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Medicinal, Nutritional, and Spiritual Significance of Plants in Bhutan: Their Biodiscovery Potential and Conservation Status

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Ethnobiology of Mountain Communities in Asia

Part of the book series: Ethnobiology ((EBL))

Abstract

Bhutan is home to 5603 species of vascular plants under 220 families and 1415 genera. About 105 are endemic to the country. In this chapter, we will highlight the medicinal, nutritional, and spiritual uses of plants in Bhutan. One hundred three multi-ingredient essential traditional medicines and 15 commercial products use more than 229 plant species as ingredients, out of which 80–85% of them are available within the country. While more than 100 medicinal plants are vegetables and fruits, 17 species are known to produce essential oil, and 22 species are associated with various spiritual purposes. Many plants consumed as food or medicines are rich in vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants, yet most of them remain unexplored for their phytochemicals and pharmacological activities. Thus, considering Bhutan’s rich ethnobotanical knowledge and biological diversity, there are immense opportunities for initiating bio-discovery and value addition on medicinal and edible plants of Bhutan. However, the preparation and implementation of strategic management plans on sustainable collections of these plants in collaboration with communities are essential.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment and Life Sciences, Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan (RUB), Kanglung, Trashigang, Bhutan

    Karma Yeshi

  2. Health Promotion, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark

    Jens Aagaard-Hansen

  3. MRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Jens Aagaard-Hansen

  4. Centre for Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia

    Phurpa Wangchuk

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  1. Karma Yeshi
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  2. Jens Aagaard-Hansen
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Correspondence to Phurpa Wangchuk .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan

    Arshad Mehmood Abbasi

  2. Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia

    Rainer W. Bussmann

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Yeshi, K., Aagaard-Hansen, J., Wangchuk, P. (2021). Medicinal, Nutritional, and Spiritual Significance of Plants in Bhutan: Their Biodiscovery Potential and Conservation Status. In: Abbasi, A.M., Bussmann, R.W. (eds) Ethnobiology of Mountain Communities in Asia. Ethnobiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55494-1_1

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