Conserving rare and endangered medicinal plants through networking database

Conserving rare and endangered medicinal plants through
networking database
Dr. P. Lakshmi Padmavathi, Dr. A. Suvarna Latha, Dr. K. S. Shanthi Sree and
*
Prof. D. Bharathi
*

Department of Sericulture, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam
Corresponding Author , Email ID:
The demand for medicinal and aromatic plants has grown rapidly across the

globe in recent years primarily due to the threats posed by increasing demand and resultant
extensive destruction of plant rich habitats. In this context many medicinal plants are facing
extinction or severe genetic loss. Therefore the collection, conservation and exchange of
strategic Information and planting material of medicinal plants have become extremely
critical. From ancient times to till date all cultures have used plants as a source of medicine
because of their vital role in supplying nutrients as well as strengthening various essential
human systems to protect them from several diseases. At present, there is a dearth of
awareness about the importance of plant conservation and the methods that are used to
conserve the rare and endangered species. Successful conservation requires cooperation
between Plant Biologists, research institutions, policy makers and the public. A complex web
of different organizations and practices should work together to maintain and safeguard the
rare and endangered flora. Well-developed Plant Data Base (PDB) provides an easy way to
efficiently store information about medicinal plants and also greatly facilitates shared access
to relevant information. The websites help to connect organized information of plants with
their images including their variants captured over time. Search tools allow us to find plants
by family, genus, scientific name, common name and accession number as well as general
categories including flower, fruit, or foliage.The communication strategy for engendering
local community support for the conservation programme involves the use of a wide range of
media that the local communities are familiar with, and which have the power to
communicate the messages to the target groups. Thus the Networking database is useful for

plant identification, reference and Biodiversity discovery and implementing these new
technologies that can vitally improve possibilities of the conservation, collection and
dissemination of medicinal knowledge which contribute to the sustainability of our plant
wealth.

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Key Words: Medicinal Plants, Plant Conservation, Websites, endangered flora and
Plant Data Base (PDB).

INTRODUCTION
Source: oaji.net/articles/2014/1378-1419318230.pdf ·
Medicinal plants have been the subject of human curiosity since time
immemorial (Constable, 1990). Almost every civilization has a history of medicinal plant use
(Ensminger et al., 1983). World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 80% of the
population in the developed and the developing nations depend upon traditional medicine,
mostly plant drugs for the primary health care needs [Vines, 2004] and about 85% of
traditional medicine involves the use of plant extracts (Vieira and Skorupa, 1993).
India has 2.4% of world’s area with 8% of global biodiversity. According to
Mukherjee and Wahile, 2006 India is home to a great variety of medicinal plants with all the
three levels of biodiversity such as species diversity, genetic diversity, and habitat diversity
and is ranked sixth among 12 hotspots of mega diversity countries of the world. The

Himalayas are designated as one of the global biodiversity hotspots [Semwal et al., 2007].
Across the country, the forests are estimated to harbour 90% of India’s total medicinal plants
diversity. Only about 10% of the known medicinal plants of India are restricted to non-forest
habitats (Wakdikar, 2004). India with rich biodiversity ranks first in per cent flora, which
contain active medicinal ingredient (Mandal, 1999). Concerning the total number of
flowering plant species, although only 18,665, the intraspecific variability found in them
makes it one of the highest in the world. Out of 18,665 plants, the classic systems of
medicines like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani make use of only about 3000 plants in various
formulations (Schippmann et al., 2006).
On a global basis, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) has estimated that about 12.5% of the world’s vascular plants, totalling
about 34 000 species are under varying degrees of threat (Phartyal et al., 2002). A total of
560 plant species of India have been included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened species,
out of which 247 species are in the threatened category. IUCN recognises the following
categories: extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near
threatened, least concern, data deficient and not evaluated. Species with small populations
that are not at present endangered or vulnerable but are at risk are called rare (Singh et al.,
2006). Only a portion of medicinal plants that suffer from genetic erosion and resource
destruction have been listed as threatened [Schippmann et al., 2006 ; Deeb et al., 2013].

