TRADITIONAL USES AND CONSERVATION OF FRITILLARIA ROYLEI HOOK. A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED HIMALAYAN MEDICINAL PLANT: AN OVERVIEW

The ecosystems found in the Himalayan region have a wide variety of plants and animals, including valuable species of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs).Among them Fritillaria roylei Hook. commonly known as Kakoli, Jungli lehsun belongs to the Liliacece family; perennial plant known for its medicinal value worldwide and is at risk of becoming endangered. It is typically found in the sub-alpine to alpine areas of the Himalayas, primarily growing on open and sunny slopes. F. roylei has been reported in Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, along within the altitudinal range of 2400-4000 m.a.s.l. It thrives on well-drained, acidic soil that is light sandy or medium loam. The open sunny areas with moderate slope and having rich humus are the habitats preferred by this species. It has been traditionally used by local communities in various way ie. dry powder, paste etc. The bulb of this species been widely used for the treatment of bronchitis asthma, burns, health tonics and stomach troubles. It is a significant component of Ashtavarga (a set of eight medicinal herbs), Chyavanprash, and other Ayurvedic formulations in the Indian medical system. The roots are used for healing wounds, corns in Ayurvadic and Unani medicine. F ritillaria are utilized worldwide as medication and food; normally roasted bulbs of this species are utilized as food by Native Americans (Orhan et al. 2009). The bulbs of Fritillaria rolyei utilized as decoction or in dried form to cure bronchitis, cough, tumors, asthma, hemoptysis and insufficiency of milk (Perry 1980; Kang et al. 2002). Bulbs can be used whole or ground into a powder to relieve congestion in the lungs and provide a cooling effect. It has been utilized for the treatment of prolonged hypotension, sensory system, defective breathing and incitement of the heart muscle (Erika and Rebecca 2005) in addition to managing subcutaneous swelling, such as breast nodules and scrofulous swellings (Da-Cheng et al.2013). However, due to high demand, the species has gained significant market value worldwide leading to unsustainable collection practices and a decline in its wild populations. This communication highlights concerns about the rapid decline of Fritillaria roylei population in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir and by making suitable conservation strategies along with sustainable utilization are earnestly undertaken. Given its medicinal importance, it is crucial to prioritize the conservation of Fritillaria roylei through various methods. These include identifying areas for the conservation of medicinal plants, both in their natural habitats (in-situ conservation) and through propagation and multiplication outside their natural habitats (ex-situ conservation). It is also important to strengthen biodiversity management committees, raise awareness among key stakeholders, and promote sustainable harvesting practices to ensure the long-term survival of Fritillaria roylei.