Chemical characterization and biological activity of ethnomedicinally important essential oil bearing plants of Nubra valley Ladakh

Abstract

A study was planned to investigate the ethnomedicinal significance of essential oil bearing plants and studied the biological properties of few selected plants plants collected from Nubra valley of Leh, Ladakh. The study identified 31 ethnomedicinally important essential oil yielding plant species. Most of the identified plant were herbs ~ (90%) followed by shrubs. The identified plant belongs to 15 families. Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were found to be the most dominant ones. Artemisia sieversiana, Carum carvi, Dracocephalum heterophyllum, Heracleum pinnatum, Hippophae rhamnoides, and Prunus armeniaca were identified as most commonly used medicinal plant by the local people of the study area. Informant consensus factor (ICF), a quantitative tool used as an indicator showing the maximum use of a medicinal plant against particular health disorder was calculated to be highest for earache, while for gastrointestinal disorders it was the lowest. The study also highlighted several medicinal plants with high fidelity level and use value. Based on the survey, four aromatic plants namely Artemisia sieversiana Ehrh., Carum carvi L., Dracocephalum hetrophyllum Benth., and Heracleum pinnatum C. B. Clarke were selected for biological properties of their EOs. The EOs extracted from the selected aromatic plants exhibited varied yields and compositions. Based on the GC-MS analysis, the EO from the selected plants was found to be monoterpenoid in nature. newline