BIO PROSPECTING MARINE HALOPHYTE Salicornia brachiata FOR MEDICAL IMPORTANCE AND SALT ENCRUSTED LAND DEVELOPMENT

Oswin D Stanley


Abstract


Halophytes continue to be either under or unexplored in India. Many halophytic plants are of economic
value and have industrial applications in the form of essential oils, medicinal, alcohol, fiber, latex, pulp,
cosmetics etc. Salicornia spp extensively occur along Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts in the regularly
(20-50 tides month−1) inundated inter tidal zones. Expanding saline wastelands, dubious rains,
recurring droughts and soil erosion due to absence of green belt between sea and land ultimately lead
to low productivity and poverty in these coastal regions.
Seawater Agriculture is the strategy to link ecology and livelihood. Utilizing Salicornia to rehabilitate
the land and bio-prospecting biomedical compounds is a promising concept besides addressing the
issues of desertification, salt intrusion and ultimately poverty alleviation. It is rational to implement
pilot projects in different locations with commercial motives entangled with research concepts
standardization.


Keywords


Salicornia - Bio prospecting - Medicinal values - Salt land Rehabilitation - Poverty Alleviation

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