Medicinal Plant Diversity in Tungal Valley of District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh (India)

Medicinal plants constitute a major segment of the flora throughout the world which provides raw materials for use in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and drug industries. Himachal Pradesh, one of the pioneer Himalayan States is a rich repository of medicinal flora. People of the state inherit a wide range of traditions, dialects, beliefs and cultures. Indigenous communities living in the state rely, to a large extent, on native plant species for curing various ailments. Tungal Valley in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh is richly endowed with a large variety of plant species, many of which have medicinal properties. A large proportion of the rural population in the region depends on locally available medicinal plants to meet their health care requirements. The study aims at documenting medicinal plant diversity in Tungal Valley.