Int. J. Med. Arom. , ISSN 2249 – 4340 REVIEW ARTICLE Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 113-124, March 2013

A review on biological activities and conservation of endangered medicinal herb jatamansi

Uma M. SINGH1, Vijayta GUPTA2, Vivekanand P. RAO3, Rakesh S. SENGAR3, Manoj K. YADAV3

1Department of Molecular Biology & Genetic Engineering, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand-263145, India. 2Biotechnology Division, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh-226015, India. 3Department of Agriculture Biotechnology, Sardar Vallabh-bhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technolo- gy, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh-250110, India.

Article History: Received 6th December 2012, Revised 23rd January 2013, Accepted 25th January 2013.

Abstract: Nardostachys jatamansi DC also known as Indian or Indian , is a valued medicinal plant of family . This rhizome bearing plant is native of the of India and and preferably found from 2200 m to 5000 m asl in random forms. The extract of rhizome is widely used in the formulation of traditional Ayurvedic medicines as well as modern herbal preparations for curing several ailments. In some parts of their range ow- ing to overharvest for medicinal use and trade, habitat degradation and other biotic interferences leads plant into threat category. In India the observed population of jatamansi declines of 75-80% and classified as Endangered in Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh and Critically Endangered in Uttarakhand. Realizing the high level of threat CITES has notified N. jatamansi for its schedule care to ensure the conservation. Hence, emphasis should be given on proper conservation and apply biotechnological tools for sustainable use which in turn help to save it from extinction. In view of immense importance in the present review an attempt has been made to focus on the distribution, medicinal value and conservation aspects of this valuable plant. Keywords: Conservation; Diversity; Endangered; Medicinal Plant; Nardostachys; Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

Introduction anti-asthmatic and anti-estrogenic activity (Rahman et al. 2011a). Apart from this it is also Nardostachys jatamansi DC is a small, per- used for the treatment of hair loss, growth and ennial, rhizomatous, herb which grows in steep, luster (Bagchi et al. 1991), and several nervous moist, rocky, undisturbed grassy slopes of India, disorders such as epilepsy, neurosis, insomnia, Nepal, China, Tibet and Bhutan from 2200 m to excitation, alzheimer's disease, learning and 5000 m above sea level (Ghimire et al. 2005). It memory disorders (Joshi and Parle 2006; is commonly known as jatamansi, Indian nard, Rahman et al. 2011a). Their extracts also pos- balchar or spikenard. Its rhizomes are used in sess antispasmodic and stimulant properties traditional medicines in different medicinal sys- which are useful in the treatment of fits and tem (Yang 1996). Jatamansi has been widely heart palpitations and it can also be used to reg- used for medicine and in perfumery for centu- ulate constipation, urination, menstruation and ries in India. It is valued for many medicinal digestion (Anon 1993). properties such as anti-lipid peroxidative, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, Due to several medicinal properties, overex- sedative, tranquilizing, antihypertensive, anti- ploitation has been carried out continuously and inflammatory, antidepressant-like activity, anti- now the plant has entered in endangered status. convulsant activity and hypotensive properties, Conservation Assessment and Management Plan

*Corresponding author: (E-mail) mkyadav711 <@> gmail.com http://www.openaccessscience.com © 2013 Copyright by the Authors, licensee Open Access Science Research Publisher. [email protected] This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC- ND 3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0) 114 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant (CAMP) workshops in India reported that ob- nucleosomal DNA content of about 3.49 (pg)2 served population declines of 75-80% and clas- (Hidalgo et al. 2010). sified jatamansi in different threatened catego- ries. Hence, such a multitude utility medicinal herb needs conservation of biodiversity to main- Current Status tain their population. Reports suggest that the species has become endangered due to over-exploitation of rhizomes for its high medicinal value, habitat degradation Origin and geographical distribution and other biotic interferences in its distribution Valerianaceae the family of order ranges. Low level of viabilities in seeds, germi- contains 400 species and is mainly nation and storage of this plant under natural distributed in temperate regions (Donogue et al. condition also play an important role in threat 2003). The suggested number of genera varies status of this plant. Conservation Assessment from one to sixteen (Graebner 1906) but recent and Management Plan (CAMP) workshops in investigation comprises eight genera (Eriksen India reported that observed population declines 1989). Nardostachys is a primitive genus having of 75-80% and classified jatamansi as endan- restricted geographical distribution in India gered (Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Hima- (Jain and Rao 1983), South West China (Anon chal Pradesh) and Critically Endangered 1987), Nepal (Shrestha and Joshi 1996), Bhutan (Uttarakhand) (Mulliken and Crofton 2008). (Pradhan 1993), Sikkim (Chauhan 1999), My- Jatamansi