World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Rajendra et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research SJIF Impact Factor 7.523 Volume 6, Issue 2, 979-985. Research Article ISSN 2277– 7105

MEDICINAL ORCHID GENERA SATYRIUM SW. AND ITS EXACT EXISTENCE IN DARJEELING HIMALAYAN REGIONS OF EASTERN HIMALAYA

Yonzone Rajendra* and Rai Samuel**

* & Ethnobiology Research Laboratory, Cluny Women’s College, P.O. Kalimpong, District Darjeeling, W. B., . **Directorate of Cinchona and Other Medicinal , Mungpoo, District Darjeeling, W. B., India.

Article Received on ABSTRACT 04 Dec. 2016, Present paper deals with medicinal uses, present status, distribution Revised on 25 Dec. 2016, Accepted on 16 January 2017 and exact existence of the Satyrium Sw. () in

DOI: 10.20959/wjpr20172-7775 Darjeeling Himalayan regions of Eastern Himalaya with their habitat,

altitudinal range and phenology in details. Immediate action required *Corresponding Author to conserve these in nature. S. nepalense is found against

Yonzone Rajendra diarrhea, dysentery, cuts and wounds and malarial fever and also used Taxonomy & Ethnobiology as tonic. Research Laboratory, Cluny

Women’s College, KEY WORDS: Orchidaceae, Medicinal uses, Satyrium, Darjeeling P.O. Kalimpong, District Himalaya, Eastern Himalaya. Darjeeling, W. B., India

INTRODUCTION Darjeeling Himalaya is the Northernmost hilly district of West Bengal and it falls under the Eastern Himalaya and it has rich diversity of vegetation with different physiographic features and their ecological relationship. The Northern boundary commences on the West at Phalut located at 3600m, the trijunction of the boundaries of , Sikkim and West Bengal. This boundary runs east from Phalut along the ridge descending to the Rammam river and proceeding east of that junction the boundary follows the Teesta upstream until its junction with the Rango Chu. From Phalut the Western boundary with Nepal follows the Southward ridge until it joins the Mechi river upto the plains. On the South lies the district of West Dinajpur intercepted by the Mahananda river and the rest part of the district is bounded by and the Jalpaiguri district (Fig. 1). There are four Sub-Divisions viz., Darjeeling,

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Kalimpong and Kurseong are hill Sub-Divisions and Siliguri falls under plain. The altitudinal variations range from 120m at Siliguri to as high as 3660m at Sandakphu.

Fig. 1. Location map of Darjeeling Himalaya.

Orchids are widely known for their economic importance for floriculture trade, species values and medicinal uses. They are highly specialized and a fascinating group of flowering plants and are classified into four types viz., terrestrial, epiphytic, saprophytic and subterranean. These are widely distributed from the Equator to the Arctic Circle and from lowland areas to snowline. About 1,300 species with 140 genera of Orchid species are found in India. The major Orchid rich habitats in the country are the Himalayas, North East, peninsular and the Darjeeling Himalayan regions of Eastern Himalaya.[1] The generic name Satyrium is derived from the Greek word satyrion (satyr). The Satyri were sylvan demi gods in Greek mythology www.wjpr.net Vol 6, Issue 2, 2017. 980 Rajendra et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

for their lasciviousness. The genus Satyrium was established in 1800 by Olof Swartz and it comprises about 100 species distributed in South Africa, tropical Africa, Madagascar and the Himalayas. Plants annual, 15-55 cm tall, tuberous, terrestrial herbs. Leaves 2-5, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate. Inflorescence terminal, few to many-flowered; bracts often reflexed. Flowers non-resupinate; pedicellate-ovary simple. Sepals entire, more or less united to petals and lip at base; dorsal sepal linear to oblong; lateral pair obliquely oblong. Petals spathulate to lanceolate. Lip erect, spurred, more or less hooded, with a broad or narrow mouth and recurved apex; spurs 2. Column 3-lobed. Anther pendent; pollinia 2. The present investigation deals with medicinal uses, present status, distribution, exact existence, altitudinal range and phenology of Satyrium Sw. Orchid species in Darjeeling Himalayan regions of Eastern Himalaya.

