medicinal heritage, promoting its commercial cultivation and meeting global demands.
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