Diversity and Conservation of Medicinal Plant of Seshachalam Hill Range of Andhra Pradesh, India

The Seshachalam hill range of South Eastern Ghats which is one among the "Hot Spots" of endemic flora of India. The environment is very much suitable for growth and development of this region important wood/timber yielding and medicinal plants. Nearly 900 plant species are medicinally important including 5 endemic medicinal plants viz., Shorea tumbaggaiae, Terminalia pallida, Boswellia ovalifoliolata, Pterocarpus santalinus and Syzygium alternifolium and one gymnosperm Cycasbeddomei to this area. The tribal people Nakkala, Sugali, Lambadi and local herbal healers (Natuvidhyulu) have been using these plants to cure different ailments.

Due to interference of various biotic factors a number of plants became endangered and some are on the verge of extinction. Keeping this in view, conservation measures have been taken for some of the medicinal plants to protect the germplasm. Standardization of protocols for In Vitro propagation of some medicinal plants from different explants selected from elite (mother) plants : Study of morphological and anatomical changes occured during morphogenesis : Testing of clonal purity by isolation of some isozymes like peroxidase, catalase etc., and its banding pattern. Replantation of saplings developed by micropropagation in their natural habitats to sustain the ecological balance and environmental stability.