Institutional herbal gardens: Strategy for Ex-situ conservation and promotion of medicinal plants

Abstract

Herbal gardens play an important role in the conservation of rare and endangered medicinal plants. They help in popularising the utility of commonly available and frequently used medicinal plants among the people, beneficiaries and various other stakeholders. A scientifically established herbal garden provides information on the traditional and modern uses of medicinal plants grown therein, the supply of plant resources for research, information on the protection of endangered species, and propagation practices of the rare plants. Herbal gardens also provide training on traditional uses of medicinal plants and their conservation through educational programmes through workshops, seminar and training for teachers, students, naturalists, and other stake holders. National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) has supported a total of 50 projects during2015-16 to 2019-20 for the establishment of Institutional Herbal Garden at different locations in India. Approximately, 300 medicinal plants belonging to the family: fabaceae, lamiaceae, asteraceae, acanthaceae, zingiberaceae, etc. have been planted in the institutional herbal gardens established through NMPB support.