Herbarium Project on Medicinal Plants

of 20
HEM SHEELA MODEL SCHOOL
BIOLOGY
2021-2022
INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
NAME - SAYAN MANDAL
CLASS - XII
SEC -D
BOARD ROLL NO. - 12661562
Topic – plants - “Our natural healers”

of 20
HEM SHEELA MODEL SCHOOL
DURGAPUR
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF AISSCE- 2021
NAME - SAYAN MANDAL
CLASS - XII
SEC -D
BOARD ROLL NO. – 12661562
SESSION – 2021- 2022

of 20
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been
possible without the kind support and help of many individuals. I would
like to extend my sincere thanks to all of them.
I am highly indebted to our respected Principal Ma’am and our Biology Ma’am
Mrs. Anindita Home Choudhury for his guidance and constant supervision as well
as for providing
necessary information regarding the project and also for his support in
completing the project. I also express my deep gratitude to him for giving me the
golden opportunity to work on the Project Report of “Herbarium on medicinal
plants”.
The completion of this undertaking could have not been possible without the
assistance of Mrs. Paromita Roy madam (HOD Biology), Mrs. Mekhala Das madam
I extend my gratefulness and thank our lab assistant sir Mr. Amalesh Manna, who
always made our practical classes hassle free with his constant presence of mind
and helpful attitude.
I take this opportunity to thank my parents who helped me a lot in finalizing this
project with resources and lots of motivation.
Signature of student:
Signature of internal examiner:
Signature of external examiner:

of 20
CONTENTS
S.NO PAGE NO.
1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3
2. AIM 5
3. MATERIALS REQUIRED 5
4. INTRODUCTION 6
5. PROCEDURE 6
6. USES OF HERBARIUM SHEETS 7
7. SAMPLE OF HERBARIUM SHEET 8
8. BRIEF DESCRIPTION ABOUT THE MEDICINAL
PLANT SPECIMENS
a. ALOEVERA (Aloe barbadensis miller) 9
b. BASIL (Ocimum sanctum) 10
c. NEEM (Azadirachta indica) 11
d. INDIAN PENNY WORT (Centella asiatica) 12
e. PERIWINKLE (Catharanthusroseus) 13
f. MARIGOLD (Tagetes erectus) 14
g. WATER HYSSOP (Bacopa monnieri) 15
h. KULEKHARA (Hygrophila auriculata) 16
i. TURMERIC (Curcuma longa) 17
j. GREEN CHIRETTA (Andrographis paniculata) 18
9. CONCLUSION 19
10. BIBLIOGRAPHY 20

of 20
AIM
The aim of this project is to create herbarium sheets of various medicinal plants of
different species along with their taxonomical hierarchy, description and economic
importance. These plants play a huge role in our medicines and medical sciences
and have cured us from various diseases from ages.
Materials Required
 Samples of various medicinal leaves.
 Old newspapers.
 Herbarium sheet.
 Gum.

of 20
Introduction
A herbarium (plural: herbaria) is a collection of preserved plant specimens and
associated data used for scientific study. The term can also refer to the building or
room where the specimens are housed, or to the scientific institute that not only
stores but uses them for research. The specimens may be whole plants or plant
parts; these will usually be in dried form mounted on a sheet of paper but,
depending upon the material, may also be stored in boxes or kept in alcohol or
other preservative. The specimens in a herbarium are often used as reference
material in describing plant taxa. A xylarium is a herbarium specialising in
specimens of wood. The term hortorium (as in the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium)
has occasionally been applied to a herbarium specialising in preserving material of
horticultural origin. And in this project we will take a look on various plants in our
surroundings which are so useful that they help our body systems in various ways.
They are used in a lot of medicines and have a huge role in medical field. But
surprisingly in India we have been using plants as medicine in our daily life for
more than 5000 years, which we also know by the name of “Ayurveda”.
Ayurveda, or ayurvedic medicine, is a healthy-lifestyle system that people in India
have used for more than 5,000 years. Ayurveda emphasizes good health and
prevention and treatment of illness through lifestyle practices (such as massage,
meditation, yoga, and dietary changes) and the use of herbal remedies.
Ayurvedic medicine is holistic, which means viewing the body and mind as a
whole. Ayurveda not only treats a person's physical complaints, but it also changes
lifestyle practices to help maintain or improve health.
Procedure
To prepare a perfect herbarium sheet one needs to follow some specific processes
to complete this successfully.
 First, collection of the plant specimen.

