Kinnaur District Research Articles

Evaluation of Nutritional Status using Head Circumference among Bhil, Dhodia and Kinnaura tribal Preschool Children, India

Background: Undernutrition is a major problem in developing countries, especially among tribal pre-school children. Many studies have been undertaken on preschool tribal children in different parts of India, but by considering different ecological zones, no previous studies have been taken into account for determining nutritional status using head circumference. Head circumference for age Z-score (HCAZ) is also a useful index for determining the nutritional status of pre-school children. Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess the nutritional status based on head circumference of preschool children of the Bhil, Dhodia and Kinnaura tribes. Methods: The present study was undertaken among 509 boys and 476 girls. Among which, 168 boys and 185 girls belonged to the Bhil tribe from Barmer district, 164 boys and 142 girls belonged to the Dhodia tribe from Valsad district, and 177 boys and 149 girls belonged to the Kinnaura tribe from Kinnaur district. WHO Child Growth Standards (2007) were utilized to determine Z-scores for head circumference for age (HCAZ). The standard formula was used to compute HCAZ: Z-score= (X- Median value of WHO 2007)/ standard deviation, WHO (2007). Moderately undernourished: <-2SD and severely undernourished: <-3SD were considered following the WHO standard (2007). Results: From this study, it was found that among Bhil preschool children, 28.3% of boys and girls are undernourished, 33.6% of boys and 31.3% of girls are suffering from malnutrition among Dhodia boys, and 13.5% of boys and 17.2% of girls are undernourished among Kinnaura tribe. Conclusion: Regular intervention programmes need to be done by the authority to spread awareness among the people of these tribal communities so that the health condition of preschool children improves.

Cephalic Index Variation in the Indigenous Population of Tribal Districts in Himachal Pradesh.

Introduction The cephalic index (CI) is the most commonly used index to determine the race of an individual. It is calculated as the ratio of the breadth of the skull to the length of the skull multiplied by 100. The CI of an individual can be influenced by factors such as race, ethnicity, genetic predisposition, lifestyle choices, nutritional habits, environmental factors, and climatic conditions. Material and methods This study was carried out on 413 individuals in the tribal districts of Himachal Pradesh (Kinnaur, Spiti, and Lahaul), with 247 (59.8%) male and 166 (40.2%) femalesubjects. Measurements of the skull were taken using a spreading caliper. The CI was calculated using Hardlika's method and data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). Results The head shapes of the majority of the tribal population of Himachal Pradesh are mesocephalic, with the mean CI for males and females being 78.90 and 79.81, respectively, without any significant difference. The mean CI of the overall population is 79.27. The majority population of the Kinnaur district is brachycephalic, while the Spiti and Lahaul populations are mesocephalic with females predominately brachycephalic and males predominately mesocephalic. Conclusion The Indigenous population of Himachal Pradesh is mesocephalic with females predominately brachycephalic.

Rock glaciers as proxy for machine learning based debris‐covered glacier mapping of Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh

AbstractThis research introduces an innovative approach by utilising rock glaciers (RGs) as a proxy for mapping debris‐covered glaciers (DCGs). This approach focuses on the interconnected nature of glaciers, DCGs and RGs in a continuum where DCGs can transform into RGs over time due to various processes. This study utilises six machine learning models—logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), K‐nearest neighbour (KNN), Naïve Bayes (NB), decision tree (DT) and random forest (RF)—combined with multispectral satellite data (Sentinel‐2 and Landsat 8) and topographical data derived from ALOS PALSAR DEM. Performance metrics such as accuracy, area under the curve (AUC) score, precision, recall and F1‐score were evaluated to assess model performance. This detailed mapping provides a precise estimation of the extent of DCGs in the Kinnaur district. The estimated DCG areas revealed intriguing variation across models, with RF (9.71%), KNN (9.67%) and NB (9.41%) yielding similar predictions. SVM (11.61%) projected a slightly larger DCG area, whereas DT (5.54%) and LR (25.55%) provided contrasting results. Validation against high‐resolution satellite images, Google Earth images and glacier inventories confirmed the accuracy and reliability of our approach. Based on our findings for our specific study, the most effective method for mapping DCGs is RF, followed by KNN, NB, DT and SVM. The combination of machine learning models and RG data presents a novel and promising approach to remote sensing‐based DCG mapping, with potential applications for other regions and broader environmental studies.