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Several international, national as well as private bodies namely CITES
(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), CBD
(Convention on Biological Diversity), WWF(World Wild life Fund), UNEP (United Nations
Environment Programme, UNEP planned International Union for Conservation of Nature is

the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization), Botanic Gardens
Conservation International ( BGCI), International Board for Plant Genetic Resources etc. are
governed at times to formulate feasible and competent strategies toward conserving this near
to be threatened medicinal plants diversity [Akerele et al. 1988]. Different approaches
towards preserving the botanical diversity are being practiced for medicinal, ornamental,
aromatic and other important plants. However, there needs to be several integrated and/or
independent techniques or methodologies, which when combined together have a promising
potential towards the conservation of plant species.
Global distribution of endangered plants - data from The IUCN Red List.

Source: www.pnas.org/content/110/42/16832

Factors related to species rarity, threatened and endangered situation of
medicinal plants
For extraction of medicinally important active compounds most of the
pharmaceutical / nutraceutical industry is highly dependent on wild populations for the
supply of raw materials. According to Rai, 2010 unfortunately the genetic diversity of
medicinal plants in the world is getting endangered at an alarming rate because of
1. ruinous harvesting practices or over-harvesting for production of medicines, with little
or no regard to the future.

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2. lack of proper cultivation practices,
3. Non-judicious use of plants from these habitats that made many species of medicinal
plants have become rare, severely threatened or endangered. In addition to this,
4. the medicinal plants are highly affected by climate change, such as:
a. increase in carbon dioxide concentration which favours C3 plants over C4
plant,
b. ocean acidification,
c. increase in diseases and pest,
d. high rain fall and high salt content in soil etc.

Endangered Medicinal Plants in India (Plants are categorized as endangered
according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITIES).
Table :1
Endangered Medicinal Plants

Family

Sanskrit name

AquilariamalaccesisLam.

Thymelaeaceae

agaru, aguru

Cibotiumbarometz(L.)

Cyatheaceae

Not available

DendrobiumnobileLindl.

Orchidaceae

Not available

DioscoreadeltoideaWallexKu

Dioscoreaceae

Not available

NardostachysgrandifloraDC.

Valerianaceae

jatamansi, jatamamsi

PicrorhizakurrooaBenth.

Scrophulariaceae

katuka, katuki

PodophyllumhexandrumRoyl

Berberidaceae

laghapattra, vakra

PterocarpussantalinusL.f.

Fabaceae

raktachandana, tilaparni

Rauvolfiaserpentina(L.)

Apocynaceae

sarpagandha, nakuli

Saussureacostus(Falc.)

Asteraceae

kustha, vapya

TaxuswallichianaZucc.

Taxaceae

talisapatra, barahmi

in India Botanical name

nth.

e

Source : www.rroij.com/.../biodiversity-and-strategies-for-conservation-of-rareendangered-an...

Significance of human activity in endangering Flora
According to Feeley and Silman 2009 habitat loss and climate change are the

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primary causes of species endangerment; there are other biological factors, such as
competition /invasion (Klironomos, 2002), including non-native fungi (Gundale , 2002) or
exotic arthropods (Pimentel, 2005), can also drive plant species to extinction. The 2005
Global Forest Resource Assessment, coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations, declared a high rate of deforestation with approximately a 6-millionhectare annual decrease in forest area, which further limits the forests’ role in the
conservation of biodiversity (Global ForestResources Assessment, 2005).
Cochrane and Laurance projected that by the year 2032, more than 70% of the
planet’s land surface will have been destroyed or disturbed (Cochrane and Laurance, 2002).
Interestingly, natural events such as geological and climate change represent a 19% threat to
plant life while the greatest threat involves human-induced habitat loss as part of the
conversion of natural habitats to agriculture or livestock grazing. Human-induced
environmental changes include increased levels of atmospheric CO 2, phosphorus, calcium,
pH, and other climate changes. These changes facilitate plant extinction as plant physiologies
are forced to adapt to changing environmental constraints ( Tilman and Lehman, 2001). It is
estimated that habitat destruction from human activity is the primary cause of risk for 83% of
endangered plant species. According to Winter et al., human activities mainly affect two

fundamental processes:
i.

native extinction and

ii.

alien introduction.

