Rauwolfia sumatrana -- A medicinal plant species on its last legs in Bay Islands
Rauwolfia sumatrana of Apocynaceae is used extensively by the tribals of Andaman & Nicobar Islands in curing various ailments especially as an antihelminthic medicament, for relieving gastro intestinal troubles, epilepsy, fits and headache.The species was reported to be distributed across different islands ranging from Neil Isl. at the north to Kopenheat, Koshin and Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar at the extreme south.
The plants have been classified as an extra-Indian species found only in the Andaman & Nicobar biogeographic zone of Indian Sub Continent. It is a perennial small tree, 10-12 m in height with glabrous thick leaves arranged in whorls of 3 at nodes with a milky latex exudates. Terminal flowers appear during October-November and the gray green and globose berries turn into purple at maturity.
The propagation is predominantly through seeds. However, ex vitro macro propagation by stem cuttings is also evident. Both leaf and bark are found to possess active ingredients of medicinal value. Destructive and ruthless harvesting and habitat disturbance due to increased anthropogenic pressure have led to rapid population depletion of this species in these island, which is of great concern for its survival and perpetuation.
At Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, attempts are being made towards conservation, isolation and biochemical profiling of the active ingredients and development of suitable in vitro micro propagation protocol for mass propagation of this species. Preliminary phyto-chemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, reducing sugars and saponins in the leaf and bark tissues and steroids in the latex and bark. Steroids were found to be concentrated in greater levels in the bark than any other part.
Dr. Satyabrata Maiti
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