Indigenous Plant Knowledge for Human Health Care from Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary (Western Himalaya), India

Abstract

Wild plants and unseen microbes of undisturbed ecosystems are considered as rich repository sites of active ingredients, and these natural constituents often provide new leads and opportunity to characterized new natural product compounds having wide applications in drug-discovery programmes. Government recognized natural biomes and protected areas such as national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries often provide opportunity for new discovery or chances to get un-described plants, microbes or their derivatives natural products. Several far-flung regions in Himalayas are still less explored, and protected areas in these regions are hub of medicinal and aromatic plants. Considering importance of natural resources, a research study on documentation of medicinal plants of Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary (JWS) and adjoining areas in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) union territory was carried out as this area is floristically and ethnobotanically less explored. A total of 125 species belonging to 57 families of medicinal plants were documented subjected to preliminary investigation, which includes 41.60% herbs, 32.80% trees, 20% shrubs and 5.60% lianas. Dominant members belong to family Fabaceae (11 genera and 12 species), Lamiaceae (7 genera and 8 species), Asteraceae (6 genera and 7 species), Caesalpiniaceae (6 genera and 6 species), Euphorbiaceae (4 genera and 5 species), Moraceae (2 genera and 5 species), Rosaceae (5 genera and 5 species), Apocynaceae (4 genera and 4 species), Brassicaceae (4 genera and 4 species) and Convolvulaceae (4 genera and 4 species). While studying and analysing ethnobotanical information, high frequency index (FI) of medicinal plants recorded was of Boerhavia diffusa (93.83%), Mallotus philippensis (82.72%), Viola odorata (70.37%), Tridax procumbens (65.43%), Cissampelos pareira (65.43%), Tinospora cordifolia (62.96%), Grewia optiva (62.96%), Morus alba (59.26%), Justicia adhatoda (58.02%), Cannabis sativa (58.02%), Butea monosperma (56.79%) and Solanum nigrum (52.09%). Lesser used plants among local populace were Cyperus rotundus (9.88%), Robinia pseudoacacia (11.11%), Commelina benghalensis (13.81%), Ficus racemosa (14.81%), Amaranthus spinosus(14.81%), Dioscorea deltoidea (14.81%), Xanthium strumarium (16.05%), Senna occidentalis (16.05%), Albizia lebbeck (16.05%), Syzygium cumini (18.52%) and Senegalia catechu (18.52%) in the study area. These medicinal plants are used in treatment of obesity, liver infection, diabetes, intestinal infections, rheumatism, tumours, stomach ache, insomnia, nerve troubles, skin infection, eye problem, dental care, memory related disorders, skin infection, joint pain and bone fracture. Species with high frequency index should be analysed for pharmacological research and for discovering new medicines.