Conservation and Biodiversity of Medicinal Plants Flashcards
What is Conservation?
Conservation is the preservation and protection of something. It could be natural resources in order to prevent destruction. exploitation or neglect e.g water conservation, wildlife conservation, medicinal plants
What is biodiversity?
Biological Diversity.
It is the variety of all living things, plants and animals and their interactions with each other.
What are the 3 levels of diversity?
- Species
- Genetic
- Ecosystem diversity
What is species diversity?
Species diversity is the number of different species in an area and their abundance. The area could be a habitat, a biome or biosphere e.g ocimum, gratissimum, africanum, basilicum
What is genetic diversity?
This refers to a range of inherited traits within a species.
What is ecosystem diversity?
This is the variety of habitats, communities found in a geographical location, beneficial services they provide and processes that benefit the ecosystem.
What are medicinal plants?
These are plants that contain substances for therapeutic use or are precursors for the synthesis of useful drugs.
What is biodiversity conservation?
These are actions that identify, protect and manage plants and animals in a particular area for future and sustainable use.
What are the 3 core objectives of biodiversity conservation?
- To identify and recognise diversity of species
- To preserve diversity of species
- Sustainable utilisation of species and the ecosystem.
What is involved in identifying diversity of species?
Foods and medicinal plants need to be:
1. Identified
2. Authenticated
3. Rated/Classified with their status i.e endangered. threatened, or extinct
What is an endangered species?
An animal or plant that is considered at risk for extinction. A species can be listed as endangered at the state, federal and international levels.
Give 5 examples of endangered species and their therapeutic uses
- Licorice: Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae) - Epilepsy, fever, sexual
debility, paralysis, stomach
ulcers, rheumatism, skin
diseases, hemorrhagic diseases, and jaundice. - Anatamool: Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merr. Asclepiadaceae.- Antamool is used in treating
bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. It has diaphoretic and expectorant properties. - Rauwolfia serpentina L. (Apocynaceae)- Inflammation, upperrespiratory tract
infection, diabetes,
hypertension, flu,
diarrhea, and liver
problems - Baobab: Adansonia digitata L. (Malvaceae) - Used for malaria, tuberculosis, fever, microbial infections, diarrhea, anemia, toothache, and dysentery
- Dennettia tripetala L.(Annonaceae) is used as remedy for cough, fever, toothache, diabetes, and nausea. The highly nutritious fruit is rich in protein, carbohydrates, as well as the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E
List 5 Nigerian plants and their various categories of endangerment
- Allium sativum L. Amaryllidaceae. Local name: Tafamuwa. Local assessment: NT, Global assessment: NE
- Mangifera indica L. Anacardiaceae. LN: Mangwaro. LA: NT, GA: DD
- Amaranthus spinosus L. Amaranthaceae, LN: Zarangade, LA: NT, GA: NE
- Carica papaya L. Caricaceae, LN: Gwanda, LA: LC , GA: DD
- Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand (Apocyanaceae), LN: Tumfafiya ,LA: NT, GA: NE
Key: NE - No entry, DD - Data deficient, NT - Near Threatened, LC - Least concern
What is in situ conservation?
A method of conserving all the living species, especially the wild and endangered ones in their natural habitats and environment. It includes wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, national parks.
What is ex-situ conservation?
This means the conservation of species outside their natural habitat. It ensures easy accessibility of germplasm for evaluation and utilisation e.g. Tissue culture laboratories, farms and gardens
