RAMPANT ILLEGAL harvesting and trade in a wild plant endemic to the Western Ghats called narakya (Mappia foetida), which has anti-cancer properties, has made it an endangered species.

The destruction of forests leads to the destruction of valuable medicinal herbs, and therefore it is necessary to protect the forests and preserve the herbal species, said T.V.

A new molecule from curcumin, a chemical component of the golden-hued Indian spice turmeric, helps build brain cells after stroke, research has found.
Turmeric is used in curries and for the rich colour it imparts to food. Turmeric also has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine.

Paul A.

Biodiversity park starts functioning at Kakkavayal
Kozhikode: With its exquisite collection of rare plant species, on 111.4 hectares, the Vanaparvam biodiversity park, which started functioning at Kakkavayal here on Thursday, is expected to give an impetus to eco-tourism initiatives in the district.

Many important and rare medicinal and aromatic herbs are on the way of extinction in Uttarakhand. This is creating major problems for the people and commercial enterprises working in the sphere of Ayurveda in the State.

The Western Ghats Task Force will submit a preliminary report to the state government by the end of February and seek financial support in the coming budget to introduce measures to save rivers from getting polluted as part of its campaign to save river sources in the Western Ghats, said Western Ghats Task Force President Ananth Hedge Ashisara.

Speaking with the mediapersons on the sidelines of

A two-day long industrial training workshop organised jointly by the Council of Science and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) was inaugurated in the Indian Institute of Petroleum on Thursday.

The chief guest was Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) director Dr Rajendra Dobhal.