of 20
 Second, drying of the plant specimen.
 Third, pressing of the dried plant specimen into the herbarium sheet.
 Fourth, mounting of the dried plant specimen into the herbarium sheet.
 Fifth, sticking of the dried specimen into the herbarium sheet.
 Sixth, labeling of the plant part along with it’s classification.
 Seventh, Ultimately the herbarium sheet is completed for deposition.
USES OF A HERBARIUM SHEET
Herbarium collections can have great significance and
value to science and have a large number of uses.
Herbaria are essential for the study of plant taxonomy,
the study of geographic distributions, and the stabilizing
of nomenclature. Specimens housed in herbaria may be
used to catalogue or identify the flora of an area. A large
collection from a single area is used in writing a field
guide or manual to aid in the identification of plants that
grow there. With more specimens available, the author
of the guide will better understand the variability of form
in the plants and the natural distribution over which the
plants grow. In some cases plants become extinct in one
area or may become extinct altogether. In such cases
specimens preserved in a herbarium can represent the
only record of the plants original distribution. Herbaria
have often proven very useful as sources of plant DNA for
use in taxonomy and molecular systematics

of 20
SAMPLE OF HERBARIUM SHEET

of 20
Aloevera
Collection Number: 01
Date of Collection: 09/08/2021
Common Name: Aloe vera
Scientific Name: Aloe barbadensis miller.
Family: Aloaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Nature: Monocotyledonous
Flower colour: Yellow, Orange or Red
Locality: New Egara, Raniganj
Collector: Sayan Mandal
Identified By: Sayan Mandal
Remarks: Succulent and evergreen perennial
Medicinal Properties: Aloe vera, can help inhibit the growth of certain bacteria
that can cause infections in humans. A review of 4 experimental studies found that
Aloe vera could reduce the healing time of burns by around 9 days compared to
conventional medication. The evidence for Aloe vera helping to heal other types of
wounds is inconclusive. Aloe vera acts as a mouthwash by killing the plaque-
producing bacterium Streptococcus mutans in the mouth, as well as the yeast
Candida albicans. Studies have convincingly shown that Aloe vera treatment can
accelerate the healing of mouth ulcers. Aloe vera has often be used to treat
constipation.

of 20
Basil
Common Name: Tulsi, Holy Basil
Scientific Name: Ocimum sanctum
Family: Lamiaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Nature: Dicotyledonous
Flower colour: Purple or Reddish
Remarks: Divine plant according to Hindu Mythology
Medicinal Properties: Tulsi has anti inflammatory properties as it reduces vata.
Tulsi helps in many skin disorders. It is effective in skin rashes, insect bites and
itching. Leaves of this plant are effectively used in ring worm infections and
lucoderma.Tulsi leaves act as nervine tonic and help to sharpen memory. Tulsi is
beneficial in indigestion, intestinal parasites and constipation. Crushed leaves of
tulsi are very effective in fever, cough, bronchitis and other diseases of lungs. It
helps in expectoration of excess mucous secretion. Tulsi acts as a cardiac tonic and
purifies blood

of 20
Neem
Common Name: Neem
Scientific Name: Azadirachta
indica
Family: Meliaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Flower colour: White
Remarks: Also known a “cure for all ailments” - Sarva Roga Nirvani(Sanskrit)
Medicinal Properties: Neem elaborates a vast array of biologically active
compounds that are chemically diverse and structurally complex. More than 140
compounds have been isolated from different parts of neem. All parts of the neem
tree- leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots and bark have been used traditionally for
the treatment of inflammation, infections, fever, skin diseases and dental
disorders. The medicinal utilities have been described especially for neem leaf.
Neem leaf and its constituents have been demonstrated to exhibit
immunomodulatory, antiinflammatory, antihyperglycaemic, antiulcer, antimalarial,
antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic
properties