These two processes affect taxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics (Marten et al., 2009).

Policies or regulations for conservation of rare, endangered and threatened
medicinal plants in India:
There are no separate policies or regulations for conserving medicinal plants
growing in forests in India. There conservation is covered under existing laws pertaining to
forestry. Following are the laws formulated by government of India for conservation of
forests which directly or indirectly protects the wild herbal flora.
1. Forest Act, 1927
2. Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 1991
3. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
4. Environment Protection Act, 1986
5. National forest policy, 1988
6. National biodiversity act, 2002

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7. The scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers act, 2006

Strategies for conservation of medicinal plants:
All over the world, the protected areas are the most widely accepted and
practically approachable to biodiversity conservation. Conservation strategy (IUCW, UNEP
& WWF, 1980) defines conservation as “the management of human use of the biodiversity so
that it may yield the greatest sustainable benefit to present generation while maintaining its
potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations”( K. R. Akshay et.al., 2014).
The conservation of the wild medicinal plants or any other such threatened species can be
tackled by scientific techniques as well as social actions. In article 8 of The Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) emphasized on the fundamental requisite of in situ conservation
of ecosystems and natural habitats and also regarded as ex situ only as a second best [Roy,
2010; Tripathi and Tripathi, 2003; Oderson,2006]. There are basically two scientific
techniques of conservation of genetic diversity of these plants. 1. In-situ conservation 2.Exsitu conservation.
1. In-situ conservation:
In-situ conservation, which considered as the method of conserving
endangered species in their wild habitats, is promising in protecting indigenous species and
maintaining natural communities along with their intricate network of relationships [ Meilleur
and Hodgkin, 2004 ]. In situ conservation focuses on preserving and protecting the genetic
variation in the location it has been encountered originally i.e. in its natural habitats either in
the wild or in traditional farming system, including the animal and insects which directly or
indirectly help in pollination or dispersal of spores. There are the two widely practiced in-situ
techniques for plant conservation.
A. On farm conservation: The method is associated with the conservation of plants
through the farmers on the farm which is a reasonable and acceptable process, but
lags due to the slow growth of the plant.

B. Home garden technique for conservation:It is maintaining the genetic variation of
a plant within a limited space to make the maintenance in the native location which is
comparatively cost effective (Meenakshi et al, 2012).
There are other methods that evolved considering the time, cost and uncertainty involved in
the above discussed approaches.
Genetic reserve conservation: it is a more reasonable methodology for conserving the plants

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on large scale. This method is more appropriate for the bulk of wild species, whether closely
or distinctly related, because it is easy to maintain a diverse genetic pool in a single reserve
that allows continuous evolution of the species. The disadvantage is that the conserved
material is not readily available for agricultural exploitation [Alterie and Merrick, 1987;
Nigel et al.,1997]. Establishment of biosphere reserves, national parks, wild life sanctuaries,
sacred groves and other protected areas forms examples of 'in-situ' methods of conservation.
The idea of establishing protected area network has taken a central place in all policy
decision process related to biodiversity conservation at national, international and global
level.
2. Ex-situ conservation:
Ex-situ cultivation becomes an immediate action to sustain medicinal plant resources [Rita
and Silvano, 2006 ; Barazani et al.,2008 ]. Ex situ involves conservation outside the native
habitat and is generally used to safeguard populations in danger of destruction, replacement
or deterioration especially for those overexploited and endangered medicinal plants with slow
growth, small abundance and replant diseases [Shinwari and Gilan 2003;Chen et al.,2004].
But the disadvantages of ex situ conservation are that the sample of the species conserved ex
situ may represent a narrower range of genetic variation than that which occurs in the wild.