was assessed to be vulnerable at a anmar, Afghanistan and Pakistan (Anon 1997). CAMP workshop in Nepal in 2001 (Anon Previously the genus Nardostachys comprised 4 2001). Due to the high level of threat, Conven- species i.e. Nardostachys jatamansi, N. tion on International Trade of Endangered Spe- grandiflora, N. chinensis and N. gracilis but cies (CITES) has notified jatamansi for its currently Nardostachys chinensis, N. schedule care. Studies on the viability, germina- grandiflora and N. gracilis are considered as tion and storage of jatamansi seeds were done to synonyms of N. jatamansi (Jain 1994; Lange minimize some pressure on the survival of this and Schippmann 1999). The herbs are widely critically endangered medicinal plant (Chauhan distributed on undisturbed slopes (2200–5000m and Nautiyal 2007). asl) of alpine regions of Himalayas (Amatya et al. 1995). It grows well on open, stony and grassy slopes with a 25° - 45° slope. The exist- Morphology and physiological description ing status of the species and variations in its per- Jatamansi is a perennial, dwarf, hairy, formance in different habitats were studied in rhizamatous herb, densely covered with fibrous selected sites in Uttarakhand, West Himalaya. or lamellar remains of old sheaths. Its flowering Dripping moss-laden rocks and moist boulders stems are 5-50 cm tall. Rosulate leaves narrowly are the most preferred habitats of this plant. The spatulate or linear-oblanceolate, 3-25 cm long, mean density in two contrasting slopes differed, 0.5-2.5 cm wide, with 3 parallel veins, glabrous showing relatively higher density on west- or sparsely puberulous, base attenuate into peti- facing slopes. Study reports that several biologi- ole nearly equal to leaf blade in length, margin cal and environmental features decide the favor- entire, apex obtuse. Leaves are cauline, lower able site of this plant and their abundance (Airi ones elliptic to obviate; upper ones sessile, et al. 2000). oblanceolate to lanceolate, sometimes sparsely serrate. Capitula of cymes, terminal, 1.5-2 cm broad; main inflorescence rachises and lateral Ploidy level rachises sometimes elongated; involucral bracts Jatamansi is a natural deploid species indig- 4-6, lanceolate; bracts narrowly ovate to ovate, enous to the Indian Himalaya. It has basic nearly equal to flowers in length; bracteoles 2, chromosome number X= 13 and the diploid small. Its calyx are 5-lobed; lobes semiorbicular chromosome number 2n=26. It has total to triangular-lanceolate, enlarged in fruit, usual-

http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected] 115 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant ly ciliate. Corolla purple-red, campanulate, 4.5- Phytochemistry 9 mm, 5-lobed; lobes broadly ovate to oblong, Phyto-chemical investigations have reported 2-3.8 mm, outside hairy, occasionally glabrous, the presence of esters, phenolic compounds, white villous. Stamens are nearly equal to corol- terpenic ketone, valeranone, valeranal, nardol, la in length, and generally 4 in number; fila- calavenol, nordostechone, n-hexacosanyl ments villous. Style nearly equal to stamens in arachidate, n-hexacosanol, calrene, jatamansin, length; stigma capitate. Achenes obovoid, 3-4 β-sitosterol, iridoid (Pai et al. 1971). Terpenic mm, totally or only above white hispid, to en- ketones have 9 monoterpenes (1.7%), 25 tirely glabrous; persistent calyx with lobes del- sesquiterpenes (43.9%) and non terpenic com- toid to ovate, 1.5-2.5 mm, obviously reticulate pounds (24.7%), jatamansone semicarbazone, veined, margin usually white hispid, apex acu- spirozatamole (Bagchi 1990), jatamole A and B minate, rarely acute. The leaves are pinnatisect, (Bagchi et al. 1991), nardostachysin (Chatterjee without stipules. The flower is cluster, and usu- et al. 2000), calarenol. Jatamansone and α- ally has many small flowers. They are bilateral- gurjunene are the major sesquiterpenic ketones ly symmetric and usually bisexual. The calyx is isolated from rhizomes (Paudyal et al. 2012). located on the top of the ovary and basically Other sesquiterpenes isolated from oil of rhi- four lobed. The corolla is united and having 5 zome are nardole (10.1%), α-selinine (9.2%), γ- lobes. Ovary three carpelate of which only one gurjunene (2.3%), β-caryophyllene (3.3%), is fertile. Within Valerianaceae there is a degree cubebole (2.9%) and α-humilene (2.3%). New of specialization in flower and fruit morpholo- susqiterpene acid nardin and a new gy. The most noticeable differences are in floral pyranocoumarin have been isolated from rhi- morphologies across the family especially in the zome of jatamansi and characterized as E-2 me- number of stamens which varies from 1 to 5 thyl, 3-(5,9 dimethyl bicycle[4,3,0] nonen-9-yl)- (Eriksen et al. 1989). 