Of the estimated 7,000 plants found in Nepal, 1,792 species were found to have been used in traditional and modern medicine in one way or the other, the National News Agency RSS reported on Wednesday.

According to a book on different species of plants jointly written by Sushimaranjan Baral and Puran Prasad Kurmi, 1,557 species are found in the wild, 235 species are cultivated.

At Tuesday's book release ceremony here, Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Dilendra Prasad Badu said the medicinal plants used in traditional medicine should be preserved and should be registered in order to export such herbs in the international market.

Officiating secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Udaya Raj Sharma said as many herbs were on the verge of extinct due to climate change and irregular use, emphasis should be given to preserve them.

According to the RSS, the book also provides Nepal and English names of the plants used for medicinal purpose, as well as information on the geographical state, the pictorial and other medicinal qualities of the plants.

Source: Xinhua