Sumeet Gairola

• D.Phil.
• Associate Professor at Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University

The carbon (C) stored in the living biomass of trees is typically the largest C pool of the forest ecosystem which is directly impacted by deforestation and degradation. The relationships between diversity, biomass and C stocks at varied altitudes can have crucial implications for the management and conservation of C sinks. The study was undertaken...

Four forest stands each of twenty major forest types in sub-tropical to temperate zones (350masl–3100m asl) of Garhwal Himalaya were studied. The aim of the study was to assess the stem density, tree diversity, biomass and carbon stocks in these forests and make recommendations for forest management based on priorities for biodiversity protection a...

The present study was undertaken in seven major forest types of temperate zone (1500 m a.s.l. to 3100 m a.s.l.) of Garhwal Himalaya to understand the effect of slope aspects on carbon (C) density and make recommendations for forest management based on priorities for C conservation/sequestration. We assessed soil organic carbon (SOC) density, tree d...

A new species of Dactyloctenium (Poaceae) from Jammu and Kashmir is described and illustrated. Of the four Dactyloctenium species found in India, the new D. ruderale shares a close relationship with the two previously identified D. aristatum Link and D. aegyptium Willd. from northwest India. The diagnostic characteristics are 50–80 cm tall herb; in...

Background: Indigenous communities living in the cold-arid desert of Ladakh, located in the northernmost part of India in the Trans-Himalayan region, evolved traditional knowledge to identify, harvest, use, and manage wild edible plants (WEPs). WEPs are vital in meeting nutritional needs and surviving food scarcity during harsh winters. However, WE...

The genus Artemisia L. (tribe Anthemidea), belonging to the family Asteraceae, has a rich diversity of essential oil-bearing species distributed throughout the Western Himalayan (WH) and Trans-Himalayan (TH) regions of India. The present study evaluated the essential oils of the eighty-one accessions representing 40 Artemisia spp. from India’s WH a...

Background: This study was conducted in the Polavaram Mandal of Andhra Pradesh. Eighteen field visits were undertaken in the eight villages of Polavaram Mandal. Methods: Information was collected from 126 informants using open-ended interviews and semi-structured questionnaires. The data was examined employing indices viz., Relative Frequency of Ci...

Fritillaria roylei is an endangered bulbous perennial plant with high ethnopharmacological value. The high morphophysiological dormancy, habitat destruction, and irresponsive collection have resulted in the endangered status of F. roylei plants. The present study established an efficient in vitro regeneration and multiplication protocol for bulb mu...

Trees are essential to human existence and a vital part of biological diversity. Population expansion and climate change are aggravating deforestation and degradation of forests. Considering forests’ productive, ecological, protective, recreational, and educational significance, there is a great need to use technology in the protection and conserva...

Geraniol is an important component in essential oils of aromatic plants such as lemongrass, rosa grass, and many others. It can be converted to different high-value products by using microbes/enzymes. The present study aims at the isolation and screening of microbes showing efficient production of geranic acid (a high-value product) from geraniol (...

Species within the primitive genus Magnolia may often produce specialized floral traits and behaviour to grab the attention of potential pollinators from their surroundings. These reproductive traits in plants undergo various selection pressures and frequently bring forth variations to adapt to the new habitat that may result in speciation. We have...

The new species Rosa aharbalensis is described and illustrated from Tehsil Damhal Hanjipura of Jammu and Kashmir. It is morphologically similar to Rosa canina, but characterized by having velvety leaves, leaves with up to 9 leaflets, hairy stipules with glandular margins, hairy and eglandular pedicels, one bract and two bracteoles, sepal margins wi...

Background: The present study was carried out in Paddar region of Jammu and Kashmir to investigate and document the plant species used by the Paddari tribe in socio-magico-religious purposes. Methods: Ninety-eight informants (55 males and 43 females) in the age of 21 to 80 years were included in the study. Purposive,snowball and random sampling met...

Ladakh's wild edible plant species (WEPs) provide a vital source of food, nutrition, and medicine to the region's indigenous populations. However, WEPs' nutritional and antioxidant properties are missing in the region. The current study examined the nutritional values, total phenolic, total flavonoid, and antioxidant capabilities of 11 WEPs from th...

A new species of Dactyloctenium (Poaceae) from Jammu and Kashmir is described and illustrated. Among Indian species of Dactyloctenium , the new D. ruderalis is closely related to the only previously known D. aristatum in the region by being non-stoloniferorous. Among others, distinctive characteristics of much taller; peduncle length and bearded cu...

