REVIEW ARTICLE JP Mohanty et.al / UJPSR / 1 (1), 2015, 45-50 Department of Pharmacognosy e ISSN: 2454-3764 Print ISSN: 2454-3756 www.ujpsr.com 1st Issue 45 AN OVERVIEW ON ORCHIDS 1 Dr.JP Mohanty*, 1 Prosanta Pal, 1 Ankur Das Barma Department of Pharmacognosy, Himalayan Pharmacy Institute, Majhitar, Rangpo, E. Sikkim – 737136, INDIA INTRODUCTION From the ancient time traditional medicine is used by the different ethnic communities all over the world for curing the different disease. On the bases of that traditional knowledge natural recourses are general focused for new drug formulation for several diseases, for that reason plant are getting a special focused by the academic and industrial researchers [1]. From the ancient time (200 BC) orchids are used as tonic, astringent, analgesic anti-inflammatory agent according to Chinese pharmacopoeia. In the other hand, we found that the Greek people first identified this plant, On bases of 372-286 BC nomenclatures this phenomena get generic name which comes from “Orchis” which means “The Testicles” according to Greek word. Greek people believe that it is having a good medicinal value in respect to human beings. Several orchid species are also used as an active ingredient in the medicinal formulation one of the oldest traditional medicine system that is Ayurveda [2]. Orchid is one of the largest species having colourful flower in the plant family. Near about 24,000 species of orchids are there all over the country and generally this are grow in humid environment condition of tropical countries as a hanging condition of the forest trees, rocks and also inhabiting damp woods and grassy slopes preferring acidic soils. Abstract Orchid is the one of the beautiful flower in the whole world. Generally it is cultivated for flower production all over the world. Ethnic groups of mainly north eastern Asian and some different places all over the world are also use it as a traditional medicine. In this present study we are reviewing the traditional use and conservation and also including traditional food by the different ethnic groups of different communities of different places of orchid on the bases of several literature studies. It is believed that from the 200 BC, the Chinese people are cultivating this species for their daily life use. In the Indian subcontinent, several orchid species are also used in different Ayurvedic formulation. But in India still now in this sector not so much exploration is done. The main object of this paper to give an overall over view in orchid study, also to encourage the researchers for their further studies which can be helpful to the society as well as the researchers. Key words Orchid, Sacred groves, Traditional food. ARTICLE INFO: Article history: Received: 1 April 2015 Received in revised form: 15 May 2015 Accepted: 15 June 2015 Available online: 15 July 2015 Corresponding Author : Dr. JP Mohanty Department of Pharmacognosy Himalayan Pharmacy Institute Majhitar, E. Sikkim, INDIA Email: jp.mohanty@rediffmail.com Phone: +91-9749986808