Ethnobotanical Study of Traditional Medicinal Plants of Tharu Community in Swathi Village, Nawalparasi District Nepal

Abstract

AbstractThe present study had been conducted in Swathi village of Nawalparasi district, which is rich in traditional knowledge. The primary aim of the study was to document medicinal plants used to cure various ailments in Tharu community in Swathi village. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, household survey, and focus group discussion. Altogether 105 plant species of medicinal values were recorded belonging to 94 genera and 50 families, among which Fabaceae accounts as the most dominant species, i.e., 12 species. Most of the species found in the study area found in wild of which herbs account as the most used lifeform. Leaves were the widely used plant part practiced to treat human ailments. These plant species were evaluated in terms of parts use category, habit category, mode of use category, disease use category, medicinal use pattern and multiple uses, number of use reports, and number of taxa uses to treat different ailments. These medicinal plants were documented with their scientific name, local name, family, and lifeform of plants. Especially local faith healers, Guruwas, and elderly people had rich knowledge about the traditional use of medicinal plants. Women of the study area had rich knowledge on the use of plants for different purposes. Respiratory diseases and fever ailments have the highest ICF (0.80), whereas ureno-genital disorders have the lowest (0.25) ICF. Euphorbia royleana, Cuscuta reflexa, Bryophyllum pinnatum, and Artemisia indica have the highest FL (100% each) being used for respiratory disease and fever, others (jaundice), and gastrointestinal disorders, respectively. Further biological studies should also be conducted on the reported medicinal plant species of the study area to utilize them in drug development. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacies and possible side effects of the traditional medicinal plants before they are recommended for their wider use in both the study area and elsewhere in the country.