Ethnobotanical survey of poisonous plants and their medicinal uses in Chamba block, district Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract. Chaiyong S, Pongamornkul W, Panyadee P, Inta A. 2023. Uncovering the ethnobotanical importance of community forests in Chai Nat Province, Central Thailand. Biodiversitas 24: 2052-2063. Ethnobotanical studies are crucial for understanding local communities' traditional knowledge and use of plants and conserving biodiversity. This is the first public ethnobotanical study in the Chai Nat Province. It is an essential contribution to the limited knowledge of the traditional use of plants in this region. Three key informants with high experience in traditional knowledge were selected through a small meeting in the village. Using a semi-structured interview method during the walk-to-the-wood method, we gathered data on 103 plant species belonging to 92 genera and 49 families. The majority of the plant species (57) were used for medicinal purposes, followed by food (38), materials (17), and other small categories. It is worth noting that some plant species were used in more than one category. Our study provides an in-depth understanding of local communities’ traditional knowledge and use of plants which is essential for managing and conserving these important resources. This study not only contributes to the field of ethnobotany but also highlights the importance of preserving traditional ecological knowledge for future generations.

There is a limited number of studies describing the situation and importance of current or potential usage of the local and indigenous traditional environmental knowledge in the region of Northern Nicaragua. To fill this gap, the author supported by a local team conducted the participative research in this rather neglected Central American region, concretely in the northern area of the aspiring Rio Coco Geopark. The purpose of this research was to identify the local and indigenous knowledge regarding the present and traditional use of natural resources including land use and to analyse the contribution and potential of the usage of this knowledge for the local development sustainability. The practical long-term impact of this research is expected mainly in the form of enhancement of the local geotourism sustainability. The research process itself was of the same importance as its results, especially the involvement of the local and indigenous people. In this participative research, young local and indigenous people obtained training and served as co-investigators who later interviewed representatives of the local households. The other field methods included life history of elders, discussions in the focal groups involving common people from local communities as well as the mapping and photo-documentation of the identified local and indigenous traditional environmental knowledge. The participative character of the research process not only facilitated the data collection and validation but also supported the revival of the community memory and revitalization of its cultural and natural identity. The research findings point out that the more distant and more dispersed are the local settlements the better conserved local and indigenous knowledge regarding the traditional land use and other use of natural resources is. Among the best-conserved local and indigenous traditional environmental knowledge in the northern area of the aspiring Rio Coco Geopark was the usage of the earth material and plants. The local indigenous people are not expressing and transmitting the spiritual dimension of their traditional environmental knowledge (sacred times or sites, rites, rituals or taboos regarding the traditional land use and other use of natural resources) anymore because they were experiencing a continuous repression realized by the dominant (colonial) society in the past. They are not accustomed to appreciating the aesthetic values of the landscape as do visitors, but they are open to share their authentic life with them. The majority of the identified traditional land use and the use of the other natural resources as well as related traditional environmental knowledge in the researched northern region of the aspiring Rio Coco Geopark seems to be more sustainable than the present land use practices and the use of natural resources generally for agriculture, medicine, constructions etc. The local communities should dedicate much more attention and efforts to conserve, transmit and use this local and indigenous traditional environmental knowledge to enhance the sustainability of their development as well as geotourism emerging in this part of the aspiring geopark.

The wild edibles are essential not only for nutrition, medicine, fodder and fuel but also as potential source of income generation. The conventional use of wild edible plants is habitual in the remote and hill regions of the Uttarakhand state (India). The present study was carried out in a mountainous part of the Uttarakhand namely Jaunpur region situated in the district Tehri Garhwal. Extensive field surveys were conducted in the area to gather information (traditional knowledge on wild edible plants) from the inhabitants through questionnaire method. A total of 220 key informants including old aged farmers, shepherds, and vaidyas were surveyed. The present study resulted in documentation of a total 73 plant species (under 58 genera and 38 families) as source of wild edibles. Rosaceae (10 species) and Fabaceae (7 species) revealed as the most dominant families followed by Anacardiaceae, Moraceae and Rutaceae (4 species each). Majority of the recorded species belong to the tree habit (35% species) followed by herb (29%), shrub (29%), and climber (7%). The commonly used plant parts as source of wild edible in the area include fruits (59% species), leaves (24%), seeds (5%) and flowers (4%). Documentation of the traditional knowledge is much important because it provide alternative means to reduce hunger, poverty, and health issues especially in finding novel compounds (drug discovery).

