Distribution, Diversity, Conservation and Utilization of Threatened Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Rich biodiversity of India is under severe threat owing to habitat destruction, degradation, fragmentation, and overexploitation of resources. According to the Red List of threatened plants, 44 plant species are critically endangered, 113 endangered, and 87 vulnerable (IUCN, 2000). Widespread losses of plant species and varieties are eroding the foundation of agricultural productivity and threatening other plant-based products used by billions of people worldwide, as reported in a new study by the World Watch Institute, Washington, and worldwide some 3.5 billion people in developing countries rely on plant-based medicine for primary health care. Loss of habitat, pressure from nonactive species, and over harvesting have put one out of every eight plant species at risk of extinction, according to the world conservation union. Many medicinal plants are also in trouble from over harvesting and destruction of habitat. Since less than 1 percent of all species have been screened for bioactive compounds, every loss of a unique habitat and its species is potentially a loss of future drugs and medicines.