Preprint
Article
A Green Pharmacy: Quantifying Medicinal Plant Use in the Sohagi Wildlife Sanctuary
Altmetrics
Downloads
106
Views
39
Comments
0
This version is not peer-reviewed
Spatial Epidemiology and GeoInformatics
Submitted:
13 April 2024
Posted:
15 April 2024
You are already at the latest version
Alerts
Abstract
Tribal healers and local practitioners possess knowledge about plant uses passed down through generations. However, habitat loss, unsustainable harvesting, and declining traditional knowledge threaten this valuable resource. India, a global biodiversity hotspot, is rich in medicinal plants. Documenting the traditional knowledge prevents it from being lost and ensures the preservation of this cultural heritage. Recording traditional practices helps bridge the gap between traditional and modern medicine. This study quantifies the ethnomedicinal uses of plants within the Sohag Wildlife Sanctuary. The findings contribute to preserving traditional knowledge and promoting the sustainable use of medicinal plants. The study documented 95 medicinal plant species from 39 families, highlighting the importance of ethnomedicinal studies for preserving traditional knowledge and ensuring the sustainable use of medicinal plants. In the future, scientific studies can be organized to understand their efficacy, leading to developing new, potentially safer, and more effective medications. Identifying and documenting medicinal plants is crucial in safeguarding cultural heritage, fostering scientific discovery, and promoting sustainable healthcare practices.
Keywords:
Subject: Environmental and Earth Sciences - Environmental Science
1. Introduction
For millennia, medicinal plants have served as a cornerstone of traditional healthcare across the globe. From chamomile's soothing properties to turmeric's pain-relieving power, these natural wonders offer vast potential for human health. However, this valuable resource is threatened by habitat loss, unsustainable harvesting, and a decline in traditional knowledge.
Documentation is needed for two reasons. First, it ensures the preservation of indigenous communities' knowledge. Tribal healers and local practitioners possess information on plant uses passed down through generations. Recording this knowledge helps bridge the gap between traditional and modern medicine. Second, proper documentation allows for scientific exploration. By cataloguing plant species and their potential benefits, researchers can investigate their efficacy and develop new drugs.
India, a global biodiversity hotspot and home to 33.2% of tropical moist deciduous forests (TMDFs), possesses immense potential for ethnomedicinal discoveries. These rich ecosystems harbor many medicinal plants crucial for traditional healthcare practices. However, alarming rates of deforestation and resource overexploitation threaten this valuable resource.
The significance of TMDFs extends beyond biodiversity. According to the All India coordinated project sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), New Delhi, ~40% of India's 16,000 recorded flowering plants have ethno-medical values. In the Indian subcontinent, 84% of the tribal population generates livelihood options from the forested areas.
Globally, 85% of primary healthcare relies on plant-derived medicines, highlighting the critical role of traditional knowledge held by tribal societies. This knowledge, passed down orally for generations (Maharjan et al 2021), faces threats from sociocultural change, migration, and limited transmission (Kunwar et al., 2016). Factors like geography, ethnicity, and education further influence the preservation of this knowledge (Joshi et al 2020).
Due to these reasons, ethnomedicinal research becomes crucial in this context. It fosters the sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants while safeguarding associated knowledge (Ford et al 2020, Kumar et al 2021). However, a significant portion of this information must be updated due to communication limitations. While the market for plant-based medicines flourishes (Subramanyam, 2007), detailed ethnomedicinal studies must be included, particularly in India's TMDFs like the Uttar Pradesh Terai region.
This research addresses this gap by quantifying the ethnomedicinal uses of plants within the Sohag Wildlife Sanctuary. The findings will contribute to preserving traditional knowledge and promoting the sustainable use of this vital ecological resource.
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Study Sites
This ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanctuary lies in the Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts of Uttar Pradesh, between 26° 58’ to 27° 25’ N and 83° 23’ to 84°10’ E. It is spread across the sub-mountain area of Terai in UP and is a vast alluvial plain. The underlying soil of the area consists of alluvial formations, showing a succession of clay beds, silt, and sand. The temperature ranges between 00C to 400C. The average annual rainfall is >1,500 mm. The earth's surface is almost plain, and the altitude varies from 95–103 m above mean sea level. However, the hill areas are easily visible towards the north of the Sanctuary, about 20 km towards the Indo-Nepal International boundary.
2.2. Data Collection and Identification of Medicinal Plants
Before beginning each interview, the research's purpose, methodology, and nature were explained to all participants, after which voluntary oral consent was obtained from all informants. Each informant had the chance to end the interview at any time. Acquire information on the therapeutic plants utilized by the indigenous people. Ethnobotanical data on the knowledge of plants and their use for medicinal purposes was collected using semi-structured and structured face-to-face interviews conducted in the Aravalli range with inhabitants of the research area on several trips to this region.
Eighty-six informants, including 57 males and 29 females, were interviewed. Most informants were traditional healers skilled in traditional medicine, using a purposive technique. After the interviews, all the data was deposited at the Department of Ecology of the JNU. Ethnobotanical and ethnomedical research was conducted by the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) Code of Ethics.
All principles of the Code of Ethics were respected, and there were no harmful consequences for the local community—furthermore, all the recommended standards for conducting ethnobotanical research (Weckerle et al 2018). The interview focused on the local population’s traditional knowledge of using wild plants to treat various health problems. The correct taxonomy and nomenclature of the vascular plants were also checked by referring to World Flora Online (WFO) (www.worldfloraonline.org); Herbarium of plant twigs bearing voucher numbers were deposited in the Department of Botany, JNU New Delhi, India for future references.
2.3. Demography of Informants
The informants were selected according to the “snowball” method: the first informant in the village is randomly appointed, and the following ones are recruited based on the information and contacts provided by the first informant. The “snowball” technique provides an opportunity to study the lifestyles and attitudes of hard-to-reach groups of society, which usually remain outside sociological studies.