of 20
Indian pennywort
Common Name: Indian Pennywort, Thankuni
Scientific Name: Centella asiatica
Family: Apiaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Flower colour: Pinkish-red
Medicinal Properties: It helps in enhancing memory and clarity. Centella asiatica
allows blood flow smoothly in the body, increases the count of white blood cell
and purifies the blood. Because of it tranquilizing nature, it is used for the
treatment of hysteria, agitation, insomnia and epilepsy. It is also used against
elephantiasis. It is also useful for urinary tract disorder. Centella asiatica cures skin
infection and diseases, swelling, and chronic ulcers. Centella asiatica cures cold,
cough, asthma and hoarseness of voice. It is used to reduce high blood pressure. It
also cures arthritis and joint pain. It cures burn, removes the scar of injury or
chicken pox. Gotu kola is helpful in the treatment of liver and kidney. The plant is
useful for the treatment of gastrointestinal problems. It is also used for the
treatment of Jaundice. The plant can be used for any kind of bleeding disorder.

of 20
Periwinkle
Common Name: Periwinkle, Nayan-tara
Scientific Name: Chatharanthus roseus
Family: Apocynaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Flower colour: White to Dark Pink
Locality: A-Zone, Durgapur
Remarks: Also Used as ornamental house or garden plant
Medicinal Properties: It decreases blood pressure and reduces excitement. It is
also proved anti-diabetic. Catharanthus roseus is used as an anticancer agent. It is
most effective for the treatment of lung cancer. It is used for the treatment of
Leukemia. It has antibacterial and antiviral property. It is also anti-inflammatory in
nature. The medicine prepared from the alkaloid of this Catharanthus roseus plant
is used for the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in children. The flower petals
and seeds have antioxidant property. It cures various skin diseases such as acne,
eczema and dermatitis. It is also useful for the treatment of nose bleeding, gum
bleeding as well as treatment of bleeding hemorrhoids. Catharanthus roseus is
also useful for the treatment of Asthma. It also stops bleeding from the wound
directly.

of 20
Marigold
Common Name: Marigold, Gyanda
Scientific Name: Tagetes erectus
Family: Asteraceae
Habitat: Terrestrial
Flower colour: Yellow to Orange
Medicinal Properties: The whole herb is anthelmintic, aromatic, digestive, diuretic,
emmenagogue, sedative and stomachic. It is used internally in the treatment of
indigestion, colic, severe constipation, coughs and dysentery. Externally, it is used
to treat sores, ulcers, eczema. Sore eyes and rheumatism. The leaves are
harvested as required for immediate use during the growing season, whilst the
flowering plant can be dried and stored for later use. A paste of the leaves is
applied externally to treat boils, carbuncles and earaches. The flowers are
carminative, diuretic and vermifuge. A decoction is used to treat colds, and
mumps. It is applied externally to treat skin diseases, conjunctivitis and sore eyes.
The root is laxative.

of 20
Water Hyssop
Common Name: Water Hyssop, Brahmi Saag
Scientific Name: Bacopa monnieri
Family: Plantaginaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Flower colour: White
Medicinal Properties: Bacopa monnieri contains powerful compounds that may
have antioxidant effects. Bacosides, the main active compounds in Bacopa
monnieri, have been shown to neutralize free radicals and prevent fat molecules
from reacting with free radicals. What’s more, in animal studies, Bacopa monnieri
had anti-inflammatory effects comparable to those of diclofenac and
indomethacin — two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs commonly used to
treat inflammation Research suggests that Bacopa monnieri may help enhance
brain function. One study in mice showed that supplementing with Bacopa
monnieri improved their spatial learning and ability to retain information.
Interestingly, research has shown that Bacopa monnieri may help reduce ADHD
symptoms. Research suggests that Bacopa monnieri helps reduce stress and
anxiety by elevating your mood and reducing levels of cortisol.

