Dendrobium nobile Lindl., A Potent Medicinal Orchid Species

About author :
Rajendra Yonzone, D. Lama, R. B. Bhujel
Department of Botany, St. Joseph’s College,  W. B., India
E-mail: [email protected]                                                                                                                     

Introduction
Present paper deals a potent medicinal Orchid species Dendrobium nobile Lindl. with taxonomic details and medicinal uses. Extracts and metabolities of these plants, particularly those from flowers and leaves, possess useful pharmacological activities. Orchinol, cypripedin, hircinol, jibantine, loroglossin and nidemin are the important phytochemicals reported from Orchids (Singh et al 2009). In the present paper, Dendrobium nobile with taxonomy account and medicinal uses are mentioned in details. Dendrobium nobile Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 24. 1830. Plant epiphytic or lithophytic. Stems 32-48 cm long, covered with sheaths, jointed, yellowish; internodes 2.7-3.5 x 0.7-1.2 cm, sheathed. Leaves 6.5-11 x 2.3-3 cm, oblong to spathulate, many-veined, distichous. Inflorescences lateral, arising from nodes, 2-4-flowered; peduncle 0.8-1.5 cm long, 1-flowered from each node; pedicellate-ovary glabrous; floral bracts oblong-ovate, obtuse. Flowers 6-8.1 cm across, fragrant; sepals and petals white at base grading to pinkish-mauve above, lip rich maroon at base grading to yellow or white with mauve to purple margins. Sepals oblong-lanceolate, subacute to obtuse. Petals ovate-oblong, obtuse, margins weakily undulate. Lip simple, shortly clawed, convolute at base, ovate-oblong in outline, pubescent above and below, margins entire. Flowering: March – June. 
Kew Words: Orchidaceae, Dendrobium nobile, medicinal uses. 
Medicinal uses :
Powdered stem of D. nobile Lindl. used to cure stomachache (Johnson, 1998), whole plant parts is used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, flatulence, general debility, cut and wounds healing, dyspepsia, night sweats, fever and anoerexia. Fresh and dried stems are used in the preparation of Chinese drug shih-hu for longevity and as aphrodisiac (Yonzone et al. 2011), the powdery seeds are applied to the freshly cut wounds for early healing and used nervous disorder (Deb et al. 2009),
General distribution: India (West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya); Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand.
Conclusion :
Many Orchid species contribute good herbal medicine in pharmaceutical industries as well as ethnomedicine. But at present, whole Orchidaceae family facing high risk of threats in natural population. So immediate conservation measures is necessary to save our valuable natural jewel for sustainable development and utilization for the welfare of mankind.