Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle: An Endemic, Highly Medicinal and Critically Endangered Plant Species of Northwestern Himalaya in Peril

Aconitum heterophyllum is a precious endemic medicinal plant of Northwestern Himalaya. It possesses a number of curative effects and is accounted for having diuretic, hepatoprotective, antipyretic, analgesic, antioxidant, alexipharmic, anodyne, anti-atrabilious, expectorant, immunostimulant, febrifuge, anthelminthic, anti- cancerous, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-emetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-flatulent, anti-periodic, anti-phlegmatic, anti-diabetic, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral and carminative properties. Further, it is an important ingredient of many Ayurvedic formulations. Its pharmacological potential may be attributed to of the presence of many biologically active phytochemicals like aconitine, mesaconitine, acetylaconitine, heterophylline A, and heterophylline B. Owing to its high therapeutic uses and market value, the plant is being exploited for its tubers from the wild. Further, there are some reproductive constraints due to which the population of the plant in the wild is waning at a rapid rate. Due to these factors, Aconitum heterophyllum has been categorized as critically endangered; demanding focused conservation strategies and cultivation efforts.