Abstract

CARNIVOROUS MARVEL: AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE INDIAN PITCHER PLANT

Harshit Kumar and Komal Pathania*

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Abstract

Nepenthes khasiana is commonly referred as Indian pitcher plant. It is carnivorous species and only nepenthes species found in India. It is endemic in India and mainly found in Garo and khasi hills of Meghalaya. It found at an elevation between 500 to 1500 m above mean sea level. Due to numerous anthropogenic factors, population of Nepenthes khasiana is decreasing hence, it is categorized in Red Data Book by SSC-IUCN as Endangered species. Pitcher is present at the leaf of this plant due to leaf’s tip modification and it attract prey by various way. Traditional Utilization of this plant by local communities showcase its cultural and ethno-medicinal values. In Meghalaya, N. khasiana is the medicinal plant that are mostly collected. Various indigenous communities of Meghalaya tradionally utilize it to treat different ailments. Many phyto-chemicals are present in different quantity which have pharmacological effects and used to cure various diseases through their individual, additive, or synergistic effect. Phyto-chemicals compound present in fluid of unopened pitcher of Nepenthes khasiana are detect and identify by GC-MS technique. Crude extract and the pure bioactive compound of Nepenthes khasiana show different pharmacological activities such as antifungal, antioxidant, anti-diabetic and hepatoprotective. This review assess its profile, taxonomy, distribution, morphology, phytochemicals present in it and pharmacological activities.

Keywords: Nepenthes khasiana, Carnivourous plant, Pitcher plant, Nepenthes species, Phyto-chemicals, Ethno-medicinal.