Species conserved ex situ can also suffer genetic erosion and depend on continued human
care. For this reason, ex situ conservation must not replace, but should complement, in situ
conservation.
Understanding the geographical distribution and biological characteristics of
medicinal plants is essential for their ex-situ conservation activities [Russel et al.,2006,
Willims et al., 2009]. Although many plant species can be successfully introduced, cultivated
and naturalized in a wide range of habitats across countries and continents [Ginnett and
Demment, 1999], their growth and distribution in different habitats are based on local
indicators [Ghimire et al.,2004], e.g. soil properties, climate conditions and environmental
features [Pulliam,2000]. Aguilar- Stoen and Moe (2007) found that many medicinal plants
thriving in harsh habitats and disturbed areas are of high medicinal efficacy because rocky
and dry habitats stimulate their secondary metabolites. Approaches to ex situ conservation
include methods like seed storage, field gene banks and botanical gardens. The precautionary
principles would suggest that an immediate and country-wide exercise be taken up to deposit
seeds of wild medicinal plants with a first priority to known Red listed species and endemic
species.
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Advances in biotechnology offer new methods like in vitro culture,
micropropagation, mycorrhization, genetic transformation, development of DNA banks and
plant part substitution for conservation of these rare and endangered medicinal plants. “Gene
Library” provide vital information to the conservation scientists. DNA banks assembled as a

means to replace traditional methods of conserving genetic resources. DNA storage may
provide the ultimate way to conserve the genetic diversity of these species and their
populations in the short term, until effective methods can be developed [Dulloo et al.,2006].
The department of bio-technology, Government of India has recently taken
the initiative to establish 3 gene banks in the country. One is with ICAR at the NBPGR
(National Bureau of plant genetic Resources) Campus, the second is with CIMAPs, (Central
Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic plants) Lucknow and the third with TBFRI in
Thiruvananthapuram. TBGRI has established the field gene bank of medicinal and aromatic
plants under the G-15-GBMAP sponsored by DBT, Government of India, and TBGRI
experience now provide ample opportunity to repeat the same elsewhere in the country. The
field gene bank of TBGRI has covered 30,000 accessions of 250 medicinal and aromatic
plant species which include 100 endemic, rare and endangered medicinal and aromatic plants
of the tropical region of India (Akshay et.al,2014).
Source: www.rroij.com /open-access /biodiver...
A nationwide network of medicinal plant nurseries, which will multiply all the

regional specific plants that are used in the current practice of traditional medicine will
become the primary sources of supply of plants and seed material that can be subsequently
multiplied by the various users. Net works of 50 Ethno-medicinal plant gardens were setup
by an All India Health Network. Among them 15 such gardens have been setup in 3 states of
South India with the initiative of FRLHT. Planting material for 40 odd species of medicinal
and aromatic plants is reportedly available in the ICAR and CSIR (CIMAP) network. In
South India The Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT) has
recently set up a network of 55 supply nurseries. This chain of gardens will act as regional
repositories of our cultural and ethno medicinal history and embody the living traditions of
our societies knowledge of medicinal plants.

Importance of Net Working Plant Data Base:
Source: and World Health Organization – 1993 –
apps.who.int

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Once the habitat of a species has been identified, botanists can predict where
that species might occur, in addition to those places where it has already been found. With
this information an up-to-date maps to be prepared highlighting the key areas for medicinal
plants and also the vegetation cover of the country. Wherever possible, information on medicinal plants should be stored in computerized databases, which should follow international
data standards and transfer formats where they exist.

The following data should be gathered on each species as far as practicable:
1. Its scientific (Latin) name, and its vernacular name(s);
2. Its geographical distribution;
3. Its scarcity or abundance, population size and conservation status;
4. Its habitat;
5. Description of the part of the plant used (e.g. stem or leaf) and how collected;
6. Its use(s) in medicine, traditional or otherwise;
7. Its occurrence in protected areas.
8. Whether cultivated or not, and the availability and location of ex situ germplasm
9. Line drawings or photographs should be included wherever possible.
Images from satellites provide a way to keep this information up-to-date. In
order to safeguard this plant data, it should be documented and preserved through Net
Working Data Base for future use. These data will most likely be held by national herbaria
and botany departments, but ideally should be brought together in one place and entered in a
centralized database, to support planning efforts at the national level. Botanical institutions
should make a catalogue of all the plant species used for medicinal purposes in the country.
Putting the information into computerized databases has the advantage of enabling retrieval

in many different ways yet permitting a constant process of refining and updating. The use of
international data standards and agreed transfer formats enables institutes to share and
contribute information more easily with each other, and greatly saves in the time and cost of
developing database systems.
Plant Data Base (PDB) provides an easy way to efficiently store
information about plants and also greatly facilitates shared access to relevant information.
Introduction of a concise identifier system allows easy generation of pedigree trees and their
genetic composition details. In addition, all information about any plant – from growth

