The demand for plant-based raw-material, used pre-dominantly in Indian System of Medicine (ISM) has grown enormously in recent years. The over-exploitation by the manufacturing sector of several native medicinal plants are in danger of extinction. The ‘Red Data Book of India’ has adequately recorded such plants. By citing a few examples, the author has discussed the extent of threat, and the need to conserve variability for current and future use. The variants occuring in protected habitats like ‘National Parks’ needs to be collected/evaluated and documented.
Indian medicinal plant, conservation, utilization, extinction/threat
