Economic Importance of Plants SHRRADDHA Suman

Masters in Botany
Khallikote university
Odisha

1. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY & BIOTECHNOLOGY Submitted By: SHRRADDHA SUMAN PG 1 st YEAR (2 nd SEM) ROLL NO.: PG20BO-08 EXAM ROLL NO.: 012004BO015

2. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION HISTORY ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS RAUWOLFIA HOLY BASIL NEEM IMPORTANT FIREWOODS TIMBER TEAK BAMBOO RATTANS PLANTS USED FOR PAPER MAKING GUMS RESINS TANNINS DYES AVENUE TREES SHADE POLLUTION CONTROL ASTHETICS CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION Plants are extremely important in the lives of people throughout the world; people depend upon the plants to satisfy such basic human needs as food, clothing, shelter and healthcare. The word “economic ” is used in the sense of utilitarian rather than of monetary gain; although the latter should not be ignored. The interaction of people with plants is known as E conomic botany. Plants provide raw materials for many pharmaceuticals, as well as tobacco, coffee, alcohol and other drugs.

4. HISTORY The Age of Exploration and Discovery contributed greatly to the development of Economic Botany. The discoveries soon brought about an official interest in plants on the part of the European crowns, not because of concern for botany as a science – although that was to follow – but because of the potential economic value of the plants. In the early part of 16 th century, Oviedo gave descriptions of some of the economic plants of the tropical America. In 1570, Philip II sent the palace physician to Mexico; the physician and his workers’ primary emphasis was upon the medicinal plants.

5. MEDICINAL PLANTS The study of medicinal plants is termed as Pharmacognosy and this branch of science is concerned with the history, collection, identification, selection, preservation, import and export of various plants and plant parts that are drug yielding. Almost all Unani and Ayurvedic drugs and medicines are obtained from plants. Several allopathic drugs and almost all homeopathic medicines are derived from plants. Some important Medicinal plants are: Rauwolfia serpentina Ocimum santum Cinchona sp. Azadirachta indica Aloe vera ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT PLANTS

6. RAUWOLFIA (Sarpagandha) BOTANICAL NAME: Rauwolfia serpentina FAMILY: Apocynaceae HISTORY The plant is mentioned in ancient literature including the works of Charaka (1000-800BC) where it is described under its Sanskrit name of Sarpagandha as a useful antidote against snake bite and insect sting. The mentally deranged person is relieved of his madness if he eats the pieces of the roots. Because of this supposed curative effect of insanity the plant has also been known in India as “ Pagal Ki Dava ”. DISTRIBUTION A large climbing or twinning shrub, found in the tropical Himalayas and plains near the foot of the hills from Sirhind and Moradabad to Sikkim; it also occur in Assam, Kerala, etc . It is also distributed in the tropics, i.e. Central & South America, Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, China and Japan. The largest number of species is found in Africa and South America. It is also distributed to Malaysia and Jara. Rauwolfia plant

7. USES

8. Ocimum sanctum (Holy Basil) BOTANICAL NAME: Ocimum santum FAMILY: Lamiaceae HISTORY The history of holy basil dates as far back as the ancient Hindu in 1,500 BC. Highly regarded in Ayurvedic medicine, holy basil is mentioned in the Rig Veda, an ancient collection of Indian hymns, and its sacredness has been celebrated in the Purana . ORIGIN & DISTRIBUTION In a large-scale  phylogeographical  study of this species conducted using  chloroplast   genome  sequences, a group of researchers from  Central University of Punjab ,  Bathinda , have found that this plant originates from North-Central India . [ This green leafy plant, also known as tulsi, is native to Southeast Asia .  

9. GREEN TULSI (SRI TULSI) PURPLE TYPE (KRISHNA TULSI)

10. USES It has a history within Indian medicine as a treatment for many conditions, from eye diseases to ringworms. From the leaves to the seed, holy basil is considered a tonic for the body, mind, and spirit . FLOWERS TREATS BRONCHITIS SEEDS WITH BLACK PEEPER TREATS MALARIA

11. It's also been used to try to treat a range of other health concerns, including :

12. NEEM TREE (Margose tree) BOTANICAL NAME: Azadirachta indica FAMILY: Meliaceae DISTRIBUTION Neem is thought to have originated in Assam and Burma (where it is common throughout the central dry zone and the Siwalik hills). However, the exact origin is uncertain: some say neem is native to the whole Indian subcontinent; others attribute it to dry forest areas throughout all of South and Southeast Asia, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Map showing worldwide distribution of Azadirachta indica

13. HEALTH BENEFITS OF NEEM

14. IMPORTANT FIREWOODS Any wooden material gathered and used for fuel is called firewood . Generally, it is not highly processed and it is in some form of recognizable log or branch form. It is a renewable resource; due to good forestry practices and improvements in devices and technology that uses it, improve the local wood supplies. It has been used by human for a long time. USES OF WOOD Wood is a natural, sustainable choice of fuels for domestic fires. For example, to warm the homes or for lightening.  The firewood burning stoves provide a natural way for a person to heat their residence by burning split logs.

