Medicinal plant diversity in botanical garden of Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Patiala – A glimpse

Introduction: Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) Patiala, which comes under the apex body Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush. The Institute maintains a herbal garden spanning an area of 3.5 acres of land where medicinal plants of economic importance are cultivated and conserved. Aim: To explore and record the medicinal plant diversity at CARI, Patiala. Materials and Methods: A survey of the medicinal plants was conducted during the years 2023-2024. Several visits were conducted in different parts of the Institute and during different seasons of the year. The plants were analysed and identified in the field by taxonomic experts based upon the combination of morphological and floral characteristics. Results: A total of 103 vascular plant species represented by 93 genera belonging to 47 families were recorded. Among dicots, Fabaceae (12 species), Apocynaceae (8 species), and Malvaceae (6 species) were the dominant families; and among monocots, Poaceae (3 species) and Zingiberaceae (2 species) were the dominant families. Out of 103; 29 species are herbs, shrubs account for 42 species, and trees are represented by 32 species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list data revealed that 56.3% of species fall under the not evaluated; 36.9% least concern; 2.9% data deficient; 1.0% each fall under the threatened, endangered, vulnerable and 1.9% are critically endangered category. Of the different plant parts used in treating various ailments, the multiple plant part is the most dominant category, followed by roots, leaves, fruits, latex, seeds, etc. Conclusion: Conserving medicinal plant diversity at CARI supports sustainable healthcare and preserves traditional Ayurvedic knowledge. It also fosters research, education, and the continued availability of natural remedies. These efforts align with global biodiversity goals, ensuring long-term ecological and medicinal benefits.