TODAY -
Smuggling threatens rare species
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 17:
In a rare find, a team of scientists from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India working under medicinal Plant Project has found an important plant having antiCancer properties in Senapati district.
Informing this in a statement, programme co-ordinator KVK-Sylvan, Hengbung, Principal Investigator, DST Medicinal Plant Project, Dr RK Imotomba Singh said that the plant is known as Pekhiepoh in Poumai dialect while it is known as Singpan in Manipuri.
The scientific name is Paris Polyphylla Smith.
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The plant is found especially at Hengbung, Purul and Oinam hill in Senapati district.
Referring to Bentham and Hooker (1862-83), Dr Imotomba said that the plant belongs to the Liliaceae family.
Chinese scientists have proved that six compounds are found in the rhizome (underground plant stem and roots) of Paris Polyphylla and their anti-cancer properties range from medium to significant.
Under the impression that the rhizome of the plant is Ginseng, the people of Senapati are selling this in the market and within a short span of time its price has risen from Rs 80 per Kg to Rs 500/600 per Kg.
The plant, once it is smuggled to Moreh, fetches Rs 1000 per Kg, said Dr Imotomba and added that the plant is then smuggled into Myanmar and China.
During spot investigations of the places where the plant grows, it was found that the villagers had uprooted the plant unscientifically which may lead to its exhaustion soon.
In fact the villagers have started scouting the hills in Nagaland for the said plant.
If the trend goes unchecked, the plant may soon become extinct, warned the scientist and drew the attention of the NGOs, media, State and Central Governments to protect the plant.
Consultation is also underway with the National Research Laboratory.
The main compounds found in the plant are Oligosaccharides, Pariphyllin ABD, gracilling, bioactive components the glycosides and Saponins (C27-steroid Hemostatic saponins).
Among the compounds, Polyphyllin D has the highest anti-cancer properties.
The Chinese use the plant as traditional medicine for the treatment of cancer.
The plant is also used to treat other diseases such as Japanese B Encephalitis, ulcers, dysentery, snake bites, diphtheria, tonsillitis etc.
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