Rudra Narayan Sahoo

Rudra Narayan Sahoo

Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in Dr. Senjuti Sinharoy's Lab at National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR)

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publications

Ethnopharmacological survey of indigenous medicinal plants of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh in north-western Himalaya, India Permalink

Published in Advances in Traditional Medicine, 2021

The ethnopharmacological investigation was done to study the traditional usage of indigenous medicinal plants of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. Therefore, an extensive ethnopharmacological survey was conducted to document the traditional knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants. Direct interviews of 77 informants were conducted with the help of a questionnaire. Three quantitative factors (use value, factor informant consensus and fidelity level) were used for the analysis of generated data. A total of 102 species, belonging to 90 genera and 30 families were identified and collected with the help of traditional healers and local informants from different locations of the study area. Total 19 medicinal plants species were reported for new or less known ethnomedicinal uses. Also, 3 threatened wild plants species were collected from the study area. The maximum number of species belongs to the family Lamiaceae (7), Fabaceae (7), Asteraceae (6), Moraceae (4 species), Apocyanaceae (4 species) and Euphorbiaceae (3 species). Different plant parts were used by local informants such as leaves, galls, fruits, seeds, latex, stem, root, flowers, bark, and rhizomes. It was also observed that maximum numbers of plant species were used to cure gastro-intestinal disorders (48 species), skin disorders (34 species) and respiratory disorders (25 species). Ethnopharmacological data depict that medicinal plants were extensively used by local people to cure gastrointestinal, dermatological disorders and skeletomuscular disorders. Traditionally used medicinal plants have enormous potential to provide the raw material for the discovery of new bioactive compounds and drugs.

Recommended citation: Arya, A., Kumar, S., Paul, R., Suryavanshi, A., Kain, D., and Sahoo, RN. Ethnopharmacological survey of indigenous medicinal plants of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh in north-western Himalaya, India. ADV TRADIT MED (ADTM) 23, 169–212 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-021-00607-1 /files/ethnopharmacology-palampur.pdf

Venerated and medicinal aspects of plants used in India: An ethnobotanical review Permalink

Published in Journal of Drug Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, 2022

Plants have always been the backbone of the entire ecosystem of life. Humans depend upon plants not only for fulfilling their basic needs but also for spiritual activities. Their significance has been attributed to their social importance. However, with modernization, these very traditional cultures and practices are increasingly at risk of extinction. Their associations with faith and religious practices have always been a boon for the conservation of plants and the entire ecosystem depends on it. India is a nation of rich cultural heritage, since ages, it has always emphasized the significance of plants in sacred texts and scriptures. Our ancestors linked divinity with several plants for their conservation and categorized them as sacred plants because of their miraculous medicinal properties. This situation reflects that though the knowledge of the medicinal value of the plants has vanished, it is still practiced in their religious culture. The study attempts to analyze both the religious and medicinal aspects of 21 plants on the basis of their analogous use across the subcontinent with respect to religions and shared beliefs which got incorporated in our culture because of their diverse benefits, making a divine way for the protection of nature and culture. This study shall stress the importance of ethnobotany and help in the constitution of realistic conservation strategies aiding sustainable development. The enlisted medicinal plants reveal ancient practices that have been scientifically accurate in terms of health and holistic lifestyle, promoting the sustainable use of plants for the betterment of the environment.

Recommended citation: Sahoo, RN., Kumar, S., Suryavanshi, A., Kain, D., Arya, A., Chaudhry, B. Venerated and medicinal aspects of plants used in India: An ethnobotanical review. J Drug Res Ayurvedic Sci 2021;6:128-40. DOI: 10.4103/jdras.jdras_15_21 /files/ethnobotany-review.pdf

research_projects

talks

Genetic Improvement of Rice for Food Security and Sustainable Development, Achievements and Challenges

Published:

The world’s population is increasing alarmingly, accounting for about 8.6 billion by mid 2030. The growing population has brought limitation in land use, resulting in rampant environmental degradation bringing down natural ecosystem and resulting in climate change and food insecurity and poverty. Rice is the staple food of more than half of the world's population. However, the increasing temperature and drought have affected the crop production adversely around the world. The idea of smart mutant plants could be a boon in this regard bringing a solution for food insecurity and poverty. In plant breeding programs, mutation breeding is one of the oldest methods. Currently, mutation breeding has become popular among the breeders and scientists. Genetic variation is the sole aim in this technique and plant breeders are focused to, the recombination and independent assortment of alleles, to obtain new individuals from the population. IR64 is a mega rice variety known for higher yield, early maturity and disease resistance but susceptible to drought stress, resulting in considerable yield reductions. The desired characteristics of high yield under the stressed condition in IR64 can be brought through exposing the variety to mutation breeding approach is discussed in this article.