Longitudinal assessment of extreme climate events in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, north-western Himalaya, India.

It is vital to keep an eye on changes in climatic extremes because they set the stage for current and potential future climate, which usually have a reasonable adverse impact on ecosystems and society. The present study examines the variability and trends in precipitation and temperature across seasons in the Kinnaur district, offering valuable insights into the complex dynamics ofthe Himalayan climate. Using Climatic Research Unit gridded Time Series (CRU TS) datasets from 1951 to 2021, the study analyzes the data to produce 28 climate indices based on India Meteorological Department (IMD) convention indices and Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). Although there may be considerable variation in climate indices in terms of absolute values within different products, there is consensus in both long-term trends and inter-annual variability. Analysis shows that even within a small area, there is variability in the magnitude and direction of historic temperature trends. Initially, the datawere subjected to rigorous quality control procedures, which involved identifying anomalies. Statistical analysis like trend analysis, employing Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator, reveal significant (p < 0.05) increase in consecutive dry days (CDD) at 0.03days/year and decrease in consecutive wet days (CWD) at 0.02days/year. Notably, the frequency of heavy precipitation occurrences showed an increasing trend. Changes in precipitation in the Western Himalaya are driven by a complex interplay of orographic effects, monsoonal dynamics, atmospheric circulation patterns, climate change, and localized factors such as topography, atmospheric circulation patterns, moisture sources, land-sea temperature contrasts, and anthropogenic influences. Moreover, in case of temperature indices, there is significant increasing trend observed. Temperature indices indicate a significant annual increase in warm nights (TN90p) at 0.06%/year and warm days (TX90p) at 0.11%/year. Extreme temperature events have been trending upward, with monthly daily maximum temperature (TXx) increasing by 1.5°C yearly. This study enhances our comprehension of the global warming phenomenon and underscores the importance of acknowledging alterations in the water cycle and their repercussions on hydrologic resources, agriculture, and livelihoods in the cold desert of the northwestern Indian Himalaya.

Impact of climatic variations in horticulture sector, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Climate change has an impact on the horticulture crops of Himachal Pradesh in relation to the varying climatic conditions in the Himalayan Region. The purpose of the study was to determine how frequently these differences in horticultural crops occur in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh since the horticulture industry in Himachal Pradesh greatly benefits from this district. Long-term temperature (maximum, minimum, and diurnal) and rainfall data from 1990 to 2020 were analyzed for different phenological stages (pre-flowering, flowering, and fruit setting). The findings revealed that the average maximum and diurnal temperatures were found to have increased significantly, at the rate by 0.027 °C and 0.042 °C, respectively, during the flowering stages. However, there were no appreciable changes in the variations for other phenological stages. Under trend analysis of crop yield, the productivity of Pear and Almond notably fell over the past 20 years, at -0.029 t/ha/year and -0.016 t/ha/year, respectively, whereas Walnut productivity climbed at 0.008 t/ha/year. The relationship or impact between the climate and the crop was also examined in addition to the trend analysis for crop and climatic variables. The results showed that among the three phenological stages, Apple and Apricot were highly impacted (54.4%) during pre-flowering stage, followed by Apricot, i.e., 72.6% during flowering, and Grapes (53.2%) during the fruit setting stage. In the current situation, climate fluctuations had a favorable effect on Apples, Walnuts and Grapes while having a negative effect on Apricots, Plums, Pears and Almonds.

Assessment of Wild Edible Plant Diversity in Fringe Forest Areas of Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh, India

