Review on Current Status of Betula utilis: An Important Medicinal Plant from Himalaya

Abstract

The present medicinal flora is at risk due to different high human activities across the world. Betula utilis species is distributed in Himalayan range. The over use of Betula utilis is not only for medicinal purposes but also for basic needs of life i.e. for food, feed, shelter and making different items of daily usage leads to reduce its population. In this review the percentage of excess exploitation in the near future is mentioned with explaining its uses. Conservation status of Betula utilis is not clear due to which its risk of extinction is not understandable up till now. Major threats to Betula utilis includes over harvesting, deforestation, erosion, grazing, global warming and pathogen attack. These threats can be overcome by sustainable utilization, micropropagation, in situ and ex situ conservation as well as reducing the human population size, and conservation of Betula utilis species in botanical gardens.

Keywords

Medicinal flora, Overexploitation, Threats, Strategies, Conservation

Introduction

Habitat degradation, pollution, introduction of alien species, over-exploitation and climate change are major threats faced by plants which are central part of our ecosystem because native plants are important constituents of the global biological diversity [1]. Conservation status of species can be determined by considering many factors such as deforestation, grazing, agriculture land, fuel demand, breeding success rates and other threats [2]. Plants are primary source for survival of life on earth as they clean the atmosphere, continue hydrological cycle, source of food and can be used in pharmaceutical and scientific research. It is observed that about 60000 plant species will become extinct till 2050 which will have harmful effects to humans [3]. The rainforest over harvesting leads to disappearance of many plant species as fast as 50 acres per minute [4]. It is found that with the extinction of one plant some 30 other plant species also disappear [5].

The forests are in the middest of the most important natural recourses to continue life in both Hindu Kush and Himalayan ranges [6]. The major role of these forests includes the continuance of biodiversity, watershed protection, supply of timber, grazing land for animals, non-wood products, habitat for threatened fauna and flora in the world [7]. Deforestation and over exploitation in the Himalaya is generally attributed to demographic pressure and other related effects such as increase in demand of land for cultivation, livestock population, use of the remaining forest to meet growing needs for fodder, fuel wood, and timber. On the other hand, social issues such as social relationships, perceptions and values about natural resources as seen by different social groups, issues of access to and control over resources and issues of power in relation to deforestation have rarely been discussed in current literature as possible driving forces to deforestation [8]. The hotspots of Pakistan are covering the 13 natural regions starting from alpine pastures and ending up to mangrove forest, among which 10% of the flora is included in endangered category [9].

Betula utilis belongs to family Betulaceae. It is a moderate size tree that can grow up to 20 m in height. The bark is shining, smooth, reddish white or white with horizontal lenticels. The outer bark is having numerous thin paperylayers, exfoliating in wide horizontal rolls. The inner cortex is soft and red in color. The leaves are elliptic, ovate to acuminate and serrate. The flowers usually spike and bloom in May June. Seeds are slim and winged [10]. The present review has been written to analyze the excessive use of birch plant (Betula utilis) with its miraculous benefits. This can also help us to know the major threats as well as the possible conservation actions needed to save the important medicinal plants (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Map showing distribution of Betulla utilis.

Distribution

Himalayan birch (Betula utilis) is a famous forestry species, growing at elevations up to 4,500 m. It makes tree line vegetation all alongside of the Nepal Himalayas and also on northern shady slopes and ravine [11]. It is a broad leaved angiosperm tree species in the Himalayas which is widespread at subalpine altitudes [12]. Major countries include Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan [13].

The plant is found in higher altitudinal zones between 2800 m to 3800 m of Himalayan sub valley. The “utilis” means many uses of the tree [14]. According to Hussain and Ilahi they are present between timber and snowline zones of Kaghan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Baltistan, Gilgit, and Koh Safed region[15]. Betula utilisis is the characteristic species of the sub alpine zone and distributed in region of Waziristan, Kohistan, Swat, Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas of Pakistan [16,17]. studied the environmental niche of Himalayan birch by providing a map as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Environmental niche of Himalayan Betula utilis.

Taxonomical Description

Betula utilis plant belongs to kingdom Plantae, division Magnoliophyta, class Mangoliopsida with order Corylales and family Betulaceae [18,19].

Conservation Status

The plant (Betula utilis) falls into different categories locally according to its percentage of reduction in population size [20]. Considered this plant to be endangered. Betula utilis used excessively in the treatment of malaria, cold, rheumatism, and asthma so placed in category of critically endangered [21]. Excessive use for fuel and medicinal purpose considered Betula utilis as threatened plant [22]. According to Beech Betula utilis has been evaluated but not qualified for any category so considered to be of least concern [23] (Table 1).

Table 1. Over look of status of Betula utilis.

