Traditional and commercial uses of Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C.B. Robinson (Lauraceae)

Abstract

The semi-evergreen dioecious tree species, Litsea glutinosa is traditionally used for treating various human ailments and diseases. Almost all parts of the tree are used traditionally but only the bark has high commercial value and in fact it is over-harvested unscientifically causing the death of the trees throughout its distribution range including India, especially in the north-eastern region. It is principally used as a binding agent in incense-stick industry and lately seriously being considered as binding agent in tablet formulations and as plasters for fractured limbs. The bark exploitation as a seasonal livelihood source for tribal communities in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and the present state of L. glutinosa here have been examined in this paper.