Wild edible plant diversity in fringe forest areas in Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh, India, was assessed using stratified random sampling by the quadrat method. A total of 115 plant species comprised 19 trees, 31 shrubs and 65 herb species were found growing in the habitat. Of the total species recorded, the people in the district use 91 plant species (79.1% of the total species) for various edible purposes. Among the edible plants recorded, 16 were trees, 23 shrubs, and the remaining 52 were herbs. Wild edible trees had a higher density (70 trees/ ha) than non-edible tree species (11.25 trees/ ha). Among trees, Prunus persica was recorded with the highest density of 13.75 trees/ha, with a basal area of 1.27 m2/ha and an IVI value of 51.56. Wild edible shrub species had a very high contribution of 75.53% (0.71 bushes/9m2) to the total shrub species density (0.94 bushes 9/m2). The density of all edible shrub species was &lt;1 bush/ m2, and the highest density was of Berberis aristata (0.18 bush/ 9m2). The density of wild edible herbs was (12.07 individuals/ m2) lower than the density of non-edible herb species (17.25 individuals/ m2). Thymus serphyllum a rarely used herb, had the highest density of 5.49 individuals/ m2, frequency (17.28 %) and IVI (26.00) among herbs. Most of the other edible herb species had density &lt;1 individual/ m2. It was observed that the indigenous people in the region frequently visit fringe forest areas for various purposes, which affect the population of wild edible plant species. Further, wild edible plant species knowledge is getting eroded, especially among the younger generation. Hence, public awareness and community based management need to be encouraged at all levels. In addition, forest department and various other government agencies should include important wild edibles in their plantation program.

Prevalence and Epidemiology of Apple Powdery Mildew in Northwest Himalayan Region of Himachal Pradesh

A survey was conducted to assess the incidence and severity of powdery mildew of apples during April to July of 2020 and 2021 at the different locations of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India. Assessment scale of Hofer et al. (2019) with slight modification was used for cultivar screening. Apple seedlings were grown in the pots in the polyhouse of the Department of Plant Pathology in order to test the pathogenicity of Podosphaera leucotricha. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation tests by gently pressing diseased leaves on young leaves of five asymptomatic, potted one-year-old Gale Gala seedlings of apple. Five non-inoculated plants were used for a control treatment. Overall, twenty different apple cultivars were screened against powdery mildew planted under field conditions at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Sharbo, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Out of these cultivars, five cultivars viz. Red Delicious, Royal Delicious, Red Velox, Auvil Early Fuji and Oregon Spur II, were found to be less susceptible to Podosphaera leucotricha, causing powdery mildew of apples, while Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, and Gale Gala were found extremely susceptible. Gala series of cultivars were found to be extremely susceptible to the pathogen. Incidence of the disease ranged from 25.42% to 53.80% and severity from 39.75% to 66.25%, respectively. According to the present study the disease initiated during the first week of May and peaked in the month of July in district Kinnaur. Temperatures between 18–24°C and RH between 50–65% were found to be favourable for the disease development. The conditions in the region were found to favourable for disease development and spread.

A Comparative Analysis of Apple Arrival in Selected APM C’s of Shimla and Kinnaur Districts

The present study was conducted at the different market yards of Shimla and Kinnaur District to find the arrival of apples in the different markets. The study will give us an understanding of the changing trends in different markets. For conducting the research data from six years (2014-19) for Apple arrival were collected from the different market_yards (Shimla, Chopal, Theog, Kharapathar, Rampur, Rohru, Parala, Narkanda, Nerwaand been analyzed with the help of descriptive_and regression analysis which_had revealed that the Apple arrival in Shimla_market yard is showing low growth trend in comparison to the other market Yards (Parala, Rohru, Kharapathar) which are showing high growth trend. The relative value of the Kharapathar market is the highest, therefore, one can predict that by 2023-24 Apple’s arrival in the market will reach 631061 boxes_which is very high from the current average of 88571_boxes hence will make it the fastest-growing market yard for Apple selling with the growth rate of 612.49 per cent.

Altitudinal Appraisal Of Land Use Land Cover And Surface Temperature Change In The Satluj Basin, India

The land use change has affected nearly 32% of the global landscape from 1960 to 2019. Several studies have examined the impacts of land use land cover (LULC) on the surface temperature. Still, the spatiotemporal variation of LULC and LST with altitude is a less researched area. In the current study, we assess the LULC dynamics and its relation to altitudinal LST in the Himalayan Satluj River basin in Himachal Pradesh across the altitudinal range of 332 to 6558 meters. LULC, LST, NDVI, and NDMI were derived from Landsat data for 1980-2020. The spatial pattern was analyzed using Support Vector Machine (SVM) and a mono-window algorithm. The results of LULC denote that snow covered area (SCA) have decreased by nearly 56.19% since 1980 and vegetation cover has increased. However, a decline in vegetation density is pronounced at the same time. The mean surface temperature of the Satluj basin has amplified by 6°C (0.25°C/year) from 1996 to 2020. Mostly Zone 3 and 4 are under high hilly and temperate dry regions in Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. The most important sign is that the mean surface temperature for Zone 3 (3000m-4500m) and Zone 4 (above 4500m) was the highest increase to 6°C (0.26°C/year) and 8°C (0.31°C/year) from 1996 to 2020. The increase in LST values is attributed to land cover dynamics precisely the decline of snow cover area and the emergence of vegetation zone at higher above the 4500 altitudes. Our study facilitates regional analysis.