2-propeonic acid and 2’, 2’-dimethyl-3- Study of reproductive biology of jatamansi methoxy-3’,4’ dehydropyran coumarin respec- was reported for understanding pollination be- tively. These results were based on spectral havior of plant. Pollination behavior is an inte- studies and chemical co-relations (Chatterjee et gral part of reproductive biology and both of al. 2005). The chemical structures of some me- them together are the key factors for determin- dicinally important compounds are given in ing the genetic variability of a population. Ex- Figure 1. periments related to parthenocarpy, passive au- togamy, active autogamy, geitonogamy and xenogamy were reported. The month of July- Medicinal uses August are peak time of flowering and anthesis Jatamansi is known for several medicinal time were reported between 7:00-11:00h. Pollen properties. It is most commonly used as a grains are dispersed from the anthers after 24h nervine sedative in the treatment of insomnia of anthesis. Stigma is of protogynous type. Fruit and also to treat chronic irritability and nerv- set recorded was 40% in passive autogamy, 70% ousness, with exhaustion and debility. in active autogamy, 53.33% in xenogamy and Jatamamsi primarily acts upon the nervous sys- 86.67% in geitonogamy as well as open pollina- tem, inducing a natural sleep, without any ad- tion experiments. Although, the species is self- verse effect upon awakening, and appears to pollinated, but for optimum pollination it de- lack the stimulating effects. Rhizome of pends on pollinators. Cross pollination has an Jatamansi have also been used in traditional adaptive value for species as it compensates the medicines as bitter tonic, stimulant, antipyretic, failure of autogamy and also maintains genetic antispasmodic, antiseptic, anti-lipid peroxidative variability in the population. The report also (Tripathi et al. 1996), anti-malarial (Takaya et suggests that jatamansi improvement program al. 1998), anti-rhythmic, sedative (Amin et al. may be initiated through xenogamy to increase 1961) antidepressant (Dhingra and Goyal its population size and ultimately the production 2008a), diuretic, cardiac tonic, tranquilizer, lax- (Chauhan et al. 2009). ative, stomachic, improve learning & memory

http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected] 116 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant (Joshi and Parle 2006), and also shows cytotoxic enzymes (Cathepsin-D, Acid phosphatase, BE- property (Itokawa et al. 1993). Extract of TA-D-glucoronidase, BETA-D-galactosidase Jatamansi is used in preparation of hair tonic, and BETA-N-acetyl glucosaminidase) and hair oils, promoting hair blackness, growth and membrane bound phosphatases. Also myocardi- luster (Bagchi et al. 1991). It is also used in oils al damage, as assessed by ultrastructural chang- and pastes that improve complexion and general es showed loss of myofibrils, mitochondrial health of the skin. The detailed medicinal prop- swelling, and cytoplasmic vacuolization. Pre- erties are being discussed in following heads. treatment with jatamansi ameliorated the ob- served abnormalities and significantly prevented the mitochondrial respiration, lysosomal integri- ty, membrane bound phosphatases and ultrastructural studies in doxorubicin induced rats. These reports suggested that the cardioprotective efficacy of jatamansi could be mediated possibly through its antioxidant effect as well as by the attenuation of the oxidative Jatamanin1 Jatamanin2 stress clearly demonstrated the synergistic ac- tion of both the drugs (Subhashini et al. 2006).

Antioxidant property The antiperoxidative property of jatamansi was investigated using an iron-induced lipid pe- roxidation model in rat liver, quantified by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) Jatamanin3 Jatamanin4 content. They have observed in their study that the extract provides protection against lipid pe- roxidation (Tripathi et al. 1996). In another study an aqueous root extract from jatamansi was investigated for its antioxidant and anticataleptic effects in the haloperidol-induced catalepsy rat model of the disease by measuring various behavioral and biochemical parameters Actinidine Nardostachone (Rahman et al. 2011). Figure 1: Chemical structures of some im- portant medicinal compounds. Antidepressent activity The extract of jatamansi has antidepressant Cardioprotective efficacy activities. Rat brain treated with root extract of jatamansi showed an overall increase in the lev- Studies have reported the role of jatamansi els of central monoamines and inhibitory amino extract in cardioprotective action. Doxorubicin acids, including a change in the levels of seroto- is used to cause cardiac tissue damage especial- nin, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, gamma-amino ly on mitochondria and lysosome. Heart mito- butyric acid, and taurine (Rahman and chondria isolated from rats treated with doxoru- Muralidharan 2010). In another study Swiss bicin single dose, exhibited depressed rates of young albino mice treated with extract of respiration, low respiratory control ratio (RCR), jatamansi produced significant antidepressant- decreased Oxidative Phosphorylation ratio, like effect in both tail suspension and forced Adenosine Triphosphate content and cyto- swim tests. The efficacy of the extract was chromes. In addition the doxorubicin given rats found to be comparable to imipramine and ser- showed significant changes in the lysosomal http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected] 117 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant traline. The extract decreased the whole brain Ethanol extract of the roots of jatamansi was MAO-A and MAO-B activities, thus increased studied for its anticonvulsant activity and neuro- the levels of monoamines. The results of study toxicity, using rat as a model system. The results suggested that the antidepressant-like effect of demonstrated a significant increase in the sei- the extract may also be due to interaction with zure threshold by root extract against maximal GABA receptors, resulting in decrease in the electroshock seizure (MES) model as indicated levels of GABA in mouse brain (Dhingra and by a decrease in the extension/flexion (E/F) ra- Goyal 2008b). tio. However, the extract was ineffective against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures (Rao et al. 2005). Hepatoprotective properties The root extract of jatamansi also possess the hepatoprotective activities and it has been Anti- Parkinson activity proved by several studies. Ethanolic extract of Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the com- the jatamansi rhizomes showed hepatoprotective monest neurodegenerative diseases, and oxida- activity. Rats treated with the extract of tive stress has been evidenced to play a vital jatamansi significantly ameliorated the liver role in its causation. It was evaluated that etha- damage in rats exposed to the hepatotoxic com- nol extract of jatamansi can slow the neuronal pound thioacetamide. Elevated levels of serum injury in caused by Parkinson's in rat (Ahmad et transaminases (aminotransferases) and alkaline al. 2008).In another study jatamansi roots ex- phosphatases, observed in thioacetamide alone tract were analyzed for its anti-parkinsonism treated group of animals, were significantly activity by measuring various neurological and lowered as in jatamansi pretreated rats. Pre- behavioral parameters. Haloperidol was admin- treatment of the animals with the extract also istered in rat body in order to induce Parkinson- resulted in an increase in survival in rats intoxi- ism. Hydro-alcoholic root extract of jatamansi cated with LD90 dose of the hepatotoxic drug. reversed the haloperidol induced Parkinsonism These reports significantly mentioned significantly, when compared to drugs, i.e. hepatoprotective features of jatamansi (Ali et al. combination of L-dopa & Carbidopa. The levels 2000). altered by haloperidol were restored significant- ly by the administration of hydro-alcoholic root extract of jatamansi (Rasheed et al. 2010). The- Protection from hair loss se reports confirm the potential role of jatamansi Extract of jatamansi is also used for protec- to protect the brain damage caused by various tion from hair loss. Ethanol extract of jatamansi factors. was examined for hair growth on albino rats. The hair growth activity that was worked on chemotherapy induced alopecia model was in- Antioxidant and anticataleptic effects vestigated by using various parameters like hair Root extract of jatamansi was also investi- density, lymphocyte count and testosterone level gated for its antioxidant and anticataleptic prop- along with histo-pathological study. Hair growth erty in the haloperidol-induced catalepsy rat initiation time was markedly reduced to half on model of the disease by measuring various be- treatment with extract as compared to control havioral and biochemical parameters. Catalepsy animal. The time required for complete hair was induced by administration of haloperidol in growth was also significantly reduced male albino rats. A significant reduction in the (Gottumukkala et al. 2011; Yadav et al. 2011). cataleptic scores was observed in all the drug- These study reports of jatamansi as potential treated groups as compared to the haloperidol- stimulant of hair loss. treated group; with maximum reduction ob- served in the jatamansi administered group. To estimate biochemical parameters: the generation Role in seizures of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances

http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected] 118 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant (TBARS); reduced glutathione (GSH) content Hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic activi- and glutathione-dependent enzymes; catalase; ty and superoxide dismutase (SOD), in the brain The extract of jatamansi has been shown to were assessed. Haloperidol administration in- have significant hypoglycemic activity. It de- creased generation of TBARS and significantly creases glucose level significantly in diabetic reduced GSH, which were restored to near nor- and nondiabetic rats as compared to respective mal level with the jatamansi treatment. Catalase control (Ghaisas et al. 2007). In that study dif- and SOD levels were also increased to normal ferent dose of jatamansi extract were used to for levels, have been reduced significantly by its anti-hyperglycemic activity, all doses of haloperidol administration. They showed that jatamansi extract showed significant anti- jatamansi reversed the haloperidol-induced cata- hyperglycemic activity as compared to control. lepsy in rats and concluded that the antioxidant In another study the hydroalcoholic extract of potential has contributed to the reduction in the the roots of jatamansi, significantly decreased oxidative stress and catalepsy induced by glucose level in normal, glucose loaded and haloperidol administration (Rasheed et al. alloxan diabetic (on day 15 and 30) rats as com- 2010). pared to respective control rats (Mahesh et al. 2007). Radioprotective activity The effect of ethanol extract of jatamansi Role in nervous system was studied on Swiss albino mice exposed to 6Gy whole body electron beam radiation (EBR). The cholinergic hypothesis of Alzheimer's Survival assay was done to depict the lethal disease (AD) has provided the rationale for the dose for EBR. The dose reduction factor (DRF) current pharmaco-therapy of this disease, in an of jatamansi extract (NJE) was calculated by attempt to reduce the cognitive decline caused taking the ratio between LD50 of EBR with and by cholinergic deficits. Nevertheless, the search without NJE treatment. The clastogenic effects for potent and long-acting acetylcholinesterase of EBR were recorded by Micronucleus assay. (AChE) inhibitors that exert minimal side ef- The survival assay