The valley of Kashmir is very rich in high-value and high-altitude aromatic and medicinal plants. More than 50 % of plant species described in British pharmacopeia are reported to grow in Kashmir Valley. Near 570 plant species are reported to be of medicinal importance. Kashmir valley has a great potential for establishing the pharmaceutical and essential oil industry based on these high-value plant species. Prominent among the aroma-bearing plants are Lavender, Rose, Clarysage, Peppermint, Rosemary, Artemisia annua, Tagetes minuta, and Geranium oils. The essential oils derived from these plants form the backbone of the perfumery, cosmetic industry. These oils rank among the top ten essential oils used in aromatherapy throughout the world.
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil (Lavendula Angustifolia syn. Lavendula Officinalis), growing in the highlands of Kashmir, is steam distilled from flowering tops. Cherished and keenly sought for perfumery, skincare, and hair care. Promotes calmness, reduces inflammation/fights infection, and promotes skin healing. Lavender oil helps in wound healing, reduces pain, and supports healthy tissue growth. In the relieve of headaches especially migraine, fainting, and dizziness. Lavender oil is second to none. A balancing oil that stimulates, energizes, and much more. Other value-added products of lavender are lavender water, lavender concrete, and absolute. Recently Lavender Park has been established in Pahalgam by Regional Research Laboratory- Srinagar.
Single Plant of Lavender Rose (Rosa damascena).
The Rose is not a symbol of beauty, love, and purity but is one of the oldest and most valuable sources of rose oil, rose concrete, rose absolute, and rose water. They are highly expensive materials for perfumery, flavor, and cosmetic industries due to their characteristics rose odor with a distinctive floral tonality
The Rose (Damask Rose) is not only a symbol of beauty, love, and purity but one of the best materials for the production of high-quality rose oil rose concrete, rose attar and rose water. Low content of oil in rose petals and highly fragrant intensive rose oil commands a very high price. It has anti-depressant, antiseptic, antiviral, laxative, and tonic properties. A wonderful skin toner especially for dry, sensitive, or aging skin. It has a calming effect on grief, resentment anger, and depression.
Clarysage Oil
Clarysage oil obtained by steam distillation of fresh flowering tops. A short growing season, lower in essential oil yield but the quality is splendid. A sweet herbaceous, tenacious oil with ambergris undertones. Building block for many fragrance compositions. High in esters are quite useful for calming and balancing the nervous system. It is an anti-depressant, soothing. A powerful muscle relaxant, antiseptic, anti-bacterial, aids in the regeneration of skin cells wrinkles, and an aphrodisiac.
Rosemary (Rosemarinus Officinalis Linn) is an evergreen woody herb with a characteristic herbaceous, woody, and balsamic aroma. The plant has several medicinal properties like carminative, stomachic, spasmodic, and well-known antioxidant properties. Leaves have a special use for culinary purposes. Rosemary oil has an inspiring and regenerating effect on hair and stimulates the brain. Excellent antiseptic and antimicrobial action. Quite useful in rheumatism and brain.
Artemisia Annua Oil
Artemisia annua oil commonly known as wormwood is obtained from the steam distillation of aerial parts of the plant. A sweet, fragrant oil with a wormwood aroma. Essential oil is reported to have antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Artemisinin isolated from the plant is used for drug-resistant malaria.
Quality profile: – Product analyzed by gas Chromatography and GC-Mass as per international standards. Main constituents are Artemisia ketone (46.07 to 52.9%), 1-8 cineole (8.4 to 10.98), α-pinene (5.2 to 7.5%), camphene (1 to 2%), camphor (6.0 to 8%), Pinocarvone (1 to3%), Artemisia alcohol (3 to 4%), cis-p-menth-2 enol ( 1 to 2%), α-Copaene (0.5 to 1.2%), Carophyllene (0.8 to 2%), β-selinene (0.2 to 1.0%),carophyllene oxide (0.4 to 4.3%).
Geranium oil has a delightful fragrance resembling that of rose. Indispensable in perfumery, cosmetics, and aromatherapy. A balancing oil for the mind and body. effective for menopausal problems, nerve tonic, and relaxing. One of the best skincare oils, useful for congested oily and dry skin. It has antiseptic, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties.
