Wild Edible Plants of Nutritional and Medicinal Significance to the Tribes of Palghar, Maharashtra, India

Yatish Lele,Anjali Parasnis,Swati Tomar,Bhargavi Thorve

doi:10.54081/jes.027/03

Abstract

Wild edible plants (WEP) are an important component from the perspective of tribal diet. There are various traditional practices and beliefs in relation to the use of wild edibles among various tribal communities in Maharashtra. In this study, the WEP found in Jawhar block of Palghar district and detailed information on the local usage for medicine or food purpose has been documented. With this, the traditional methods of preparation, collection and storage of these edible wild plants has also been documented. The present paper presents a total of 162 species of WEP, out of which almost 74% are consumed as food, 14% possess medicinal significance while 12% of the species exhibit both dietary and medicinal significance. This type of study could contribute in recording the traditional heritage of food culture and generate awareness about the importance of wild edible species. Documentation of these wild plant species can help in commercialization and domestication of the wild varieties and their entry into urban marketplaces to generate higher revenue for the farmers. Wild edibles could prove to be a remedy to food scarcity, a source of nutritional security and improve the economy in tribal areas.

Highlights

Over the millennia, forests have played a key role as a source of food, fodder, fuel and medicine in the lives and livelihood of the forest dwelling communities
The tribal communities in Jawhar depend on the Wild edible plants (WEP) for their dietary and medicinal purposes apart from the agricultural produce
WEP and Perceptions WEP are being consumed by all the strata of the tribal community throughout the year

Summary

Introduction

Forests have played a key role as a source of food, fodder, fuel and medicine in the lives and livelihood of the forest dwelling communities. The societies primarily depend on agriculture for food, millions of people like the forest dwelling communities and rural population, have traditionally depended on the wild plant resources (Panda, 2014). Wild edible plants (WEP) are widely used for various purposes mostly as a source of food and medicine by the tribal communities all across the world. These tribal communities have acquired immense knowledge about the use of wild plant species based on the local needs, preferences, customs, and habit (Jain and Tiwari, 2012). Vietnamese commonly use Chinese herbal medicine and a set of indigenous folk practices referred to as "Southern medicine" in an effort to cure any disease (Jenkins, 1996) whereas, Ayurveda in Indian Folkmedicine is still an important method of treatment using the plant resources (Deshmukh and Waghmode, 2011)

Methods

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Conclusion