15. Important Firewoods Burning Stoves But, burning of wood also has some disadvantages like air pollution. So, to  remove the disadvantages, one should choose the right merchant  who provides the quality wood to its customers. DISADVANTAGES OF BURNING WOOD

16. TIMBER The  Timber plants  Are usually medium or large trees, which are cut to extract the wood. This material will be used for certain purposes such as construction, paper, etc. Timber trees are broadly classified into trees of soft, semi-hard and hardwoods. Some important timbers include teak, sal, bamboo, rattans, etc.

17. TEAK Teak ( Tectona grandis) is one of the most durable of woods and important commercial timbers of the tropics. It is hard and does not warp, split or crack and so makes a valuable timber for general construction. The wood is yellowish brown in color and greasy in touch. It is extensively used in ship, and boat building, and the furniture, mill work, railway cars, flooring and greenhouses.

18. BAMBOO Bamboo ( Bambusa sps.) is a very common tree belonging to Poaceae family which is found mainly in Asia and Africa. The trees are extremely tall and are usually found in the rural areas and near water bodies. The bamboo leaves usually remain green throughout its lifestyle unless there is a forest fire. The average lifespan of a bamboo tree is around 20 years. The bamboo tree is also considered as one of the strongest trees and is capable of surviving harsh weather conditions. Bamboo is also used for a wide variety of purposes. It also has some medicinal properties.

19. RATTANS Rattan is a naturally renewable palm that grows in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia, and is used for furniture, handicrafts, and building material among others. Rattan continues to be an invaluable part of rural people’s livelihoods in South and Southeast Asia. Because it is light, durable and relatively flexible, rattan is used for a range of purposes : Food : The inner core as well as the shoot of some of the rattan species is edible. Furniture : Furniture is the main end product of rattan. Shelter : Rattan is an approved material for house building in rural areas. Handicraft : Handicraft, besides furniture, provides the main income of the rattan industry. Women preparing rattan shoot for cooking. Wild-harvested rattan canes being treated and dried

20. PLANTS USED FOR PAPER MAKING P aper is often made from blend kinds of fibers, in order to combine the qualities of each type of pulp . There are many types of raw material for papermaking, such as wood, bamboo, cotton, bagasse, hemp, reed, straw and etc . A ll trees can be used to make paper. S ome of the most common kinds of trees used for making paper are listed down.

21. Hardwood trees used to make papers: Acacia: native to Australia, grown in east and south Africa and other parts of the world . Aspen Tree European Aspen:   Native to Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales, grown across Europe including Sweden, Poland and Russia. Also found in northern Africa and Asia. European aspen tree is one of the most widely distributed trees in the world. Quaking or Trembling Aspen:   Grown from Alaska to Newfoundland and southward to Virginia, the Rocky Mountains, extending south to southern Arizona and northern New Mexico . Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus is mainly distributed in the following areas: Portugal and Spain, Brazil , Eastern Australia. Acacia Aspen Eucalyptus

22. Softwood Trees Used to Make Paper Fir Balsam Fir:  Found in southern Canada and 15 north eastern US states. Douglas Fir :  Occurs in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Alberta and British Columbia in Canada, US west coast states such as Arizona, California and Nevada as well as New York . Pine Chile Pine or Monkey Puzzle Tree:  Native to Chile and Patagonia, grown in Brazil. Jack Pine:   Found in Arctic Circle, southern Canada, including Yukon Territory, as well as 14 US states such as Alaska and Indiana. Loblolly Pine:  Native to 15 south eastern states in the US including New Jersey, Florida and Texas . Western Hemlock : Occurs in Alberta and on the coast of British Columbia in Canada, Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington in the US, Japan, China and India. Fir Pine Western Hemlock

23. GUMS They are used in the food industry as  thickening agents ,  gelling agents ,  emulsifying agents , and  stabilizers , and in other industrial  adhesives ,  binding agents ,  crystal  inhibitors,  clarifying agents , encapsulating agents,  flocculating agents , swelling agents, foam stabilizers, etc. Natural gum from plum tree RESINS Resins are plant products that are not soluble in water, harden when exposed to air; they are mostly composed of terpenes. Plant resins are valued for the production of  varnishes ,  adhesives , and food  glazing agents . They are also prized as raw materials for the  synthesis of other organic compounds  and provide constituents of  incense  and  perfume . Resin of a pine