Uses of Betula utilis

Betulin, acetylo-heanolic acid, lupeol, oleanolic acid, betulitc acid, lupenone, sitosterol, methyl betulonate, and methyl betulate the chemical compounds which are extracted from its bark. Karachicrustics (triterpenoid) is aromatic and has antiseptic properties [24]. The compound Betulin shows anticancer activity by suppressing growth of malignant melanoma and cancer of liver and lungs [25]. Its phytochemical analysis shows that this species is rich in alkaloids and carbohydrates which show antibacterial activity [10]. Wood is used for fuel, leaf as fodder and for paper making. It helps in treatment of asthma, cold, malaria, cough gout and rheumatism [26]. The bark in the treatment of various diseases such as wound healing, skin disinfectant, bronchitis, convulsions, leprosy and diseases of the blood and the ear [27]. It is used in various antimicrobial, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-HIV activities and hepato-protective. The plant has alkaloids which have therapeutic effects [18]. The bark is used in making wrapping material and roof construction, leaf for treating urinary tract infections, in kidney and bladder stones [28]. Leaf decoction is used as diuretics. Bark paper is used to release fear and cure fever. A portion of papery bark is reserved in homes to get harmony in families [29]. It is used as an antiseptic, carminatic and antibacterial agent. It also used on burns, cuts, ear complaint jaundice, wounds or religious Hindu ceremonies [21]. The bark paper is used for packing ghee and making binding ropes, for wood protection from soil and in ear related problems. The wood is used for making plough, spoons and is a source of fuel (Figure 3). Plant also provides food, gums and resins [30]. Many insects and beetles live in bark and roots of Betula so provides them niche [31].

Figure 3: Bark of Betula utilis wood is used to make utensils, bowls and spoons.

Threats to Betula utilis

The major threat to this species is over exploitation due to its high medicinal value [13]. Over exploitation occurs when resource utilization is unsustainable [32]. This occurs in multiple forms as overcutting, excessive logging, illegal wildlife trade, poor soil conservation on agriculture land. Birch (Betula utilis) is the timberline tree that has reduced in population as well as in form due to deforestation, overgrazing, erosion, medicinal use and occurs as deformed shrub with open canopy [33,28]. The decline in the size of population of these species is due to its area of occupancy, extent of occurrence, potential level of exploitation, effects of introduced taxa and attack of pathogens [21]. Mostly fungi causes canker disease on birch which infect and kill sapwood forming sunken areas on the trunk and its branches. There is no chemical control of this disease. Prevention of this disease is done only by keeping the tree healthy and avoids wounding. Usual fertilization will keep birch resistant to cankers and water in dry weather to stop water stress. Dieback is caused by a slow death of the branches. When the symptoms of disease occurs prune out dead branches (Figure 4). Many fungi can also cause leaf spots which when rigorous, can cause defoliation. Deforestation due to over cutting and smuggling of trees, for cultivation, grazing by all kinds of animals affects the regenerated plants. Forest fire, snow drift, lighting, erosion and landslide are also considered as minor threats [21]. The factors causing the loss are deforestation, global warming, overpopulation, changes in environment and pollution [34]. The decline in forest cover and major changes in community composition leads to reduction of medicinal plants and their traditional knowledge [35].

Figure 4: Estimated over-exploitation of Betula utilis in near future.

Conservation Strategies

Betula plants can be regenerated by callus formation [36,37] as leaf and roots are genetically invariable in vitro so results in increase in mass propagation of this clone. The best shoot differentiation is obtained on MS medium with BAP (1.5 mg/l) and maximum root differentiation is achieved on MS basal medium with NAA (1.5 mg/l). According to Zaki et al. [30] 80% cultures of Betula exhibited morphogenetic growth in tissue culture media (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Proliferated callus cultures of Betula after 4-5 weeks of inoculation.

Harvesting must be sustainable to make sure the survival of these species and also use in situ and ex situ conservation strategies [13]. Tissue culture is one of the most encouraging way for conservation and mass propagation of many important plants [38]. Indirect methods like callogenesis and somatic embryogenesis can be applied for production of plantlets helping in establishment of large scale plant nurseries [33,39,40] established a protocol for synthetic seed production by using artificial coating material (sodium alginate) and complexing agent (calcium chloride). This synthetic seed technology can also be very helpful for medicinal plants such as Betula utilis species. These seeds can be stored and viable for comparatively longer period if provided suitable conditions. Germination of seeds can be enhanced by treating seeds with exogenous hormone like chemicals dissolved in water [41]. Keeping in view the high medicinal importance of Asparagus species, they should be introduced in botanical gardens. Efforts must be made to ensure public participation in conservation programs and awareness through training or utilization of mass media coupled with permanent monitoring programs. Permanent monitoring programs should be developed and conservation strategies should be planned to maintain threatened species [42, 43].

