Model of Proposal on bioprospecting of medicinal plants of Nepal
1. TITLE: BIOPROSPECTING OF HIGH VALUE MEDICINAL AND
AROMATIC PLANTS OF MAIDAN, ARGHAKHANCHI
Keywords: Bioprospecting, high value, medicinal and aromatic plants, Arghakhanchi
Principal Investigator: Dinesh Ghimire
Affiliation: IAAS, T.U., Paklihawa
Contact details:
9840016036
9805476000
Maidan, Arghakhanchi
facebook.com/dinesh.ghimire.104
dineshghimire01@gmail.com
Starts on: 22nd
Chaitra, 2073
Ends on: 31st
, 2074
Budget: Rs. 1,28,915/-
2. 1. INTRODUCTION
Bioprospecting can be defined as the systematic search for and
development of new sources of chemical compounds, genes, micro-organisms, macro-
organisms, and other valuable products from nature. It entails the search for economically
valuable genetic and biochemical resources from nature (WHO) whereas Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants(MAPs) are botanical raw materials, also known as herbal drugs, that
are primarily used for therapeutic, aromatic or culinary purposes as components of
cosmetics, medicinal products, health foods and other natural health products(ITC). Thus
in short bioprospecting of high valued MAPs refers to purposeful evaluation and
discovery of MAPs and their commercialization.
Medicinal plants are second most valuable bio-resources of Nepal after
water resources. The total number of medicinal and aromatic plants reported in Nepal
varies according to various authors. Most recently, Ghimire (2008) reported 1950 species
of medicinal plants in Nepal. Mostly, these species are harbored in various geo-climatic
region of Nepal. ‘The MAPs species richness increases with increasing the elevation up
to certain altitude range(generally 1000 masl in Nepal) and then decreases with further
increasing the altitude’(Bhattarai, khem R. , Ghimire, M., 2006).
In Nepal, most of such valuable plants(MAPs) grow in wild conditions as
natural components of vegetation of particular region. The necessary plant material
(roots, leaves, bark, etc) are collected and are either directly consumed by them or to
some extent sold by the local people to the traders, industries and exporters purchase
them from traders. Since there is no scientific system of collecting and regenerating these
plants, several such high value plants have either been completely lost or have become
endangered. Among such scenario, Arghakhanchi district is also a victim. So in this case,
handling of medicinal and aromatic biodiversity should involve an integrated approach
comprising of well documentation, their sustainable utilization and conservation. Thus,
this project of bioprospecting is supposed to overcome the above mentioned problems of
Maidan, Arghakhanchi.
2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
According to recent estimates by WHO, it is estimated that more than 3.5 billion
people of the world rely chiefly on traditional, largely herbal, medicine to meet their
primary health care needs(FAO).
But due to lack of exploration, documentation and commercialization of such
plants in Arghakhanchi district, most people are unaware about their allopathic as well as
economic importance. Till now, people are not interested in using such plant materials
because they can’t distinguish useful medicinal plants from toxic one. All these problems
has led me to carry on this project so that I can uproot the problem to some extent.
3. 3. RATIONALE OF STUDY
If this proposal is accepted and the project is carried on, I can assure you
following benefits:
Exploration and documentation of more number of MAPs
People can get medicine in cheaper form or even related medicinal plants can be
grown in home
Farmers can earn extra income by knowing the value of MAPs.
New drugs could be manufactured.
In short the main benefit after the completion of project can be clearly stated from a
proverb, “Tradition of yesterday and drug of future.”
4. OBJECTIVES
Broad objectives:
The main objective of this project is to explore, document and provide medicinal and
economic value to MAPs(bioprospecting) of Maidan, Arghakhanchi.
Specific objectives:
To accomplish above objectives following sub objectives are to be fulfilled:
Identification of MAPs in Maidan, Arghakhanchi.
Chemical screening i.e. finding chemical constituents of MAPs.
Isolation of active ingredients.
Marketing or commercialization of MAPs.
5. LITERATURE REVIEW
Among total floral wealth of Nepal, about 10 % of species are reported with
medicinal and aromatic properties. Various parts of these annuals, biennials and
perennial plants have been used as medicines, perfumes, and food(Bhattarai, khem
R. , Ghimire, M., 2006).
The compilation of Medicinal and Aromatic plant database of Nepal was published
in 2000 (Shrestha et al. 2000), which listed 1624 species of medicinal plants. Most
recently, Ghimire (2008) reported 1950 species of medicinal plants in
Nepal(Rawal, Deepa S., Sijapti,J., Rana, N.,Rana, P., Giri A., Shrestha, S., 2009).
Nepal is considered as one of the important countries for medicinal and aromatic
plants. In Nepal, 118 types of ecosystem are present along with 13 different types
of microclimate. 10091 species of flowering and non flowering species of plants
has been documented. Out of which 700 are of medicinal values where 238 types
are medically tested to find chemical content (medicinal and NTFP coordination
committee, 2005).
