~ 726 ~    Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2017; 6(6): 726-731 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2017; 6(6): 726-731 Received: 12-09-2017 Accepted: 14-10-2017 Pemba H Bhutia Department of Spices and plantation Crops, Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Agricultural University), Mohanpur, West Bengal, India AB Sharangi Department of Spices and plantation Crops, Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Agricultural University), Mohanpur, West Bengal, India Correspondence AB Sharangi Department of Spices and plantation Crops, Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Agricultural University), Mohanpur, West Bengal, India Promising Curcuma species suitable for hill regions towards maintaining biodiversity Pemba H Bhutia and AB Sharangi Abstract Biodiversity refers to the variability among living organisms and diversity within species, between species and of their ecosystem. Turmeric, considered as the Golden Spice of the world has considerable biodiversity including innumerable medicinal values. India occupies the first position in area and production of turmeric. Several species of Curcuma which are mostly grown in high elevations include Curcuma caesia, Curcuma rubescens, Curcuma amada, Curcuma leucorrhiza, Curcuma montana, Curcuma aromatica, Curcuma zedoaria, Curcuma angustifolia, Curcuma pseudomontana, Curcuma longa etc. Turmeric contains protein, fat, minerals, carbohydrates and moisture The essential oil obtained by steam distillation of rhizomes Curcumin is responsible for the yellow colour, and comprises curcumin I (94%), curcumin II (6%) and curcumin III (0.3%). Turmeric has attracted much attention due to its significant medicinal potential. It is used in the cure for leoprosy, intermitted fever, infections of liver, dropsy, purulent ophthalmia fevers, affections, wound healing, tumours, and indolent ulcers. It is used for treatment of snake bites and as antitumor. Turmeric also demonstrated antifungal properties. It has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antitumor, antiviral activities and anticancer activity. The curcuma sp. which are grown in temperature ranging from 11-40⁰C which are also suitable from the hilly area for their growth and development as the region receives a well distributed rainfall during the growing season and also the sloppy well drained land with good organic matter content. Hence, there is a suitability of curcuma species for their biodiversity and conservation in the hilly regions for the exploitation of yield and also used for various medicinal purpose. Keywords: Curcuma sp, biodiversity, medicinal properties, hilly regions Introduction Biodiversity or Biological diversity refers to the variability among living organisms which includes diversity within species, between species and of their ecosystem (Biodiversity Convention, Rio de Janeiro June1992). Most of the world's biodiversity is concentrated in the tropical and subtropical forests. The warm temperatures and high humidity levels in the tropics are conducive to greater survival rates than are the harsh temperatures in the winter in the temperate regions. Special features such as dormancy, hibernation, or migration are required to survive or escape the harsh winter conditions. Such adaptations are normally difficult to achieve. This led to a decrease in the overall number of species in the temperate regions, as compared to the tropical regions. Of the 18 biodiversity hot spots of the world 2 of them belongs to India. Western Ghat and Eastern Himalayas are the hot spots of biodiversity in India. Conservation of biodiversity is the planning and management of biological resources in a way so as to secure their wide use and continuous supply, maintaining their quality, value and diversity. Human race cannot exist without biodiversity whereas the biodiversity can exists without human race. Therefore, biodiversity has to be conserved for the long term benefit and well-being of the biosphere, including the human race. India is popularly known as the “Spice Bowl of the World” as a wide variety of spices with premium quality is grown in the country since ancient times. But among all those ancient spices, one which is virtually associated and intertwined with all individuals in issues related to food as well as life, so far as aroma, taste, flavor, colour, society, religion, economy, ecology and emotion is concerned, is turmeric. Turmeric (Curcuma sp) is a plant of the family Zingiberaceae whic comprises of about 70 species (Smart & Simmonds, 1992) [1] . It not only adds golden grace but also considered as the Golden Spice and grown almost all over the world especially in India, Bangladesh, Burma, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan,etc. Among these countries, India occupies the first position in area (2, 22, 000 ha) and in production (11, 32, 000 MT) (Anonymous 2017a) [2] . Several species of Curcuma growning in various altitudes ranging from sea level to very high elevations (Dymock et al. 1980, Gamble 1935) [3, 4] . Many species of the genus Curcuma viz.,