KOVIDAR: From Royal Heritage to Majestic Healer

A beautiful flower of Kovidar

(Photo courtesy: Jaydip D. Gadhiya, MS University of Baroda)

The plant most searched for, discussed, and in the headlines on news channels and social media platforms in November 2025 is Kovidar (कोविदार). Kovidar sprang into the limelight after its inscription on the Dharma Dhwaja (धर्म ध्वज) of the Shree Ram Temple at Ayodhya. It was prominently associated with the ancient kingdom of Ayodhya and the Ramayana, where it formed the royal insignia or emblem of the kingdom during the Treta Yuga, during the time of Lord Rama. It symbolized  royal power, righteousness, and Ayodhya's ancient natural heritage. Botanically, it belongs to the genus Bauhinia in the family Fabaceae (Legumonosae). The name ‘Kovidar’ has been used interchangeably or for both Bauhinia variegata and Bauhinia purpurea, in our reprinted Sanskrit and Ayurvedic literature. Most of the internet search results lead us to Bauhinia variegata based on the misapplication of the botanical name at later stages. I have personally gone through many English-translated books on Ayurvedic plants and mostly found Bauhinia variegata mentioned as Kovidar. However, ancient inscriptions, scriptures, sculptures and Mewar Ramayana paintings point out that the Kovidar of Ayodhya was Bauhinia purpurea. Indologist Lalit Mishra, who collaborated with the researchers from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and rediscovered the ancient flag of Ayodhya, concluded on the basis of new evidence that the royal Kovidar tree of Ayodhya was Bauhinia purpurea and not the closely related Bauhinia variegata. This misapplication of the scientific name might be due to the fact that our ancient literature was written thousands of years ago in Sanskrit before the start of Binomial Nomenclature by a Swedish biologist and physician, Carolus Linnaeus, in 1753. Later on, many Indian names of plants were supplemented with botanical names in the 19th and 20th centuries in these ancient texts, and some scientific names got misapplied during the process (other examples where botanical names have been misapplied are Phyllanthus niruri (Central and South American species), Taxus baccata (European plant), etc.).

NAMES IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

English: Purple orchid tree, Butterfly tree, Pink butterfly tree, Purple bauhinia, Purple butterfly tree, Camel's foot tree, Geranium tree, Hindi: Kanchan, Lal kachnar, Kairwal, Kevnar, Kaniar, Khairwal, Kaniyar Punjabi: Koiral H.P.: Karál (Hamirpur, Kangra), Karár (Chamba) Jammu: Kolár, Koliár, Padriár, Karál Sanskrit: Devakanchan, Raktakanchan,Raktakovidara, Vanaraja Assamese: Kurial, Kanchan, Og-yok Bengali: Koiral, Aaktakanchana Garo: Megong Gujrati: Lal Kanchnar Kannada: Kanchivaala, Kanchavala, Kanchaala, Kengaanchaala, Devakanchan, Kanjivala, Kempu mandaara, Sarul Malayalam: Chovanna-mandaru, Suvannamandaram Marathi: Devakanchan, Rakta kanchan Manipuri: Chingthao angangba Nepali: Taankee, Raato Koiraalo Oriya: Vaube, borodo Tamil: Mandarai, Nilattiruvatti, Mandara, Mandari, Telgu: Bodanta, Devakanjanamu, Kanchanam Siddha: Sivappumanchori Source: eFloraofIndia

DISTRIBUTION

Kovidar tree is endemic to Indian sub-continent.

A mature tree of Kovidar

(Photograph courtesy: My revered teacher Dr. Bhushan Bradoo Sir)

MORPHOLOGY

Kovidar is a small to medium-sized deciduous or semi-evergreen tree growing to a height of up to 15 meters. Stem is moderately branched with smooth and greyish to dark brownish bark. The leaves are suborbicular, bilobed, 7.5–15 cm long and have 9-11 primary veins. Pink, fragrant blossoms appear during the autumn and early winter. Flowers are arranged in few-flowered racemes or many-flowered panicles. Flower buds are fusiform, 4- or 5-ridged and are light green in colour. Calyx is 2-lobed; one with 2 teeth and another 3-toothed. Petals are mostly light pink in colour, oblanceolate in shape, 4-5 cm in length and clawed. Each flower has 3 fertile stamens and 5-6 staminodes. Ovary is stalked, velvety and the style is curved. Fruit is a linear, flat, 12-25 × 2-2.5 cm in size and woody legume. Seeds are compressed, suborbicular and 12-15 mm in diameter.