results showed that 10Gy is fects in AD patients is still ongoing. AChE in- the LD50 for EBR. The calculated DRF for NJE hibitors are currently the only approved therapy was found to be 1.2. Treatment of mice with for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; only a NJE for 15days before irradiation reduced the limited number of drugs are commercially frequency of micronucleus formation in bone available. Jatamansi was used for treatment of marrow cells. The results obtained in the study this disease from long time in Indian system. conclude the protective effect of NJE against the Recent in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory EBR induced mortality and clastogenicity activity of jatamansi extract proves this (Madhu et al. 2011). knowledge scientifically. That study reports 50% inhibition of AChE activity caused by jatamansi treatment (Mukherjee et al. 2007; Rahman et al. 2011b). Insect repellent and antifungal activity Insect repellant (Subedi and Shrestha 1999) and antifungal activity have also been reported Anticonvulsant activity against some fungal species like Aspergillus ni- ger, A. flavus, Colletotricum falcatum and Ethanol extract of the roots of jatamansi was Fusarium oxysporium (Mishra et al. 1995; reported earlier for its anticonvulsant activity in Singh et al. 2002). In another study oil of rats. Rao et al. in 2005 investigated the ethanol jatamansi was tested for fungicidal property. extract of the roots of jatamansi alone as well as This oil was found fungicidal to one or the other in combination with phenytoin for its anticon- molds, depending upon the concentrations vulsant activity and neurotoxicity in rats. Their (Sarbhoy et al. 1978). result showed a decrease in the exten-

http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected] 119 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant sion/flexion ratio which indicates a significant as fencing and erection of barriers, to legislative increase in the seizure threshold by jatamansi acts resulting in the establishment of ‘Biosphere root extract against maximal electroshock sei- reserves’, ‘Gene sanctuaries’, and ‘National zure model and exhibited minimal neurotoxicity Parks’. They aim to allowing a threatened spe- against rota rod test. When given in combination cies to recuperate and reestablish itself in its na- with 50mg/kg of jatamansi root extract, an in- tive habitat and have been found to be very ef- crease in the protective index of phenytoin was fective in cases where the threat to survival was recorded. This report clearly demonstrated the due to disturbances caused by human Imposition effect of phenytoin alone and in combination of restriction on collections or a total ban on with jatamansi for their anticonvulsant activity. trade has proved to be very effective for plants that have trade value and whose exploitation is restricted to a particular habitat, as in the case of Other medicinal properties/ activities Coptis teeta, Dioscorea deltoidea, Rauvolfia serpentine etc. Moreover, declaring entire re- Methanolic extract of dried rhizomes of gions, having rich floral distribution, as bio- jatamansi were physiologically investigated, and sphere reserves, has often saved a number of they were found to exhibit relaxant effect on endemic plant species, which have a low toler- gastrointestinal and bronchiolar smooth muscles ance for alien environment and have a inade- possibly mediated through multiple modes of quate regeneration & healing potential action but mainly blockade of Ca+2 channels is (Khoshoo 1986). presumably involved. The investigations on iso- lated tissue preparations revealed that crude methanol extract of jatamansi exerted non- specific relaxant effect against high K+; phe- Ex-situ approaches nylephrine and carbachol induced contractions Heslop- Harrison (1974) observed that con- possibly mediated through Ca+2-channel block- servation may be achieved best in the field; the ing mechanisms. The crude methanol extract of rate of diminution of some habitats is such that, the plant was also found to exert gastrointestinal for some taxa at least, in-situ conservation soon muscle relaxant activity since it was shown to becomes impractical. Thus, threatened species have demonstrated antidiarrhoeal effect against inhabiting rapidly eroding land forms, areas castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice (Ahmad et prone to volcanic, seismic activity etc. quality al. 2008). for ex-situ conservation measures including bo- tanical gardens, conservatories and modern la- boratory based techniques of germplasm preser- Conservation Efforts for this rare medicinal vation and tissue culture. plant Recent studies indicate that the biodiversity of family Valerianaceae is under threat in India Conservation through biotechnological tools (Prakash and Mehrotra 1994) although many The ultimate aim of any conservation meth- members of which possess stimulating proper- od is to maintain the population of that species. ties and constitute the drugs used in indigenous Biotechnology help in maintaining their popula- systems with great ethno botanical diversity. tion by two methods, it may be either through In Some serious conservation efforts need to be vitro propagation or through using molecular taken to save the valuable plants. It can be con- marker. served either through natural means (In situ, Ex situ) or through applying biotechnological tools. Through In vitro methods In vitro methods are used for conservation to In situ approaches produce large number of plants from