Two novel steroidal saponins, trilliumosides K (1) and L (2), were isolated from the rhizomes of Trillium govanianum led by bioactivity-guided phytochemical investigation along with seven known compounds: govanoside D (3), protodioscin (4), borassoside E (5), 20-hydroxyecdysone (6), 5,20-hydroxyecdysone (7), govanic acid (8), and diosgenin (9). The...

Three new eudesmane type rare sesquiterpene lactone galactosides, costunosides A-C (1-3) were isolated from the rhizomes of Aucklandia costus along with ten known compounds (4-13). Costunosides A-C (1-3) are the first example of naturally eudesmane glycosides containing a β-galactopyranoside moiety. The structure and relative configurations of thes...

The Rosa L. genus is a significant plant family in the Rosaceae group, consisting of around 200 species, primarily shrubs. In India, it has 37 species, most located in the Western Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Roses are highly regarded for their beauty and growth and are popular worldwide for their nutritional, therape...

The present study describes the isolation, identification, and quantification of biomarker compounds in plant extracts of Habenaria intermedia D. Don (Orchidaceae). The isolation of the compounds was carried out from H. intermedia D. Don by repeated column chromatography of petroleum ether and ethanol fractions of extract of tubers. These compounds...

In the herbal drug industry, raw herbal drug samples of several important plant species are often reported interchangeably used with other drug samples. Correct identification for the use of genuine species in herbal preparation is essential to ensure the safety and quality of herbal medicines. Developments of standard botanical monographs are know...

Main conclusion Morphological, phytochemical, and transcriptome analyses revealed candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of volatile monoterpenes and development of glandular trichomes in Monarda citriodora. Abstract Monarda citriodora Cerv. ex Lag. is a valuable aromatic plant due to the presence of monoterpenes as major constituents in its...

Lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes play a pivotal role in the biosynthesis of oxylipins. The phyto-oxilipins have been implicated in diverse aspects of plant biology, from regulating plant growth and development to providing tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. C. sativa is renowned for its bioactive secondary metabolites, namely cannabinoids. LO...

Aucklandia costus Falc. (Synonym: Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch.) is a perennial herb of the family Asteraceae. The dried rhizome is an essential herb in the traditional systems of medicine in India, China and Tibet. The important pharmacological activities reported for Aucklandia costus are anticancer, hepatoprotective, antiulcer, antimicrobial,...

Background: The knowledge of geographical distribution and ethnobotanical uses is critical for the effective conservation and utilization of native plant genetic resources. No attempt has been made to amalgamate and analyze all of the available information on the ethnobotany, and distribution of Rosa in India. Therefore, this work aimed to provide...

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ladakh, "the land of high-rising passes," is a cold arid desert located in the northernmost part of the Trans-Himalayan region. Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in this fragile ecosystem is an important part of the primary healthcare system, particularly in remote areas where modern medical facilities are n...

Two novel steroidal saponins, Trilliumosides A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ) were isolated from the rhizomes of Trillium govanianum by bioactivity-guided phytochemical investigation along with seven known compounds protodioscin ( 3 ) govanoside B ( 4 ), borassoside E ( 5 ), 20-hydroxyecdysone ( 6 ), 5-20-hydroxyecdysone ( 7 ), govanic acid ( 8 ), and diosgenin...

Wild fruits possess important bioactive chemicals that may prove useful in alleviating several health ailments. In many places around the world, wild fruits have played an essential role in providing nutrition and dietary requirements to the poor. Nutraceuticals are gaining wide acceptance for their flavor and nutritional benefits. One such resourc...

Purple Revolution: Farmers of Jammu & Kashmir Becoming Self-reliant with Aroma Mission

The trade of herbal drugs is often reported with misidentification and adulteration problems due to morphological similarities and confusion in common names. To avoid adulteration and ensure correct identification and authentication of herbal crude drugs, the present study focused on developing botanical, chemical, and molecular reference standards...

Background Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don occurring at high altitudes in the Himalayas and known by the common name ‘Nag Chhatri,’ has high medicinal value. Its rhizome samples have substantial therapeutic potential and possess anti-cancer and anti-aging properties. Due to similar common names and morphology, there is an issue with adulteratio...

Bioprospecting is a multidisciplinary endeavor that entails systematic discovery, isolation, and identification of new bioactive molecules utilizing natural biological reserves before moving on to product production and commercialization. Medicinal plants have been employed to treat a plethora of health complications since the dawn of humanity, dem...