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conditions, extracted samples such as RNA and DNA bar coding data of rare and endangered
plants to files containing images of the plants – can be linked unequivocally.The websites
connects organized information of plants with their images captured over time. Search tools
allow us to find plants by family, genus, scientific name, common name and accession
number as well as general categories including flower, fruit, or foliage. The data should also
cover techniques adopted for conservation of plants in various Macro projects and
microcosms. Mapping is better done nowadays on computers, using the technology of
Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The data can be stored and made available easily
by using the technology that is developing rapidly connecting the world.Some of these
technologies are described hereunder. The following organizations offer help in setting up
national conservation databases and in GIS technology:

World Conservation Monitoring Centre (219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK);
The Nature Conservancy (1815 N Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22209, USA); and
Conservation International (1015 18th Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036,
USA).
Mobile Geospatial Computing:
Source : &
file:///K:/%C2%A0/plant%20conservation/Training%20manual%20on%20spatial%20analysis%20o
f%20plant%20diversity%20and%20distribution.htm

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The enhanced capabilities of mobile devices, makes it convenient for
geospatial computing in mobile devices which is becoming a fast-growing trend.[Chen and
Guinness,2014] The portable nature of these devices, as well as the presence of useful
sensors, such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and barometric
pressure sensors, make them useful for capturing and processing geospatial information in the
field. In addition to the local processing of geospatial information on mobile devices, another
growing trend is cloud-based geospatial computing. In this architecture, data can be collected
in the field using mobile devices and then transmitted to cloud-based servers for further
processing and ultimate storage. Using the functionality, geospatial information can be made
available to connected mobile devices via the cloud, allowing access to vast databases of
geospatial information anywhere where a wireless data connection is available. Youth today
are very much connected with each other and spreading information about global/local issues
through the internet and similar networking can be achieved for the conservation practices
which helps in developing skills to effectively carry out spatial analysis based on (free) GIS
applications with a focus to understand on the diversity and ecological factors of the target

plant genetic pool.
These analyses offer a better understanding of spatial patterns of plant
diversity and distribution, helping to improve conservation efforts. The training manual
focuses on plants of interest for improving livelihoods (e.g. crops, trees and crop wild
relatives) and/or those which are endangered.Spatial analyses of interspecific and
intraspecific diversity are explained using different types of data which can be stored in a
single file (which by unzipping creates the different folders used in the manual) such as
1. Importing observation data

8.Diversity - Phenotypic data

2. Importing climate data

9. Diversity - Molecular marker data

3. Basic elements

10. Conservation strategies

4. Export to Google Earth

11.Realized niche

5. Quality control – Administrative units

12._potential_distribution.zip

6. Quality control – Atypical points

13. Climate change

7.Species diversity

14. Gap analysis

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base links available as on date:
Source : file:///K:/%C2%A0/plant%20conservation/Plants%20Databases%20Links.html

Currently the following database links are available which are helping the storage and
dissemination of knowledge in the respective areas of the world.
Iris BG

Used by botanical gardens, arboreta and large estates, Iris BG is a complete database and
software solution to manage your botanical collection. The database and software package is
based on the latest developments in information technology, is easy to use, install and
maintain.
Plant Collections - A Community Solution

The Chicago Botanic Garden, in collaboration with APGA, the University of Kansas, and 15
public gardens nationwide, is developing PlantCollections, an online database to help analyse

combined holdings, a first step in coordinating a continent-wide approach to plant germplasm
preservation.
Grasses Database

