Ankur Patwardhan
Other projects
27 Feb 2009
Conservation and Promotion of Endangered Medicinal Plant Species from Western Ghats of India
We plan to develop this case study into a methodology manual for several other such species
Nothapodytes foetida (Wight) Sleumer is a globally endangered tree species from the Western Ghats mountain chain in Western India.
It is threatened by the over harvest of the wood for the extract that yields the chemical camptothecin (CPT) which is used in the treatment of cancer and HIV-I. We plan:
(1) to explore the use of traditional techniques, developed by local ‘bare-foot botanists’ to cultivate the species
(2) to identify sustainable methods of harvest and optional parts.