Ethnobotanical studies and documentation of folk medicinal plants used by tribes in the management of liver diseases in Satpuda hills of Khandesh region of Maharashtra

Abstract

West Khandesh region of Maharashtra was targeted areas for ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by tribes in the management of liver diseases and simultaneously documentation was made on information. Field of area is densely occupied by various tribes communities like Pawara, Kokani, Bhils, Mavach, Vasave etc. Ethnobotanical survey was carried out after interviewed numbers of different age group traditional healers. It is cleared that, they have huge knowledge of medicinal plants, number of plants, method of preparations and their vernacular names as well as local names, for management of liver diseases. Tribals are strongly believed and have a strong faith on the treatment of medicinal plants by traditional healers. Traditional healers have been diagnosing and treating their patient in number of ways like skin color of patient, voice and tongue condition, herbal medicines are given in different forms to patient. Thirty numbers of plants belong to Rubiaceae, Mimosaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Acanthaceae, Cucurbitaceae and Convolvulaceae families are used by traditional healers in the management of liver disorders. Keywords: Liver disorders, Ethnic groups, West Khandesh region of Maharashtra.