Fertile stamens

(Photograph courtesy: My revered teacher Dr. Bhushan Bradoo Sir)

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Kovidar contains a variety of phytochemical constituents, including flavonoids (flavones, flavonols, catechins, etc.), stilbenes, phenolic compounds (flavonoids), alkaloids, tannins, steroids, and fatty acids.

Fruits of Bauhinia purpurea

(Photograph courtesy: My revered teacher Dr. Bhushan Bradoo Sir)

MEDICINAL USES

1. Traditional Medicinal Uses

In traditional medicine in India and other adjoining countries, Kovidar is used to cure wounds, sores, ulcers, pain, infections, jaundice, diabetes, cough, leprosy, stomach tumours, glandular swelling and diarrhoea.

2. Anti-oxidant Activity

Due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds, flowers exhibit remarkable antioxidant activity compared to ascorbic acid.

3. Anti-inflammatory Activity

Inflammation in various human organs contributes to many chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, arthritis, and other autoimmune conditions. Kovidar bark exhibits excellent anti-inflammatory activity.

4. Hepatoprotective Activity

Kovidar is reported to reverse the PCM-induced hepatotoxic effect in lab animals by lowering the elevated levels of liver enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP. Leaf extracts also prevent peroxidative degradation of membrane lipids of endoplasmic reticulum in liver cells via antioxidant activity of its phytochemicals.

5. Anti-diabetic Properties

Many experimental studies with animal models have proved that Kovidar exhibits considerable anti-diabetic activity and significantly reduces blood glucose.

6. Antinociceptive and Antipyretic Properties

Leaf extract of Kovidar exhibits antinociceptive (pain relieving) and antipyretic properties in experimental animals.

7. Nephroprotective Activity

Leaves and unripe pods contain phytochemicals that protect the kidneys by lowering serum creatinine, serum uric acid and serum urea.

8. Anti- Ulcer Activity

Traditional healers use Kovidar plants for treating ulcers. Recent experimental studies on animal models have exhibited antiulcer activity, which could be due to the presence of saponins or sugar-free polyphenols.

9. Antimicrobial Activity

Leaf and bark extract of Kovidar has shown considerable anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacilus subtilis, and Candida albicans.

10. Anti-hyperlipidemic Activity

Unripe pods and dried leaves are reported to exhibit antihyperlipidemic activity in Albino rats.

11. Anti-Cancer Activity

Some scientific studies have shown concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects in cancer cell lines.

(Photo courtesy: Jaydip D. Gadhiya, MS University of Baroda)

Differences Between Common Species of Bauhinia

Character/Species	Bauhinia variegata	Bauhinia purpurea	Bauhinia x blakeana
Flowering in North India	February-April	October-December	November-December
Leaf size	10-15 cm	10-15 cm	15-20 cm
Leaf Cleft	1/3rd of leaf, shallow, V-shaped	1/2 of leaf, notch Y-shaped	1/3rd of leaf, notch V-shaped
Main veins	11-13	9-11	11
Inflorescence	Short raceme	Short raceme	Long raceme
Flower size	10-12 cm	10-12 cm	12-15 cm
Petal colour	Whitish or light mauve with purplish veins	Pink, whitish in the centre	Rose-purple with whitish veins
Petal morphology	Broad; overlapping	Narrow; non-overlapping	Broad; overlapping when young, non-overlapping at maturity
Fertile stamens	5	3	5
Fruit/Pod	15-25 x 1.5-2 cm	12-25 x  2-2.5 cm	Not developed (Sterile hybrid between B. variegata and B. purpurea)

Bauhinia x blakeana (a sterile hybrid between B. variegata and B. purpurea)

(Photo courtesy: Jaydip D. Gadhiya, MS University of Baroda)

