Highest Cultural Importance Index Research Articles

Medicinal plants used in management of certain ailments by the Monpas of Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, India

The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh, India has rich traditional knowledge on traditional medicines, while, the current study attempts to document the traditional knowledge on the medicinal plants used by them. The field and herbarium techniques were followed to obtain the essential information on the use of medicinal plants. The collected plant species were identified with the consultation of taxonomic literature Floras and Herbaria. Altogether 16 medicinal plant species belonging to 13 families were reported to be used by the Monpa community of this region. Leaves (32%) were the most frequently used plant part, while the flowers (5%) were the least. A total of 16 different medical conditions were reported to be neutralized using these plants. As it was claimed by the locals, these medicinal plants are considered to have no side effects and have multiple health benefits. The plant species Oenanthe javanica, with the highest CIs (Cultural Importance Index) and URs (Use Report) score was reported to be the culturally most significant plant among all the medicinal plants used by the Monpas of this region. Moreover, ICF (Informants Consensus Factor) values specified that there was high agreement in the use of plants in the headache and gastro-intestinal ailments category among the users. The rich bio-resources of this region may be further explored to widen the potentiality of herbal medicines.

Ritual plants used by the Manobo tribe of Surigao del Sur, Philippines

Abstract. Jamera JKAM, Manting MME, Dapar MLG. 2020. Ritual plants used by the Manobo tribe of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Asian J Ethnobiol 3: 41-50. Manobo tribe is culturally rich in traditional practices, medicinal uses, diversity, and traditional knowledge based on their community plant resources. They dwell in hinterlands and mountainous regions in the southern part of the Philippines and live an intricate life dependent on agriculture and forest plants. Traditional ecological knowledge and beliefs of indigenous peoples play an essential role in the conservation of biodiversity. This study seeks to investigate the use of ritual plants of the Manobo tribe in Hinapuyan, Carmen and Cabangahan, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur and to identify the availability of ritual plants being used. Plant information with the local name, plant parts used, methods of preparation, ritual uses, and Cultural Importance Index (CI) were quantified. This study documented a total of 12 traditional rituals associated with ritual plants. The five identified plant species are being used in tribal rituals belonging to four different families, namely Arecaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, and Solanaceae. Arecaceae includes two species, while one species represented each of the rest of the families. Ritual plants with the highest CI were Areca catechu L., Piper betle L., and Nicotiana tabacum L. Manobo ritual plants have a symbolic meaning and rational function. This study is the first documentation of ritual plants presenting traditional ecological knowledge and cultural beliefs that must be saved to maintain biological diversity. The tribe cultivated some ritual plants within the village in addition to their wild plant collection. These ritual plants are conserved and protected by the Manobo community. More investigations are recommended on the ritual plants used among diverse ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines and other countries.

Bio-prospecting bamboo collection in purwodadi botanic gardens

The utilization of biodiversity can be classified according to several categories, including consumptive values, productive values, existence values, ecological values. Indonesia has a high diversity of bamboo. Bamboo is one of the plants that has an important role in Indonesia and other tropical countries. Almost every part of a bamboo plant has certain uses. This research was conducted in order to analyze the value of uses (bioprospect) of bamboo collections at Purwodadi Botanical Gardens. The study was conducted in January-February 2019. The research method was carried out by conducting semi-structured interviews with surrounding communities and identifying bamboo data in the collection as well as in the Registration Unit of Purwodadi Botanical Gardens. The results showed that there were 39 types of bamboo belonging to ten (10) genera in the Purwodadi Botanical Garden. The ten genera of bamboo include: (1) Bambusa, (2) Denderocalamus, (3) Dinochloa, (4) Fimbribambusa, (5) Gigantochloa, (6) Neololeba, (7) Scizostachyum, (8) Thyrsostachys, (9) Phylostachys, and (10) Pinga. Bamboo bioprospection analysis is done by Index of Cultural Significance (ICS) or cultural importance index. The highest cultural importance index (ICS) value of bamboo in Purwodadi Botanical Garden, indicated by Bambu Betung (Dendrocalamus asper) with an index value of 194 and smallest 107 by Bambusa balcoa

Market trends and ethnobotany of orchids of Mount Cameroon

BackgroundThe Orchidaceae are noted for their floral diversity. In the Mount Cameroon Region (MCR), the genus Bulbophyllum is the most represented genus of the entire flora of this region. Despite the large number of different species in Orchidaceae, very little is known and documented about the orchids in Cameroon at large, in the MCR in particular. Orchids are widely used in flower gardens and trade. The aim of this study was to assess the floristic value of the orchids compared with those of other parts of the world and equally assess species which are used in herbal medicines.MethodsThis research was carried out in the MCR and the main flower market in Cameroon. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to vendors, buyers, and cultivators at a ratio of 1:1:1, as well as to herbalists and cultural use indices computed. A total of 107 flower gardens in all gardening localities (07) of the region were sampled.ResultsA total of 66 out of 107 gardens had at least one orchid species. Five orchids which are hybrids cultivated by vegetative propagation are traded as ornamental plants in the MCR. A total of 23 species were used for herbal treatment of certain ailments. The ethnobotanical richness of orchids was scored at 6.86. Ansellia africana had the highest cultural importance index (CI), relative importance index (RI), and the relative use index (RNU) while tradactyle tridactylites had the lowest. It was also found that most orchids were used for clairvoyance that is highly associated with myths or folklore and also for external application.ConclusionThe level of awareness on uses of orchids in the MCR is low. Many people consume orchids mixed with different species of plants for herbal treatment. Orchid trade is used as a part of subsistence by orchid cultivators and vendors.