ECO 302: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs)
Credit Hours: 2 (1+1)
Full Marks: 50 (Theory: 25, Practical: 25)
Course Objectives
Upon completion, students will be able to:
- Understand the importance and traditional uses of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs).
- Learn the research status and prospects of MAPs in Nepal.
- Understand extraction, storage, and chemical evaluation of MAPs.
- Analyze the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and overexploitation on MAPs.
- Explore phytomedicine and the use of MAPs in different traditional health systems.
I. Syllabus Overview
- Introduction, history, and classification of MAPs.
- Importance, prospects, and constraints in cultivation and use of MAPs.
- Extraction and storage methods.
- Impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.
- Phytomedicine and traditional healthcare uses: Ayurveda, Siddha, Yoga, Unani, Homeopathy, Chinese medicine, and folk remedies.
- Description, origin, distribution, and chemical evaluation of important MAPs: Aloe, Datura, Rauvolfia, Neem, Ginger grass, Mint, Rose, Tulsi.
II. Course Outline
A. Lectures (15)
| S.N. | Topic | No. of Lectures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction, history, classification of MAPs | 1 |
| 2 | Importance, prospects and constraints | 1 |
| 3 | Classification of MAPs | 1 |
| 4 | Extraction and storage methods | 1 |
| 5 | Environmental degradation and climate change in Nepal | 1 |
| 6 | Effect of climate change and environmental degradation on MAPs | 1 |
| 7 | Ways to reduce effects of climate change and overexploitation | 1 |
| 8 | Phytomedicines and uses of medicinal crops in Ayurveda | 1 |
| 9 | Uses in Siddha, Yoga, Unani, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Chinese medicine | 1 |
| 10 | Uses in folk remedies and other traditional health systems | 2 |
| 11 | Description, origin, distribution, chemical evaluation of medicinal & aromatic plants | 4 |
| Total | 15 |
B. Practical (15)
| S.N. | Topic | No. of Practicals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preparation of questionnaire for traditional uses of MAPs | 1 |
| 2 | Pre-testing of questionnaire | 1 |
| 3-6 | Documentation of local uses of MAPs by Tharu, Darai, Bote, Chepang communities | 4 |
| 7 | Identification of high-value herbs and their products | 1 |
| 8 | Identification of aromatic plants and products | 1 |
| 9 | Nursery bed preparation | 1 |
| 10 | Planting of medicinal plants | 1 |
| 11 | Planting of aromatic plants | 1 |
| 12-13 | Field observation of herbal farms (medicinal and aromatic plants) | 2 |
| 14-15 | Field observation of processing plants (medicinal and aromatic plants) | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
References
- Atal, C. K., & Kapur, B. M. (Eds.). 1982. Cultivation and Utilization of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Regional Research Laboratory, CSIR, Jammu-Tawi, India.
- Bhattacharjee, S. K. (2000). Hand Book of Aromatic Plants. Pointer Publisher, Jaipur, India.
- Hussain, A. (1992). Status Report on Cultivation of Medicinal Plants in NAM Countries. Center of Science and Technology of the Non-aligned and Other Developing Countries, New Delhi.
- IUCN Nepal. (2000). National Register of Medicinal Plants. IUCN-Nepal, Kathmandu.
- Kaufman, P. B., Cseke, L. J., Warber, S., Duke, J. A., & Brielmann, H. L. (1999). Natural Products from Plants. CRC Press, USA.