The study area's population belongs to various ethnic groups and religions, and the region's official language is Hindi. Respondents of both sexes participated and resided permanently in the villages where we conducted the research. We interviewed 57 men and 29 women (n = 86), aged 25–75. Most interviewees were between 36 and 60 (58.13%) (Table 1). We recorded the gender, age, level of education, and occupation of all the respondents. Traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants in the study area was collected from farmers, homemakers, medicinal plant pickers, and traditional healers.
2.4. Data Analysis
The gathered data were revised and organized using MS Excel following use reports. The voucher number, scientific and local names, habit, part used, mode of preparation, and medicinal uses are included in each column as attributes of that reference. SPSS software was used for statistical analyses. We used a matrix plot employing Paste 4.03 to show species distribution among the families. A balloon plot represented the species used against different diseases. A cladogram showing the Pearson correlation between plant species and diseases was used.
2.5. Use Value (UV)
Use value (UV) was used to determine the relative importance of the medicinal plants. UV = Ui/N, where Ui is the number of use reports, citations, or mentions by each informant for a particular species. N is the total number of informants who participated in the study. Low numbers signify fewer mentions or citations, whereas high values show a significant volume of use reports or citations from the informants. It counts as one use report or citation each time an informant identifies or describes a species of medicinal plant that is being used to treat a condition or for another reason.
2.6. Relative Frequency Citation (RFC)
The relative frequency of citation (RFC) was computed to know the importance of the species. The relative frequency citation (RFC) is used to determine the relative frequency of reference or mention from the study participants who served as informants were calculated using the formula: RFC = FC/N, where FC is the number of informants cited or mentioned a plant, and N is the total number of informants. The values closest to 1 show that nearly all informants mentioned a medicinal plant used to treat a particular illness. Low scores show that the usage or purpose of a medicinal plant species is mentioned by few, or occasionally by one, informant.
2.7. Informant Consensus Factor (ICF)
The informant consensus factor (ICF) was used to assess the homogeneity or degree of agreement of the informant’s knowledge about medicinal plants, and calculated as follows: ICF = (Nur−Nt)/ (Nur−1), where Nur represents the number of use reports or citations for each illness category and the species utilized in that specific category.
2.8. Fidelity Level (FL)
The percentage of the most popular and valuable medicinal plant for a specific condition or use category was calculated using fidelity level (FL) using the formula: FL(%) = Np/N × 100, where NP is the proportion of informants who cited or discussed using a medicinal plant to treat a specific disease category. N is the number of informants who cited the plant for any other use or purpose.
A medicinal plant with a high value will likely have many citations and be the most popular species for treating a specific condition. This ethnobotanical documentation included 15 different use or disease categories updated and adapted from the ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases) for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics.
2.9. The Jaccard Similarity Coefficient or Jaccard Index (JI)
The Jaccard similarity coefficient or Jaccard index (JI) is used when the level of similarity between two groups of elements should be identified. JI is calculated using the formula:
Where: NA is the number of elements in group A, NB is the number of elements in group B; NAB is the number of elements available in both groups. This formula could identify the similarity between the species identified in both analyzed regions: Central and East Rodopes. Thus, the following modified formula is applied:
where: NA0 = NA − NAB is the number of species identified only in region A; NB0 = NB − NAB is the number of species identified only in region B; NAB is the number of species identified in both regions.
JI [%] = NAB × 100/(NA + NB − NAB),
JI [%] = NAB × 100/(NA0 + NB0 + NAB)
3. Results
The total area of Sohagi Barwa is 42,820 ha, divided into seven zones for conservation and management. The Tharu and Mushar tribes live around the Sohagi Barwa forest area. More than 300 villages are situated inside and outside this Protected Area, and around 90% of the population here are rural, along with 12 Tangy villages.
The sanctuary is home to diverse flora and fauna, including tigers. The literacy rate is 67.66 percent, and the sex ratio is 955. Maharajganj has a sex ratio of 943 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 62.76%. 5.02% of the population lives in urban areas. Out of 18, 12 villages in Maharajganj district are located in the dense forest of Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary, while six villages – Vilaspur, Daulatpur, Barhawa, Bhari Vaisi, Surpar, and Khurrampur – lie on the edge of the forest. More than 4,500 Vantangiya families live across Maharajganj’s 18 villages. Agriculture is the main occupation here. The community has received land on lease under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act. This act is better known as the Forest Rights Act. Around 100 years ago, the British brought practitioners of this farming system from then Burma to eastern Uttar Pradesh to set up sal and teak plantations in the Gorakhpur and Maharajganj regions. They came to be called the ‘Vantangiyas’ – ‘van’ means ‘forest.’
Demographic characteristics
Eighty-six informants were interviewed regarding the use of medicinal plants to treat different ailments (Table 1). Out of this number, 27 were traditional healers (Vaidyas and Daai) and the key informants for this study. Informants constituted three age groups between 25 and 75 years, with the majority (58,13%) being between 36–60 years old, and the second highest (29.06%) were between 25–35 years old. Men represented 66.27 % of informants, and women 33.74%. Informants were from different educational backgrounds; the majority (30.23%) were educated up to the secondary level, but some informants (8.13 %) were illiterate. Almost all illiterates were > 60 years old.
In the present study, 95 medicinal plant species belonging to 39 families have been reported for treating various ailments. The most prominent families were Fabaceae with 22 plant species, Poaceae with six plants, and Combretaceae with five plant species. Four species each among Moraceae Euphorbiaceae and Apocynaceae. Anacardiaceae Lamiaceae, Malvaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, and Tiliaceae Verbenaceae are with three species each, while Boraginaceae Lythraceae Menispermaceae are with two species each, and the other 23 families with one species each, as shown in Table 2. The high usage report of this large family, like Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Combretaceae, occupied 23.24%, 7.33%, and 7.14 % of the total used report, respectively, indicating that most people in the study area are inclined to use plants that are readily available and abundant around them (Table 2).
