Alternates of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for Future Industrial Demand, Development, and Conceivable Conservation

Abstract

Introduction: Natural habitats of the medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are declining due to unsustainable  collection, high demand, and high volume and continuous supply of the raw materials, and most recently due to  global and regional climatic changes. Hence, there is a high need to alternate the original species in terms of plants  and plant part use. Materials and Methods: Alternatives/substitution of an Ayurvedic, genuine, and grantha based, as per Ayurvedic  Pharmacopoeia of India species are studied and analyzed with taxonomical and phytochemicals points of view such  as Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipaka, and Prabhava versus species, genus, family, and order along with bioactive chemical  markers.  Results and Discussion: Some of the RET, MAPs are belong to monotypic genus and some are also belong to IUCN  red list category: Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf. ex Holmes, Aegle marmelos L., Aquilaria agallocha Roxb., Berberis  aristata DC., Cissampelos pareira L., Commiphora wightii (Arnott) Bhandari, Embelia ribes (Burm.) F., Gmelina  arborea Roxb., Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br., Hydnocarpus kurzii (King) Warb, Nardostachys grandiflora Wall.  ex DC., Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz, Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle, Pterocarpus santalinus L. f., Saraca asoca (Roxb.)  Wild, Stereospermum suaveolens (Roxb.) DC, Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Flem.) Karst and Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seems has been suggested for possible alternates with the plants and plant part use. Selection of substitution  may be regional or disease-wise in particular but in general whole plants substitution required comprehensive study  on botanical aspects, active phytoconstituents, biological active markers, and pharmacological activity.