Indian Amarkand Plants

This book highlights the new approaches to solving the ambiguity in the identification of the correct medicinal plant. Tribal communities have their own treasure of ethnomedicines. Considering the ambiguity in the correct identification due to multiple local names there is a need to identify the exact and most bioactive ethnobotanical species by validating their ethnopharmacological claims using modern tools. Amarkand is a good example of having a strong background in regional ethnopharmacological uses. Available literature suggests Amarkand has both preventive and curative medicinal properties but there are several species recommended to use as Amarkand especially from Genus Eulophia and Dioscorea. Although Amarkand tubers are used invariably amongst all tribes they are rarely explored for the urban stressful lifestyle to take care of disorders & their consequences. But the major problem is their correct identification and perfect utilization for particular ailments due to their different local names. Considering the potential of Amarkand plants in the present book these species were comparatively studied for anti-inflammatory anti-fatigue and immunomodulatory properties.