Taxonomy identification
Growth form of medicinal plants
Herbs, shrubs, trees, climbers, and lianas were the preferred growth forms of the therapeutic plants in the study area. With 57 species (60.00%), the tree had the highest percentage of all growth forms, followed by 29 species (30.62%) of herbs and shrubs, eight species (8.42%) of climbers, and one species (1.05%) of lianas (Figure 1).
Mode of preparation and administration
The mode of formulation preparation or administration was observed to be in the form of decoction (33%) followed by powder (18%), extract and juice (16%), paste (15%), raw (7%), oil (4%), poultice (3%) and others like latex and oleoresin (2%) (Figure 2).
Frequency of usage of parts of plants
Different plant components such as bark, flowers, fruits, grains, leaves, rhizomes, roots, seeds, stems, tubers, and whole plants are utilized in traditional medicine in the study area by informants (Figure 4). Among the parts, leaves, fruits, and barks were mainly utilized for preparation of traditional medicine (Figure 2). A detailed analysis concluded that the majority of plant parts that were employed were the leaves from 61 species, bark from 29 species, roots from 37 species, fruit and seed from 18 each.
Use value (UV) and relative frequency citation (RFC)
The use value (UV) of documented medicinal plants was determined by employing the use report (UR). This helped in the evaluatation of their relative importance in the research area and revealed the preferred medicinal plants used by the indigenous people (Table 4). The highest UV was recorded for Acacia catechu (1.28). The UV is 1.14 for Acacia nilotica and Syzygium cumini. Further, Shorea robusta (1.13), Aegle marmelos (1.08), Acacia concinna (1.07), and Calotropis procera (1.0) also revealed the plants with high UV while Desmodium latifolium (0.06) received the lowest recognition for their therapeutic potential. Aegle marmelos (0.98), Acacia catechu (0.95), and Syzygium cumini (0.94) had the highest RFC values among the documented medicinal plants.
Informant consensus factor (ICF)
The culturally significant medicinal plants utilized by various informants within the same use or ailment category were evaluated using ICF. The present study listed diseases treated by medicinal plants under 16 disease categories (Table 3). The digestive disease category had the highest ICF score (0.95), while the genitourinary, blood, and nervous system disorders had the lowest ICF score (0.90).
Table 3.
The informant consensus factor (ICF) by disease category in the study.
| Ailment category | Disease under each category | Number of plants used | Use report | ICF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious diseases | measles, malaria, tuberculosis, dengue, typhoid, rabies, cholera, dysentery | 22 | 281 | 0.93 |
| Neoplasms | cancer, tumour | 4 | 33 | 0.91 |
| Blood diseases | anemia, blood purification, haemorrhage | 10 | 91 | 0.90 |
| Metabolic diseases | diabetes | 13 | 171 | 0.93 |
| Nervous system disorder | headache, epilepsy, paralysis, vertigo, migraine, mental illness | 11 | 102 | 0.90 |
| Cardiovascular diseases | heart disease and hypertension anxiety | 7 | 73 | 0.92 |
| Respiratory diseases | asthma, cough, lung problem, pneumonia, tonsilitis, catarrah, bronchitis, throat infection | 26 | 442 | 0.94 |
| Digestive diseases | abdominal pain, stomachache, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, hepatitis, indigestion, dyspepsia, liver disease, piles, stomach ulcer, hemorrhoids enlarge spleen, toothache, mouth ulcer gingivitis and jaundice | 46 | 824 | 0.95 |
| Skin diseases | rash skin eruptions, leucoderma scabies, boils, Scars leprosy, pimples, & other skin problems | 35 | 511 | 0.93 |
| Genitourinary diseases | kidney stone and urinary tract problem | 12 | 112 | 0.90 |
| Connective diseases | muscle swelling, sprain, rheumatoid, arthritis, gout | 20 | 303 | 0.94 |
| General symptoms | body pain, inflammation, nose bleeding, dandruff, Allergies, Heat stroke, and fever | 30 | 411 | 0.93 |
| Injury | burns, cuts, wounds, and fracture | 33 | 502 | 0.94 |
| Poisonous bites | snake, scorpio, rabbit, rat, dog, insect bites | 11 | 108 | 0.91 |
| Women problems | enhancing lactation, menstrual disorders, leucorrhoea gynecological disorders | 8 | 84 | 0.92 |
| ear and eye related diseases | ear pain burning of the eyes conjunctivitis | 7 | 103 | 0.94 |
Table 3.
Raw data of plants with physicochemical parameters.