In the region of the Rujan Mountain (southeastern Serbia), the population is mainly engaged in agriculture. Knowledge about the traditional use of plants as green fertilizer for cultivated crops and for the control of insects and rodents in agriculture is of extraordinary importance. With the extinction of the older population, this knowledge is lost if it is not passed on to younger generations or is not taken note of. The survey was conducted among the population (130 respondents) from 25 villages in two municipalities of the Rujan Mt. (Bujanovac and Preševo), which represent a multicultural border area inhabited by Serbs and Albanians. The questionnaire was open-ended. It contained general information about the respondents, and a specific questions related to the use of wild plants. The aim of this research is to collect data on the traditional use of wild plants in agriculture as green manure and in controlling insects and rodents. This paper deals with three traditional uses of wild plants in agriculture: 1) as green fertilizer for cultivated crops (50 reports), 2) as a substitute for chemical insecticides (53 reports), and 3) as a substitute for chemical rodenticides (56 reports). Regarding the use of wild plants as fertilizer of cultivated crops, respondents made 50 reports on the use of the aerial part of only one plant species, “kopriva“ in Serbian, nettle – Urtica dioica. This use was recorded among both ethnic groups of the population. The Serbs gave 36 reports on the use of nettle, while the Albanians gave 14 reports. The use of wild plants to control harmful insects was recorded only among Serbs (41 respondents), while the Albanians did not mention this type of use. A total of 53 reports on the use of the aerial parts of 3 plant species as a substitute for chemical insecticides were recorded: dittany, “rusten“ – Dictamnus albus (29 reports), cypress spurge, “mlečajka“ – Euphorbia cyparissias (23 reports), and basil, “bosiljak“ – Ocimum basilicum (1 report). The question in the survey about the use of wild plants to control harmful rodents was only answered by Serbs (56 reports, 40 respondents). For this use, the respondents stated that they use the aerial part of the plant “smrdljivka“ – common thornapple, Datura stramonium (26 reports), and the fruit of the plant called “ab’d“ between the local population – dwarf elderberry, Sambucus ebulus (30 reports). In comparisson with previously published ethnobotanical papers in Serbia and the Balkans, on Rujan Mt it was highlighted the use of aerial parts of the species Dictamnus albus and Euphorbia cyparissias as a substitute for chemical insecticides and the species Datura stramonium and Sambucus ebulus as a substitute for chemical rodenticides, as novelties of this study, which can be confirmed by further chemical-pharmacological testing. Thе data in this paper can be used in agricultural technology for the production of various products based on substances of natural origin and preventing the use of chemical agents in agriculture.

BackgroundJapan, which has a diverse climate, is home to 8118 species of wild vascular plants, with more than 1000 of these species considered edible. However, there are fewer studies on the use of wild food plants in Japan than in other parts of the world. This research aims to provide an ethnobotanical review of the traditional food use of wild plants in Japan. It draws upon the largest database of traditional Japanese foodways, with a specific focus on the period approximately 1930. This occurred prior to Japan’s rapid economic growth, which resulted in significant changes in the use of wild plants.MethodsThe use of wild food plants in Japan was reviewed by studying the collection of Japanese foodways (Nihon no shokuseikatsu zenshu), which is the largest database on Japanese traditional foodways and contains records of approximately 52,000 dishes, including food uses of wild plants. The review extracted the local and common names, use locations, uses, processing and cooking methods, habitats and other relevant details pertaining to the reported use of wild food plants. This information was subsequently analyzed via Excel.ResultsA total of 268 taxa belonging to 87 families used in Japan approximately 1930 were documented. Asteraceae was the most frequently reported family as well as the most species-rich family. In terms of use, vegetables composed the largest group, followed by dessert fruits. The majority of species have been documented in only a limited number of reports. The review revealed local traditional uses of plants, including the use of plants as binders for making rice cake, the selection of plants according to their sex, and techniques for detoxifying toxic plants.ConclusionA comparison with those of previous studies on wild species used in other Asian regions revealed a similar preference for vegetables. However, notably, in Japan, ferns are also consumed in considerable quantities. Conversely, further elucidation is clearly needed with respect to certain matters, including the perception of plant sex and the relationships between diverse ash components and detoxification techniques. It is evident that further ethnobotanical research is needed, both in the form of an examination of ethnographic records and in the field, to gain a deeper understanding of the use of wild food plants in Japan.

