KOLKATA: The Indian Botanic Garden is about to start research on wild herbs and plants that have been recently identified by its scientists as potential sources of perfume. An exclusive aromatic plant garden is also being set up where at least 30 species of wild and hitherto unknown plants, as well as 30 known ones, will be cultivated for research. The garden is being set up under the aegis of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change to boost both the perfume and pharmaceutical industries.The wild herbs and plants are mostly from Darjeeling, Sikkim, the Western Ghats and the northeast. These have never been known to be used for perfume concentrate extraction. Among the ones that have already been selected for experimental plantation are from the Artemisia, Chryspogon and Zingiderales families. “These wild plants are abundant in their natural habitats and if we are able to get positive results, there will be no dearth of raw materials for the industry,” said M U Sharief, scientist and head of Botanic Garden, who is heading the research team. “By perfume, we don’t just mean cosmetic perfumes, but also those that can act as insect/ mosquito repellents. This is another growing need today,” he added.A 650sqft river-facing plot in the southern fringes of Botanic Garden has been earmarked for the aromatic plant section. The bed has already been prepared and both wild and cultivated species collected from Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Darjeeling are being transplanted.“The aromatic plant species that we have chosen have claimed a unique place due to their odoriferous or volatile substances and also their therapeutic values in prevention and cure of diseases. The study that we are initiating here will be on a par with advanced research happening across bio-laboratories worldwide. However, the study of aromatic plants is a science that has been in existence since 2000-3000 BC,” explained Basant Singh, a key scientist of this project.

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