Marigold (Tagetus minuta)
It is native to South America and has spread throughout the world. South Africa, Nigeria, India, Kenya, Brazil, France, Argentina are the main Tagetus oil-producing countries. In India, it grows in the Western Himalayas between altitudes of 1000-2500m. In India Himachal Pradesh, J&K State and Hilly areas of the U.P are the main growing areas. The oil is a valuable commercial product largely used in blending high-grade perfumes. The herb is also used as stomachic, carminative, diuretic, and diaphoretic. Major Constituents reported from the steam distilled oil cultivated in IIIM farms at Pulwama are (Z) β ocimene(38.72 %), dihydo tagetone (9.07 %) (Z) tagetone (7 %), (Z) ocimenone (7 %) and (E ) ocimenone (13%) and minor acyclic monoterpenes like 3 ,7- dimethyloct-1-en-6-one and 3,7-dimethyl-5-hydroxyoct-1-en-6-one and 3,7-dimethyl oct-1, 7-dien-6-one. Concentrations of these constitutes vary with the maturity of the plant. The oil gets easily polymerized within 4 to 5 months of its distillation due to these acyclic ketones and should be stored in amber-colored bottles. They should be filled up to the brim and protected from the heat and light. The oil is used in the treatment of foot diseases. The oil also exhibits bronchodilatory, tranquilizing. Hypertensive, spasmolytic, and anti-inflammatory activities.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Mints have played an important part in human society for a long period. There are 30 species of mint and all species of the Genus Mentha are aromatic. The total world production of peppermint oil is 4000 tons and India’s share is 300 tons only. Peppermint oil is largely used as a flavoring agent for confectionery and liquors as well as for both pastes and mouthwashes. It is also used in easing intestinal irritation. The oil has pleasant cooling properties and muscle relaxing properties. Peppermint extracts have shown to have antiviral activity. The oil is traditionally used in connection with arthritis, asthma, bad breath, bronchitis, fatigue, fevers, headaches, nausea, and travel sickness. Major constituents reported from Kashmir oil are α-pinene (1.4%), β-pinene (1.8%), limonene (2.5%), 1,8-cineole (7.5%), menthone (18.0%), menthol (40.0%) and menthyl acetate (3,.6%).
Melissa officinalis
It is a medicinal plant with a long history in traditional medicine. It has well-known antioxidant properties due to the presence of rosmarinic acid and other polyphenols. It also contains an essential oil but extremely low yields. Major constituents of oil are geranial,β-carophyllene, copaene, citronellal and germacrene-D.
Echinacea angustifolia
(Family- Asteraceae) commonly known as the purple coneflower has along with tradition in the adjuvant therapy of infections and chronic inflammations. It is said to stimulate unspecific ally the immune system. It is also used to combat cough, cold, flu, and sore throat. Active constituents are polysaccharides, flavonoids, caffeic acid derivations, polyacetylenes, and alkamides. It is among the best-selling medicinal herbs in the world and has an excellent cost-benefit ratio.
Inula racemosa
Inula racemosa is commonly known as poshkar mool. Its roots find use in ISM for cardiac, asthma, cough, pulmonary infections, and skin diseases and as an adulterant for saussurea costus roots. Roots contain sesquiterpenes, alantolactone iosalantolactone alantolides, β–sitosterol, daucosterol. Isoalantolactene, the major lactone reported having antifungal properties against human pathogenic fungi.
Dioscorea deltoidea
Dioscorea deltoidea is the richest and purest source of diosgenin. It forms the backbone of the steroidal industry. Diosgenin is used as an intermediate in the synthesis of life-Saving drugs, corticosteroids, sex hormones and oral contraceptives. The present requirement of diosgenin in the world is nearly 3000 tones while India requires 150 tones annually. The total production of diosgenin in India is only 30 tonnes and the rest is being met by imports.
Pyrethrum (chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium)
Pyrethrum is one of the safest insecticides known. It has a very low mammalian toxicity and is rapidly metabolized. It possesses instantaneous “knockdown effect”. The active constituents’ namely total pyrethrins are extracted from pyrethrum flowers for the production of pyrethrum extract. About 70% of world production finds its way into fly sprays and insecticidal aerosols, anti-mosquito creams, 20% is used in mosquito repellent coils, and the balance in other formulations.
Podophyllum hexandrum
Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, commonly known as Mayapple belonging to the family Berberidaceae is an endangered medicinal plant, which grows in the northern Himalayan region at an altitude of 3500-4000 meters. The stem grows 30–40 cm tall, with palmately lobed umbrella-like leaves up to 20-40 cm diameter. Podophyllotoxin drew from the rhizome of Podophyllum hexandrum and has been used in dermatological infections like condylomata acuminate. Podophyllotoxin and its chemical derivatives, teniposide, and etoposide are widely used as potential chemotherapeutic agents for a variety of tumors including small cell carcinoma, testicular cancer, and malignant lymphoma.
Belladonna
Belladonna leaf and root and their various preparations are used in the pharmaceutical industry. According to an estimate, about 100 tons of dry belladonna leaves are required by the country. Earlier requirements of the industry were met by natural resources which have dwindled substantially. It is also the raw material for the production of tropane alkaloids like atropine and hyoscyamine for the pharmaceutical industry besides its use in ISM.
Reference Dr. Sami Shawl