Abstract
Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Pennell) D. Y. Hong is an endangered herbaceous medicinal plant found in subalpine and alpine zone of eastern Himalayas comprising Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and China. Rhizomes of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (hereinafter referred to as Neopicrorhiza) have medicinal properties and are highly traded in Nepal, India and China. Information on driving factors for demand of Neopicrorhiza from consumer perspective is unknown, knowledge of which is important because it can allow insights into future demand and sustainability of future trade. In this context, a survey was conducted among purchasers and consumers (patients) of end products (Ayurvedic medicines) containing Neopicrorhiza (n=513) in five different cities of Nepal from March to July 2017 using structured questionnaire to explore characteristics of consumers and consumption of end products of Neopicrorhiza. The utilization of Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza for treatment of health disorders of human is prevalent in Nepal. Men and women patients of diverse ages and with different socio-economic profiles were found to consume Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza to treat health disorders associated with different organ systems of body. The patients receiving Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza were children, adults and elders ranging from 1 to 98 years old (av. 37.6 years). Employed and unemployed, educated and illiterate consumers were found to consume Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza to treat their health disorders in Nepal. Patients receiving those medicines were from households having diverse annual cash income levels. The purchase and consumption of Ayurvedic medicine containing Neopicrorhiza was most often guided by a doctor’s prescription. Most of the respondents believed that the prices of those Ayurvedic medicines were fairer than other types of medicines. Similar studies are recommended in other countries like India and China where the Neopicrorhiza is exported from Nepal.
Highlights
For most of the world's population, plants, based on many well-established systems of medicine, in either crude or extract form, represent the foundation of primary health care for the foreseeable future [1]
It is believed that this study reveals the characteristics of Nepalese consumers consuming end products containing Neopicrorhiza and may serve as an entry point for future studies concerning the consumption of medicinal plant products
This research presents a first exploration of consumption of the Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza and consumer characteristics in Nepal
Summary
For most of the world's population, plants, based on many well-established systems of medicine, in either crude or extract form, represent the foundation of primary health care for the foreseeable future [1]. Thousands of species of plants are used in traditional and modern medicine throughout the world, and many more species are important to the growing market for plant-based cosmetics, essential oils, food, beverages and other products, representing by far the biggest use of the natural world in terms of number of species [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. In Nepal, about 1,800 species, including Neopicrorhiza are currently in use for production of Ayurvedic, Unani, and Siddha medicines [17] and for essential oils, cosmetics, aromatic foods and perfumes [18]. Some studies have indicated a rising demand for Himalayan plant based medicinal and cosmetic products [19, 20] that will foster demand of raw materials, could lead to rise in harvest level of this species. The volume of medicinal plants traded from Darchula District of far-western Nepal in the fiscal year 2014-15 was 401 tons with a harvester value of USD 5.5 million, representing a 2.3 fold increase in International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine, 2018, 9(2), 123-132
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