rich medicinal plant heritage. A variety of medicinal plants are found primarily in forests, while some are also cultivated. Conservation is the process of managing the biosphere in order to increase its benefit to the current generation while preserving the potential for future generations. Conservation of Plant resource  is a global concern since we are unaware of what we're losing or what we'll need in the future. Many medicinal plants are threatened by various primary and secondary factors. Habitat loss due to increasing human activity, forest decline, spread of alien species, destructive collection of plant species, industrialization, over exploitation, changes in agricultural practices, excessive use of agrochemicals, natural and manmade calamities, genetic erosion etc., are threats to medicinal plants.  In India, an extensive amount of medicinal plants are extracted out of the wild to fulfil the rising demand of raw materials for both domestic and international trade. The effect is that the natural resources are quickly running out. Medicinal plants promote livelihood security, farming, cultural identity, and health. Therefore, the germplasm needs to be conserved, grown and maintained for future use.

1. Conservation of
Medicinal Plants
B.PharmIVthSemester
Pharmacognosy&Phytochemistry I
Pranita Sunar
Asst. Professor, Mata Gujri
College of Pharmacy, Kishanganj.

2. Content
1. Introduction
2. Definition
3. Threats to medicinal plants
4. Need for conservation of
medicinal plants
5. Conservation strategies for
medicinal plants

3. Introduction
• India is floristically rich and is recognized as medicinal plant garden of the world. It has
a rich medicinal plant heritage.
• A variety of medicinal plants are found primarily in forests, while some are also
cultivated.
• Conservation is the process of managing the biosphere in order to increase its benefit to
the current generation while preserving the potential for future generations.
• Conservation of Plant resource is a global concern since we are unaware of what we're
losing or what we'll need in the future.

4. Definition
Conservation is defined as protection, restoration and enhancement of variety of life forms
in an area so that the abundant distribution of species and communities contributes to the
sustainable development.
The primary goal is to preserve the genetic potential of species and population to adapt
both long-term and short-term environmental changes and avoid extinction.

5. Threats to medicinal plants
• Many medicinal plants are threatened by various primary and secondary factors. Habitat
loss due to increasing human activity, forest decline, spread of alien species, destructive
collection of plant species, industrialization, over exploitation, changes in agricultural
practices, excessive use of agrochemicals, natural and manmade calamities, genetic
erosion etc., are threats to medicinal plants.
• 70 to 80 medicinal plants out of 300, are suspected to be threatened or endangered in
South India. Therefore, it's important to find a balance between protection and
utilization of these medicinal plants.

6. Need for conservation of medicinal plants
• To meet the requirements of expanding regional and international markets healthcare
products and needs of growing populations.
• In India, an extensive amount of medicinal plants are extracted out of the wild to fulfil
the rising demand of raw materials for both domestic and international trade. The effect
is that the natural resources are quickly running out.
• Medicinal plants promote livelihood security, farming, cultural identity, and health.
Therefore, the germplasm needs to be conserved, grown and maintained for future use.

7. Conservation strategies for medicinal plants
The two main strategies are involved in conservation of endangered species of medicinal
plants:
 Ex-Situ Conservation
 In-Situ Conservation
1. Ex-Situ Conservation
Ex-situ conservation is the preservation or protection of species outside their natural
habitats. This involves conservation of genetic resources of wild as well as cultivated
species on a diverse body of techniques and facilities. It fulfills the requirement of present
or future economic, social and environmental needs.

8. It includes the following:
1. Field gene banks (method of planting plants for conservation of genes), Arboretum
such as Pinetum, Bamboosetum, Palmetum and Orchidarium etc.
2. Storage of plant parts/tissues viz., buds, seeds, embryos, meristems, callus, ovule,
pollen etc.
3. Cryo banks and DNA banks.
*Cryopreservation
The process of freezing biological material (germplasm) at extreme low temperatures,(-196
°C/-321 °F) in liquid nitrogen (N2). At these low temperatures, all biological activity stops,
including the biochemical reactions. The process of cooling and storing cells, tissues, or
organs at very low temperatures to maintain their viability.

9. 2. In-Situ Conservation
• In-situ conservation is the on-site conservation or the conservation of genetic
resources in natural habitats of plant or animal species (i.e., within the ecosystem
to which it is adapted). No In-situ conservation project can succeed without the
complete cooperation and involvement of local people. It includes the following:
• Biosphere reserves : Sundarban reserve forest in Bangladesh & Siruvani
hills in South India .
• Sacred Groves: Ficus religiosa (Peepal) tree and Ficus benghalensis
(Banyan) tree.
• Sanctuaries: Mahananda wildlife sanctuaries, Sundarban wildlife sanctuary,
Chinnar wildlife sanctuary.
• National parks,
• Protected areas.

10. Thank you