CONCLUSION

Kovidar (Bauhinia purpurea), prominently featured in headlines during November 2025, is a plant historically linked to the ancient kingdom of Ayodhya and the Ramayana. The tree gained renewed attention after its depiction on the Dharma Dhwaja of the Shree Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The plant contains a range of phytochemicals, including flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, and fatty acids. Kovidar is highly valued in traditional medicine for its ability to treat wounds, ulcers, pain, infections, jaundice, diabetes, cough, leprosy, stomach tumours, glandular swelling, and diarrhoea. Scientific studies support its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, pain-relieving, nephroprotective, anti-ulcer, antimicrobial, antihyperlipidemic, and anticancer properties.

(TEXT IN RED COLOUR CONTAINS HYPERLINKS TO REFERENCES)

DANDELION: Healing Properties of a Nature’s Golden Star

 Few wildflowers are as instantly recognisable, as universally present, or as quietly enchanting as the humble dandelion. With its golden sunburst blooms and delicate, wind-borne seeds, the dandelion, botanically known as Taraxacum officinale (Sunflower family; Asteraceae), has woven itself into the tapestry of human experience for centuries. It is both weed and wonder, an emblem of resilience and tenacity. It is widely used as a culinary herb as well as a medicine.

Morphology

The dandelion is a perennial, persisting year after year thanks to a hardy taproot that delves deep into the soil, drawing up nutrients and water even in the most inhospitable conditions. From the root springs a rosette of jagged, lance-shaped leaves, which gave the plant its most common name “dent-de-lion” meaning lion’s tooth, owing to their toothy silhouette. Above these leaves rises a hollow, leafless stalk topped with a radiant golden flower head. On closer inspection, this “flower” is a composite of up to 200 tiny florets, each capable of producing a seed.

Nutritional and Medicinal Uses

Modern science has affirmed much of what folk medicine always suspected: dandelion is a nutritional powerhouse. The leaves are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, iron, and potassium. They can be eaten raw in salads, sautéed, or steamed. The roots, abundant in inulin and other prebiotics, support gut health. Dandelion has also been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Herbalists use various parts of the plant to support liver function, act as a gentle diuretic, and aid digestion.

Clinical studies continue to investigate dandelion’s potential benefits, from blood sugar regulation to immune system support. However, as with any wild-harvested food or medicine, proper identification and moderation are key; while generally safe, some individuals may experience allergic reactions or interact adversely with certain medications.

SWEET FLAG: A Herb for Neurological Disorders

 

Some plants are recognised for their presence of essential oils and distinctive aroma. Such aromatic plants are nature’s fragrant treasures and have been used in religious rituals, herbal medicine, and personal care since ancient times. One such aromatic plant is sweet flag, botanically known as Acorus calamus L. from the Acoraceae family of flowering plants. It has a pleasant and sweet aroma and a bitter and pungent taste. Sweet flag has been valued since ancient times for its medicinal, aromatic, and spiritual properties. It finds a prominent place in many traditional systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Chinese medicine. Sweet flag has been used as a flavouring agent in dishes and drinks in Europe and North America for centuries. However, the use of sweet flag has been banned in the USA due to health concerns of β-asarone, one of its phytochemicals. β-asarone has been reported to be carcinogenic in animal studies. Many lyrical proverbs on the significance of plants can be heard in our rural villages. One of the famous proverbs about sweet flag in Himachal Pradesh is:

Jithee Banah, Basuti, varya                                            जिथी बना, बसूटी, वरया,

Uthee Aadmi Bemaut Kadi Ni Marya                            ऊथी आदमी बेमौत कदी नी मरया

 

(Meaning: Where the chaste tree (Vitex negundo; Nirgundi), Malabar nut (Justicia adhatoda; Adusa, Vasaka), and sweet flag (Acorus calamus; Vach) occur, no one can die of diseases).