Background: The study was conducted in the cold-arid region of Ladakh to evaluate the important ethnoveterinary medical plants used by the indigenous inhabitants and to understand the traditional methods of herbal preparation used locally to treat livestock ailments. Methods: Ethnobotanical survey was carried out in 15 villages of the Ladakh region...

Cannabis sativa L. is an economically important plant which is renowned for its wide range of uses. Anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids, impart pigmentation to the plant parts and play important roles in plant environment interactions. However, to the best of our knowledge, the molecular basis of anthocyanin biosynthesis in C. sativa remains elusiv...

Background: Most people and livestock producers in rural India continue to rely on traditional medicine for health-care practices. The aim of the present study was to document important plant species employed by the people of Paddar to treat livestock ailments. Methods: Reconnaissance surveys were conducted in Paddar from April 2020 to September 20...

Csir Success Stories

Distillation wastes of aromatic crops, rich in lignocellulosic content may be suitable for the cultivation of Pleurotus mushrooms by solid-state fermentation. The lignocellulosic biomass of lemongrass, rosagrass, java citronella and wheat straw taken as control were utilized for the production of mushrooms derived from the species Pleurotus florida...

The new species Rosa machailensis from Paddar subdivision of Jammu &Kashmir is described and illustrated. It is closely allied to Rosa moschata but differs in having acute leaflet, densely glandular margins and long auriculate stipules, broad prickle base, emarginate, mucronate and incised petals, small size of hips (pseudo fruit), thick exine of p...

The new species Rosa machailensis from Paddar subdivision of Jammu &Kashmir is described and illustrated. It is closely allied to Rosa moschata but differs in having acute leaflet, densely glandular margins and long auriculate stipules, broad prickle base, emarginate, mucronate and incised petals, small size of hips (pseudo fruit), thick exine of p...

The present study investigated the palynological diversity of highly medicinal Rare, Endangered, and Threatened (RET) plant species dwelling in higher altitudes of Western Himalaya, India. The pollen morphology of 32 plant species covering 29 genera, 23 families, and 18 orders of Angiosperms was analyzed by Light Microscopy (LM) and Scanning Electr...

Plants have immensely contributed to the drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we undertook the phytochemical investigation of Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC. rhizomes followed by semisynthetic modifications to discover cholinesterase (ChE) and beta‐site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE‐1) inhibitors. The 8‐acet...

Mushrooms are considered as future vegetables as they have remarkable nutritional and medicinal properties and thus, their demand has been increasing day by day. Nowadays, mushrooms are among popular foods because of their low calorie, carbohydrates, fat and sodium content. Additionally, they are known to enhance the immune system and act as choles...

Background: Plants play an essential role in every rural society's cultural and religious ceremonies. The focus of the study was to document the use of plants by the indigenous communities of sub-Himalayan Tract, Uttarakhand in magico-religious practices. Method: Information was extracted from eighty informants (50 men; 30 women) between 25 to 75 y...

Natural value-added compounds produced from biological sources have attained immense significance in medicinal, food, flavourings, and agrochemical industries. Further, biotransformation is a powerful tool used to produce value-added compounds cost-effectively and selectively. In the present study, biotransformation of eugenol using an endophytic f...

Background The root drugs of the family Apocynaceae are medicinally important and used in Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM). There is often a problem of misidentification and adulteration of genuine samples with other samples in the market trade. Keeping in view the adulteration problem of raw drug material, comparative macroscopic and microscopic (...

Dengue is a serious public health concern worldwide, with ∼3 billion people at risk of contracting dengue virus (DENV) infections, with some suffering severe consequences of disease and leading to death. Currently, there is no broad use vaccine or drug available for the prevention or treatment of dengue, which leaves only anti-mosquito strategies t...

The main objective of cancer treatment with chemotherapy is to kill the cancerous cells without affecting the healthy normal cells. In the present study, bioactivity-guided purification of the n-chloroform soluble fraction from the methanol extract of Roscoea purpurea resulted in the identification of two new labdane diterpenes: coronarin K (1) and...

Recently, the use of hips of different rose species has increased due to its nutritional and health-promoting benefits. Rose hips contain a rich amount of ascorbic acid, phenolics, and various other bioactive constituents. Based on the distribution and variation in the morphological characters, rose hips of nine accessions belonging to the three sp...

Background: The present study has been designed to document the wild edible plants used by the local populace of the Paddar Valley, district Kishtwar, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Methods: A total of 50 informants between the age group of 18-74 years were interviewed. Semi-structured questionnaires, participatory observations, and i...

Ficus semicordata Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. is a small tropical tree used as food, fodder, and medicine in India's different parts. Its fruits are rich in flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, anthraquinone, and glycosides. They are used to treat several health issues, including abdominal problems, urogenital problems, colic pain, visceral obstructions,...

