Diversity of non-timber forest products in Cachar District,Assam, India

We identified 67 and 21 NTFP-yielding plant and animal species, respectively, in a reserve forest in Cachar district of Assam. We recorded globally threatened species listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered （plant species Dipterocarpus turbinatus）, Vulnerable （plant species Aquillaria malaccensis）, Endangered （animal species Hoolock hoolock, Indotestudo elongata and Manis pentadactyla）, and Vulnerable （animal species Nilssonia hurum and Rusa unicolor）. The whole plant or animal and/or their various parts were used as food or medicine, in house construction, magico-religious activities and others. While some NTFPs were harvested throughout the year, others were harvested seasonally. A comprehensive NTFP policy, along with scientific measures for regen- eration, restoration and augmentation of NTFP-yielding plants and animals, would help in addressing the conflicting demands of conservation and livelihood in the forests of this area.     

Medicinal plants in old-growth, degraded and re-growth forests of NW Pakistan

Many old-growth forest stands in northwest Pakistan have been structurally transformed as a consequence of logging and livestock grazing, some of which are thereafter left to secondary succession. These forests represent an important resource for local inhabitants who gather and sell medicinal plants as part of their livelihood. With this in mind, the main objectives of our study were: (1) to assess differences in the structure of the tree layer and the abundance of medicinal plants among differently transformed forests, (2) to evaluate the recovery potential of medicinal plants under re-growth forests, and (3) to assess relationships between tree stand structural characteristics and the occurrence of medicinal plants.The first step of the study involved creating an approximate map covering an area of 90 km² for five forest-use types (old-growth forest, forest degraded by logging, derived woodland, agroforest and re-growth forest). Fifteen plots per forest-use type were randomly allocated at altitudes ranging from 2200 m to 2400 m asl, within which the abundance of 10 locally important medicinal herb species was assessed.The study stands differed greatly in tree basal area, which was highest in old-growth forest (48 m² ha⁻¹), lowest in agroforest areas (6 m² ha⁻¹) and intermediate in re-growth forest (20 m² ha⁻¹). All ten medicinal plant species were encountered in old-growth and in re-growth forests, but only five of these species also occurred on agroforest plots. The mean coverage of study medicinal plants was highest in old-growth forest (7%), low in forest degraded by logging, derived woodland and agroforest (0.3-2%), and intermediate in re-growth forest (4%). The Jaccard abundance based similarity index indicates a considerable similarity (0.6) between re-growth and old growth forest for both trees and medicinal plants. The overall abundance of medicinal plants increased with increasing tree basal area and canopy cover. The abundance of some particular species decreased; however, the most sought-after medicinal species Bergenia ciliata, Valeriana jatamansi and Viola cancescens increased with tree basal area within specific forest-use type and also across forest-use types. In conclusion, our data suggest that anthropogenic forest degradation leads to a reduction in the abundance of economically viable medicinal plants for the study region. It is further indicated that this can be reversed if degraded forests are allowed to regenerate.     

Ethno-medicinal plants used by Bengali communities in Tripura,northeast India

Northeastern India has high medicinal plant diversity due to variance in topography and physiognomy. We documented the uses of various medicinal plants by the Bengali people of West district and South district of Tripura state for their own health care as well as for domesti-cated animals. Based on semi structured interviews, group discussions and information from local informants, a total of 93 species of medicinal plants of 52 families and 83 genera were documented. These plants were used to treat more than 55 different human diseases and 6 diseases of livestock. Sixty-eight plant species were used singly and the rest were used in combination with other species for therapeutic formulations of various diseases. Leaves of plants were most often used for most of the ethnobotanical preparations. Maximum consensus value of 96% was recorded for Chromolaena odorata （L.） King ＆amp;H. Rob., and the mini-mum was 15%for Bambusa balcooa Robx. Of the 93 plant species, 75 species showed pharmacological properties. Prospects for augmenting existing knowledge and enhancing the use of traditional medicinal plants are discussed.     

