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dilecta), respiratory (Coelogyne henyi, Flickingeria nodosa, Habenaria diphylla), digestive

(Blettia campanulata), reproductive (Eulophia flaccida), haematologic (Habenaria
edgeworthii, H. intermedia, H. pectinata), and muscular (Luisia trichorrhiza) disorders

(Chauhan, 1990; Toh, 1994; Lee et al, 1995; Husen & Rahman, 2003). Mannose-specific
lectins from Cymbidium hybrid, Epipactis helleborine and Liparis ovata have been positively

tested against AIDS (Balzarini et al., 1992; De Clercq, 1994). Vanda parviflora has
anticancerous and antiviral properties (Rastogi & Dhawan, 1990). Habenaria intermedia, H.

edgeworthii, and Malaxis wallichii are used as an ingradient in Chyavanprash. Rishbak

(Malaxis acuminata), Jeevak (Malaxis muscifera), Rasna (Rhynchostylis retusa), Ridhi
(Habenaria intermedia) and Vridhi ( H. edgeworthii), Jivanti (Eria muscicola), Salem

(Eulophia campestris), and Zeuxine strateumatica (Shwethuli) are commonly used orchid

drugs in the Ayurvedic and Unani system of medicine. The therapeutic significance of
orchids has been attributed to their huge reservoir of phytochemicals (alkaloids, flavonoids,

glycosides, carbohydrates).
India is a rich repository of orchids. The great geographic expanse with varied climatic zones

not only influenced the distribution and composition but also accounts for enormous orchid
diversity in India. About 1229 orchid species in 184 genera (Karthikeyan, 2000) grow in the

country and these include nearly 352 species which are endemic to the country (Singh, 2001).

As many as110 species of Indian orchids are medicinally important most of which have been
collected from their natural habitats to the point of rarity. Many stunning species have gone

extinct (Aphyllorchis gollanii, Coelogyne treutleri, Anoectochilus rotundifolius,
Paphiopedilum charlesworthii,Vanda wightii,Pleione lagenaria and Zeuxine pulchra) (Singh,

2001). Dactylorhiza hatagirea (Ved & Tandon, 1998) Acanthiphippium bicolor,
Bulbophyllum aureum, Calanthe alpina, Eulophia candida, Habenaria andamanica, Malaxis

acuminata, Paphiopedilum druryi, Renanthera imschootiana, Rhynchostylis latifolia etc.

(Sarkar 1995) are primarily on the list of endangered species.
MATERIALS AND METHODS

Himachal pradesh a hill state of north India located in lap of Himalayas with wide variation

in altitude ,topography and climate.The state owes 500 species of medicinal plants most of
these are used by locals in traditional medicines,folk uses and in pharmaceutical

industries.Shimla the state capital and queen of hills is located at 31.61˚N and 77.10˚E in the
south western ranges of the Himalayas with altitude ranging from 2000-2500 m above sea

level.Temperature ranges from 4℃ to 31℃ with annual precipitation about 1575mm.The
climate varies from subtropical to warm temperate.The biodiversity of medicinal orchids of

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