 

Common Names

Sweet Flag, Calamus, Flagroot, Sweet cane, Sweet grass, Sweetroot, Sweet rush Hindi: Bach, Ghorbach, Safed bach Sanskrit: Vacha, Bach, Bhadra, Vach Marathi: Vekhand Tamil: Vashambu, pullai-valathi Malayalam: vaembu, vashampa Kannada: Baje, Vacha, Athibaje, Kavana, Dagaḍe, Naaruberu Bengali: Bach, Ghorabach Assamese: Bach (Source: eFloraofIndia)

 

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Sweet flag is a semi-aquatic, perennial aromatic herb that grows to a height of 1–1.5 meters in marshy places and in wetlands. The herbaceous plant has a thick, creeping, yellowish-brown, aromatic and branched rhizome covered with leaf bases. The aromatic rhizome is whitish from inside and has a characteristic sweet and spicy fragrance. The leaves are long, narrow, and sword-shaped, resembling those of the cattail plant. They are shiny green, erect, and have a wavy margin with a prominent midrib. Flowers are aggregated in an inflorescence known as a spadix. Flowers are small, greenish-yellow flowers. Fruit and seed formation are rare in sweet flag. It usually reproduces vegetatively through its rhizomes.

DISTRIBUTION

Sweet flag is native to India, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe, growing in moist, marshy places in sub-temperate to sub-tropical climates. However, it was introduced to many countries of the world, where it has become naturalised now. In India, it commonly grows in the Himalayan foothills, Assam, other northeastern states, as well as in parts of southern India.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Many phytochemicals have been reported in sweet flag. The most common ones are β-Asarone, α-Asarone (major constituent of the essential oil responsible for its aroma and pharmacological activity), Acorin (a bitter glycoside with tonic properties), Eugenol, Calamenol, Calamendiol, Calamol (responsible for the fragrance), Tannins, Saponins, and mucilage. β-asarone has been reported to be potentially carcinogenic in large doses in animal studies, leading to restrictions on the use of sweet flag oil in food and beverages in European countries and a ban in the USA.

MEDICINAL USES

i. Neurological Disorders

Vacha (sweet flag) is used to improve memory, treat epilepsy, insomnia, hysteria, and enhance speech in Ayurveda.

ii.  Prevention of Cognitive Decline

Modern experimental studies have proved that sweet flag is able to prevent cognitive decline in humans.

iii. Skin and Wound Healing

The rhizome paste of sweet flag is applied externally to heal skin eruptions and wounds in traditional medicine.

 iv. Respiratory Ailments

Vacha is a good expectorant and is used to treat cough, bronchitis, and asthma by the folk healers.

  v. Digestive Aid

The rhizome of sweet flag is used as a carminative, stomachic, and antispasmodic to relieve indigestion, flatulence, and colic in ethnomedicine.

  vi. As an Anthelmintic

Decoction of the rhizome of sweet flag is used to expel intestinal worms.

 vii. Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory

The rhizome of sweet flag has been reported to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

viii. Antimicrobial and Antifungal Activity

Sweet flag has been reported to possess antimicrobial and antifungal activity

 ix. Analgesic and Sedative properties

The rhizome of sweet flag has been reported to possess analgesic and sedative properties.

3. INDUSTRIAL USES

 i. Use in Perfumery: The essential oil of sweet flag is used in perfumes, soaps, and cosmetics for its sweet and spicy aroma.

 ii. Flavouring Agent in Food and Beverages: Sweet flag has been used as a flavouring agent in alcoholic beverages and some food items historically. However, it has been restricted now due to safety concerns of β-asarone.

iii. Insect Repellent: Dried rhizomes of sweet flag can be used to repel insects and rodents.

4. RELIGIOUS & CULTURAL USES

Sweet flag is used as a purifying herb in many rituals in India.

 

TOXICITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS

Although sweet flag has long been used medicinally for ages, β-asarone has been reported to be carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and hepatotoxic (damages the liver) in laboratory animals. American and European regulatory agencies have prohibited the use of β-asarone-rich calamus oil in food products. Diploid Indian varieties have been reported to contain little or no β-asarone and are still used in traditional medicine.

 

CONCLUSION

Acorus calamus is an ancient herb of immense ethnobotanical importance. Revered as Vacha in Ayurvedic texts, it embodies the synergy between aroma, intellect, and healing. While its traditional uses are numerous, recent experimental studies require caution regarding its dosage and preparation due to potential toxicity in animal models. It holds a promising role in the fields of neurology, phytotherapy, and natural product chemistry after toxicity evaluation through various methods.