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has made available their comprehensive databases on grass
species and synonymy.
The Internet Directory for Botany

The Internet Directory of Botany is an index to botanical information available on the
Internet, compiled by Anthony R. Brach. It started as a personal bookmark list of botanical
sites and is now a large resource for the botanical community.
Plant life Species Dossiers

The Species Dossiers provide easy access to a wealth of detailed information on rare British
plants. This includes identification, distribution, ecology, threats and management, as well as
ideas, contacts and research areas.
The World Biodiversity Database

This is a new and completely revised World Biodiversity Database (WBD). The WBD allows
you to search for information on any plants or animals in the world. These projects cover a
total so far of 25493 unique taxa, plus an additional 4149 synonyms.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centre - Wild Plants Database

This is the latest version of the Wild Plants Database and the number of data fields has
increased and it is now linked to an extensive image library. There are also a number of other
useful resources such as a botanic glossary.

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v Plants

v Plants is a virtual herbarium for the Chicago region in the US. Currently the site contains
data for 72,000 plant specimens from three institutions with rich Chicago Region collections:
the Field Museum of Natural History, The Morton Arboretum, and the Chicago Botanic
Garden.
Indian Medicinal Plants Database

This online Encyclopaedia of Indian Medicinal Plants lists the information available with
Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions on each medicinal plant species
such as number of vernacular names, distribution data, trade, propagation, agro-technique,
seed storage, and much more.
Bauble Botanical Collection Management

Bauble is a software application to help you (yes you) manage a collection of botanical
specimens. It is intended to be used by botanic gardens, herbaria, arboreta, etc. to manage
their collection information. It is an open, free, cross-platform alternative to BG-Base and
similar software.
Plants for a Future

Plants for a Future is a resource centre for rare and unusual plants, particularly those which
have edible, medicinal or other uses. We practise vegan-organic permaculture with emphasis
on creating an ecologically sustainable environment based largely on perennial plants.
Neotropical Herbarium Specimens

This site is an aid to the general identification of dried specimens of Neotropical plants. It
will be most useful to professional biologists and others doing species inventories of natural

areas, ecology, and ethnobotany. It's a desktop reference set of high-quality images of
herbarium material.
Directory of Botanical Collections in Britain and Ireland

This is a directory that Plant Network have devised, listing all the collections of UK
Botanical Gardens in geographic order. An extremely useful resource if you are looking for
specific plants, or a certain region's plants, within the British Isles.
BG-BASE

BG-BASE is a powerful, well proven database application for managing records of
collections of biological material. In wide use by botanic gardens, arboreta, and herbaria, BGBASE facilitates basic inventory control, and enables users to fully document, label and
curate their collections.

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E Flora of China Online

Efloras brings together electronic floras into an online interface. Users can browse online
floristic treatments by volume, family, and genus, and can search by name, distributional
data, and text. With the use of web forms, editors and authors with permissions can correct
and update the data.
Wiki-species: Plants

Wiki-species is a project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation with a great potential. It is
meant to become an open, free directory of species. This will cover all forms of life and at
this link you will find the Plantae classification. "Wiki-species is free. Because life is public
domain!"
Australian Botanical Databases

The Australian National Botanical Gardens and the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research
have compiled lists of databases relating to Australasian flora. The site is also rich with
information about plants of Australia, including photographs and horticulture, and about
botanic gardens in the area.
Nature Serve

Providing the scientific basis for effective conservation, Nature Serve and its network of
natural heritage programs are the trusted source for information about rare and endangered
species and threatened ecosystems in the Americas. Offers a searchable database of plants of
the U.S. and Canada.
Native Seeds SEARCH

Through seed conservation and community interaction Native Seeds/SEARCH works to
protect crop biodiversity and to celebrate American Southwestern and northwest Mexico
cultural diversity. Today we safeguard 2000 varieties of arid-land adapted agricultural crops.
European Bioinformatics Institute

The EBI is a centre for research and services in bioinformatics. The Institute manages
databases of biological data including nucleic acid, protein sequences and macromolecular
structures. They offer researchers free, unrestricted access to some of the world's most
important biological databases.
Google Earth

Want to know more about a specific location, anywhere on earth? Dive right in -- Google
Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world's
geographic information at your fingertips. This is one the most amazing things you can do on
the internet so far...