Clearing of wilderness, cutting, burning should be reduced as possible to save some of the remaining plant species, biodiversity and the gene pools for the settlement of the next generation [44]. Build effective relationship between farmers and growers, extension agents, private sector, NGOs or GOs, policy makers and enhance the information exchange. Deforestation should be overcome by using alternate resources to the peoples, uprooting and performing two years surveys to find their conservation status (Figure 6). Threatened species should be propagated in nurseries and conserved in botanical gardens. Human population should be controlled for controlling pressure on natural resources and provide habitats in order to evade their extinction [45]. International Union of Conservation of Natural Resources (IUCN) should pay attention to verify the proper category of this threatened plant globally as well as locally [46-48].

Figure 6: Model plan for conservation and sustainable development of MAP sector.

Conclusion

Betula utilis plants have so much significance but unsustainable utilization can lead to loss of species in near future. It is also not clear in which category of threatened species it belongs. It is central responsibility of the government to pay attention on the importance of it and should take different strategies for its maintenance. Possible alternate resources should be known to make ratios of its growth and exploitation equal. The conservation status of this species is not clear up till now so IUCN should carry out survey after every two years to make its status clear [49-51].

References

1. Khan M and Hussain F. Conservation status of plant species in tehsil Takht-eNasrati, District Karak, Khyber Pakhtun Khawa, Pakistan. Int J Biodivers Conserv. 2013;5:20-26.
2. Available on www.iucnredlist.org.
3. Lewin RA. A mass extinction without asteroid. Science (Washington). 234:14-15.
4. Lyles AM and Martin RM. 1987 Problems in leaving the ark. Nature(London). 1986;326:245-246.
5. Ehrlich PR and Ehrlich A. Extinction the cause and consequences of the disappearance of species. Random House, New York university. 1981;1-24.
6. Ali H, et al. Conservation status of Cadabaheterotricha stocks (Capparidaceae) an endangered species in Pakistan. Pak J Botany. 2010;42:35-46.
7. Khan N, et al. Studies along an altitudinal gradient in monothecabuxifolia (falc.) A.d, forest, district lower Dir, Pakistan. Pak J Botany. 2010;42:3029-3038.
8. Saxena KG, et al. Integrated natural resource management: Approaches and lessons from the Himalaya. Conserv Ecol. 2001;5:1-14.
9. Shinwari ZK, et al. Ethno botanical resources and implications for curriculum. Proceedings of workshop on curriculum development in applied ethnobotany. May 2-4, Nathiagali, Abbottabad. WWF-Pakistan. 2002;21-34.
10. Kumaraswamy M, et al. Antibacterial evaluation and phytochemical analysis of B. utilis against some human pathogenic bacteria. Adv Biol Res. 2008;2:21-25.
11. TISC (Tree Improvement and Silvi culture Component). Forest and vegetation types in Nepal TISC Document: Department of forest vernacular names and uses Lyonia. 2002;8:43-49.
12. Zobel DB and Singh SP. Himalayan forests and ecological generalizations. Bioscience. 1997;47:735-756.
13. Shaw KS, et al. Betula utilis, Himalayan Birch. The IUCN red list of threatened species. p. 1-9.
14. Kroemer G, Zamzami N, Susin SA. 1997. Mitochondrial control of apoptosis. Immunol today. 2014;18:44-51.
15. Hussain F and Ilahi I. Ecology and vegetation of lesser Himalayas, Pakistan. Department of Botany University of Peshawar, Pakistan Jadoon Printing Press, Peshawar. 1991;55.
16. Ahmed M, et al. Phytosociology and structure of Himalayan forests from different climatic zones of Pakistan. Pak J Botany. 2006;38:361-383.
17. Singh CP, et al. Modeling environmental niche of Himalayan birch and remote sensing based vicarious validation. Tropical Ecol. 2013;54:321-329.
18. Singh S, et al. Betula utilis: A potential herbal medicine. Int J Pharm Biol Arch. 2012;3:493-498.
19. Joshi H, et al. Phytochemical investigation, isolation and characterization of Betulin from bark of Betula utilis. J Pharma Phytochem. 2013;2:145-151.
20. Ahmed KS, et al. Conservation assessment and medicinal importance of some plants resources from sharda, neelum valley. Int J Agri Biol. 2012;12:11-5.
21. Haq F. The critically endangered flora and fauna of district Battagram Pakistan. Adv Life Sci. 2012;2:118-123.
22. Mehbooba ZM, et al. A reproducible protocol for raising clonal plants from leaf segments excised from mature trees of Betula utilisa threatened tree species of Kashmir Himalayas. Int Multidiscip Res J. 2011;15:7-13.