| Scientific name | Local name | Family | Habit | Parts used | Mode of use | Ailments uses | UV | RFC | IUCN status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abrus precatorius | ratti | Fabaceae | Climber shrub | Seed, leaves | Powder, paste | Leucorrhoea Mouth ulcer, dog biting, malaria | 0.17 | 0.13 | |
| Acacia catechu | Khair | Fabaceae | tree | heartwood | Extract decoction | cold and cough diarrhea, piles, body pains fever, mouth ulcer, boils, skin eruptions and on gums as disinfectant | 1.28 | 0.95 | |
| Acacia concinna | Shikakai | Fabaceae | climbing shrub | leaves, bark and pods | Extract decoction paste |
hair fall, dandruff, diabetes wound healing, prevents constipation, jaundice, scabies | 1.07 | 0.86 | |
| Acacia nilotica | Babul | Fabaceae | Tree | Bark, Gum, leaves | Decoction raw, paste | nausea, burns and wounds, stomach ache, diarrhea, immunity booster | 1.14 | 0.92 | |
| Adina cordifolia | Haldu | Rubiaceae | tree | Bark and leaves, latex | Juice, decoction, raw, paste | stomachache cholera, cold cough, fever, headache, scars urine complaints, pain and swelling, aching tooth, conjunctivitis, boils, rheumatism eczema | 0.52 | 0.42 | |
| Aegle marmelos | Bael, | Rutaceae | tree | fruits and leaves | Raw, extract, decoction | dysentery, dyspepsia, mal-absorption, vomiting, and rheumatism | 1.08 | 0.98 | |
| Alangium salvifolium | sage leaved Alangium | Alangiaceae | tree | roots, leaves, stem and bark | Raw, extract | skin diseases, leprosy, scabies rheumatism haemorrhages, snake/scorpion, rabbit, rat, dog bites | 0.38 | 0.24 | |
| Albizzia lebbek | Siris | fabaceae | tree | Bark, flower | Powder, decoction | skin eruptions, boils diarrhoea, dysentery and piles | 0.83 | o.54 | |
| Albizzia procera | Safed Siris Gurar, | fabaceae | tree | bark Seeds leaves |
decoction powdered poultice |
rheumatism, haemorrhage, haemorrhoids, skin diseases, stomach-ache amoebiasis ulcers | 0.75 | 0.45 | |
| Anthocephalus cadamba | Kadam | Rubiaceae | tree | root, bark and leaves, flowe fruits | Decoction juice, paste, powder infusion | fever, uterine complaints, blood diseases, skin diseases, tumour, anaemia, eye inflammation and diarrheas, sour throat, cough, | 0.87 | 0.71 | |
| Antidesma ghaesembilla | Binayuyo | Euphorbiaceae | tree | Leaves stem | decoction | headache menstrual flow | 0.29 | 0.19 | |
| Arundo donax, | Kasa | Poaceae | herb | rhizome roots | decoction | dysuria, fever, enhancing lactation, menstrual, disorders, bone fracture, cancer | 0.36 | 0.17 | |
| Barringtonia acutangula | Hijjal, | Lecythidaceae | tree | Seed, leaves, root | Powder, paste, decoction | Cold, diarrhea, scorpion bite, skin diseases | 0.76 | 0.71 | |
| Bauhinia malabarica | Amli | Fabaceae | tree | Flower Stem and root bark, leaves | decoction Infusion, raw | Jaundice, wound healing, diuretic, dysentery, fever | 0.51 | 0.36 | |
| Bauhinia purpurea | Kaniar | Fabaceae | tree | Bark, leaves | Decoction juice | Diarrhea, dropsy, pain, rheumatism | 0.47 | 0.37 | |
| Bauhinia recemosa | Bidi Leaf Tree | Fabaceae | tree | Bark, leaves, root | Decoctionpaste | headache, fever, skin diseases, blood diseases, dysentery, and diarrhea, ulcers diabetes, malaria, Epilepsy | 0.94 | 0.91 | |
| Bauhinia vahlii | malu, | Fabaceae | climbing shrub | Seeds, leaves | Powder, decoction | Diabetes, tonic | 0.11 | 0.07 | |
| Bombax ceiba | semal | Bombacaceae. | tree | Leaves, root bark | Extract, powder | Blood purification, Leucorrhoea skin blemish and pigmentation Wounds | 0.87 | 0.71 | |
| Bridelia retusa | Kasi | Phyllanthaceae | tree | leaves fruits and seeds bark | Extract decoction | wound, urinary tract infection, dysentery, and diarrhoea. earache, indigestion snakebite | 0.36 | 0.30 | |
| Buchanania lanzan | Chironji | Anacardiaceae | tree | roots, leaves, seeds | Oil, powder | Diarrhea, coughs and asthma skin diseases | 0.73 | 0.59 | |
| Butea monosperma | palas, | Fabaceae | tree. | flower | Infusion, juice | leprosy, gout, skin diseases inflammation, leucorrhoea eye diseases | 0.92 | 0.86 | |
| Calamus tennis | cane palm plan | Arecaceae | shrub | young stems leaf | extracts | fevers, piles, bacterial infections, wounds diabetes inflammation | 0.15 | 0.81 | |
| Callicarpa macrophylla | Priyangu | Verbenaceae | shrub, | Root, Bark, Leaves, Flowers, Fruits. | Extract , oil, decoction | tumour, diarrhoea, dysentery, diabetes, pneumonia , and rheumatic pain sores and gingivitis | 0.20 | 0.13 | |
| Calotropis procera | Aak | Asclepiadaceae, | shrub | Whole plant, root | Latex, powder | fever, rheumatism, indigestion, cold, eczema and diarrhea. Boils, jaundice toothache | 1.00 | 0.92 | |
| Carissa spinarum | Garna | Apocynaceae | shrub | roots and root bark, leaves, ripe or unripe, fruits, and stems and stem bark | Extract, decoction, raw | fever, jaundice, cardiac diseases, diabetes, malaria, pneumonia , chronic joint pain snake bites | 0.28 | 0.15 | |
| Celtis tetrandra | Nilgiri elm, | Cannabaceae | Tree | seed | juice | indigestion | 0.24 | 0.24 | |
| Clerodendrum viscosum | Bharangi | Verbenaceae | shrub | bark leaf | juice | cough and cold, itching, leprosy, scorpion sting | 0.22 | 0.09 | |
| Colebrookea oppositifolia | Bhaman | Lamiaceae, | shrub | roots, leaves and stem | decoction and dry powder | headache, fever, dysentery, peptic ulcer, dermatitis, wounds, epilepsy | 0.37 | 0.29 | |
| Cordia dichotoma | Leshora, | Boraginaceae | tree | Leaves and stem bark | Decoction paste | Common cold ,catarrh, cough, fever respiratory disease, leprosy | 0.78 | 0.56 | |