AROGYAPACHA: A Medicinal Herb that Changed the Global Perspective on Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Properties

(Photograph courtesy: Sh. Thilak Makkiseril, Kochi, Kerala) 

 

Indian Knowledge System (IKS) evolved over the centuries throughout the globe and was mostly passed down orally through generations. Most countries in the world have documented this precious gift from their ancestors. However, a significant portion of this knowledge remains largely unexplored in the tribal communities of all continents. Tribal communities are indeed custodians of profound and often undervalued traditional knowledge systems. The magical uses of Arogya Pacha (Malayalam name), earlier known only to the members of Kani tribe living in the Agasthya Koodam ranges in the Western Ghats of Kerala, were recorded by the Indian Scientists during the late 1980s and early1990s through the ethnobotanical surveys. Arogya Pacha, botanically known as Trichopus zeylanicus (member of monocot family Dioscoraceae), is a small herbaceous plant native to southwestern Ghats of Kerala in South India. It is also distributed in Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. It prefers to grow on sandy soil in shady places near the rivers and streams in lowlands. 

The common Malayalam name ‘Arogya Pacha’ literally means ‘which gives strength and health’. The members of the nomadic Kani tribal community of the Agasthya Koodam range in Kerala have been using this herb for centuries due to its medicinal properties. Leaves, rhizome and fruits, all parts are useful and eaten by the members of the Kani tribe. Fruits have a strong anti-fatigue property. Jawaharlal Nehru Topical Botanical Gardens Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) has developed a scientifically validated and standardised herbal drug based on the traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge of the Kanni tribe. This drug has adaptogenic and immunity-enhancing properties. A drug containing leaves has been patented by the JNTBGRI and marketed by the Arya Vaidya Pharmacy under the trade name ‘Jeevani’ (meaning giver of life).

 

(Photo source: Curtis's Botanical Magazine)

 

BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Arogya Pacha, a member of the monocot family Dioscoraceae, is a small, herbaceous plant. The roots are fibrous and arise from the rhizome. The stem is short, thin, rhizomatous and creeping inside the sandy beds. The leaves are generally heart-shaped (cordate), about 20 cm in length and grow from the rhizome. However, they can also be oval, triangular, and lanceolate.  The flowers are deep purple and develop throughout the year.  The seedpods are up to 10 cm in length and are grey-brown in colour. They are dispersed by water.

 

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Detailed chemical and pharmacological investigations have identified the presence of saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, glycolipids, and other non-steroidal compounds in this herb.

 

TRADITIONAL USES

Arogyappacha is used by the Kanni tribe in Kerala for various health-related problems. It is an energy booster for the tribesmen. They use the decoction of leaves and fruits for tiredness. The juice of the fruit is administered to young children for tiredness. The application of leaf juice on the forehead decreases headaches. The herb is also considered to improve immunity. The health benefits of Arogya Pacha are comparable to those of Ginseng. 

Arogya Pacha plant with ripe fruits

(Photograph courtesy: Sh. Thilak Makkiseril, Kochi, Kerala)

MODERN MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE

Arogya Pacha is a curious plant to modern science whose properties were discovered in 1987 by a group of Ethnobotanists and Ayurvedic doctors led by Dr Palpu Pushpangadan from Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Gardens Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram. They were working on an All India Coordinated Research Project on Ethnobiology (AICRPE). During their scientific expedition to the Agasthya Hills in the Western Ghats, they noticed that their guides from the Kani tribe, who were eating fruits of Arogya Pacha during the tour, were energetic as compared to them. Dr Pushpangadan and his team of scientists at JNTBGRI analysed Arogya Pacha thoroughly for over eight years and discovered that the fruit and leaves of this plant have anti-stress and immune-stimulating properties. In addition, Arogya Pacha also boosts stamina, relieves fatigue, helps control tumours and activates the body’s natural defences and cellular immune system. Further studies proved that this plant has adaptogenic, aphrodisiac, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant activities. JNTBGRI developed a standardised herbal formulation from Arogya Pacha’s leaves and patented it under the name ‘Jeevani’ (meaning giver of life). Jeevani is used to combat stress, improve stamina and boost immunity.

