Therapeutic Uses of Gum-Resin Yielding Plants of India

Abstract

IntroductionPlants hold significant cultural and medicinal importance in indigenous communities across India. Gum-resin derived from plants plays a crucial role in primary healthcare within the Indian pharmacopeia. MethodsA cross-cultural study was conducted to explore the therapeutic uses of gum-resin yielding plants in five Indian states: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. A total of 43 participants were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire to document the ethnomedicinal uses of these plants. The data obtained from these interviews were subsequently analysed using quantitative tools, including use value, informant consensus factor, and preference ranking. ResultsIn this study, researchers identified a total of 19 gum-resin yielding plant species spanning across 11 different families. These plants were employed for treating a variety of 55 human ailments. The most prevalent category of diseases in the study area was gastrointestinal disorders, followed by dermatological disorders. Notably, Butea monosperma emerged as the most highly preferred plant species, with Sterculia urens and Commiphora wightii also ranking prominently. ConclusionsThe study highlights the significant role of gum-resin yielding plants in traditional medicine within the indigenous communities of India. It demonstrates their importance in treating various common ailments, with a particular focus on gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders. Most of the species are not explored phytochemically as well as pharmacologically; action is needed for the isolation of novel compound, which will be useful for curing human ailments.