Transformation of Livelihoods in Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh, India

Transformation of Livelihoods in Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh, India

Community-based assessment for infant, under-5 child and maternal mortality in tribal population of Himachal Pradesh, India

Introduction: Infant and child mortality rates are sensitive indicators of health services of any community. Tribal populations remain a disadvantaged group among other communities and the indicator of their accessibility and availability of health services is the infant and maternal mortality rates.Objectives: To assess reliable estimates and causes for the child (less than five year of age) mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of tribal population of Himachal Pradesh, and the maternal and child health services and facilities available in their health institutionsMethods: A community-based surveillance study was conducted in 2019-20 on the deaths of all children (less than five year of age) and maternal deaths in the entire population of two tribal districts i.e., Kinnaur and Lahau l &amp; Spiti, and of two tribal blocks of Chamba District in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Sub-centres (SC) remained under the study for a period of one year. Verbal autopsies were conducted to ascertain the cause of death by community workers under the supervision of project staff. In addition, a cross-sectional facility survey was conducted, Health institution data were gathered using a pre-tested structured schedule adapted from the National Health Mission Facility Assessment Tool.Results: Majority (85%) of the SCs were functioning in Kinnaur District and 66% at Lahaul &amp; Spiti District. In the latter district, the labour room was functional at primary health center (PHC). Civil and district hospitals were preferred for delivery while SC and PHC were preferred for preventive services. The infant mortality rate (IMR) of all districts was 24 per 1000 live births (LB). Most of the deaths were in post neonatal period (62%). Birth asphyxia and pneumonia were major causes. The 1-5-year mortality rate was 1 per 1000 LB, which was only reported from the district of Chamba. There were zero maternal mortalities during the survey period.Conclusions &amp; Recommendations: The IMR in tribal districts was higher than the state average. Most deaths were due to birth asphyxia, hence indicates the importance of labour room preparedness at PHCs in these hard-to-reach areas.

Exploring the efficacy of ethnomedicinal plants of Himalayan region against the malaria parasite

Ethnopharmacological relevancePlasmodium falciparum multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains are a great challenge to global health care. This predicament implies the urgent need to discover novel antimalarial drugs candidate from alternative natural sources. The Himalaya constitute a rich repository of medicinal plants which have been used traditionally in the folklore medicine since ages and having no scientific evidence for their activity. Crambe kotschyana Boiss. and Eremurus himalaicus Baker are used for their antipyretic and hepatoprotective properties in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Aim of the studyThis study would investigate the antiplasmodial efficacy of C. kotschyana and E. himalaicus extracts, their fractions and active components using in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches to provide a scientific insight into their activity. MethodsThe methanol extracts of C. kotschyana (CKME) and E. himalaicus (EHME) were prepared by maceration followed by fractionation using ethyl acetate. The isolation of flavonoid glycosides isorhamnetin-3, 7-di-O-glucoside from C. kotschyana and luteolin-6-C-glucoside (isoorientin) from E. himalaicus was carried out by antiplasmodial activity-guided isolation. In vitro antimalarial activity was assessed by WHO method while in vitro cytotoxicity was ascertained employing the MTT assay. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were performed using the Glide module of Schrödinger Software and Gromacs-2022 software package respectively. In vivo curative activity was assessed by Ryley and Peters method. ResultsThe methanol extracts of both the plants illustrated the best antiplasmodial activity followed by the ethyl acetate fractions. Iso-orientin (IC50 6.49 μg/ml) and Isorhamnetin-3,7-di-O-glucoside (IC50 9.22 μg/ml) illustrated considerable in vitro activity even against P. falciparum resistant strain. Extracts/fractions as well as the isolated compounds were found to be non-toxic with CC50 > 640 μg/ml. Molecular docking studies were performed with these 2 O-glucosides against four malaria targets to understand the binding pose of these molecules and the results suggested that these molecules have selectivity for lactate dehydrogenase enzyme. CKME and EHME exhibited curative activity in vivo along with increase in Mean Survival Time of mice. ConclusionThe research delineated the scientific evidence that both the therapeutic herbs possessed antimalarial activity and notably, bioactive compounds responsible to exhibit the antimalarial activity have been isolated, identified and characterized. Further studies are underway to assess the antiplasmodial efficacy of isolated compounds alone and in combination with standard antimalarials.

