Documentation of some endangered medicinal plants growing in Indravati National Park, Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

Indravati National Park, located in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, India, is a biodiversity hotspot and a sanctuary for numerous plant species, including several recognized as endangered and possessing medicinal properties. This study aimed to document and provided valuable information on the endangered medicinal plants found within the Park. The research involved field surveys, interviews with local communities, and a comprehensive review of existing literature to compile data on these plants. The national park region is densely covered with green vegetation consisting of several important medicinal plants and some threatened and endangered plants of ethnomedicinal value. A total of 21 medicinal plants belonging to 16 families were reported during the study, categorized under rare, threatened and endangered categories with efficient ethno-medicinal applications. The maximum reported medicinal plant families were Bignoniaceae and Fabaceae (3 species report), Buseraceae (2 species report) followed by Apocynaceae, Araceae, Boranginaceae, Capparaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Longaniaceae, Meliaceae, Piperaceae, Putranjivaceae, Rutaceae, Sterculaceae, Zingiberaceae with one species reported. The plants' parts used for the preparation of herbal medication included leaves, roots, bark, flowers, fruits, seeds, corms, whole plant, gum and resin derived from the plants, which were further used for the preparation of fresh extracts, juice, decoction, infusion, grounded paste, and dried powder. The documentation presented in this study not only contributes to the preservation of traditional knowledge but also serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and conservationists working towards the protection of endangered medicinal plants in Indravati National Park, ensuring their availability for future generations and the advancement of herbal medicine and biodiversity conservation.