| Curculigo orchioides | Kali Musli | Amaryllidaceae | herbs | rhizomes | Juice, powder | Arthritis immunomodulator jaundice, asthma ,cuts and wounds | 0.41 | 0.29 | |
| Dalbergia sissoo | shisham | Fabaceae | tree | seed wood leaves | Oil powder | skin ailments and wounds | 0.76 | 0.57 | |
| Demostachya bipinnata | Kusha | Poaceae | herb | Leaves and stem | Decoction | dysentery, diarrhoea, dysuria, skin diseases | 0.63 | 0.50 | |
| Desmodium gangeticum | salparni. | Fabaceae | shrub, | Roots and whole plant | Extract, decoction | fever, respiratory problems, bronchitis, nervine tonic, vomiting, | 0.48 | 0.30 | |
| Desmodium heterocarpon | Asian Tick Trefoil | Fabaceae | herb | whole plant | decoction | fever, strains | 0.16 | 0.08 | |
| Desmodium latifolium | jagru | Fabaceae | Shrub | roots | raw | toothache | 0.06 | 0.06 | |
| Desmodium pulchellum | Jatsalpan, | Fabaceae | Shrub | root | powder | abdominal and chest burning discomforts | 0.16 | 0.13 | |
| Dillenia pentagyna | Mota Karmal | Dilleniaceae | trees | Bark, leaf | Decoction, paste | body pain, diabetes, cut and wounds | 0.41 | 0.24 | |
| Diospyros tomentosa | Tendu | Ebenaceae | tree | Stem bark, seed | Paste, oil, decoction | Boils, diabetes, abscess | 0.52 | 0.39 | |
| Drypetes roxburghii | Jivputrak | Euphorbiaceae | tree | Fruit, leaves | Powder, decoction | Catarrh, fever, hemorrhoids, cold, fever, rheumatism, spermopoietic | 0.56 | 0.48 | |
| Ehretia laevis | Chamror | Boraginaceae | tree | leaves, stems barks, seeds | Paste, decoction | cuts and wounds, fractures, toothache, diabetes mellitus | 0.34 | 0.24 | |
| Ficus glomerata | gular | Moraceae | tree | Root bark leaves fruits | Powder, paste, decoction | antidiuretic gynecological disorders, leprosy, leucorrhoea, burns, dry cough, bronchitis, piles | 0.94 | 0.83 | |
| Ficus ramphii | Kabaipipal | Moraceae | tree | Leaves, Bark | Juice | kill worms asthma, snakebite, | 0.38 | 0.32 | |
| Ficus religiosa | pepal | Moraceae | tree | Bark, leaves | Juice, powder | antibacterial, skin diseases. antivenom activity , regulates the menstrual cycle, paralysis, bone fractures, cough, asthma, diarrhoea, ear pain, toothache | 0.67 | 0.59 | |
| Gmelina arborea | Gambhara, | Lamiaceae/ Verbenaceae | tree | Root, fruit, flower, leaves | Raw, powder, decoction | pulmonary and nervine tonic digestion, fever, thirst, heart diseases, nervous disorders, piles | 0.31 | 0.24 | |
| Garuga pinnata | Kharpat/ Ramasin | Burseraceae. | tree | Stem, leaves | juice | Opacity of conjunctiva, asthma | 0.30 | 0.22 | |
| Gloriosa superba | Kalihari | Liliaceae | herbaceous climber | Tuber root rhizome and seeds |
Paste , powder | Arthritis, reduces pain,inflammation, ulcers, bleeding piles, skin diseases, leprosy, and snakebites | 0.24 | 0.19 | extinction |
| Glycosmis pentaphylla | Bannimbu | Rutaceae | shrub | leaves, stems, barks, fruits, and roots | Decoction, paste | cough, fever, bronchitis, inflammation, rheumatism, boils, eczema, fractures | 0.33 | 0.20 | |
| Grewia hirsute | Nagabala Kakarundah | Tiliaceae | Shrub | mucilage leaves, stems and roots | infusion or decoction poultice | diarrhoea and dysentery, wounds, cuts, ulcers, splenic enlargement, piles, rheumatism | 0.38 | 0.31 | |
| Grewia subinaequalis | Phalsa | Tiliaceae | shrub | unripe phalsa fruits leaves | raw | Inflammation, applied on skin eruptions | 0.87 | 0.72 | |
| Grewia tiliaefolia | Dhaman | Tiliaceae/ malvaceae | tree | bark and roots | paste | fractures, diarrhoea wounds, urinary infection and skin diseases. | 0.39 | 0.31 | |
| Helicteres isora | Marorphal | Sterculiaceae | tree | Root,Stem bark, fruit | Decoction | Diarrhea, dysentery, abdominal pain | 0.31 | 0.26 | |
| Holarrhena antidysenterica | Kutaj, | Apocynaceae | tree | Bark, Root, Seeds | Decoction | Gastric problems. Dysentery, diarrhea. aanemia, epilepsy | 0.36 | 0.27 | |
| Holopetela integrifolia | Chilbil, | Ulmaceae | tree, | leaves and stem bark | Decoction, paste | rheumatic swellings inflammation of lymph glands, leucoderma. wound healing | 0.53 | 0.36 | |
| Hygroryza aristata | Tini | Poaceae | herb | Leaves and seed | decoction | diuretic, diarrhea, fatigue, general weakness | 0.90 | 0.88 | |
| Hymenodictyon spp. | Bhurkur | Rubiaceae | tree | leaves | powder | Wound healing, antiinfl ammatory | 0.14 | 0.13 | |
| Indigofera cassioides | Hakanu | Fabaceae | shrub | roots | decoction | coughs | 0.11 | 0.06 | |
| Kydia clycina | Pula | Malvaceae | tree | leaves | Paste, decoction poultices | jaundice, skin diseases, wounds, cuts, and boils | 0.28 | 0.15 | |
| Lagerstroemia parviflora | Senia | Lythraceae | tree | leaves | decoction | coughs, fevers, asthma, and bronchitis | 0.66 | 0.50 | |
| Lagerstroemia speciosa | Jarul | Lythraceae | tree | Bark leaves | Decoction | fever, diabetes | 0.59 | 0.48 | |
| Lannea cormendelica | Mohin | Anacardiaceae | tree | Leaves, bark | Decoction, paste | swellings and body pains cuts, wounds, gout | 0.54 | 0.36 | |
| Lantana camara | Raimuniya | Verbenaceae | Shrub | leaves | Decoction | wound healing, fever, cough, malaria | 0.52 | 0.39 | |
| Ichnocarpus frutescens | Kali-dudhi | Apocynaceae | climbing shrub, | Roots, leaf | Decoction | blood purifier, jaundice, fever gout, rheumatism, skin diseases | 0.39 | 0.26 | |
| Madhuca indica | Mahua | Sapotaceae | tree | Bark, leaves, flower, fruit, Seed | Raw, Decoctionpaste, oil | fracture, swelling, itching, snake bite, wounds, leprosy, eczema, hemorrhoids, skin disease, headache, rheumatism | 0.88 | 0.72 | |
