The knowledge of medicinal plants can be traced back from Vedic period. The Rigveda and Atharvaveda, which date back to ca 2000-1000 BC, and several post Vedic treatise, viz. Charak (Carak) Samhita (ca 100 AD), Sushruta Samhita (ca 8000-900 AD), Ashtanga Hridiyam Samhita (ca 700 AD), Dravyaguna Sangrah (ca 1060 AD), Shodal Nighantu (ca 1374 AD), Raj Nighantu (ca 1600 AD), Bhava Prakash Nighantu (ca 1600 AD), Rajballah Nighantu (ca 1760 AD), etc. are important sources of information on medicinal plants. The modern Ayurvedic and Unani literature and several other medico-botanical text (Kirtikar & Basu, 1935; Chopra et al., 1956 etc) have further added to our knowledge regarding plant based remedies.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR V Singh
V. Singh, born on 15th August, 1947 obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Botany from the University of Meerut (U.P.) during the year 1967 and 1974 respectively, with specialization in Taxonomy. He is devoted to the study of Indian biodiversity right from the date of completion of post graduation and in thirty nine years of his research career he has published books like : 3-volumed Flora of Rajasthan, Flora of Banswara district, Ethnobotany of Rajasthan, Asteraceae of Sikkim, Ethnobotany and Medicinal Plants of India and Nepal (ed.) Indian Folk medicines and other products (ed.) which have got worldwide recognition. He is also recognized for the monographs on Indian Zygophyllaceae, Lamiaceae (the genus Leucas R.Br.), Caesalpiniaceae (subtribe Cassiinae) and Ebenaceae (the genus Diospyros L.). He has worked on different aspects of Indian flora viz. taxonomy, ecology, phytosociology, ethnobotany, medicinal botany, conservation etc. and has about 100 research papers in his credit. His recent contribution on the Biodiversity of Desert National Park hasfound wide recognition in the field of conservation and management of protected areas.
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