MATERIAL AND METHODS In our field exploration (June 2007 to October 2016) covering entire Darjeeling as low as Siliguri-Sevoke 130m to as high as Sandakphu 3660m, Satyrium Sw., terrestrial Orchid species found were also studied intensively. Critical morphological studies have been made and the collected specimens were processed following the herbarium techniques and properly identified and authenticated using different literature including The Flora of , The Orchids of Bhutan [2]; and The Orchids of Sikkim and North East Himalaya.[3] The herbarium materials of the present study were deposited in the Herbarium of Taxonomy and Ethnobiology Research Laboratory, Cluny Women’s College, Kalimpong. Nomenclature of the taxa has been updated and arranged as per classification by Pearce and Cribb (2002).

Key to the species 1. Spurs less than 1 cm long; shorter than the ovary….... S. nepalense var. ciliatum 1a. Spurs more than 1 cm long; exceeding the ovary…….. S. nepalense var. nepalense

Taxonomic Enumeration var. ciliatum (Lindl.) Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6(1): 168. 1890; Satyrium ciliatum Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 341. 1838; S. setchuenicum Kranz., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 29: 266. 1900; S. yunnanense Rolfe, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 8(36): 28. 1913; S. mairei Schltr., Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Geih. 4: 54. 1919; S. tschangii Schltr., Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 19: 374. 1924. [Fig. 2. A, B]

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Plant 15-37 cm tall; tuber ellipsoid. Stem 5-12 cm long, sheathed. Leaves 2-3, 11-14 × 3.1- 4.4 cm, oblong-lanceolate, acute, sheathing base. Inflorescence 8-22 cm long, erect; peduncle 5-10 cm long; rachis 6-12 cm long, erect. Flowers 6-8.6 mm across, pinkish-white.

Satyrium nepalense D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal: 26. 1825; Satyrium perrottetianum A. Rich., Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) ser.2, 15: 76. 1841; S. henryi Schltr., Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 4: 53. 1919; S. nepalense f. Albiflora Tuyama, Hara, Fl. E. Himal.: 450. 1966.

var. nepalense [Fig. 2. C, D] 22-55 cm tall; tubers ovoid-cylindric. Stem stout, bracteate above. Leaves 3-5, 8-19 × 2.7-5.4 cm, narrowly elliptic, sub acute, sheathing at base. Inflorescence densely 14- to 31- flowered; peduncle 11-26 cm long, covered with bracts; rachis 5-8 cm long; pedicellate-ovary 6-7 mm long. Flowers 0.9-1.5 cm across, pink.

A B

C D

Fig. 2. A. Satyrium nepalense var. ciliatum (Lindl.) Hook. f. in habitat, B. Close up view of inflorescence, C. Satyrium nepalense D. Don, var. nepalense in habitat D. (Close up view of young inflorescences).

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Table 1. List of Satyrium Sw., Orchid species of Darjeeling Himalayan region of Eastern Himalaya with habitat, distribution within Darjeeling, flowering and fruiting, altitudinal range and present status. Abbreviation used: Al. = Altitudinal range; Fl. & Fr. = Flowering and Fruiting; PS = Present status; F = Frequent; R = Rare. Botanical name of taxa Distribution within Darjeeling Al. Sl. No. Fl. & Fr. PS with habitat Himalaya (Meter) Satyrium nepalense var. Sandakphu, Kalpokhari, Tonglu, Jul.–Sep.; 1700 – 1 ciliatum (Lindl.) Hook. f., Megma, Gairibas, Kaiyakatay, F Aug.–Oct. 4350 m [Terrestrial] Neora Valley, Chitrey, Dhotrey. Maneybhanjang, Lava, Neora Satyrium nepalense D. Valley, Algarah, Baggonra, Aug.–Oct.; 2100 – 2 Don, nepalense R Chitrey, Dhotrey, Rambi forest, Sep.–Nov. 4600 m [Terrestrial] Senchale, Serikhola,

MEDICINAL USES After relevant literatures survey we have found that the tubers of Satyrium nepalense are used as tonic [4], and to cure diarrhea, dysentery and malarial fever. [5], [6] Fresh tubers are cooked and consumed, dried ones sold as ‘salammisri’ and regarded as tonic; these are also reported to be useful in malaria and dysentery.[7] It is also used as a food, tonic, diarrhoea, malaria and dysentery.[8] Juice of leaf used to cure fever and cuts and wounds.[9], [10] Fresh tuber considered as aphrodisiac.[11] Tuber extract shows potent antibacterial activity against four bacterial strains i.e., Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia.[12]

ACTIVE PRINCIPALS Phytochemical screening of tubers extract of Satyrium nepalense shows the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates/glycosides, flavonoids and unsaturated sterols/triterpenes.[12]

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION After nine years extensive field survey, we have found two Satyrium terrestrial Orchid species viz., Satyrium nepalense var. ciliatum and S. nepalense var. nepalense in Darjeeling Himalayan regions of Eastern Himalaya. Flowering of both species occurred in late monsoon and are available above the 1700 m altitude of the studied regions and present availability status of var. ciliatum is frequent and the status of another var. nepalense is rare throughout the regions. These species are frequently found almost in gregarious habitat and preferably grown in acidic soil. In habitat var. ciliatum, frequently found with the natural population of other species like Anthogonium gracile, clavigera, P. cumminsiana, P.