minimum In situ approaches rely on vigilance, protec- plant material. The technique has been efficient- tion, restrictions and include moderate practices ly used for the propagation of rare and endan- http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected] 120 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant gered plants Moreover, in vitro technique can be sity have been reported in the population of suitably applied for understanding and overcom- jatamansi using Random amplified polymorphic ing the various bottlenecks that may be occur- DNA (RAPDs) marker, collected from different ring in the lifecycle of a plant rendering it en- region of central Himalaya (unpublished data). dangered viz., abortive embryos, low seed via- In this study populations clustered independent- bility and specific germination requirements ly with altitude and geographical locations. The (Khoshoo 1986). Several studies have been at- reason of higher diversity in different accessions tempted for conservation of jatamansi through of jatamansi might be due to reproductive isola- in vitro methods. The in vitro morphogenesis in tion, entomophillous pollination, habitat chang- jatamansi has been attempted and regenerated es & small population size in different location shoots from callus derived roots. Callus cultures of Himalaya. Study also suggested that the ob- was maintained on Murashige and Skoog's me- served morphological variations in different dium containing 3.0 mg 1−1 of α- populations of jatamansi might be due to envi- naphthaleneacetic acid and 0.25 mg 1−1 of ki- ronmental influences, rather than altitude level netin when shifted to medium containing 0.25– differences. However, because the observed ge- 1.0 mg 1−1 of indole-3-acetic acid or indole-3- netic differentiation among the population of butync acid showed profuse rhizogenesis. The jatamansi is high and little gene flow appears to callus-regenerated roots when transferred to exist among the accessions, management for medium containing 2.0–6.0 mg 1−1 of kinetin conservation of genetic variability in this spe- produced shoot buds. The de novo shoot bud cies is needed. regeneration took place directly either from the cortical cells or from the inner stelar region. In addition, direct, concomitant root-shoot devel- Conclusion and future directions opment was also observed (Mathur 1992). So- Conservation and sustainable use of biodi- matic embryogenesis was attempted from callus versity is the basic requirement to save the valu- cultures of jatamansi were established using pet- able plants on earth. Nardostachys jatamansi is iole explants on MS medium supplemented with one of them. As mentioned above it is a very 16.1 µM -naphthaleneacetic acid and 1.16 useful plant due to several medicinal properties, µM kinetin. Embryogenesis in these callus cul- but overexploitation makes plant status crucial tures took place only upon sequential subculture and demands proper conservation. Several con- of the callus on media having gradually decreas- servation efforts have been done so far but some ing auxin (16.1 to 1.34 µM NAA) and simulta- serious efforts are needed to save the plant from neously increasing cytokinin (1.16 to 9.30 µM extinction. Biotechnological tools such as tissue kinetin) concentrations over a period of 7 culture for mass multiplication and plant cell months. Somatic embryo to plantlet conversion suspension cultures techniques to increase the took place on a medium containing 9.30 µM biologically active secondary metabolites should kinetin and 1.34 µM NAA (Mathur 1993). be applied. Information regarding the pathway key genes and enzymes for pharmaceutically active secondary metabolites may prove benefi- Through molecular markers cial to enhance the active constituent in vitro as Analysis of diversity of populations through well as in vivo. molecular markers in rare and endangered spe- cies might be efficacious measurement and strategy of protecting them. The genetic diversi- Acknowledgments: The authors gratefully ty of a taxon has great implications for its long- acknowledge Department of Science and Tech- term survival and continued evolution (Avise nology, Government of India: Grant DST No: and Hamrick 1996). Therefore, knowledge lev- SR/FTP/L-40/2005 for providing fund for con- els and distribution of genetic diversity is im- ducting work related to this review. portant for designing conservation strategies for threatened and endangered species (Francisco- Ortega et al. 2000). High level of genetic diver- http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected] 121 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant References Anon. 2001. Draft conservation assessment and management prioritisation report, Pokhara, Ahmad, M., Yousuf, S., Khan, M.B., Hoda, January 2001. M.N., Ahmad, A.S., Ansari, M.A., Ishrat, T., Agrawal, A.K., Islam, F. 2008. Attenua- Avise, J.C., Hamrick, J.L.1996. Conservation tion by Nardostachys jatamansi of 6- Genetics: Case Histories from Nature. hydroxydopamine-induced parkinsonism in Chapman & Hall, New York, pp. 512. rats: behavioral, neurochemical, and Bagchi, A., Oshima, Y., Hikino, H. 1990. immunohistochemical studies. Pharmacol- Spirojatamol, a new skeletal ogy Biochemistry & Behavior, 83:150-160. sesquiterpenoid of Nardostachys jatamansi Airi, S., Rawal, R.S., Dhar, U., Purohit, A.N. roots. Tetrahedron, 46(5):1523-1530. 