Transhumant pastoralism in Indian western Himalaya: traditional ecological knowledge and contemporary practices

ABSTRACT Transhumant pastoralism guided by traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) helps people in adapting to extreme biophysical conditions and remoteness in the high-altitude region of the western Himalaya. However, the age-old practice is currently under threat due to changes in socioeconomic, policy and environmental conditions, which may lead to erosion of pastoralism-related TEK. This study was undertaken to document traditional knowledge concerning transhumant pastoralism of the Kinnaura community in three high-altitude villages, namely Chhitkul, Rakchham and Batseri in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India, using semi-structured interviews and participant observation methods. A total of 38 key informants were interviewed to elicit information about the contemporary practices and TEK related to transhumant pastoralism. The study found that the transhumant pastoralism is not only intricately linked to sociocultural life but also contribute significantly to the livelihood of Kinnaura community and hired herders. Findings revealed that the pastoralists are the repository of vast knowledge on various aspects of sheep- and goat-based transhumance, viz. herd composition and management, grazing and supplementary feeding and ethnoveterinary practices. It is concluded that the study would help policy decisions for the preservation and protection of transhumant pastoralism-related TEK of the indigenous Kinnaura pastoralists. Further, considering the nexus between TEK and ecosystem services, this study would also contribute in well-being of the human society and resilience of the similar social-ecological systems.

Supply Chain Management of Apple Production and Marketing in Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh

Present study was conducted to assess the impact of Supply chain Management of Apple Production and study the existing status of Apple production and marketing in Kinnaur district of Himchal Pradesh, India using data for the period 2021–2022. To identify the objectives of the study, a sample of 200 respondents was interviewed through structured interview schedule. The orchard area was 79.26% in Kinnaur, in which irrigated and un-irrigated land was 32.71 and 67.29%. 44% of the sampled respondents were in the category of marginal land holdings, small land holdings were possessed by 46.00%, medium were possessed by 9.00% and large land holdings only 1.00% of sampled household in study area. The various input supply chains identified in apple production in the study area are Channel-I, Channel- II, Channel- III. . Out of all three channels, the channel III is found to be efficient with modified market efficiency of 47.3%. The producer share for consumer’s rupees is 81.81% with net marketing margin was 180 with price spread value of 380. The total cost for production of apple on one hectare of land holdings was observed to be ` 51258 on overall basis. 77.00% of the respondents were aware about the constraints in supply chain apple producers were not so aware about the effective supply chain management and it can be reduced by the efficient supply chain management.

GIS based landslide susceptibility zonation mapping using frequency ratio, information value and weight of evidence: a case study in Kinnaur District HP India

GIS based landslide susceptibility zonation mapping using frequency ratio, information value and weight of evidence: a case study in Kinnaur District HP India

Diversity and Distribution Pattern of Fuel Resource in Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh, Trans and North-Western Himalaya

Diversity and Distribution Pattern of Fuel Resource in Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh, Trans and North-Western Himalaya

An assessment and distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in Sangla Valley (District Kinnaur: Himachal Pradesh)

The present study was conducted to understand the butterfly diversity in the Sangla Valley of Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh, India from April 2015 to March 2018. A total of 40 species of butterflies belonging to 33 genera and five families were recorded from the present study. From the observed butterflies, the family Nymphalidae was the most dominant among the five families with 20 species, followed by Lycaenidae comprising 10 species, Pieridae with 07 species, Papilionidae with 02 species and Hesperiidae with 01species. The butterfly fauna of Sangla Valley has been documented for the first time. The diversity of butterflies is near lower altitudes as compared to alpine regions and Bhoj Patra forests in Cchitkul. Maximum diversity of butterflies exists in open spaces on wild vegetation. One species of Snow Apollo i.e. Parnassius hardwckii has been recorded for the first time from Sangla Valley landscape. The present study added valuable information on the diversity of butterfly fauna and will contribute in developing effective conservation measures in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