This work provides the ethnobotanical data concerning the traditional use of medicinal plants in Macedonia region (Northern Greece), which has, up to now, been poorly investigated. The aim of the present study was to collect, analyze, and evaluate information on the use of medicinal plants among different population groups living in Central Macedonia. The study was carried out in the area of two small cities, Edessa and Naoussa, and nearby villages. The ethnobotanical data were gathered through extensive and semistructured interviews. The informants belonged to different population groups living in the study areas and were involved, at least partially, in agriculture. Together with detailed reports on each species, data were also summarized by some indices, such as Fidelity Level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (Fic). A group of 96 informants was interviewed and 87 plant taxa with medicinal uses were cited. Medicinal plants are used to treat a wide range of diseases, in particular ailments of the respiratory tract and skin disorders. The importance of the traditional use of plants to cure and prevent common and some uncommon diseases had been highlighted. About 55% of medicinal plants mentioned by the informants had been previously reported to be sold in Thessaloniki herbal market as traditional remedies. Medicinal uses of some endemic taxa had been reported, e.g., Satureja montana subsp. macedonica, a member of the S. montana group restricted to Northern Central Greece, Origanum dictamnus, an endemic species of Crete, and six Balkan endemics, i.e., Achillea holosericea, Digitalis lanata, Helleborus odorus subsp. cyclophyllus, Sideritis scardica, Thymus sibthorpii, and Verbascum longifolium. Several differences in Traditional Ethnobotanical Knowledge (TEK) were observed in relation to social and cultural components of the population. Only 7 species (Crataegus monogyna, Hypericum perforatum, Matricaria chamomilla, Rosa canina, Sambucus nigra, Sideritis scardica, and Tilia platyphyllos) were commonly reported by all population groups, whereas 30 out of 87 taxa (34%) were exclusively mentioned by a single group. All groups are incorporated in the local society and do not identify themselves as members of different ethnic groups, although they try to preserve their distinctiveness by keeping their traditions and dialects. Nevertheless, our data show that the knowledge regarding the medicinal plant use was rarely accompanied by preservation of linguistic diversity concerning the plant names. This work contributes to improve the knowledge on the traditional use of plants in the folk medicine of a region like Central Macedonia where different population groups live together, partially maintaining their traditions. A part of data of this paper has been presented as posted at 112° Congress of Italian Botanical Society (IPSC), Parma 20-23 September 2017.

Background: This study aimed to protect the knowledge related to the traditional uses of wild plant resources which constituted untapped potential as dietary supplements and therapeutic products Methods: An ethnobotanical survey based on the Semi-Structured Interview method was carried out among the Sidi Bennour region from February 2019 to February 2020. Results: The results showed that a total of 56 plant species representing 56 genera and 27 families were used to make different food dishes and in the treatment of various diseases. The most cited wild edible plants (WEPs) families were Asteraceae (16%). The leaves (38%) and stems (32%) were the most parts commonly used in food. Four utilization categories were cited, vegetables, for seasoning, as a drink, and Other (plants used to decorate or flavor traditional dishes). The use of these WEPs as vegetables was the most cited mode of consumption (37.5%) by the local population. The leaves were the most commonly used part (35%) for medicinal uses of WEPs. Decoction (27.27%) was the most common method of preparing traditional medicines. The majority of preparations were administered orally (80.25%). The study results showed also that local people have sufficient information on the safe use of WEPs. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that the people of the Sidi Bennour region, hold rich traditional knowledge of a large number of WEPs, however, the study population underlined the sharp decline in the consumption of most of the species recorded consequently the detailed documentation may effectively prevent knowledge loss through time. Keywords: ethnobotanical survey, Wild edible plants, relative frequency index of citation, phytotherapy, beqoula, Sidi Bennour, Morocco

