Allium biodiversity and its traditional prophylactic significance in Indian sub-continent

Allium, a well known vast genus, constitutes not only man's palatables but also signifies its ethnomedicinal potential worldwide in the traditional effective therapy against various ailments. This genus has been the subject of taxonomic renovation among the Botanists for a long and consequently it has to traverse its positional distance from Liliaceae to Alliaceae. Some species of the genus are originated outside the Vavilovian centres but most of these are confined to temperate world. Three new species viz., A. caesium Shrenk, A. fasciculatum Rendle and A. prattii Wight are being reported in addition to the previous reviews on Alliums in Hindustani Centre of biodiversity. The present review - deals with taxonomic status, distribution, domestication, diversity of different Allium species in Indian sub-continent and their affinities and medicinal significance in Indian traditional medicine system.