24. TANNINS T annin , also called  tannic acid , any of a group of  phenolic compounds  in woody  flowering plants   and have a number of industrial applications . As secondary metabolites, tannins are isolated in  vacuoles  within the  plant cell , which protects the other cell components . They occur normally in the roots,  wood , bark, leaves, and  fruit  of many plants, particularly in the bark of  oak  ( Quercus ) species and in  sumac  ( Rhus ). They also occur in  galls , pathological growths resulting from insect attacks. Witch hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana ) is a source of tannin used in a number of skin care products . Witch hazel has been used to treat bee stings, skin abrasions, and poison oak and ivy. Witch hazel tannins are also used in mouthwashes, eyewashes and for some bowel conditions . The tannins in cranberries ( Vaccinium macrocarpon ) have been medically proven to help prevent urinary tract infections in women by reducing the ability of the bacteria  E. coli  from adhering to cells lining the urinary tract.  Native Americans introduced witch hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana ) to European settlers. Hamamelitannin is the tannin extracted from witch hazel. Photo by Larry Stritch Medical research has shown that tannin found in cranberries is highly effective in preventing urinary tract infections  

25. DYES Dye  is a  substance  used to  color  materials. It is often used to color the  fabric  used to make  clothing . A dye can be natural, usually made from plant material such as berries. Most natural dyes are gotten from different parts of a  plant   like the   roots ,  fruits ,  bark ,  leaves ,  wood ,  fungi  and  lichens . Classification Dyes can be classified based on their  solubility  and chemical properties. Acid D yes :  can dissolve in water. They are used on  fibers  such as  silk ,  wool ,  nylon . Most  food coloring  that are made by man are acid dyes. Examples of acid dye are Alizarine Pure Blue B,  Acid red 88 , etc. Basic D yes : can dissolve in water. They are mainly used on  acrylic  fibers. They may also be used on wool and silk. Basic dyes are also used to make  paper   colorful. ACID DYES BASIC DYES

26. INDIGO Botanical name : Indigofera Family : Fabaceae Origin and Area of cultivation : Indigofera tinctoria is native to India. It was grown in many states in India. Now it is grown limited states mainly in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh . Uses: A brilliant dark blue dye ‘indigo’ was extracted from the leaves of several species of Indigofera. The people of Asia, especially India have known the dye for over 4,000 years. It is also used in painting of murals. Indigofera have long been used in Southern India in temple arts and folk arts, popularly known as Kalamkari. Indigo used for dyeing and printing cotton, rayon and wool . HENNA Botanical name : Lawsonia inermis Family : Lythraceae Origin and Area of cultivation : It is indigenous to North Africa and South-west Asia. It is grown mostly throughout India, especially in Gujarat, Madya Pradesh and Rajasthan . Uses: An orange dye ‘Henna’ is obtained from the leaves and young shoots of Lawsonia inermis . The principal colouring matter of leaves ‘lacosone” is harmless and causes no irritation to the skin. This dye has long been used to dye skin, hair and finger nails. It is used for colouring leather, for the tails of horses and in hair-dyes.

27. AVENUE TREES They are landscape trees, planted at roadsides, highways, garden, near railway lines, unused lands, etc. Avenue trees are planted for shade, pollution control, aesthetics, soil conservation, timber, etc. AVENUE TREES FOR SHADE Properties of avenue trees used for shade: Tree habitat Perennial Upright growth Extensive canopy Deliquescent branching Minimum care and minimum water requirement KADAM TREE PEEPAL TREE BANYAN TREE

28. AVENUE TREES FOR POLLUTION CONTROL Criteria for avenue trees used for pollution control: Evergreen tree Extensive canopy Large wide leaves & rough bark High pollutant absorbent Dust scavenging capacity Indigenous & ecologically compatible Low water requirement SIRIS ( Albizza lebbaeck) AMALTASH ( Cassia fistula) ARJUNA ( Terminalia arjuna)

29. AVENUE TREES FOR AESTHETICS Ornamental & attractive plants Used for beautification of the area Mostly colorful &flowering May be large shrub or tree Examples: Nil mohar ( Jacranda mimosifolia), Gulmohar (Delonix regia), Jarul (Lagerstromia speciosa), B ottle brush ( Callistemon sps.) NIL MOHAR GULMOHAR JARUL BOTTLE BRUSH

30. CONCLUSION Every coin has two sides. All most all plants are useful in one way or the other. But overuse or excess use of anything can be harmful. R auwolfia in long term use can cause depression, nightmares, drowsiness, etc. H oly basil may also cause low blood sugar, decrease fertility and promotes bleeding. Neem might also cause harm to the kidney and liver if taken in large doses.

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