Economic assessment and conservation priorities of the Indian Thar desert medicinal plants

摘要

The status of 136 medicinal plants of the Indian Thar Desert was assessed by using various approaches, viz. Relative Importance (RI), standardized agro-techniques and trading facilities. The studied plants belong to 49 plant families dominated by Fabaceae. These medicinal plants are useful for the treatment of 145 different disorders of human body system. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. possesses maximum number of pharmacological (30) properties, while Aloe vera L. has uses for highest number of body system (12). A. vera possess the maximum (90.0) Relative Importance followed by Achyranthes aspera L. (84.2) and A. indica (83.3); the lowest by Barleria acanthoides Vahl (7.5). Approximately, 36% plants species which possess RI > 50. However, the frequency distribution of RI values exhibited normal distribution. Four different classes were made on the basis of availability of standardized agrotechniques and trading facilities. A. aspera, Boerhavia diffusa L., Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet and Abrus precatorius L. needs immediate conservation priorities to avoid their wild harvesting.