分子标记技术在槭树种质资源研究中的应用

中国是槭树种质资源丰富且分布集中的国家。为了更科学地开发和利用兼具观赏、药用、经济等多种珍贵价值的槭树种质资源,文中综述了国内分子生物学研究前期对槭树DNA和RNA提取的方法,以及RAPD、AFLP、ISSR、ITS和SRAP等分子标记技术在槭树植物研究中的应用,主要包括种质资源鉴定、种群遗传结构与遗传多样性、濒危植物保护、物种谱系地理分析等方面的研究;针对槭树类植物的分子生物学研究中存在的问题,提出了今后研究的重点和发展方向,以期为槭树植物的种质资源开发和深入研究提供参考。     

上海市三岔港苗圃药用植物资源调查

在三岔港苗圃植物中,通过查阅相关资料和实地调查,基本摸清了常见药用植物达103种,分布在62科中。对调查到的103种植物进行了植物分类学统计、药用部位及功效归类,同时对三岔港苗圃的药用植物资源开发利用以及保护进行了探讨。     

Towards exploration of plant-based ethno-medicinal knowledge of rural community: basis for biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh

Because lack of data impedes the assessment of the conservation of medicinal plants, ethno-medicinal studies are important to fill this gap. This study considered the traditional use of plants for health care by the rural communities in two forested and non-forested regions of Bangladesh. A total of 230 respondents were interviewed accompanied by field observation and voucher specimen collection. Altogether, 68 species of medicinal plants belonging to 38 families distributing over 58 genera were recorded, of which 22 species were common in both regions. Trees were the most commonly utilized growth form and leaves were the most commonly used plant part. Forests and homesteads were the major sources of medicinal plants in forested and non-forested regions, respectively. High use versatility (Relative Importance >1) was represented by 14 species; Emblica officinale L. and Allium sativum L. were the most versatile species. Forty-one individual ailments were treated with the medicinal plants recorded. The ailment categories ‘respiratory problems’ and ‘sexual problems’ received the highest score from the calculation of informants’ consensus factor (F _ic) in forested and non-forested regions, respectively. The findings could contribute in the pharmaceutical sector by directing further investigation of bio-active compounds in medicinal plants. Secondly, results could inform the clues for conservation strategies of forest resources in that region.     

A plant nutrition strategy for ex-situ conservation based on ＂Ecological Similarity＂

This paper reviewed a large scale conservation work of rare and endangered plants currently conducted in main botanical gardens in China, and the existed, predictable and neglected problems on plant growth and reproduction in ex-situ conservation process. Considered the status quo in plant ex conservation, a nutritional strategy on the plant conservation was proposed based on ＇Ecological Similarity＇. Its main idea was that the ex-situ conservation plants coming from natural ecosystem were compulsively allocated in the agro-ecosystems and would return to natural ecosystem ultimately. Therefore, research on plant nutrition of the ex-situ conservation plants should neither just pursue yield and quality as that in agro-ecosystems nor merely stay on intrinsic natures without human intervening. We should give attentions to both of their attributes as in natural ecosystems and in agro-ecosystems, i.e., taking full advantage of plant nutritional measures as in agro-ecosystems to solve actual survival problems of the ex-conservation plants, and ensuring the final goal of returning to nature and playing its ecological role.     