| Mallotus phillipensis | kamala | euphorbiaceae | tree | fruits hairs and glands | powder | anthelminitic, ulcers and wounds scabies | 0.41 | 0.28 | endangered |
| Milletia auriculata | Garari | Fabaceae | Climbers | leaves, stem |
Decoction | toothache | 0.07 | 0.07 | |
| Moghania prostrate | , | Fabaceae | Herb | roots | paste | rheumatism and associated inflammatory ailments | 0.09 | 0.09 | |
| Murraya koenigii | Katnims | Rutaceae | shrub | leaves | Decoctionraw, paste, oil | diabetes, skin inflammation strengthening the bones | 0.62 | 0.49 | |
| Ougeinia oojeinensis | Sandan | Fabaceae | tree | Stem bark | paste | cuts and wounds diarrhoea, dysentery, fever leucoderma | 0.27 | 0.18 | |
| Pongamia pinnata | Karanj | Fabaceae | tree | Leaves, bark | Paste, decoction | piles, skin diseases, ulcers bronchitis, asthma | 0.51 | 0.37 | |
| Pterocarpus marsupium | Bija | Fabaceae | tree | Bark leaves | Decoction, paste | Fractures, constipation, hemorrhages, cholera, neurological problems. | 0.42 | 0.36 | |
| Rawolifia serpentine | Sarpagandha | Apocynaceae | shrub | Root, leaves | powder | Hypertension, anxiety, asthma headaches, snake bites | 0.83 | 0.76 | |
| Sachrum munjha, | Sarkanda | Poaceae | herb | Root | Powder, decoction | dysuria, giddiness and vertigo, bleeding wounds | 0.49 | 0.39 | |
| Sachrum spontaneum | Kasa | Poaceae | herb | Root | decoction | burning sensations, dyspepsia, urinary tract infection, | 0.31 | 0.28 | |
| Schleichera oleosa | Kusum | Sapindaceae | tree | Leaves, bark | Juice, powder | Blood purification, skin disease | 0.64 | 0.5 | |
| Semecarpus anacardium | Bhilwa | Anacardiaceae | tree | fruits, seeds | Oil, powder | Skin diseases, tumors, constipations, healing of wounds rheumatic disorders | 0.37 | 0.24 | |
| Shorea robusta | Sal | Dipterocarpaceae | tree | leaves bark | Powder, extract, oleoresin | Inflammation, fever, wounds, ulcers, leprosy, cough, earache, burning of the eyes | 1.13 | 0.91 | |
| Smilax macrophylla | catbriers, | SMILACACEAE | climber | Root, rhizome | Powder, extract | Syphilis, Gout, muscular sprain, | 0.13 | 0.08 | |
| Stereospermum suaveolens | Patala | Bignoniaceae | tree | Bark, root | Extract powder | fever, inflammation, and digestive problems | 0.28 | 0.20 | |
| Streblus asper | khoi, | Moraceae | tree | Stem, leaves | Decoction, raw | leprosy, toothache, diarrhea, dysentery and cancer. | 0.26 | 0.22 | |
| Syzygium cumini | Jamun | Myrtaceae | tree | Fruit,leave, seeds, stem bark | Raw, powder, decoction | cough, diabetes, dysentery, inflammation Bleeding gums wounds ulcers leucorrhea, | 1.14 | 0.94 | |
| Tectona grandis | teak | Lamiaceae | tree | Leaves, seeds, heartwood, bark | Decoction, paste, powder | piles, dysentery, leukoderma, anti-inflammatory, bronchitis, urinary and liver related troubles | 0.79 | 0.60 | |
| Terminalia alata | saaj | Combretaceae | tree | bark | Juice, powder | Diarrhea, cuts and wounds | 0.62 | 0.48 | |
| Terminalia arjuna | Arjuna | Combretaceae | tree | Stem bark | Powder, decoction | cardiotonic in heart failure, ischemic, cardiomyopathy, fractures, ulcers, hepatic | 0.67 | 0.56 | |
| Terminalia bellirica | Behera | Combretaceae | tree | unripe fruit | powder | hepatitis, bronchitis, asthma, piles, diarrhea, coughs, eye diseases | 0.84 | 0.74 | |
| Terminalia chebula | Harard | Combretaceae | tree | unripe fruit | Decoction, powder | vomiting, dysentery and diarrhea, gout and joints pain, wound | 0.86 | 0.71 | |
| Terminalia tomentosa | Saja | Combretaceae | tree | bark | Decoction, paste | ulcers, fractures, bronchitis, and diarrhea | 0.50 | 0.44 | |
| Tiliacora acuminate | Bagmushda. | Menispermaceae | lianas | Leaves, bark, and flowers | Decoction, extract, paste | wounds, snake bites, skin infections, jaundice, piles, ulcer, diabetes | 0.31 | 0.19 | |
| Tinospora cordifolia | giloy | Menispermaceae | climbing shrubs | Stem, leaves | Decoction, juice | Dengue Fever, diabetes, upset stomach, | 0.86 | 0.65 | |
| Toona ciliate | tuni | Meliaceae | tree | Bark, gum | powder | dysentery and wounds, boils | 0.28 | 0.24 | |
| Trewia nudiflora | Gutel, | Euphorbiaceae | tree | root | Poultice, decoction | gout and rheumatism, swellings | 0.45 | 0.24 | |
| Triumfetta pentandra | fivestamen burbark | Malvaceae | herb | root | poultice | Sores, small wounds | 0.13 | 0.10 | |
| Triumfetta rhomboidea | Paroquet Bur | Malvaceae | shrub | Root, leaves | decoction | diarrhoea, dysentery, internal haemorrhages leprosy | 0.25 | 0.16 | |
| Typha elephantina | Elephant grass, | Typhaceae | herb | Flower, rhizome leaves | Paste, decoction extract |
boils, wounds, burns Leprosy, diuretic | 0.79 | 0.67 | |
| Vetiveria zizanioides | khus | Poaceae | herb | root | Powder, decoction, oil |
Blood purifier, digestive problem, cough, asthma, vertigo, skin problem | 0.88 | 0.68 | |
| Ziziphus mauritina | Indian jujube | Rhamnaceae | shrub | Leaves, root ,seed | Paste, extract, decoction | fever, asthma, depression anxiety, wound healer | 0.31 | 0.24 |
In this study, most informants were aged between 36 and 75 years (71%), with only (29%) of the remainder aged below 36 years. The informants' ability to mention more medicinal plant species also varied according to their age. Informants above the age of 35 could mention and identify more medicinal plants during this study than those 40 years and below.
