MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE ARAVALLI HILLS: AN AYURVEDIC PHARMACO-ECOLOGICAL REVIEW IN THE CONTEXT OF EMERGING CONSERVATION CHALLENGES

Background: Ayurveda recognizes that the therapeutic attributes of medicinal plants are shaped by geographical and ecological context (Desha), influencing the expression of Rasa, Guna, Virya, and Vipaka. While Himalayan and Western Ghats ecosystems have been extensively interpreted through Ayurvedic and biomedical frameworks, the Aravalli Hills—one of the oldest mountain systems in the world—remain underrepresented in integrative Ayurvedic literature. The medicinal plants of this region are predominantly associated with dry deciduous forests, scrublands, rocky slopes, and lower hill ecosystems that are ecologically sensitive. Objective: This review aims to synthesize medicinal plants reported from the Aravalli Hills in indexed literature, interpret their therapeutic relevance using Ayurvedic principles, and examine their vulnerability in the context of recent ecological and regulatory developments. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological, and pharmacological studies indexed in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect (Elsevier), and PMC. Medicinal plants reported from the Aravalli Hills were consolidated and mapped to Ayurvedic identity using classical texts. Contemporary judicial and policy discussions related to hill delineation and land-use regulation were reviewed to assess potential implications for medicinal plant conservation. Results: More than 250 medicinal plant species are reported from the Aravalli Hills, of which a representative set of 70 Ayurvedically relevant taxa was analyzed in detail. These plants predominantly exhibit Tikta and Kashaya Rasa, Laghu–Ruksha Guna, Ushna Virya, and Katu Vipaka, reflecting adaptation to arid and semi-arid ecological stress. Recent judicial discussions before the Supreme Court of India regarding the definition of the Aravalli Hills, including adoption of a relief-based 100-metre criterion for regulatory purposes, have highlighted concerns that lower-elevation habitats may fall outside strict protection regimes. Such areas coincide with the natural habitats of several key Ayurvedic plants, including slow-growing resin-yielding species such as Guggulu and Shallaki. Conclusions: The Aravalli Hills represent a distinct Ayurvedic pharmaco-ecological zone shaped by ancient geology, arid climate, and traditional knowledge systems. From an Ayurvedic perspective, large-scale alteration of lower hill and scrubland ecosystems risks not only species depletion but also disruption of ecological conditions that govern Rasa, Guna, Virya, and Vipaka. Integrating Ayurvedic pharmaco-ecological understanding into regional planning is therefore essential for sustainable utilization and conservation.