Sustainability aspects of commercial medicinal plant harvesting in Suriname

The commercial harvest of herbal medicine to meet the growing urban demand has become an environmentally destructive activity in many countries. Non-sustainable harvesting not only threatens the survival of medicinal plant species, but also the people that depend on them. In Suriname, the urbanization of Maroons has created a lively trade in medicinal plants, but little is known on the ecological effects of this trade. To find out whether this commercial harvest was a destructive activity, we carried out a market survey and followed commercial extractors into the forest to look for signs of overharvesting. We analyzed our results from three perspectives: the market, the harvesters and the post-harvest survival of the particular plants. Of the 249 commercial species, less than half was harvested exclusively from the wild. Most extraction took place in secondary forest or man-made vegetation close to the capital. Leaves were the main product. Apart from a few primary forest-based species (e.g., Begonia glabra), we found little evidence for declining resources. Maroons were actively cultivating and managing wild plants. Our three-way analysis enabled us to distinguish between species without sustainability problems (abundant, domesticated, cultivated, limited market value, disturbance species or surviving harvest) and species with conservation priorities. This study illustrates that the increased commercialization of medicinal plants due to urbanization does not invariably lead to declining resources and species loss. With its low population density and market dominated by disturbance species, Suriname offers good possibilities for sustainable medicinal plant extraction.     

Conservation policy–people conflicts: a case study from Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (a World Heritage Site), India

Perceptions of local people towards conservation policy and related management interventions, nature and magnitude of policy–people conflicts and, possible options for conflict resolution were analysed in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site in Indian Himalaya. People's perceptions were discerned through participatory discussions covering 419 households distributed in 10 villages in the buffer zone. Traditional uncodified rights of local people were substantially reduced through policy interventions set in since 1860s. Local people as well as tourists were excluded from the core zone covering an area of 625 km² since 1982. Deterioration of rural economy due to damage to crop and livestock by wildlife and, termination of opportunities of income from wild medicinal plant resources and tourism in the core zone were the key negative impacts of conservation policy felt by more than 90% of respondents. Mean annual economic loss per household was estimated as Rs 1285, Rs 1195 and Rs 156 due to damage caused by wildlife to food crops, fruit trees and beehives, respectively, Rs 1587 due to ban on collection of wild medicinal plants for marketing and Rs 7904 due to ban on tourism in the core zone. Reserve authority granted compensation of livestock killed by wildlife but it was hardly 5% of the market value of killed livestock as assessed by the people. People did not appreciate much the present benefits from the reserve management in the form of wages for carrying out afforestation work, partial compensation of livestock depredation and availability of solar power devices, wool, and spinning devices. Approximately 95% respondents identified empowerment of local people in respect of realising income from timber from dead/diseased trees in community forests, income from medicinal plants in buffer zone and opening of core zone for tourism as potential development options. Improvement in rural economy, the prime concern of local people, has not received as much attention as legal enforcement of protection by the reserve management. There is a need for developing policies and management actions that serve the economic interests of local people together with enhancement of environmental conservation goal.     

Blumeaxanthene II,a novel xanthene from Blumea riparia DC

A novel xanthene (1), blumeaxanthene II, was isolated from the aerial parts of Blumea riparia (Bl.) DC., a Chinese medicinal plant with hemostatic properties, and its structure was determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses. This compound is the first example of a halogenated xanthene from a natural plant, and a biosynthetic pathway was proposed. Blumeaxanthene II was also tested against Bel-7404 cells in vitro but was found to be only weakly cytotoxic.     

不同变异类型杜仲皮中几种主要活性成分含量的比较

采用反相高效液相色谱法测定了不同变异类型杜仲皮中几种关键活性成分的含量,结果表明:4种变异类型杜仲皮中5种不同活性成分的含量及组成比有较大差异,其中京尼平苷酸(GPA)、京尼平苷(GP)、松脂素二糖苷(PDG)、绿原酸(CA)含量以及5种成分的总含量以光皮型和浅纵裂型杜仲皮较高,而龟裂型和深纵裂型活性成分总体含量较低....     

Neue Wirtspflanzen des Ringelbocks,Oberea brevis Swed. (Col., Cerambycidae,Lamiinae) in Indien

Up to this time the girdle beetle,Oberea brevis has been recorded on soybean (Glycine max), beans (Lab-lab niger), cow pea (Vigna signensis), urid (Phaseolus mungo) and moong (Phaseolus radiatus) growing in the areas of Utter Prodesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jabalpur, India. The pest caused mortalities of plants up to 36.5 per cent. In 1975 and 1976 researchs were done to record the host range ofO. brevis. The infestation was ascertained by having two parallel girdles, which are made by the female beetles to reduce the moisture content of the plant and to lay the eggs between the girdles. Due to girdling on the plants, the apical parts dry and later drop off and larvae make their tunnels in the lower parts of the plants. 11 new host plants ofO. brevis were recorded.     