 

Arogya Pacha fruits and seeds

(Photograph courtesy: Sh. Thilak Makkiseril, Kochi, Kerala)

 

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

 The indigenous or ethnic societies are full of traditional knowledge relevant to their daily lives, especially in the field of food and the health care system. They have the right to their traditional knowledge, which they have acquired over the centuries.  The access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge of ethnic groups was freely available for all before the commencement of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992. The genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge were acquired from ethnic communities by food, pharmaceutical and other industries and individuals, who did not share the benefits with the communities from where such knowledge was taken and benefits were derived.

A particular traditional knowledge is acquired by a particular community after observing plants for hundreds of years and through practice. The European colonial explorers travelled to different parts of the world and took back many medicinal herbs, ornamental flowers and new foods to their countries without compensating the ethnic communities for providing their long-acquired traditional knowledge. Many voluntary agreements were signed between transnational corporations and ethnic communities in the pre-CBD era, but they did not lead to an equitable sharing of benefits and to mutually beneficial technical cooperation with ethnic communities. Although the knowledge accumulated by ethnic communities for centuries is increasingly being used for commercial purposes in the fields of pharmacy and agriculture, the share of profits from the commercialisation of the skills and knowledge of ethnic communities does not go back to these communities. This knowledge and further technological developments have resulted in remarkable improvements in the supply of food crops and pharmaceutical products. Large-scale ethnobotanical research during the twentieth century led to the documentation of traditional knowledge of various ethnic groups and societies. The various ethnobotanical explorations, research and documentation of the collected knowledge laid the foundation for the protection of the interests of ethnic groups.

Access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilisation is one of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). There are provisions in Article 15 of the CBD for access to genetic resources and sharing of benefits arising from associated traditional knowledge of the ethnic/indigenous communities.  It also stressed the sustainable use of the species. It is considered that genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge have their potential monetary value. The ownership of genetic resources is determined at the national level in accordance with national legislation or practices. There is a provision in the CBD that benefit-sharing should extend not only to the government of the country of origin but also to the indigenous communities responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources responsible for economic gains.

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation on 29^th October 2010, which came into force on 12^th October 2014. This agreement created a framework that balances access to genetic resources, including those related to traditional knowledge (TK) of indigenous communities or groups, based on prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms. The Biological Diversity Act, ratified by the Parliament of India, has incorporated many provisions for Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) related to genetic resources and traditional knowledge (TK). Article 21 of the said Act provides for the approval by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) for the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.

JNTBGRI developed a standardised herbal formulation from Arogya Pacha’s leaves and patented it under the name ‘Jeevani’. Arya Vaidya Pharmacy was given the rights for production of the drug at a licence fee of $50,000 and a royalty of 2% on the sale value of Jeevani. These fees and royalties are shared between JNTBGRI and the Kerala Kani Samudaya Kshema Trust (KKSKT) of the Kani tribe. The financial assistance to the community has improved the lifestyle of this nomadic tribe, leading to their settling thereafter. This has a positive impact on the economic and social development of the Kani tribe. This benefit sharing agreement between JNTBGRI and the Kani people (known as ‘JNTBGRI Model’, ‘Pushpangadan Model’ or ‘Kani Model.) has become a global model for similar agreements worldwide and for recognizing the traditional knowledge and intellectual property of indigenous people in accordance with the guidelines of the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) and Nagoya Protocol (2010).

CONCLUSION

Arogya Pacha, also known as "which gives strength and health," is a medicinal herb traditionally used by the Kani tribal community in Kerala, India, for its anti-fatigue and immunity-enhancing properties. The plant gained scientific recognition after researchers from JNTBGRI validated its adaptogenic and medicinal benefits, eventually leading to the development and patenting of the herbal drug "Jeevani." The discovery of Arogya Pacha has highlighted the significance of traditional knowledge in modern medicine and the importance of protecting indigenous intellectual property.

REFERENCE

Thakur, A.K.; Bassi, S.K. and Sood, S.K. (2021). Medicinal Botany & Ethnobotony. S. Vinesh & Co., Jalandhar.