Ethnobotany: The scientific philosophy behind using plants in religious ceremonies in India

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Ethnobotany encompasses a multidisciplinary scientific approach that investigates the intricate interplay between human cultures and the plant kingdom. In the Indian context, ethnobotany assumes a significant role in comprehending the utilization of plants in religious ceremonies. The integration of plants in the religious practices of India has deep roots in traditional knowledge and spirituality, with plants serving as an essential component of religious ceremonies for centuries. This practice reflects the intimate connection between nature and spirituality, with various plants holding symbolic significance in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Indian religions. Ethnobotanical studies in India reveal that plants feature not only as offerings in religious rituals but also in the preparation of traditional medicines used for healing purposes. The ancient Ayurvedic system of medicine relies heavily on plant-based remedies, underscoring the intersection of spirituality and healthcare. The present study endeavors to examine the conventional and therapeutic attributes of certain plants such as Cocos nucifera Linn. (Coconut), Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Holy Basil), and Aegle marmelos Linn. Corr. (Holy Fruit tree), among others, which have been assimilated into our culture owing to their multifarious advantages, thus paving the way for the conservation of nature and culture through a divine approach. Additionally, religious texts, songs, and myths often make references to plants, underscoring their spiritual significance. The discipline of ethnobotany in India provides insight into how plants are not merely botanical organisms, but also bearers of cultural, religious, and historical connotations.

The religious and medicinal uses of plants in India; an ode to conservation

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Nature presents a priceless endowment to mankind, wherein plants serve as the fundamental basis for the sustenance of life. The dependence of human beings on plants is deeply ingrained and goes beyond mere survival, extensively impacting our daily needs and cultural customs. The uniqueness of cultural traditions among particular groups is due to the diverse environmental circumstances they experience during migration, thereby shaping their practices through experimentation and experimentation. Modern societies have had a negative impact on traditional cultures and practices, leading to the erosion of their authenticity. However, the connection between faith, religion, and plants has emerged as a significant way to protect these valuable cultural and natural assets. Recent research has confirmed the scientific validity of ancient practices, promoting the sustainable use of plants for the betterment of the environment. In various regions, including India, ancestors associated specific plants with gods and goddesses, designating them as sacred. This highlights that while knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants may have declined, these practices still exist within religious and cultural contexts. This study aims to investigate the traditional and botanical aspects of selected plants that have become essential to our culture, providing a sacred route for conserving both nature and heritage.

Protection of Farmer’s and Breeder’s Rights through IPR

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Legislation concerning crop plants are among the most inconvenient region. The standards of Intellectual Property Rights specify that an intention can be secured as one IP. With the plants, the circumstance is muddled by genuinely covering sorts of IP: regular patents and Plant Breeders Right without compromising the privileges of Farmers. That particular arrangement for Intellectual Property assurance of new plant assortments presented in the TRIPS understanding made it required of the individuals from WTO to define legitimate measures either as licenses or a viable sui generis framework or blend of both to secure plant assortments. India was one of the principal nations in the world to have developed PBR enactment that all the while allowed rights to both farmers and breeders. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001,(PPVFR) builds up an extraordinary framework by broadening the idea of Plant Breeders Rights(PBRs), which is applied to new assortments of farmers, to assortments held by farmers and public-sector institutions. While the Act is based on the important principle of distributing ownership rights through the provision of benefit sharing and recognition and reward from the National Gene Fund, it has been instrumental in the acceleration of agricultural development; encouraging innovation, development investments in public and private plant breeding through the tests for distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) in highly precise cultivation conditions. The PPVFR Authority, however, takes public awareness system of plant variety protection by providing information on the website, publication and distribution of information, organizing national seminars and maintenance of electronic databases containing national variety register. The registration shall be valid for nine years for trees and vines and six years for other crops which may be renewed for eighteen years for trees and vines and fifteen years for others from the date of registration.

The Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary(MAPS)

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7.8 billion people and 8.7 million species need a peaceful, healthy world—one where we can live in safety and access the food and resources we need to survive. But all of that depends on the Arctic Ocean. For millions of years, the Arctic Ocean has been our planet’s air conditioning system. It regulates the atmospheric currents, ocean currents, and weather patterns that sustain our lives. But it has changed drastically in the past decades. Today, there is 75% less Arctic sea ice in the summer than there was just 50 years ago. As a result, the world’s weather patterns have become unstable with greater floods, fires, droughts, and other natural disasters—leading to displacement, unrest, and water and hunger crises. At the same time, military and commercial interests are taking advantage of the Arctic Ocean in its vulnerable state and doing even more damage. This is an underreported global emergency. In this virtual presentation, attendees will learn about the current dire state of Arctic Ocean exploitation and militarization, and the global consequences—as well as the singular opportunity presented by the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary (MAPS). As the largest marine preserve in history, MAPS is a critical and urgently needed response. View Poster

Comparative study of wheat genotypes under salt stressed conditions based on physiological and yield indices

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Soil salinity affects crop yield and jeopardizes the food security of the upcoming generations. Globally, more than 3% of top soil and 6% of subsoils are damaged by salt, and this number is steadily rising. Wheat, a major staple crop consumed by approximately 1/3rd of the global population contributes significantly in preventing hunger. With expanding salt affected areas, it is absolutely necessary to be able to grow wheat crops on salt affected areas in order to feed the growing population. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to identify crops which can thrive salinity conditions and produce high yield. In order to find salt-tolerant genotypes, we have screened 49 wheat genotypes under salinity stress using growth, yield, biochemical, and root morphological parameters. Significant variations were found in plant dry mass, plant height, relative water content, stomatal frequency, root morphological traits and 100 seed weight among all the genotypes. With the highest tolerance index, V1 was identified as the most tolerant genotype, and V49 was found to be the most-susceptible. Root morphological traits significantly correlated with 100-seed weight, plant dry mass, starch and carbohydrate content while it negatively correlated with hydrogen peroxide content. This suggests the positive role of resistance in root morphological traits in enhancing salt stress resilience. The tolerant genotypes could be further investigated to determine the processes underlying salt tolerance and for upcoming breeding initiatives.

teaching

Teaching Volunteer and Practical Lab Skills Demonstrator

Secondary Level (Class 9), Amar Singh Inter College, Lakhaoti, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019

I trained Class 9 students of Amar Singh Inter College in Lakhaoti, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh on ‘Hands-on training on Various Scientific Aspects Related to Biology’ in March 2019. I delivered engaging and interactive sessions to enhance students’ understanding of biological concepts and inspire their interest in the subject as part of an Outreach program, organized by Department of Botany, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi.

Private Academic Tutor

Primary and Seconday Level (Class 3-10), Self-Employed, 2020

I have provided personalized tutoring to students in classes 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10 in Sciences, Mathematics, Social Sciences, and English for a period of 2.2 years from December 2020 to February 2023. I utilized innovative teaching methods to enhance students’ understanding and improve their academic performance.

Teaching Volunteer

Upper Primary Level (Class 5), Teach For India, 2021

Teach For India is one of several independent organizations within the Teach For All Network, dedicated to achieving high-quality education for every child. I have worked as a Teaching Volunteer at Gangotri Public School, Delhi, collaborated with the class teacher to educate Class 5 students and developing educational materials to enhance their learning experience under Teach For India ‘Volunteer Program’ for a period of 4 months from February to May, 2021.

Teaching Volunteer

Seconday Level (Class 9), Malad branch, Angel Express Foundation, 2021

Angel Xpress Foundation (AXF) is a non-profit organization, based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India that aims to bridge the socio-economic divide in the society by empowering students from disadvantaged backgrounds through education and volunteer-led initiatives. I have taught 15 students in class 9, over two years, Biology in both Hindi and English medium. I am currently, teaching a batch of 10 students, at the Malad Branch of AXF.