23. Beech E, et al. Global survey of ex-situ Betulaceae Collections. Bot Gardens Conserv Int. 2015;2:1-25.
24. Barnes BV, et al. Natural hybridization of yellow birch and paper birch. Science. 1974;20:215-221.
25. Kikuzaki H and Nakatani N. .Antioxidant effects of some ginger constituents. Food Science. J botany. 1993;43:797-809.
26. KumarA, et al. Depleting indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants in cold arid region of nanda. Devi Biosphere Reserve, Western Himalaya. 2015;
27. Gorsi MS. Miraj.Betulautilis . Asian J plant Sci. 2002;1:604-615.
28. Khan NM, et al. Important medicinal plants of chitralgol national park (cgnp) Pakistan. 2011;
29. Grafton RQ, et al. "Economics of overexploitation revisited". Science. 2007;318:1601-1601.
30. Zaki M, et al. A reproducible protocol for raising clonal plants from leaf segments excised from mature trees of Betula utilis a threatened tree species of Kashmir Himalayas. Int Multidiscip j. 2011;1:7-13.
31. Khanday AL and Buhroo A. Shot-hole borer (Scolytusnitidus Schedl) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae): A new host-Himalayan birch (Betula utilis)-Communication. Nat Sci. 2015;13:15-26.
32. Khan SW and Khatoon S. Ethnobotanical studies on useful trees and shrubs of Haramosh and Bugrote valleys, in gilgit northern areas of Pakistan. Pak j botany. 2007;39:699-710.
33. Ali A, et al. In vitro conservation and production of vigorous and desiccate tolerant synthetic seed formation in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Conference paper published in proceedings of 47th annual conference of Pakistan Society of Sugar Technologists Rawalpindi Pakistan, 9-10 September 2013.
34. Hogan CM. Deforestation encyclopedia of Earth. Ed. C. Cleveland. NCSE. Washington DC. 2010;153.
35. Ibrar M. Conservation of indigenous medicinal plants and their traditional knowledge found in moist temperate Himalaya Pakistan. Department of Biological Sciences Quaid-I -Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. 2003;
36. Huhtinen O. Early flowering of birch and its maintenance in plants regenerated through tissue cultures.     Acta Hortic. 1976;56:243-249.
37. Welander M. Biochemical and anatomical studies of birch (Betula pendula Roth) buds exposed to different climatic conditions in relation to growth in vitro. Genetic Manipulation of Woody Plants. 1987;79-99.
38. Iqbal M, et al. Effect of Explants and Growth Regulators on the Expression of Callogenesis Somatic Embryogenesis and Plantlets Formation in Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Int J Biosci. 2016;9:147-156.
39. Iqbal M, et al. In vitro study of callogenesis and regeneration potential of elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars. Am J Plant Sci. 2016;7:2515-2526.
40. Hussain M, et al. Plantlets regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from the nucellus tissues of Kinnow mandarin (Citrus reticulata L.). Am J Plant Sci. 2016;7:798-805.
41. Iqbal M, et al. Effect of Plant Derived Smoke on Germination and Post Germination Expression of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Am J Plant Sci. 2016;7:806-813.
42. Hussain M, et al. A review of therapeutic potential of Ajuga bracteosa: A critically endangered plant from Himalaya. J Coast Life Med. 2016;4:918-924.
43. Tahir N, et al. Overview of Dioscorea deltoidea Wall. Ex Griseb: An endangered medicinal plant from Himalaya region. J Biodiv Environ Sci. 2016;9:13-24.
44. Hazrat AW and Wahab. Threatened native plants of dir kohistan valley, Khyber pukhtunkhwa. Pak fuuast j biol. 2011;1:35-38.
45. Ali SI and Alam J. Contribution to the red list of the plants of Pakistan: Endemic Phanerogams of gilgit and baltistan. Pak J Botany. 2006;23:1-38.
46. Kumar GP, et al. Current status and potential prospects of medicinal plant sector in trans-Himalayan Ladakh. J Med Plants Res. 2011;5:2929-2940.
47. Kumar A, et al. Him Flor I san information system for flora in Himachal Pradesh, India. Curr Sci. 2010;99:1-4.
48. Dhar U, et al. Current status and future strategy for development of medicinal plants sector in Uttaranchal, India. Curr Sci. 2002;83:1-25.
49. Chawla A, et al. Vascular plants, Kinnaur. Himachal Pradesh, India. 2012;8:321-348.
50. Haq F. Conservation status of the critically endangered and endangered species in the Nandiar Khuwar catchment District Battagram, Pakistan. Int J Biodiv Conserv. 2011;3:27-35.
51. Pant S and Sharma V. Pant status and conservation management strategies for threatened plants of Jammu and Kashmir. J Phytol. 2011;3:50-56.