Plants have been used as healers and health rejuvenators since times immemorial. More than half the drugs under clinical use owe their origin to plants. The Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants lists 3000 plants. Which part of the plants is used most for medicinal properties ? 

Plants have been used as healers and health rejuvenators since times immemorial. More than half the drugs under clinical use owe their origin to plants. The Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants lists 3000 plants. Which part of the plants is used most for medicinal properties ?  Correct Answer Roots

The correct answer is Roots.

Key Points

  • Roots are the important underground part of all vascular plants.
  • Some major roots are there which are very useful for a medical purpose
    • Turmeric, Kava kava, Ginger, Maca, Valerian, Echinacea, Goldenseal, Ashwagandha, Licorice.
  • Maca root is native to Peru, where people have cultivated it for more than 3,000 years.
  • Valerian root has been used to treat sleep disorders since ancient Grecian and Roman times.
  • Ashwagandha is also widely used to treat everything from arthritis to asthma, to fibromyalgia, to liver disease.

Additional Information

  • Types of the root system
    • TapRoot system
    • Fibrous Root system
  • Functions of roots
    • Anchoring, Absorption, Storage, Reproduction.

Related Questions

Read the following passage and answer the item that follows. Your answers to this item should be based on the passage only. Many farmers use synthetic pesticides to kill infesting insects. The consumption of pesticides in some of the developed countries is touching 3000 grams/hectare. Unfortunately, there are reports that these compounds possess inherent toxicities that endanger the health of the farm operators, consumers and the environment. Synthetic pesticides are generally persistent in environment. Entering in food chain they destroy the microbial diversity and cause ecological imbalance. Their indiscriminate use has resulted in development of resistance among insects to insecticides, upsetting of balance in nature and resources of treated populations. Natural pest control using the botanical pesticides is safer to the user and the environment because they break down into harmless compounds within hours or days in the presence of sunlight. Plants with pesticidal properties have been in nature for millions of years without any ill or adverse effects on the ecosystem. They are easily decomposed by many microbes common in most soils. They help in the maintenance of biological diversity of predators and human health hazards. Botanical pesticides formulated from plants are biodegradable and their use in crop protection is a practical sustainable alternative. On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Synthetic pesticides should never be used in modern agriculture. 2. One of the aims of sustainable agriculture is to ensure minimal ecological imbalance. 3. Botanical pesticides are more effective as compared to synthetic pesticides. Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?
Read the following passage and answer the item that follows. Your answers to this item should be based on the passage only. Many farmers use synthetic pesticides to kill infesting insects. The consumption of pesticides in some of the developed countries is touching 3000 grams/hectare. Unfortunately, there are reports that these compounds possess inherent toxicities that endanger the health of the farm operators, consumers and the environment. Synthetic pesticides are generally persistent in environment. Entering in food chain they destroy the microbial diversity and cause ecological imbalance. Their indiscriminate use has resulted in development of resistance among insects to insecticides, upsetting of balance in nature and resources of treated populations. Natural pest control using the botanical pesticides is safer to the user and the environment because they break down into harmless compounds within hours or days in the presence of sunlight. Plants with pesticidal properties have been in nature for millions of years without any ill or adverse effects on the ecosystem. They are easily decomposed by many microbes common in most soils. They help in the maintenance of biological diversity of predators and human health hazards. Botanical pesticides formulated from plants are biodegradable and their use in crop protection is a practical sustainable alternative. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding biopesticides? 1. They are not hazardous to human health. 2. They are persistent in environment. 3. They are essential to maintain the biodiversity of any ecosystem. Select the correct answer using the code given below.