19-Dec-2020:  Overexploitation, long life cycle have endangered a common Himalayan herb.

The Himalayan trillium, a common herb of the Himalayas was declared ‘endangered’ by the IUCN. The Himalayan trillium has been exploited beyond the capacity leaving the herb’s survival threatened. The herb has numerous uses for human beings thus inviting people to utilize it, paving way for overutilization.

It is used as a traditional medicine to cure,

• Dysentery.
• Sepsis.
• Wounds.
• Inflammation
• Skin boils
• Menstrual and sexual disorders

Recent studies have revealed that the rhizome of the herb is a source of steroidal saponins and has its application as an anti-ageing agent and anti-cancer drug.

They grow at temperate and sub-alpine zones of the Himalayas at an altitude of 2400 meters to 4000 meters. India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan has been home to this species. Indian Himalayan states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir possess the herb.

Factors that have threatened the survival

• Over-exploitation
• Long life cycle, implying slow to reach reproductive maturity.
• Poor seed dispersal capacity.
• High trade value.
• Specific habitat requirement.
• Increase in market demand.
• Poaching.