Towards a donut regime? Domestic actors,climatization, and the hollowing-out of the international forests regime in the Anthropocene

Political responses to global deforestation, as a defining characteristic of the so-called Anthropocene, are a key field for scholarship and policy analysis. In the past decade, research has proliferated on global forest governance and the international forest regime (IFR), yet the academic literature on the IFR is just as dispersed and fragmented as the IFR itself. An emerging body of literature now suggests the key role of domestic actors in international forest governance, questioning an implicit top-down logic of global arrangements. In spite of all the resources at its disposal, the IFR is characterised by complexity, fragmentation and ineffectiveness regarding its main objective of reducing global deforestation.Based on an extensive literature review, the authors’ long-standing observations and selected own empirical findings, this review article aims to provide an updated historical account of the IFR and proposes a from-below approach for analysing the IFR from the viewpoint of domestic actors. In this bottom-up perspective the IFR is conceptualised as a set of resources that key domestic actors can pick and choose from according to their interests and in the light of domestic politics.Using illustrative empirical examples from recent research and own observations, the article finds that the IFR is being hollowed-out by (i) the growing policy links between forests and climate change - a process referred to as “climatization”- and (ii) domestic influences. We conclude that our from-below approach is instrumental in further explaining why deforestation has largely continued, despite the emergence of the IFR some three decades ago. Our findings about the importance of domestic actors illustrate that global governance arrangements cannot operate effectively, relative to their ambitious mandate and for tackling policy issues relating to the Anthropocene, unless they are granted adequate resources and support by key domestic actors.     

广西大王岭风景区野生药用维管植物初探

采取野外考察、标本采集、分类鉴定和资料考证等方法,对大王岭风景区药用维管植物资源进行了初步调查。结果表明:大王岭风景区现有药用维管植物共123科338种(含变种),其中蕨类药用植物24科37种,被子植物99科301种(其中双子叶药用植物有83科251种,单子叶药用植物有16科50种)。其中有何首乌、天冬等9种贵细药用植物,有桫椤等4种珍稀濒危药用植物。整理出大王岭野生药用维管植物名录。并对大王岭风景区药用维管植物资源的保护及开发利用进行了探讨。     

Utilization of non-timber forest products in humid tropics: Implications for management and livelihood

Community dependence on forest resources for diverse needs has high implications for long term management of forests. Sustainable extraction of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is considered best feasible strategy for forest conservation in biodiversity rich areas. This paper examines the heterogeneity of NTFPs use by tribal communities in northeast India, a global hot spot by examining diversity of NTFPs at-large, its consumption pattern, and contribution to rural income and forest revenue. A total of 343 NTFPs recorded used for diverse purposes by tribal communities. When species choice grouped as per use category, utilization for medicinal (163 species), edible fruits (75 species) and vegetables (65 species) purposes was reasonably high. Community dependence on forest resources was 100% for firewood and house construction material. 76 plant species were sold in three major local markets while an additional 22 species traded at commercial scale mainly outside the state. NTFPs contributed 19-32% of total household income for different tribal communities, which was significant. Illicium griffithii, Rubia cordifolia, Oroxylum indicum, Swertia chirayita, Litsea sebifera, Taxus wallichiana, Valeriana jatamansii, Thalictrum foliolosum, Picrorhiza kurrooa, Everniastrum cirrhatum, Cordyceps sinensis, Aconitum fletcherianum, Nardostachys jatamansi, Picrorhiza kurrooa, Gymnadenia orchidis, Calamus, Quercus and Pinus roxbughii were important commercial species. NTFPs also generated substantial revenue to the State government, though it is falling year after year, which is alarming. To meet community livelihoods, income and forest revenue from NTFPs, it desires a thorough management plan and policy guidelines for these resources from all line departments. The knowledge on diversity, its consumption pattern, and contribution to rural income and forest revenue may enable planners to accurately plan sustainable management of NTFP resources and community development in near future.     