Context: M’sila city occupies a privileged position in the central part of northern Algeria. The climate of this area is continental, subject in part to the Saharan influences of which vegetation is steppic. Aims: Highlight traditional usage of plants despite environmental characteristics. Methods: An ethnobotanical survey in the city of M’sila was conducted during the period 2011-2012 in collaboration with traditional practitioners, herbalists and healers. A total of 85 adults were able to determine the species and answer questions about the traditional use of plants in artisanal processing, nutritional and medicinal domains. Results: Medicinal plants recorded in the city of M’sila were 36 divided into 16 families and 31 genera. Lamiaceae family predominates (27.8%), followed by Asteraceae (13.9%). Leaves are the most frequently used (27.4%), the aerial parts (18.5%) and thus the seeds (16.3%). It appears that the population is highly dependent on these plants that allow them to treat different pathologies (digestive, stomach, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting) with a percentage (18.6%), carminative (5.7%) and antidiabetic (12.2%). In general, the remedies are administered orally. Indeed, therapeutic use forms are: the tisane or decoction (44.7%), infusion (27.1%) and powder (12.2%). Conclusions: The ethnobotanical survey conducted among traditional healers, herbalists and healers in the M’sila city has created an inventory of 36 species and a database that collected all the information on local and traditional therapeutic applications as well as all the diseases treated.

The present article is based on the findings of ethnobotanical surveys conducted in the entire Lahaul-Spiti region of Indian western Himalaya to highlight the traditional use of medicinal plants by the native people. Results revealed that tribal communities of both Lahaul and Spiti valleys (Lahaulas in Lahaul and Bhotias in Spiti) have a great respect for and faith in Amchi system of medicine practiced in the entire region. Information collected on the traditional use of plants in the local health care system by the tribal communities of Lahaul-Spiti revealed the use of 86 plant species belonging to 69 genera and 34 families to cure about 70 different ailments. Maximum number of plant species used in herbal formulations belonged to families Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Gentianaceae, and Polygonaceae. Both single herbal preparations and polyherbal formulations are prescribed and administered by local healers known as Larje in Lahaul and Amchis in Spiti. Most of the medicines are prescribed in a powder form, some as juice and decoctions. Among plant parts, leaves were recorded to be used to a large extent as a remedy, followed by flowers. Results of the present study show that the highest number of plants was used to cure stomach disorders, while the highest extent of phytotherapeutic use among all the species had Hippophae rhamnoides (17.14%). The obtained data also revealed the information on new or less known medicinal uses of various plant species that are new addition to the traditional knowledge from western Himalaya. Modes of preparation, administration and dosage are discussed along with the family and local names of plants and plant parts used.

BackgroundThe bush banana (Uvaria chamae P. Beauv.) is a wild edible fruit, but its population has declined recently in Benin. This study assessed the traditional knowledge and use of U. chamae, along with the key factors relevant to its conservation and sustainable management. The study reports (i) traditional knowledge and effective use of the species by local communities in relation to socioeconomic factors, (ii) local perceptions of threats to U. chamae, and (iii) conservation strategies suggested by local communities to ensure its sustainable use and management in Benin.MethodsThis study was carried out in the Guineo-Congolian and Sudano-Guinean zones of Benin where the species occurs. The data were collected from June to December 2021. The study sites were selected based on the occurrence and geographical distribution of U. chamae, while taking into account the representativeness of the diversity of sociolinguistic groups in the overall sample. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 434 respondents belonging to 15 sociolinguistic groups living in the phytodistricts of U. chamae distribution. The relative frequency of citation of the different uses was analyzed in relation to the socioeconomic attributes of the respondents. A principal component analysis was performed to highlight the relationships between the different uses and the sociolinguistic groups. Finally, a linear model was used to assess the effects of the sociocultural factors of the respondents on the use values of U. chamae.ResultsA total of 71 traditional use categories were identified for U. chamae, sixty of which were used by the respondents. Women and elderly members of the Fon, Aïzo and Mahi sociolinguistic groups, particularly those involved in traditional medicine and living in the phytodistrict of Plateau, were the primary users of U. chamae. The main use categories, summarized from all the respondents, were medicinal (97%), food (84.10%), magico-religious (52.92%), firewood (25.52%), and material for handicrafts (7.30%). The most valued plant parts were roots, fruits, leaves, and branches. The main threats to U. chamae are largely due to human activities rather than climatic factors.ConclusionThis study revealed that U. chamae is a multipurpose shrub, mainly used in traditional medicine and as a food source. There is little consensus among local people about its medicinal uses. Investigating the nutritional, biochemical, and toxicological properties of U. chamae extracts could help to verify the claims attributed to the plant. Local communities suggested the promotion of home and botanical gardens as the main conservation measures to ensure the sustainable use and management of U. chamae in Benin.