Apocynaceaeis one of the largest angiosperm familieswith numerous medicinal plant species. Plants of the family Apocynaceae are rich in toxic and medicinal secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, steroids, lactones, sterols, and sugars lignans. Roots of family Apocynaceae are used by indigenous commu...

The main objective of cancer treatment with chemotherapy is to kill the cancerous cells without affecting the healthy normal cells. In the present study, bioactivity-guided purification of the n-chloroform soluble fraction from the methanol extract of Roscoea purpurea resulted in the identification of two new labdane diterpenes: coronarin K (1) and...

Enicostema axillare subsp. littorale (Blume) A. Raynal belonging to the family Gentianaceae, known as Mamajjaka in Ayurveda, is a medicinally important plant used to treat Madhumeha or diabetes mellitus. The plant has high demand in the Indian herbal drug market and is used in various herbal preparations. The present study was conducted to characte...

Cannabis sativa L. is a valuable plant that has regained its importance for medicinal use. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry based untargeted metabolomic study was conducted in seeds of two accessions from different environments. A total of 236 metabolites were observed, and 43 metabolites were found differentially significant (p ≤ 0.05) in both...

The present study aimed to understand the pollen morphological variation among and within the Rosa L. species of Western Himalaya, India, and to investigate whether the pollen characters may help to distinguish these species of roses. The pollen morphology of nine Rosa species viz. R. canina L., R. centifolia L., R. damascena Mill., R. foetida var....

Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb., belonging to the family Saxifragaceae, commonly known as Pashanbheda, is an important medicinal plant distributed in temperate regions of the Himalaya. It is used in Indian Systems of Medicine (ISMs) and is also known to have high ethnomedicinal value. Its root, rhizome and whole plant parts are used and have a very...

Background Dengue is a serious public health concern worldwide, with ~3 billion people at risk of contracting dengue virus (DENV) infections. Currently, no effective vaccine or drug is available for the prevention or treatment of dengue, which leaves only anti-mosquito strategies to combat this disease. The present study was initiated to determine...

Fuelwood is the primary source of energy in rural villages of Western Himalaya (WH), India, which is used for a plethora of purposes such as cooking, water heating, room heating, and lighting. Most of the fuelwood is extracted from the forests, which is one of the leading causes of disturbance to the natural forest flora of WH. In the present study...

In the present review article, we have compiled and analysed ethnomedicinal knowledge on the plants used to manage CNS and memory-related problems by various indigenous communities of the two Union Territories of India viz., Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), and Ladakh. Ethnomedicinal studies conducted in J&K and Ladakh, India up till the year 2020, were se...

Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don belonging to the family Liliaceae and is one of the important bulbous medicinal herbs from the Western Himalayan Region distributed between 2800 and 4000 m asl. It is a perennial herb having an underground bulb which is the main constituents of various Ayurvedic preparations. Due to natural habitat specificity and indisc...

Cannabis belonging to the Cannabaceae family is a medicinally important plant. In ancient times this plant was used for food, fibre and medicine. In recent times, the focus has gone back on the medicinal importance of this wonder plant. The seeds of the Cannabis contain proteins, vitamins, fatty acids and oil that provide antioxidant value and are...

The aim of this study was to assess morphological variation in wild Rosa L. germplasm from the Western Himalayan Region that includes the geographical area of two Union territories (Jammu and Kashmir [J&K] and Ladakh) and one state (Himachal Pradesh [HP]) of India. Field trips in different locations of J&K, Ladakh, and HP from 2014 to 2018 were und...

The present study was aimed to study the impact of human settlements on forests of Karen valley in Kashmir Himalayas. Forest composition, community structure and diversity patterns are important ecological attributes significantly correlated with prevailing environmental as well as anthropogenic variables.The conversion of forest land for agricultu...

1. Plant collection, authentication and certification in Janaki Ammal Herbarium. 2. Floristic inventory, population mapping and bioprospection of unexplored Kathua district 3. New discovery of plant species from India Himalaya: Laportea stolenifera BL Bhellum and B Singh, Sp. Nov. (Urticaceae) 4. New Record for India: Lepidium didymum L. (Brassicac...

Astavarga is a group of eight important medicinal plants used in Ayurveda found in Indian Himalayan region between an altitude of 800 and 4000 m asl. These plants are used in variety of Ayurvedic formulations such as Chyavanprasha. Due to scarcity of these plants in wild, non-existing cultivation practices and confusing vernacular names there is wi...