Phanting oo (Drumstick Primula)

Primula denticulata Sm. (Drumstick Primula)

Vernacular name: Phanting oo (in Kinnauri)

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Primula denticulata Sm., commonly known as Drumstick Primula (Phanting oo in the Kinnauri dialect), is a perennial herbaceous plant native to East Afghanistan, China (W. Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou provinces) and Myanmar. In India, it is found in parts of Western Himalayas, including Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh. 

P. denticulata primarily inhabits temperate biomes, but is also well-adapted to alpine and sub-alpine regions. You will often find this species growing in early spring in diverse habitats such as forests, moist meadows, grassy slopes, and areas near melting glaciers. This broad ecological tolerance of the species allows it to grow at elevations ranging from 2,100 to 3,500 meters above mean sea level. In Kinnaur, the flowering of P. denticulata is culturally associated with the melting of snow and onset of spring. 

Uses:

• The ethnobotanical use of Primula genus include treatment of cramps, paralysis, rheumatism, insomnia, respiratory conditions such as catarrh, cough, and bronchitis, as well as headaches, gout, and is even used as a diuretic.

• In the Kashmir Himalayas, the leaves of P. denticulata are traditionally used to treat wounds, fevers, ulcers, and sores, while its oral extracts are used for conditions such as diarrhea, sore mouth, and internal bleeding. Additionally, the aqueous extract of its flowers has shown activity against various tested bacteria, supporting its traditional use as an herbal tea.
  

Interesting facts:

• P. denticulata is rich in phytochemicals like phenols, tannins, and alkaloids, especially in plants growing above 2,850 m asl. The higher phenolic content at higher elevations may be a response to stronger UV-B radiation and colder temperatures, which stimulate the production of protective antioxidant compounds such as phenols.

• Chemical analysis of P. denticulata has revealed the presence of Primetin-19, a flavonoid. Flavonoids can bind to biological polymers and inhibit phospholipase A2 (PLA2), a key enzyme in snake venom, suggesting that P. denticulata may have potential as a snake venom antidote. However, ethnobotanical records on its traditional use for this purpose remain limited.

• The Indian Himalayan region harbors 106 species of plants within the genus Primula, which are distributed across the Himalayas. Many species of this genus are habitat-sensitive, making them valuable tools for monitoring and assessing the overall state of the ecosystem and serving as reliable bioindicators of ecological health.
  

References

1. Khan, S., Shaheen, H., Mehmood, A., Nasar, S., & Khan, T. (2022). Ethnobotanical and antibacterial study of Primulaplants traditionally used in the indigenous communities of Western Himalaya, Pakistan. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 29(5), 3244-3254.

2. Aslam, K., Nawchoo, I. A., & Ganai, B. A. (2015). Altitudinal variation in some phytochemical constituents and stomatal traits of Primula denticulata. International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research, 1(2), 93-101.

3. Basak, P. (2014). Genus Primula L. in India: A taxonomic revision. BSMPS.

4. Ohno, M., Chijiwa, T., Oda-Ueda, N., Ogawa, T., & Hattori, S. (2003). Molecular evolution of myotoxic phospholipases A2 from snake venom. Toxicon, 42(8), 841-854.