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leptocaulon, P. stenantha etc., and var. nepalense frequently found with Anthogonium gracile, Habenaria arietina, Herminium lanceum, Platanthera clavigera, P. edgeworthii, Spiranthes sinensis etc. and both var. ciliatum and var. nepalense rarely grown in the same habitat and we have observed var. ciliatum rarely grown in partially lithophytic habitat with Pleione humilis specially in Sandakphu, Kalpokhari, Kaiyakatay, Tonglu, Megma etc. Natural population of var. ciliatum is more abundant than the var. nepalense and needs more habitat protection for the survival of these species in the study area. At present, fodder harvesting, cattle grazing, top layer soil erosion, landslides, terrace farming in high hills, extension of agricultural lands, construction of buildings and extension and construction of motorable roads, deforestation are distinctly visible threats to these species. Grazing of livestock around and within the Neora Valley and Singhalila National Parks of the region are the biotic threat for the survival of the studied Orchid species. The efforts required for the conservation of these taxa in the region is to conduct awareness program at grassroots level extensively throughout the region in collaboration with gram panchayats, schools and colleges, forest departments, wildlife personnel and NGOs which may help in retaining these species in nature.

REFERENCES 1. Yonzone Rajendra, Studies on the Orchid Flora of Darjeeling Himalaya. Ph.D. Thesis. University of North Bengal, Raja Rammohunpur, Siliguri, West Bengal, India. 2015. 2. Pearce NR, Cribb PJ, Flora of Bhutan. The Orchids of Bhutan. Vol. 3, part 3. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. 2002. 3. Lucksom SZ, The Orchids of Sikkim and North East Himalaya: Development Area, Jiwan Thing Marg, Gangtok, East Sikkim, India. 2007. 4. Bhattacharjee SK, Handbook of Medicinal Plants. Pointer Publication, New Delhi. 2001. 5. Joshi G, Tewari LM, Lohani N, Upreti K, Jalal JS, Tewari, G, Diversity of Orchids in Uttarakhand and their conservation strategy with special reference to their medicinal importance. Rep. Opin. 2009; 1(3): 47-52. 6. Medhi RP, Chakrabarti S,Traditional Knowledge of NE people on conservation of wild orchids. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2009; 8(1): 11 – 16. 7. Pathak P, Bhattacharya A, Vij SP, Mahant KC, Dhillon MK, Piri H, An update on the Medicinal Orchids of Himachal Pradesh with brief notes on their habit, distribution, and flowering period. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 2010; 17: 365-372.

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8. Saklani S, Mishra AP, Parcha V, Chandra S, Phytochemical and antibacterial evaluation of Satyrium nepalense and Saussurea simpsoniana, the threatened medicinal herbs of Uttarakhand, Journal of Pharm. Research. 2011; 4(11): 3866-3870. 9. Baral SR, Kurmi PP, A Compendium of Medicinal Plants of Nepal. Publisher Rachana Baral, Printed in Nepal by Mass Printing Press, Kathmandu. 2006. 10. Subedi Abishkar, Kunwar Bimal, Choi Young, Dai Yuntao, Andel Tinde van, Chaudhary Ram, P Boer, Hugo J de, Gravendeel Barbara, Collection and trade of wild-harvested Orchids in Nepal. Journal Ethnobiology & Ethnomedicine. 2013; 9: 64. 1-10. 11. Yonzone Rajendra, Kamran Ahsan, Bhujel RB, Orchids in Ethnobotany. Proceeding Volume, Int. Sem. On Multidis. Appr. Angiosp. Syst. 2012; 2: 661 – 669. 12. Mishra A.P., Saklani S, Satyrium nepalense: A rare medicinal Orchid of Western Himalaya (India); phytochemical screening, antimicrobial evaluation and conservation studies. Indonesian Journal Pharmacy. 2012; 23(3): 162.

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