Ethnobotanical study of selected medicinal plants traditionally used in the rural Greater Mpigi region of Uganda

Using the plants of Brazilian Cerrado for wound healing: From traditional use to scientific approach

The present study was conducted in the Thalisain block of Pauri Garhwal to document the medicinal plants used by the local communities. 53 plant species distributed in 38 families were documented. Of the total plant species 49% were herbs, 26% trees, 23% shrubs and 2% climbers. 16 different plant parts were used by local communities for different ailments. Medicinal plants were widely used by major sections of the community against common colds, cough, skin diseases, snake bite, fever, joint pains, bronchitis etc. Women and local healers called vaids have a vital role in environmental management due to traditional knowledge and use of plants as medicine with undocumented knowledge. It has been observed as one of the best option of sustainable livelihoods for the residents of the area.

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among the inhabitants of the Aflou region of Laghouat (Southern Algeria). This study was considered as a first step toward the identification of new bioactive antiparasitic molecules. The preservation and documentation of this traditional knowledge will ensure its continuity and transmission from one generation to another, especially because of the emergence of resistant parasites and the lack of references caused by the lack of work in this area; therefore, we intended to inventory and collect the maximum amount of information on medicinal plants that are traditionally used by the local population as antiparasitic in humans and animals (small ruminants, cattle, and livestock). The information was collected using open interviews; the ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the area mentioned above from April to July 2021 using a semi-structured questionnaire and a global sample of 200 respondents. The data were analyzed using the System Package for the Social Sciences software and Microsoft Excel 2010 using the following quantitative indices: Relative frequency of citation (RFC), family importance value (FIV), fidelity level, and informant consensus factor (ICF). The investigation uncovered the antiparasitic use of 58 plant species belonging to 30 families. The family Asteraceae had the highest FIV (FIV = 0.23). The pathology with the highest degree of agreement among the informants was genitourinary parasitosis (ICF = 0.930). The species that was most commonly cited by the local population was Artemisia herba-alba Asso (RFC = 1), and the foliage was the most commonly used part (46.4%). Infusion (38.8%) was the most-used preparation for remedies. This investigation revealed a rich ethnopharmacological knowledge in southern Algeria; therefore, the data gathered in this survey may be utilized to create novel antiparasitic compounds with activity in humans and animals.

Background: Traditional use of medicinal plants is an important aspect of Himalayan culture, and these approaches have evolved to include the primary health-care purpose and treatment of a wide range of ailments. Methods: Snowball sampling method was used to interview 300 informants using semi-structured questionnaire to document the uses of indigenous species. Principal component analysis was used to analyze the data using PAST software ver.3.14. Results: The present study reported a total of 67 medicinal plants belonging to 44 families with Asteraceae as dominant family. The majority of the species were herbaceous (81%) followed by trees (10%) and shrubs (9%). Leaves were the most commonly used plant part accounting for (16%), followed by roots (10%). The medicinal plants were used to cure various ailments, especially intestinal problems, skin diseases, stomach problems, respiratory problems, diabetes, bone and joint problems. The majority of people preferred to prepare herbal medicines on their own rather than obtaining these from traditional health practitioners. 63.11%, 55.15%, 45.61% respondents believed that the medicinal plants were highly effective from the site I, II, III respectively. Conclusions: According to the findings of the current study, local people have a profound cultural link to the flora, as the use of medicinal plants to treat various illnesses plays an important role in meeting the primary health care needs. Due to urbanization and exploitation, it has become imperative to preserve the traditional medicinal knowledge before it becomes extinct. Keywords: Health care, Knowledge, Medicinal plants, Traditional therapeutic use