of 20
kulekhara
Common Name: gokanta, Kule Khara
Scientific Name: Hygrophila auriculata
Family: Acanthaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Flower colour: Violet
Medicinal Properties: There are lot of medicinal uses that hygrophila can be used
for that include the treatment of diseases, mainly of the blood, and enhancing
sexual performance among other conditions. The plant has been used for a long
time for controlling, preventing, treating, and improving a whole host of diseases.
Extensive research on the medicinal uses of the plant has revealed that it can also
improve the patient’s condition, by reducing testosterone production. It also
disrupts the regular working mechanisms of hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis.
Due to the fact that hygrophila has been used primarily in Ayurvedic medicine, the
medicinal uses generally include information relating to Ayurvedic treatments.

of 20
Turmeric
Common Name: Turmeric, Haldi
Scientific Name: Curcuma longa
Family: Zingiberaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Flower colour: Yellow - White
Medicinal Properties: Turmeric is considered as a digestive bitter and a carminative. Itcan
be added into foods including rice and bean dishes to improvedigestion, reduce gas and
bloating. Itis a cholagogue, stimulating bile production in the liver and encouraging excretion
of bile via the gallbladder. This improves the body's ability to digest fats. For chronic digestive
weakness and/or congestion turmeric is recommended. Itcan be taken as a single extract or in
the formof digestive bitters, which combine turmeric with other bitter and carminativeherbs.
Turmeric is beneficial for people who feel tired after consuming meals or who experience gas
and bloating. Whatever way turmeric is consumed it is beneficial to both the digestive system
and the liver. Turmeric shares similar liver protectant compounds that milk thistle and
artichoke leaves contain. Itis said to shrink engorged hepatic ducts, so it can be usefulto treat
liver conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and jaundice. Recent scientific research confirm
that turmeric can cure hostof diseases, also they found that turmeric restrains the growth of
various types of cancer. Turmeric is used for the treatment of skin cancer or pre-cancerous
skin conditions. Both topical and internal uses are beneficial.

of 20
Green Chiretta
Common Name: Green Chiretta, Kalmegh
Scientific Name: Andrographis paniculata
Family: Akanthaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Flower colour: White to purple
Locality: City Centre, Durgapur
Remarks: Also known as “cure for all ailments” - Sarva Roga Nirvani (Sanskrit)
Medicinal Properties: The aerial parts, roots and whole plant of A. paniculata have
been used for centuries in Asia as traditional medicine for the treatment of various
ailments. It has been used by traditional medical practitioners for stomachaches,
inflammation, pyrexia, and intermittent fevers. The whole plant has been used for
several applications such as anti-dote for snake-bite and poisonous stings of some
insects, and to treat dyspepsia, influenza, dysentery, malaria and respiratory
infections. The leaf extract is a traditional remedy for the treatment of infectious
disease, fever-causing diseases, colic pain, loss of appetite, irregular stools and
diarrhea. In Malaysia, a decoction of the aerial parts is used to treat common cold,
hypertension, diabetes, cancer, malaria and snakebite. It is an important
constituent of at least 26 Ayurvedic formulas in Indian pharmacopoeia.

of 20
CONCLUSION
From this project, I have concluded everything about
what a project originally means and what are the
purpose for doing a project. A herbarium is prepared to
show some specified plant specimens in future. But all
of us did not know what some other uses of herbarium
is. Besides that, after doing the project now I am able to
know about the classifications, descriptions and uses of
the plant specimens of which I have prepared my
herbarium sheet. I will be very much happy, if our
teacher would assign us such project in future also.

of 20
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Wikipedia.
 www.shutterstockimages.com
 Calcutta University, Botany department.
 www.alamy.com
 www.dreamtimes.com
 www.itslife.com
 Encyclopedia of life
 www.healthline.com
 www.medicinalnewstoday.com
 123rf.com

Herbarium Project on Medicinal Plants

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to Herbarium Project on Medicinal Plants

Similar to Herbarium Project on Medicinal Plants (20)

More from SayanMandal31

More from SayanMandal31 (7)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Herbarium Project on Medicinal Plants