6. METHODOLOGY
A. Desk study: I have studied different reports, discussed with many personnel’s and
visited internet sites.
B. Site selection:
4. a. Place: The richnesss of biodiversity of MAPs reaches maximum at an altitude of
1000m(Bhattarai, khem R. , Ghimire, M., 2006). Thus considering richness in
biodiversity and accessibility, I have selected Maidan V.D.C. of Arghakhanchi
district, Nepal as a site for running this project.
b. Morphometry of site: Maidan, Arghakhanchi is situated at :
348.61 km south-west from Kathmandu.
48.94 km south-east from sandhikharka, Arghakhanchi.
27.8587˚ N, 83.2345˚ E and at an altitude of 1040 masl.
C. Data collection:
a. Type of data:
Primary data: It includes those data’s that are collected through field visit
and interview with local leaders or ‘mukhiyaas’ using the semi-structured
questionnaire.
Secondary data: It includes all those data’s collected from research paper,
journals and publications.
b. Methods of data collection: For obtaining necessary resources, following two
methods were adopted:
Primary data are collected as per the specific objectives. Few of them are through:
visit
baseline study
key informants interview i.e interview with local leaders, research scientist,
jhakris, baidhyas
Focal Group Discussion(FGD)
Phyto-chemical screening and isolation.
Series of seminars, campaign and pilot projects
Secondary data are collected through different internet sites, reports, journals, few
other related proposals and other publications too.
D. Data entry/analysis: Data will be entered in excel and will be analyzed through
SPSS.
7. EXPECTED OUTPUT
By the completion of this project, following output are expected to be achieved:
MAPs explored and documented.
Research paper published.
MAPs commercialized.
Local people awared of usefulness of MAPs.
5. 8. BENEFICIARIES
By this project, many people, agencies as well as whole nation will be benefited. The
level of beneficiaries can be grouped as:
a) Primary beneficiaries: It include local people including me.
b) Secondary beneficiaries: It includes local agencies, researchers and
research institutes.
c) Tertiary beneficiaries: Ultimately whole district and nation will be
benefited because of great chances of increasing employment opportunity
as well as exporting of MAPs.
9. LIMITATIONS
While running the project, following limitations may be faced:
i. Time bound
ii. Lack of representation
iii. Lack of cooperativeness from local leaders and officers.
10.WORK PLAN
Activities(C)
&Months(R)
April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
Desk Study and
proposal
writing
*
Site Selection *
Key personnel
interviewed
*
Sample
Collection
* *
Lab test * *
Data entry and
analysis
* *
Report
preparation
* *
Outreach * * *
Where C and R denotes among Column and Rows respectively
6. 11.FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Throughout the project, the financial requirement that may be needed for completion of project
can be summarized as:
Particulars Quantity(Q) Rate(Rs./Q) Total(Rs.)
Xerox 200 3 600
Stationary material( Pen,
Note book, Pencil)
- - 1,000
Labour charge
Men: 5
Days: 3
1000/men/day 15,000
Travel Allowance - 10,000 10,000
Lodging and Fooding - 500/men/day 7,500
Lab Test 18 Rs. 3000 per test 54,000
Report Preparation - - 4,000
Miscellaneous - - 20,000
Total - - 1,12,100
Overhead (10%) - - 11,210
Contingency (5%) - - 5,605
Grand Total - - 1,28,915
Thus, One lakh twenty-eight thousand nine hundred and fifteen rupees (Rs.1,28,915/-) is
supposed to be required for completing this project.
12.RISK AND ASSUMPTION
While carrying out a project, various uncertain events are likely to be observed. Such
uncertainty results in some risks of project. Some of them are:
i. Deficit budget
ii. Time bound
iii. Topographical restriction may result in transport problem.
iv. Interference by the local political leaders.
v. Lack of cooperativeness from local leaders and baidhyas.
While running this project, following assumptions can be made:
i. Cooperation from local people
ii. Adequate budget.
iii. No interference by local political leaders.
7. REFRENCES
Shrestha, Krishna K., Tiwari, Narendra N., Subedi, Suresh K., (2000)
MAPDON-Medicinal and aromatic plant database of Nepal [2017/04/05, 9;00
A.M.]
Rai, M.B.2003.Medicinalplants of tehrathum.
https://www.scribd.com/document/155599518/medicinal-plants-of-
nepal[2017/04/05, 8:30 P.M.]
Sharma, Uday R., 2007, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: A Growing
Commercial Sector of Nepal[2017/04/06, 7:00 P.M.]
Bhattarai, khem R. , Ghimire, M., (2006), www.nepjol.info/index.php/INI
Rawal, Rana B., Commercializaion of aromatic and medicinal plants in Nepal
(http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5336e/x5336e0j.htm ) [2017/04/04]
Bhattarai, khem R. , Ghimire, M., (2006),
http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/BANKO/article/view/357
Richard, F.(2008).www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pil[2017/04/06. 8:00
P.M.]
White, W,(2007).www.intracen.org/itc/sectors/medicinal-plants