DISCUSSION
Traditional healers typically prefer to impart their knowledge of native medicinal plants to other men, which may account for the high proportion of male informants in the research area. Similarly, other studies show that males constituted the majority while females were in the minority. Variations in the knowledge of medicinal plants among different age and gender classes have been widely reported in several studies (Laldingliani et al 2022). There is no significant difference among people of different educational levels in the use of herbal medicine.
As reported in previous work, key informants were predictably more knowledgeable than general informants (Giday et al 2009). Their extensive experience may explain this and extreme discretion when employing therapeutic plants. The plant families with the most medicinal plants in the study were Fabaceae, Poaceae, Combretaceae, Moraceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Apocynaceae. Other studies have reported the broader use of medicinal plant species in the above families in herbal medicines.
The use of woody tree species as significant sources of herbal medicines has been widely reported in previous ethnobotanical studies. Similarly, our study found that shrubs were the bulk sources of herbal medicines in the area. The high uses of these plant species in herbal medicine could be attributed to their abundance in the area and probably the season in which the study was conducted.
Some ethnobotanical studies have recorded plant leaves as the dominant plant organs in herbal medicine preparations. In this study, leaves were the dominant plant organs used in the preparation. This has also been reported due to the high concentration of bioactive compounds and their fast regeneration abilities. The high use of leaves in the current study can be attributed to the fact that they are the primary photosynthetic organs of plants that can easily be harvested and processed into herbal medicine because they are readily available.
According to the informants, decoction is the most typical preparation mode for most herbal medicines, followed by powder and paste. Some recent studies have also indicated that decoction is the most typical mode of preparation for herbal medicines. The most common modes of administration for most herbal products are oral and topical. In this study, we found that the most common modes of administration of herbal medicines were oral and topical. Among the 16 clusters of diseases identified in this study, digestive system disorders recorded the highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) value of 0. 95. This indicates that there was a strong agreement among the informants on the use of plant species for treating diseases belonging to the digestive system disorder. Similarly, the above findings in this study are closely related to previous studies in ethnobotany whereby the digestive system disorders recorded the highest ICF values among the informants.
Most of the human population here is reportedly below the poverty line with small land holdings. Due to floods and drought, the district always faces famine-like situations (Management Plan of Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary 2010-11 to 2019-20). Hence, this forest's major management conservation concerns include illicit felling, grazing, and increasing pressure from t cultivators living in and around the area. SBWS has seven forest ranges: Pakdi, Madhwaliya, Laxmipur, North Chouk, South Chouk, Sheopur, and Nichlaul, with 21 grasslands. These seven ranges comprise 39,220.10 ha area and another 3,600 ha of agricultural land in the Sanctuary.
In this study, most informants were aged between 36 and 75 years (71%), with only (29%) of the remainder aged below 36 years. The informants' ability to mention more medicinal plant species also varied according to their age. Informants above 35 could mention and identify more medicinal plants during this study than those 40 years and below. This is because the older generation may know more about medicinal plants than the younger generation. Many medicinal plants grow wild and are susceptible to habitat destruction. Creating protected areas and promoting sustainable harvesting practices are crucial. Cultivating these plants can also ensure a steady supply and reduce pressure on wild populations.
Preserving medicinal plants has numerous benefits. They provide affordable healthcare options, particularly in regions with limited access to modern medicine. Furthermore, these plants can serve as a source of new drugs, potentially leading to breakthroughs in treating various ailments. In conclusion, medicinal plants represent a treasure trove of natural remedies. By documenting and preserving them, we safeguard this vital resource for future generations. This collaborative effort between indigenous communities, scientists, and conservationists can unlock nature's pharmacy and ensure a healthier future for all.
In the future, empowered by medicinal plant knowledge, we might see personalized plant-based medicine suitable for our unique genetic makeup. Traditional medicine has a vast amount of untapped knowledge. Advanced cultivation techniques combined with genetic analysis of medicinal plants could unlock their potential for tissue regeneration and disease reversal. By preserving this "treasure trove" of natural remedies, a bright future for humanity is possible where healthcare is not just affordable and accessible but personalized and transformative.
Acknowledgments
We warmest thanks to the School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, for the valuable support.
References
- Ford JD, King N, Galappaththi EK, Pearce T, McDowell G, Harper SL. The resilience of indigenous peoples to environmental change. One Earth. 2020, 2, 532–543. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Friedman J, Yaniv Z, Dafni A, et al. A preliminary classification of the healing potential of medicinal plants, based on a rational analysis of an ethnopharmacological field survey among Bedouins in the Negev Desert, Israel. J Ethnopharmacol. 1986, 16, 275–287. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Giday M, Asfaw Z, Woldu Z, Teklehaymanot T. Medicinal plant knowledge of the bench ethnic group of Ethiopia: an ethnobotanical investigation. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2009, 5, 34. [Google Scholar]
- 4. Heinrich M, Ankli A, Frei B, et al. Medicinal plants in Mexico: healers’ consensus and cultural importance. Soc Sci Med.
