The book reviews the foundational contribution of Shri Jaykrishna Indrajit Thaker on Medicinal Plants of Saurashtra, Gujarat. He was father of plant taxonomy and ethnobotanical research in Gujarat. He was known for his in-depth understanding of plants and their medicinal utilities. Great Botanist like Kirtikar, J.J. Shah and even revered Mahatma Gandhi have paid their tributes to his great sense of duty, devotion and dedication for the subject. The book briefly examines the historical background on the medicinal plants of Saurashtra region during pre and post independence period. Details on 573 Medicinal plants recorded from the 52 sites in Saurashtra region, encompassing forest areas, grasslands, coastal regions and fallow lands have been covered in the book. Based on the past and present data on Medicinal Plants status in the different areas, the proposal for Medicinal Plant Conservation Area (MPCA) and Medicinal Plant Development Areas (MPDA) has been suggested. The medicinal plants are further classified based on their medicinal utility, status, distributional pattern and threat category as per IUCN, BSI and WCMC. There is a specific chapter on herbal uses of angiospermic plants of Saurashtra region. The book reviews the potential of medicinal plants that can be propagated and cultivated in Saurashtra region. It also gives an insight into the commercially cultivated plants, emerging medicinal plants for drugs and pharmaceutical industries. The book also gives insight into the possible repercussions of Medicinal Plant biodiversity loss and threats. Lastly concluding the status of Medicinal Plants in Saurashtra region, it briefly states about the demand and supply for indigenous species, marketing of medicinal plant products, institutional support, opportunities and constrains in medicinal plant markets and potential future scenario for medicinal plants industry.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR P.S. Nagar
Dr. P.S. Nagar was born in Imphal city, Manipur on 2nd March, 1972. He pursued his higher education B.Sc. (Hon.) and M.Sc. Bioscience at Sri Sahya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), Prasanthinilyam, Andhra Pradesh. He completed his Ph.D. on “Biodiversity of Barda Hills and its surroundings – a floristic view†from Saurashtra University, Rajkot in 2000. His teaching career started as an Adhoc Lecturer in the Department of Biosciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot during 1998-2000. Later, he worked as a Principal Investigator (2000-2001) on the project of “Floristic diversity of Barda Sanctuary, Gujarat†under the forest scheme of GEER Foundation, Gandhinagar. The project was followed by the position of Research Associate (2001-2004) in the Department of Biosciences, Saurashtra University, on the topic of “Coastal plant biodiversity of Saurashtra, Gujarat†and “Floristic diversity of Girnar, Gujaratâ€. During the same period he also worked as a Principal Investigator on the project “Medicinal plants of Saurashtra†GEER Foundation, Gandhinagar. He has also played a key role (Coordinator) in proposing and establishing “Inter-university Medicinal Plant Laboratory for Analysis, Nurture and Therapeutics†(IMPLANT) at Saurashtra University, Rajkot in the year 2001, presently, he is working as a Scientific Advisor with the center. The division has a well-established demonstration medicinal and aromatic farm with extraction unit and database on traditional medicinal plants of Saurashtra region. Presently the team of IMPLANT is engaged in developing finger prints and quality standards of various medicinal and aromatic plant species. Dr. Nagar is basically a plant taxonomist and is actively engaged in the study of Plant biodiversity in Saurashtra and other parts of Gujarat region. He has studied the flora, phytogeography, ethnobotany, ecology, threatened plant species and issues pertaining to biodiversity conservation for nearly 9 years now. The study includes more than 64 sites in Saurashtra region covering: forest areas, grasslands, coastal regions and fallow lands. The result of his investigations has appeared in prestigious Indian and international journals. He is associated with Forest division, Agriculture Universities, National Institutes etc. and is playing an important role in formulation, planning and finalization of floristic and medicinal plant studies on Kathiyawad peninsula and other forest regions of Gujarat. He is Life member of Indian Association of Angiosperm Taxonomy (IAAT).
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