A novel aporphine alkaloid from Magnolia officinalis

A novel aporphine alkaloid, magnofficine (1), has been isolated from the root barks of the Chinese medicinal plant Magnolia officinalis, along with seven known compounds. Elucidations of their structures were achieved by spectroscopic methods. Magnofficine is the first example of an adduct of aporphine alkaloid and 4-hydroxyphenethylamino bridged by a methylene.     

Effect of Participation in Commercial Production of Medicinal Plants through Community-Based Conservation Groups on Farm Income at Kakamega Forest,Kenya

ABSTRACT

Forest conservation by peripheral communities is one of the most advocated strategies for ensuring sustainable supply of forest goods and services. In Kenya, although conservation activities generate considerable environmental improvements, studies evaluating the economic benefits are very limited. This study aimed at assessing the impact of participating in the commercialization training program by forest adjacent communities on farm income. Utilizing matching techniques, the analysis is based on the data collected from a randomly selected sample of farm households around Kakamega forest in Kenya. The results show that age, forest distance, forest benefit, market distance, and farming experience are the main factors that influence the participation in the commercialization program. Also, participating in commercial production of medicinal plants has a positive and significant effect on farmers’ income. The average treatment effect on the treated (ATT), based on three estimation algorithms, ranges from KSH. 80,047 to KSH. 176,788 per hectare, per year, implying that policy efforts that focus on the participation in the commercialization program of medicinal plants can enhance incomes among farm-dependent households. The findings from this study suggest that upscaling the participation in the commercialization program to other areas.     

迪庆州藏药文化与药用植物多样性保护

介绍藏医药学的理论、重要著作、特色疗法,以及藏药植物种类、生长环境、药用价值.分析认为,藏药植物资源面临着生态环境脆弱,市场需求量日益加大,相关研究欠缺等挑战.藉此,提出了加强藏药知识产权保护,加强研究机制建设,就地保护,坚持传统的采收原则,提高综合利用率等藏医药文化及药用植物多样性保护的对策.     

A review on indole alkaloids isolated from Uncaria rhynchophylla and their pharmacological studies

Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks, Rubiaceae, is one of the original plants of the important Chinese crude drug, Gou-teng, mainly used for the treatment of convulsion, hypertension, epilepsy, eclampsia, and cerebral diseases. The pharmacological activities of this plant are related to the presence of active compounds predominantly indole alkaloids. In this article, we have reviewed some reports about the pharmacological activities of the main indole alkaloids isolated from U. rhynchophylla. This review paper will contribute to the studies on the chemistry, safety and quality control of medicinal preparations containing Uncaria species.     

地涌金莲及红苞地涌金莲对光和CO2的响应

比较分析了地涌金莲原种及红苞地涌金莲变种的光响应和CO2响应特征以及叶绿素含量等指标.结果表明:(1)在Pn-PAR中,地涌金莲原种的最大光饱和净光合速率、光补偿点和暗呼吸速率分别较红苞变种高20.42％、34.88％、31.95％,而光饱和点却较红苞变种低4.95％;Pn-Ci响应的各参数中,原种的光呼吸速率、CO2饱和最大净光合速率以及羧化效率分别高于红苞变种2.73％、14.79％、21.35％,说明地涌金莲的光合能力要强于红苞地涌金莲;(2)地涌金莲具有典型的C3植物特征;(3)地涌金莲为阳性耐荫植物;(4)地涌金莲的叶绿素a、b以及a/b的含量分别高于红苞地涌金莲22.60％、32.46％、25.06％.