World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

PAST AND PRESENT STATUS OF DIOSCOREA DELTOIDEA; A HIGHLY THREATENED WILD MEDICINAL PLANT IN NIHRI TEHSIL OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, NORTH WESTERN HIMALAYAS

*Tara Devi Sen, Bhawna Kumari and Tanuja Thakur

ABSTRACT

Present study has been conducted in Nihri Tehsil of district Mandi Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalayas to know the past and present status of Dioscorea deltoidea and devise strategies for its conservation. D. deltoidea is known by its common name Wild Yam and by local name singali- mingali in study area. It has been traditionally harvested from wild habitat as a source of medicine, food and income by locals for both personal and commercial uses. Being rich in medicinal values its tubers are high in demand in both national or international market. Tubers are also sold in local market and for this purpose these are unsustainably harvested in large scale from wild habitat without ensuring conservation. Tubers of D. deltoidea are also consumed traditionally as a food supplement in various traditional dishes mainly to harness their rich medicinal values. This knowledge of its utilization is inherited and passed from one generation to another by local communities. But from recent few years natural population of this plant has declined significantly and knowledge as well as practice of its utilization has also reduced remarkably. Reasons behind this are habitat fragmentation; unsustainable harvesting; pollution; advancement in medical sciences; erosion of traditional belief and traditional healthcare system. This is clearly revealed by use value index of D. deltoidea; In past use value index was higher; UVpast = 0.36 and at present it is reduced to 9 time of its previous use; UVcurrent= 0. As a result, D. deltoidea is at the verge of extinction in study area and need both in-situ as well as ex-situ conservation.

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