Medicinally important species of Hypericum in Indian Himalaya: Need more exploration for socio-economic development

Pharmaceutical importance of Hypericum species is well known worldwide. Various species of the genus have been regarded to be amongst important indigenously useful biodiversity elements in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Amongst the species, Hypericum perforatum L., besides its ethnobotanical significance for fuel, fodder, dye and medicine, is prime source of hypericin. Presence of other species of the genus in IHR has not been much explored. In present study, we assessed diversity, distribution and medicinal uses of this genus in IHR. Of the total 17 medicinally important species recorded, 7 species were native to the Himalayan region and 4 were near endemic species. Due to rampant in-situ harvesting and lack of systematic cultivation, a speedy decline has been registered in natural populations of H. perforatum and thus, categorized under vulnerable category adopting IUCN criteria. Similarly, due to multiple utility of the H. choisanum, H. oblongifolium and H. sampsonii, these species are also facing various abiotic and biotic pressures in the region. We envisaged that like H. perforatum, other species of this genus may have optimum concentration of hypericin and therefore, suggested for chemical investigation to harness their economic potential. [Medicinal Plants 2012; 4(2): 00–00]