Evaluating geo-hydrological environs through morphometric aspects using geospatial techniques: A case study of Kashang Khad watershed in the Middle Himalayas, India

The present study analyzes the geo-hydrological behaviour of the Kashang khad basin of the satluj river system in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. The major source of water in the region is the snowmelt, which contributes to the evolution of a drainage pattern. It highlights the importance of ASTER GDEM and satellite images for assessing and understanding the various geo-hydrological parameters such as drainage analysis, and topographic analysis for better basin management. Hydrological modelling of ArcGIS 10.5 has been used for the delineation and analysis of basins using SRTM DEM with 30 m resolution. Morphometric parameters like linear, relief, and aerial further help in the micro-level study of its physiographic characteristics and structural control of flow along with runoff, which can help predict floods, their extent, and intensity. It was found that the basin had a dendritic pattern with uniform lithology. The stream order ranges from 1st order to 5th order signalling homogeneity in texture and medium to high drainage density meaning permeable soil and good surface runoff. The drainage texture of 2.19 indicates the basin is prone to weathering and erosion. The bifurcation ratio ranges from 4.43 to 5.23, with a mean Rb of 4.82 showing the structural control on the elongated basin with Re of 0.56. The ASTER DEM and sophisticated morphometric attributes and hydrological environs can be effectively utilized in watershed management and other hydrological studies in higher mountainous regions.

Challenges and Prospects of Apple Cultivation in Himachal Pradesh

The present endeavour aims to ascertain the current status and recent challenges of apple cultivation in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh and to explore the prospects by framing suitable strategies through quantitative SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and QSPM (Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix) analysis. A total of 32 factors encompassing 20 internal [10 Strengths (S) and 10 Weakness (W)] and 12 external [6 Opportunities (O) and 6 Threats (T)] factors have been identified through empiric investigation and interaction with the stakeholders. Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) and External Factor Evaluation (EFE) matrices have revealed that favourable agro-climatic conditions (S1, 3.60) and prevalence of diseases of the plants (W5, 3.6) are the most prioritised internal strength and weaknesses. At the same time, the establishment of adequate cold storage facilities (O5, 3.6) and recent changes in the prevailing climate (T1, 2.25) comprise the most concerning external opportunities and threats in the area, respectively. The results further reveal that implementing a well-managed gardening system and developing of infrastructural facilities (WT1, 124.7) may become the qualified alternative action plan to cope with the negative determinants. The establishment and expansion of apple orchard-based food processing units and tourism activities (SO2, 95%) may be considered the most suitable positive (SO) strategy to ensure further prosperity of apple production, which has been supported by most of the respondents. Adapting such a strategy will enrich the horticulture economy and promote the sustainable development of apple farming in the district.

Phytochemical Screening, In Vitro Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Activity of Rabdosia rugosa (Wall. ex Benth.) H. Hara Extract from Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh

Rabdosia rugosa (Wall. ex Benth.) H. Hara. (Syn. Plectranthusrugosus Wall.) belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is used by local communities of the Kinnaur district to cure diabetes. The selection of the plant material is based upon data that aerial parts of the plant (leaves along with flowers) are used in folklore to manage the postprandial hike in blood sugar levels. Therefore, in the present investigation, antiradical and antidiabetic activities of the ethanolic extract of the plant were checked. Preliminary tests for phytochemicals, total phenols, and flavenoids were also determined. Our results manifested that R. rugosa (Rabdosia rugosa) extract exhibited superior antioxidant activity (p˂0.05) by DPPH and H2O2 assays with IC50 = 9.62 ± 2.70 μg/ml and IC50 = 28.22 ± 2.94 μg/ml. This plant also exhibited preeminent repression action against the enzyme, i.e., alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase (p˂0.05) with IC50 = 10.49 ± 6.17 μg/ml (Porcine α – amylase), IC50 = 1.87 ± 1.79 μg/ml (Yeast α - glucosidase), ( IC50 = 16.89 ± 0. 06 μg/ml(Intestinal rat α - glucosidase) Hence, we concluded that present plant possessed excellent antiradical and antidiabetic activity. The antidiabetic activity was estimated higher than the standard Acarbose. As per our information, this may be the first time to report on the extract of R. rugosa for its antioxidant and antidiabetic capacity. The current findings divulge that this plant can further be studied to verify its therapeutic activities.