2000. Assessment of availability and habi- Bagchi, A., Oshima, Y., Hikino, H. 1991. tat preference of Jatamansi - a critically en- Neolignans and lignans of Nardostachys dangered medicinal plant of west Hima- jatamansi root. Planta Medica, 57: 96-97. laya. Current Science, 79 (10):1467-1471. Chatterjee, A., Basak, B., Datta, U., Banerji, J., Ali, S., Ansari, K.A., Jafry, M.A., Kabeer, H., Neuman., A., Prangé, T. 2005. Studies on Diwakar, G. 2000. Nardostachys jatamansi the chemical constituents of N. jatamansi protects against liver damage induced by DC (Valerianaceae). Indain Journal of thioacetamide in rats. Journal of Chemistry, 44:430-3. Ethnopharmacology,71:359-363. Chatterjee, S., Sastry, A.R.K., Roy, B.N., Amatya, K.R., Bajracharya, P., Shakya, P.R., Lahon, R. 2000. Sacred groves of Sikkim Chitrakar, B.R., Tuladhar, P.M. 1995. Re- and Arunachal Pradesh. Abstract, National port on medicinal and aromatic plants in Workshop on Community Strategies on the Nepal Himalaya: Problems, prospects and Management of Natural Resources, Bhopal. development strategy. ICIMOD (Interna- Indira Gandhi Rastriya Manav tional Centre for Integrated Mountain De- Sanghralaya, Bhopal. velopment), Kathmandu, Nepal. Pp.150. Chauhan, N.S. 1999. Medicinal and Aromatic Amin, M.G., Dixit, Y.B., Pathak, J.D. 1961. Re- Plants of Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publish- action time studies in relation to an ing Company Tagore Garden New Delhi; indigeneous drug Nardostachy jatamansi, 426-428. Antiseptic. 58:565. Chauhan, R.S., Nautiyal, M.C. 2007. Seed ger- Anon. 1987. Rare and Endangered Plants of mination and seed storage behaviour of China. Shanghai Educational Press, Shang- Nardostachys jatamansi DC.: an endan- hai, China. gered medicinal herb of high-altitude Anon. 1993. Medicinal Plants of Nepal. Bulletin Himalaya. Current Science, 92(11):1620- of the Department of Medicinal Plants No. 1624. 3. His Majesty's Government of Nepal, Chauhan, S., Galetto, L. 2009. Reproductive Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Biology of the Hamelia patens Jacq. Department of Medicinal Plants, (Rubiaceae) The Journal of Plant Repro- Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal. ductive Biology, 1:63-71. Anon. 1997. IUCN Analyses of Proposals to Dhingra, D. Goyal, P. K. 2008a. Evidences for amend the CITES Appendices. Prepared by the involvement of monoaminergic and IUCN Species Survival Commission and GABAergic systems in antidepressant-like the TRAFFIC Network for the Tenth Meet- activity of Tinospora cordifolia in mice. In- ing of the Conference of the Parties to dian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences,70 CITES. IUCN The World Conservation (6):761-767. Union, Gland, Switzerland. Dhingra, D., Goyal, P.K. 2008b. Inhibition of MAO and GABA: probable mechanisms http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected] 122 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant for antidepressant-like activity of Itokawa, H., Masuyama, K., Morita, H., Takeya, Nardostachys jatamansi DC. in mice. Indi- K. 1993. Cytotoxic sesquiterpene from an Journal of Experimental Biology, Nardostachys chinensis. Chemical and 46(4):212-218. Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 41(6):1183-1185. Donoghue, M.J., Bell, C.D., Winkworth, R.C. Jain, S.K. 1994. Medicinal Plants. Fifth Edition. 2003. The evolution of reproductive char- National Book Trust, New Delhi, India. acters in Dipsacales. International Journal Jain, S.K., Rao. R.R. 1983. An assessment of of Plant Sciences,164 (5) S453-S464. threatened plants of India. Proceedings of Eriksen, B. 1989. Notes on generic and the seminar held at Dehradun, Botanical infrageneric delimitation in the Survey of India, Howrah, India Valerianaceae. Nordic Journal of Botany, Joshi, H., Parle, M. 2006. Nardostachys 9:179-187. jatamansi improves learning and memory Francisco-ortega, J., Santos-guerra, A., Kim, S., in mice. Journal of Medicinal Food, Crawford, D.J. 2000. Plant genetic diversi- 9(1):113-8. ty in the canary islands: a conservation per- Khoshoo, T.N. 1986. Environmental Priorities spective. American Journal of Botany, in India and Sustainable Development. 87(7): 909-919. Lange, D., Schippmann, U. 1999. Checklist of Ghaisas, M.M., Talera, D.S., Jani, K.P., Patani, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and their P.V., Siraskar, B.D., Deshpande, A.D. Trade Names Covered by CITES and EU 2007. Hypoglycemic and Regulation 2307/97, vers. 3.0. Bundesamt antihyperglycemic activity of Nardostachys für Naturschutz (BfN)/German Federal jatamansi roots. Nigerian Journal of Natu- Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn, ral Products and Medicine, 11:67-70. Germany. Ghimiri, S.K., Mckey, D., Thomas, Y.A. 2005. Madhu, L.N., Kumari, N.S., Sanjeev, G. 2011. Conservation of Himalayan medicinal Efficiency of Nardostachys jatamansi ex- plants: Harvesting patterns and ecology of tract in modifying electron beam radiation two threatened species, Nardostachys induced mortality and clastogenicity in grandiflora DC. and Neopicrorhiza mice. Journal of Pharmacy Research, scrophuleriiflora (Pennell) Hong. Biologi- 4(12):4518-4520. cal Conservation, 124(4):463-475. Mahesh, M.G., Dipti, S.T., Kaushal, P.J., Gottumukkala, V.R., Annamalai, T., Pragnesh, V. P., Balasaheb, D.S., Avinash, Mukhopadhyay, T.K. 2011. Phytochemical D. 2007. Hypoglycemic and investigation and hair growth studies on the antihyperglycemic activity of Nardostachys rhizomes of Nardostachys jatamansi DC. jatamansi roots. Nigerian Journal of Natu- Pharmacognosy Magazine,7(26):146-150. ral Products and Medicine, 11. Graebner, P. 1906. Die Gattungen der Mathur, J. 1992. In vitro morphogenesis in naturlichen Familie der Valerianaceae. Nardostachys jatamansi Dc. Shoot regen- Botanischer Jahrbücher für Systematik, eration from callus derived roots. Annals of 37:464-480. Botany, 70: 419-422. Heslop-Harrison J. 1974. Genetic resource con- Mathur, J. 1993. Somatic embryogenesis from servation: the end and the means. Journal of callus cultures of Nardostachys jatamansi. the Royal Society of Arts, 72:157-169. