A third of the world's medicinal plants are facing extinction

Wetlands are distinct group of wild habitats intermediate to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. It has specialized vegetation due to its special ecological conditions. The geographical survey of Bihar states evidence that it has many such water bodies especially in northern region.

Herbal medicines in most developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America have played a central role in health-care since time immemorial. All the stakeholders involved in medicinal plants sector should now consider the issue of sustainability to get the benefits.

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve in central India is endowed with rich floristic diversity with numerous ethno-medicinal plants of economic significance. These plants used in traditional indigenous system of treatment for various ailments by the tribal and non-tribal residents of the area, form the backbone of medicines prescribed by local practitioners like Kabirajs, Pahans Vaidrajs etc.

The Tagin tribe is an indigenous group of people living at upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. A study on practice of Traditional Medicine (TM) was carried out among these people. The result documented 10 medicinal plants used by the Traditional Medicinal Practitioner (TMS) of Tagin tribe for use in traditional medicine.

The ethno-botanically important species in traditional agroforests of Nyishi community of Arunachal Pradesh was studied during the year 2004-2005. The plants used by the local people for food, medicine and other ethnobotanical purposes including the utilization and related ethnobotanical aspects were assessed during the survey.

Research on food used as ethno medicine has drawn comparatively lesser attention as a research field in J&K in comparison to the other States. Plant foods have been of great help to mankind in relieving many diseases from earliest times.