CSIR DG releases book on medicinal plants

New Delhi, Oct 13 (UNI) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Director General Dr R A Mashelkar, released a book titled " Medicinal Plant" at a simple function held here last evening.

The book is written by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Dr Pradeep Kumar.

Presiding over the function, Minister of State for Mines, Dr T Subbarami Reddy said that the book deals with conservation and sustainable utilisation of medicinal plants in the emerging global scenario.

Dr Reddy in his presidential address, said that medicinal plants have an unique significance for India and remained a part of our cultural ethos from time immemorial. They meet the health needs of large sections of population, provide raw materials to various Indian systems of medicine and are an important source of livelihood to communities living near forests.

''Ancient treatises like the Vedas deal with medicinal plants and their uses to cure diseases, he said, comparsing the hidden treasure under the surface of earth in mines with the medicinal plants wealth and highlighted its potential and importance.

The book indicates that various medicinal plants are facing different degrees of threat to their existence, and dwells on various problem areas which inhibit the growth of this sector and makes recommendations for the holistic development of this sector. Earlier, releasing the book, Dr Mashelkar said India, with its rich resource base and traditional knowledge on use of medicinal plants, has the potential to emerge as a world leader.

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