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Ethnobotany of Nepal

K.R. Rajbhandari.
Ethnobotanical Society of Nepal,
Kathmandu, Nepal. 189pp, 2001.
Price: NRs. 500. (US$ 15, including postage).

Since the last two decades ethnobotany has received much attention in Nepal. Several papers on different aspects of ethnobotany of Nepal have been published during these periods, which are scattered in various journals and reports. In the present book the author has made an effort to compile all these scattered information regarding the ethnobotany of Nepal.

The introductory chapter focuses on ethnobotanical exploration and studies in Nepal. The major part of the book deals with ethnobotanical uses of 562 species of plants in Nepal. Each species has been described with respect to botanical name, local names, taxonomic description, uses, and most relevant references.

Herbal Drugs and Pharmacognosy: Monographs on Commercially Important Medicinal Plants of Nepal

S. Rajbhandary and S. Ranjitkar.
Ethnobotanical Society of Nepal,
Kathmandu, Nepal. 168+ixpp, 2006.
Price: NRs. 750. (US$ 20, including postage).

The worldwide interest in the herbal remedy and the demand for herbal drugs has significantly increased in the recent years. The number of reports of patients experiencing negative health consequences caused by the use of herbal medicines has also been increasing. Such adverse effect is directly related with the poor quality of herbal medicines, including adultery raw materials. This clearly shows the insufficient attention toward the quality assurance of the herbal drugs.

Quality assurance and quality control is very essential for the safety and efficacy of the any kind of drug products. For safe and effective use authentication of the source of herbal drugs is very essential.

This book presents the pharmacognostic tools for the authentication of the herbal drugs along with historical development of Pharmacognosy and its importance in present context. Another attractive feature of the book is presentation of monograph of the 30 commercially important and highly traded herbal drugs of Nepal.

Ethnobotany for Conservation and Community Development

K.K. Shrestha, P.K. Jha, P. Shengji, A. Rastogi,S. Rajbhandary & M. Joshi (Editors).
Ethnobotanical Society of Nepal,
Kathmandu, Nepal. 176 pp, 1998.
Price: NRs. 500. (US$ 15, including postage).

The present volume is an outcome of the National Training Workshop held at Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal from January 6-13, 1997. It is perhaps the first such volume of ethnobotany produced in Nepal. It covers nine thematic papers, fieldwork reports, workshop activities and profile of ethnobotany projects.

The thematic papers cover (i) a general introduction to applied ethnobotany; (ii), methodologies and appro-aches for ethnobotany; and (iii) sustainable use and conservation of plant resources. Papers presented under these headings highlight the cultural and social dimensions of ethnobotany, ethnobotany in Nepal, basic survey and assessment methodologies for applied ethnobotanical research, quantitative methods of vegetation analysis, ethnobotanical inventory and plant taxonomy, role of ethnobotany for sustainable management of plant resources, conservation of endangered plants of ethnobotanical value, and ethno-medicines and non-timber forest products.