- Joshi N, Ghorbani A, Siwakoti M, Kehlenbeck K. Utilization pattern and indigenous knowledge of wild medicinal plants among three ethnic groups in Makawanpur district, Central Nepal. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020, 262, 113219. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kumar M, Radha Devi H, Prakash S, Rathore S, Thakur M, Puri S, Pundir A, Bangar SP, Changan S, Ilakiya T. Ethnomedicinal plants used in the health care system: a survey of the mid-hills of Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, India. Plants. 2021, 10, 1842. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kunwar RM, Baral K, Paudel P, Acharya RP, Thapa-Magar KB, Cameron M, Bussmann RW. Land-use, socioeconomic change, medicinal plant selection, and biodiversity resilience in far Western Nepal. PLOS ONE. 2016, 11, e0167812. [Google Scholar]
- Lalramnghinglova H, Kayang H. Ethnobotanical usages of plants in western Mizoram. Indian J Tradit Knowl. 2007, 6, 486–493. [Google Scholar]
- Laldingliani TBC, Thangjam NM, Zomuanawma R, Bawitlung L, Pal A, Kumar A. Ethnomedicinal study of medicinal plants used by Mizo tribes in Champhai district of Mizoram. India J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2022, 18, 22. [Google Scholar]
- Maharjan R, Thapa R, Nagarkoti S, Sapkota P. Ethnobotanical uses of home garden species around Lalitpur district, Nepal. Asian J Pharmacogn. 2021, 4, 10–22. [Google Scholar]
- Phillips O, Gentry AH. The useful plants of Tambopata, Peru: I. Statistical hypotheses tests with a new quantitative technique. Econ Bot. 1993, 47, 15–32. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tardio J, Pardo de Santayana M. Cultural importance indices: a comparative analysis based on the useful wild plants of Southern Cantabria (Northern Spain). Econ Bot. 2008, 62, 24–39. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- The ISE code of ethics, International Society of Ethnobiology, 2006. http://ethnobiology.Net/code-of-ethics/.
- Weckerle CS, de Boer HJ, Puri RK, van Andel T, Bussmann RW, Leonti M. Recommended standards for conducting and reporting ethnopharmacological field studies. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018, 210, 125–132. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- World Health Organization. ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics (version: 02/2022). Available at: https://icd.who.int/brows e11/1-m/en.2022.
Figure 1.
Growth forms of medicinal plant.
Figure 2.
Preparation methods of traditional medicine.
Figure 3.
The most frequently used plant parts in the ethnomedicine of the study area.
Table 1.
Demographic features of the local informants in the study area (n = 86).
| Demographic features (%) | Abundance | Relative Abundance (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Male | 57 | 66.27 |
| Female | 29 | 33.78 |
| Age group | ||
| 25-35 | 25 | 29.06 |
| 36-60 | 50 | 58.13 |
| 61-75 | 11 | 12.79 |
| Education | ||
| Illiterate | 07 | 8.13 |
| Literate | 23 | 26.74 |
| Primary level | 21 | 24.41 |
| Secondary level | 26 | 30.23 |
| Graduation | 09 | 10.46 |
| Healing experience | ||
| Key informants | 27 | 31.39 |
| General informants | 59 | 68.60 |
Table 2.
Name of plant families with number of species and used report.
| Sr. No. | Family Name | Number of medicinal plants | Number of used reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alangiaceae | 1 | 33 |
| 2. | Amaryllidaceae | 1 | 36 |
| 3. | Anacardiaceae | 3 | 142 |
| 4. | Apocynaceae | 4 | 161 |
| 5. | Arecaceae | 1 | 13 |
| 6. | Asclepiadaceae | 1 | 86 |
| 7. | Bignoniaceae | 1 | 24 |
| 8. | Bombacaceae | 1 | 75 |
| 9. | Boraginaceae | 2 | 53 |
| 10. | Burseraceae | 1 | 26 |
| 11. | Cannabaceae | 1 | 21 |
| 12. | Combretaceae | 5 | 300 |
| 13. | Dilleniaceae | 1 | 35 |
| 14. | Dipterocarpaceae | 1 | 98 |
| 15. | Ebenaceae | 1 | 45 |
| 16. | Euphorbiaceae | 4 | 147 |
| 17. | Fabaceae | 22 | 976 |
| 18. | Lamiaceae | 3 | 127 |
| 19. | Lecythidaceae | 1 | 65 |
| 20. | Liliaceae | 1 | 21 |
| 21. | Lythraceae | 2 | 108 |
| 22. | Malvaceae | 3 | 57 |
| 23. | Meliaceae | 1 | 24 |
| 24. | Menispermaceae | 2 | 101 |
| 25. | Moraceae | 4 | 194 |
| 26. | Myrtaceae | 1 | 98 |
| 27. | Phyllanthaceae | 1 | 31 |
| 28. | Poaceae | 6 | 308 |
| 29. | Rhamnaceae | 1 | 27 |
| 30. | Rubiaceae | 3 | 85 |
| 31. | Rutaceae | 3 | 175 |
| 32. | Sapindaceae | 1 | 55 |
| 33. | Sapotaceae | 1 | 76 |
| 34. | Smilacaceae | 1 | 11 |
| 35. | Sterculiaceae | 1 | 27 |
| 36. | Tiliaceae | 3 | 142 |
| 37. | Typhaceae | 1 | 68 |
| 38. | Ulmaceae | 1 | 46 |
| 39. | Verbenaceae | 3 | 81 |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Copyright: This open access article is published under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license, which permit the free download, distribution, and reuse, provided that the author and preprint are cited in any reuse.
MDPI Initiatives
Important Links
© 2024 MDPI (Basel, Switzerland) unless otherwise stated