Introduction:
Latin name: Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo, Orchis latifolia var. indica
Family: Orchidaceae
Synonyms:
English Name: Orchis, Himalayan Marsh Orchid, marsh orchid, salep, Spotted Heart Orchid
Nepali Name: Paanch aule (resembling to five finger)
Kumaon: Hatajari
Kashmiri: Salem Panja
Ladakhi: Ambolakpa
Urdu: Salap
Chinese name: Zhang Lie Lan
The name Dactylorhiza, genus of dactylorhiza is derived from Greek words “daktylos” , which means finger and “rhiza” means root, referring to the palmately two- to five-lobed tubers of this genus. One of its common name in Nepali panch aule (resembling to five fingers) also resolves the fact of its genus name (Dactylorhiza).
Habitat:
It is found in the Himalayan ranges of Nepal, India, Pakistan and Tibet at altitude around 3000 to 4000 meters mainly in moist and damp regions.
Plant description:
It is a medium size, perennial herb with erect, leafy and hollow steam. Leaves are oblong-lance-shaped, with sheathing base. Pink purple flowers are borne in an upright spike. Flowers are purple and the bracts green, narrowly lance-shaped, lower longer than the flowers, upper slightly shorter. Flowers are about 1.8 cm long, including the curved spur. Sepals and petals are nearly equal. Flowering is on June-July. Root are tuberous and minimally flattened divided into 3 or 5 finger like lobes. The root is mainly harvester during August-September. But, due its high value it is harvested early resulting it as one of the endangered species of herb.
Parts used: Root
Dose: 3-5 gram with milk or honey.
Medicinal use of Dactylorhiza hatagirea:
D. hatagirea has been used in various disorders since ancient time in ayurveda, unani and traditional chinese medicine for its various medicinal property. Its young leaves are taken as vegetable whereas Root is used as sweet, cooling, emollient, astringent, aphrodisiac, demulcent, rejuvenating and nervine tonic and also as a nutritional supplement. They are useful in diabetes, hemiplegia, dysentery, phthisis, chronic diarrhea, seminal weakness, neurasthenia, cerebropathy, emaciation and general debility. A decoction of tuber is given in colic pain. Powder is used to relieve fever; it is sprinkled over wounds to check bleeding and quicken healing. Root is also used in urinary troubles; also used as farinaceous food. According to ayurveda texts, root is mainly used as general tonic for rejuvenation and to increase immunity power (immunomodulator) and also as a vajikaran drug(aphrodisiac) to increase the sexual performance as well as to increase vigor and vitality. The usage of this herb by practitioners of traditional medicine is frequent, although very little scientific evidence is available for its purported aphrodisiac properties. Very few research have been carried to illicit the medicinal property of D. hatagirea.
Some of the research are illustrated below:-
Research on D. hatagirea both root part and aerial part showed antibacterial property. D. hatagirea showed antibacterial property against S.aureus and E.coli. For E.coli, aerial part showed more antibacterial effect as compared to root. Hence, this plant can be a potential source for evolving newer antimicrobial compounds for treating dysentery caused by E. coli.
In another study, the root of D. hatagirea showed aphrodisiac property. The use of extract of root showed increase in the level of testosterone level in the body and significant increase in the sexual desire as well.
Current status:
D. hatagirea has been categorized as critically endangered (CAMP status), critically rare (IUCN status) and is listed under appendix II of CITES.
Due to its important medicinal value, the demand for this drug is very high in the international market whereas the production is very low. It is estimated that the annual demand of the root of D.hatagirea and its species is very high about 5000 tons. The economic potential of the species can be assessed on the basis of its high market value in different localities. This leads to over-exploitation of the species from wild, particularly those not cultivated at commercial scale. D. hatagirea has been categorized as critically endangered (CAMP status), critically rare (IUCN status) and is listed under Appendix II of CITES. Besides these, being an orchid, D. hatagirea can be considered as an inherently slow growing and poorly regenerating species because of pollinator specificity and requirement for mycorrhizal association. Thus it becomes more important from conservation point of view.