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SEPASAL

SEPASAL is a database and enquiry service about useful "wild" and semi-domesticated
plants of tropical and subtropical drylands, developed and maintained at the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew.
ePIC - Electronic Plant Information Centre

ePIC is a major project making Kew's digitised information about plants available online. It
searches through Kew's collections, bibliographies, nomenclatures and checklists,
publications and taxonomic works, as well as external links and content on Kew's website. it's
very impressive!
Wiki Gardens

Website for the landscape architect, practiced gardener, amateur plant nerd & anyone inbetween. It is primarily a site for plant research. The site features a 50,000 plant
encyclopaedia, a garden showcase, a forum, a members’ journal, seasonal topics of interest,
& listings of local garden groups.
Tips on Using Databases

"If the users can't use it, it doesn't work - If it doesn't work, the users can't use it". If your

non-profit has to deal with tech matters but you don't know a great deal about it, you will do
well to look at this website. It introduces you to databases and lots of other tech matters,
clearly.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Biodiversity and biodiversity information are essential to a sustainable future for society.
GBIF is making recorded knowledge about biodiversity available to everyone using the
Internet. Anyone with records of biodiversity can send data into GBIF to help build an online
image of life on earth.

Conclusion
Medicinal herbs, as potential sources of therapeutics aids have attained a significant role
in health system allover the world for both humans and animals not only in the diseased
condition but also as potential material for maintaining proper health without any side effects.
Owing to the commercial importance, the medicinal plants as well as their habitats along with
the associated plants and animals are being destroyed without any concern over the
consequences. Such acts on the part of human beings had resulted into the modification of the
conditions of the microcosms in which the medicinal plants are located and grow. These
changes will have a cascading effect on the Macro environment significantly there by causing

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major ecological and geo thermal impacts such as melting glaciers increase sea levels and
unwanted green-house gas effects. Fresh strategies of a forestation management and
restoration of depleting natural resources blending with modern technologies are required as
a remedial action for this. Unless we take urgent steps to conserve the Flora the medicinal
plants suffer the threat of overexploitation and biodiversity depletion.
Therefore there is an urgent need for implementing conservation practices like
ex situ conservation which will help the regeneration of similar plants which over a period get
better due to the Natural selection process by which right traits are conserved. It is important
for the scientific community and the communities involved in the conservation and practicing
traditional medicine to get the strategic online information. So that they are able to nurture
the plants and regain the lost biodiversity. Conservation and cultivation of rare and
endangered medicinal crops can not only add to the bio diversity and ecological upgradation
of systems but also stands as an alternative source for income generation for the rural
unemployed Youth. Institutes like, CIMAP and ICAR play an vital role in disseminating
knowledge about conserving rare and endangered medicinal species and developing agro
technologies and market linkages to farmer in order to extend the area and generate income
to the farmer.
In this effort there is a great need for information flow through databases which
are commonly used by biologists to store diverse data such as vector information or
microarray data. There are certain data bases that were designed to store data of experimental
plants. The goal was to develop a database solution that is easy to use, adjustable to specific
needs and available to many who are involved in the conservation process. There are attempts
by several organisations to build databases like Microsoft DB. It is important that all those
bodies who are preserving the knowledge to network and exchange the information
seamlessly so that users can access it effectively and adopt in the conservation efforts.
With the use of cloud computing technologies and involvement of Mobile
computing instruments the knowledge can be preserved about various techniques on
conservation of gene pool that is endangered. It is important that this data being preserved
should extensively cover the characters and images of the plants under conservation and their
pictures for common identification. It is also essential to have such data on the variants of

these plants as well as the associated fauna in the microcosms where they originated from
which we can get clues in conserving these plants in effective manner especially when we
attempt to cultivate them in ex situ condition.

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Acknowledgements: The Authors wish to thank Dr. P.V.S.L. Narasimham who helped in
the preparation of the Manuscript.
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