Medicinal plants genetic resources of kyongnosla alpine sanctuary, Sikkim, India

Medicinal Plants Genetic Resources of Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary and adjacent areas were studied during the year 2016-17, which records an occurrence of 120 species of medicinal plants, of which herbs represent the highest number of species (103 species) followed by shrubs / shrublets (16 species). Trees were sparse in the area and only two tree species of medicinal value viz., Abies densa and Betula utilis were recorded. Enumeration of species includes scientific names along with common name(s), local name(s), family, part (s) used, uses and system(s) of medicine where they are used. 79 species were found to be used in Tibetan System of Medicine, 48 species in Traditional Nepali Medicine and 13 species in Lepcha Traditional Medicine and 8 species were found to be used by local Folk healers. Some of the globally rare and threatened alpine medicinal plants such as Sassurea gossipiphora, Gentiana elwesii, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, Veratrilla bailonii, Nardostachys jatamansii etc. were recorded during the present study. Aconitum, the highly potential and globally threatened taxa of medicinal plant of the Himalayas, of which six species were recorded during the present study. From the conservation point of view Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary has remarkable relevance in preservation of subalpine and alpine gene bank of Sikkim in the form of protected area. For better conservation and management of rare and threatened medicinal plants in their natural habitat, the sanctuary and the surrounding area can be recommended to keep untouched in terms of tourism and any kind of construction works. The better management of the rare and threatened species especially of sub-alpine and alpine areas can be done by ex-situ conservation through tissue culture.