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. Hidalgo, O., Mathez, J., Garcia, S., Garnatje, T., 33(2):163-169. Pellicer, J., Vallès, J. 2010. Genome Size Mishra, D., Chaturvedi, R.V., Tripathi, S.C. Study in the Valerianaceae: First Results 1995. The fungitoxic effect of the essential and New Hypotheses. Journal of Botany, oil of the herb Nardostachys jatamansi doi:10.1155/2010/797246. D.C. Tropical Agriculture, 72:48-52. http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected] 123 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant Mukherjee, P.K., Kumar, V., Houghton, P.J. Nardostachys jatamansi in rats. Journal of 2007. Screening of Indian medicinal Plants Ethnopharmacology, 102:351-356. for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Rasheed, A.S., Venkataraman, S., Jayaveera, Phytotherapy Research, 21:1142-1145. K.N., Fazil, A.M., Yasodha, K.J., Aleem, Mulliken, T.A., Crofton, P. 2008. Review of the M.A., Mohammed, M., Khaja, Z., Ushasri, status, harvest, trade and management of B., Pradeep, H.A. Ibrahim, M. 2010. Eval- seven Asian CITES-listed medicinal and uation of toxicological and antioxidant po- aromatic plant species. Federal Agency for tential of Nardostachys jatamansi in revers- Nature Conservation, Bonn. ing haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats. Pai, P.P., Chakravarti, K,L., Parnikar, S.K. International Journal of General Medicine, 3:127-136. 1971. Revised structure for nardostachnone, Idetify with 1,8,9,10- Sarbhoy, A.K., Varshney, J.L., Maheshwari, tetrahydroaristolane. Indian Journal of M.L., Saxena, D.B. 1978. Efficacy of some Chemistry, 9:729. essential oils and their constituents on few Paudyal, M.P., Rajbhandari, M., Basnet, P., ubiquitous molds. Zentralbl Bakteriol Yahara, S., Gewali, M.B. 2012. Quality as- Naturwiss, 133:723-725. sessment of the essential oils from Shrestha, T.B., Joshi, R.M. 1996. Rare, endemic Nardostachys jatamansi (d.Don) DC and and endangered plants of Nepal. WWF Ne- Nardostachys chinensis batal obtained from pal Program, Kathmandu, Nepal. kathmandu valley market. Scientific World, Singh, H. 2002. Importance of local name of 10:13-16. some useful plants in ethnobotanical study. Pradhan, R. 1993. Annotations to WCMC plant Indian Journal of Traditional knowledge, list for Bhutan dated 31 August 1993. 7(2):365-370. Prakesh, V. Mehrotra, B.N. 1994 A new species Subashini, R., Gnanapragasam, A., of Valeriana L. (Valerianaceae) from Hi- Senthilkumar, S., Yogeeta, S.K., Devaki, T. machal Pradesh, India. Rheedea, 4:70-73. 2007. Protective efficacy of Nardostachys Rahman, H., Muralidharan, P. 2010. Compara- jatamansi (Rhizomes) on mitochondrial respiration and lysosomal hydrolases dur- tive study of antidepressant activity of ing Doxorubicin induced myocardial injury methanolic extract of Nardostachys in rats. Journal of Health Science, 53(1):57- Jatamansi DC Rhizome on normal and 76. sleep derived mice. De Pharmacia Lettre, 2(5):441-449. Subashini, R., Yogeeta, S., Gnanapragasam, A., Devaki, T. 2006. Protective effect of Rahman, H., Muralidharan, P., Anand, M. Nardostachys jatamansi on oxidative injury 2011b. Inhibition of AChE and antioxidant and cellular abnormalities during doxorubi- activities are probable mechanism of cin-induced cardiac damage in rats. Journal Nardostacys jatamansi DC in sleep de- of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 58(2):257- prived Alzheimer’s mice model. Interna- 62. tional Journal of PharmTech Research., 3(3):1807-1816. Subashini, R., Ragavendran, B., Gnanapragasam, A., Yogeeta, S.K., Devaki, T. 2007. Bio- Rahman, H., Shaik, H.A., Madhavi, P., chemical study on the protective potential Eswaraiah, M.C. 2011a. A review: of Nardostachys jatamansi extract on lipid pharmacognostics and pharmacological profile and lipid metabolizing enzymes in profiles of Nardastachys jatamansi DC. doxorubicin intoxicated rats. Die Elixir Pharmacy , 39: 5017-5020. Pharmazie - An International Journal of Rao, V.S., Rao, A., Karanath, K.S. 2005. Anti- Pharmaceutical Sciences, 62(5):382-387. convulsant and neurotoxicity profile of

http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected] 124 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Nardostachy Jatamansi: An indispensible medicinal plant Subedi, B.P., Shrestha, B. 1999. Plant Profile: Jatamansi. Indian Journal of Experimental Jatamansi (Nardostachys grandiflora). Biology, 34:1150-1151. Himalayan Bioresources, 3:14-15. Yadav, S.K., Gupta, S.K., Prabha, S. 2011. Hair Takaya, Y., Kurumada, K., Takeuji, Y., Kim, growth activity of Nardostachys jatamansi H.S., Shibata, Y., Ikemoto, N., Wataya, Y., and Cyperus rotundus rhizomes extract on Oshima, Y. 1998. Novel antimalarial chemotherapy induced alopecia. Interna- guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids from tional journal of drug discovery and herbal Nardostachys chinensis roots. Tetrahedron research, 1(2):52-54. Letters, 39:1361-1364. Yang, Y.C. (Ed.). 1996. Tibetan Materia Tripathi, Y.B., Ekta, T., Anil, U. 1996. Antilipid Medica. Qinghai People's Press, Qinghai, peroxidative property of Nardostachys China.

http://www.openaccessscience.com Singh et al. [email protected]