Highest Informant Consensus Factor Research Articles

Ethnomedicinal assessment of Irula tribes of Walayar valley of Southern Western Ghats, India.

The present study was aimed to explore the traditional knowledge of Irula tribal people who are practicing herbal medicine in Walayar valley, the Southern Western Ghats, India. A total number of 146 species of plants distributed in 122 genera belonging to 58 families were identified as commonly used ethnomedicinal plants by them. Interestingly, 26 new claims were also made in the present study. Through the data obtained from Irula tribal healers, the herbs were mostly used for medicine (40.4%) followed by trees (26.7%) and climbers (18.5%). In addition leaves were highly used for medicinal purposes, collected from 55 species (38%) followed by multiple parts from 18 species (12%). Acorus calamus is the species of higher use value (1.80) assessed to be prescribed most commonly for the treatment of cough. High informant consensus factor (1.0) obtained for insecticidal uses and cooling agent indicates that the usage of Canarium strictum and Melia dubia, and Mimosa pudica and Sesamum indicum respectively for that purposes had obtained high degree of agreement among the healers in using these species for the respective purposes. The most commonly used method of preparation was decoction (63%) followed by raw form (23%), paste (12%) and powder (2%). Therefore, it is suggested to take-up pharmacological and phytochemical studies to evaluate the species to confirm the traditional knowledge of Irulas on medicinal plants.

Documenting the indigenous knowledge on medicinal flora from communities residing near Swat River (Suvastu) and in high mountainous areas in Swat-Pakistan

Aim of the studyThe present study aimed at documenting the indigenous knowledge on medicinal flora from the local communities residing near Swat River and high mountainous areas in Swat, Pakistan. Materials and methodsField study was carried out in 2013−14. The area was visited 17 times, and semi-structured and open-ended interviews were conducted in both the plain area nearby the Swat River (4 villages) and mountains (7 villages). A total of 83 erudite informants participated in the interviews with their prior consent. The collected data were analysed through quantitative indices viz., medicinal use value (MUV), relative frequency citation (RFC), family use value (FUV), informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL). ResultsA total of 78 species belonging to 45 vascular plant families were documented as medicinally important. Lamiaceae was observed the dominant medicinal plant family with 11 species, leaf was the most used part, and powder the most preferred preparation type. Maximum MUV (1) was shared by 15 species while maximum RFC (0.385) was demonstrated by both Brassica juncea and Lepidium sativum. Smaller families with mostly 1 species showed higher FUV while among the larger families Amaryllidaceae and Papaveraceae showed maximum FUV of 0.89 and 0.87, respectively. Highest FL was shown by Mentha arvensis (70%) against gastrointestinal diseases. Highest ICF was demonstrated by hepatic disorders (0.93). Furthermore, we revealed 108 indigenous herbal medicinal recipes, 6 plants added to the medicinal plant trade list, 1 species (Vincetoxicum arnottianum) reported for the first time as medicinal plant, and several new uses for 49 well known medicinal plants. ConclusionThe present survey documents diverse plant species that are utilised by local communities for treating a broad spectrum of disorders. Quantitative indices helped in marking important and most preferred plants. To conclude, we recommend the plants for pharmacological studies, documenting new uses, especially Vincetoxicum arnottianum, never screened before.

Indigenous knowledge of the use of medicinal plants in Bheri, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

IntroductionIndigenous knowledge of medicinal plants can provide information on phytotherapeutic activity for the treatment of disease. The aim of this study was to document and quantify traditional knowledge on the ethnic use of medicinal plants for the treatment of various human diseases by the communities living in Bheri, Muzaffarabad (Pakistan). MethodsEthno botanical data were collected from ethnic communities using semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed using the informant consensus factor (ICF), the fidelity level (FL) and the medicinal use value (MUV). Moreover, indigenous plant uses were compared with reported phytochemical constituents and their pharmacological properties. ResultsDuring the survey 80 medicinal plant species used to treat various human ailments were documented. These belonged to 43 families and 69 genera. The plant species identified suggested phytotherapeutic activities for 19 diseases; such as ear pain with the highest ICF (1.00), followed by liver inflammation, cancer, internal injury (0.99), impotency and nervous debility (0.98). A high level of fidelity for Lavatera cashemiriana, Morus nigra, Rheum australe, R. webbianum, Bergenia ciliata, Melia azedarach (99%), Jurinea dolomiaea, Solanum nigrum, (95%) and Trillium govanianum, (90%) was also recorded. ConclusionsThis study confirmed the traditional uses of plants being used in the indigenous health care system in the study area. A gradual decline of indigenous knowledge in the younger generation was due to socioeconomic changes. There it is a need to promote awareness in local communities on sustainable use and manage in-situ and ex-situ conservation of flora.

Ethnobotanical survey of culinary herbs and spices used in the traditional medicinal system of Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa

This study was conducted to identify and document herbs and spices used for culinary and medicinal purposes in Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Seventy four community members were interviewed in 7 locations using the rapid appraisal method. Ethnobotanical data was collected for 58 species of plants belonging to 29 families and 50 genera. The use-value and informant consensus factor (ICF) were employed to determine the relative importance of the spices, their culinary and medicinal uses, as well as the homogeneity of the informants' knowledge. The plant family with the highest ICF was Solanaceae with 6 species, and this was followed by Apiaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Amaranthaceae and Lamiaceae with five species each respectively. The spice with the highest therapeutic uses was Lippia javanica (Burm. F.) Spreng., known locally as Inzinziniba. The parts of the plants used as spices are; leaves (52%), rhizome (13%), fruits (12%), seeds (20%) and roots (3%). The plants species enumerated are used for food seasoning (17%), flavouring (12%), as leafy vegetables (6%), preservatives (29%) and traditional medicines (36%). Majority of the spices are prepared for medicinal use as infusions (40%), decoctions (30%), decoctions or tinctures (13%), tinctures (5%) and decoctions or infusions (12%). This survey on herbs and spices used for culinary and medicinal purposes to the best of our knowledge is the first report on plants used as spices in this region. It will therefore serve as a reference as well as document and preserve the indigenous knowledge of these herbs and spices in Nkonkobe municipality, Eastern Cape and South Africa at large.

Conservation Status of Threatened Ethno-Medicinal Plants in Western Madhya Pradesh, India

The present study was aimed to explore and document the traditional knowledge of plants and to assess the conservation status of ethnomedicinal plants of the study area. The ethnobotanical information was collected through semi-structured interviews and key informant discussion. The data were analyzed through informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL). Threat assessment for individual plant species was analyzed by IUCN categories. We documented 68 plant species belonging to 35 families used for treating 25 human ailments. The major mode of administration is decoction (23 species). The highest ICF value is 1 for mouth ulcers whereas lowest ICF is 0.5 for piles. This research classifies 17 species of plants with FLs 100. We also assessed the medicinal plants in various threat categories such as vulnerable (30 species), endangered (28 species) and critically endangered (10 species). The present study documented the traditional uses of threatened medicinal plants, their conservation status and importance of these plants in study area. This study can serve as baseline information on medicinal plants and could be helpful for further strengthen the conservation of this important resources.

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by communities of Northern Kordofan region, Sudan

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe present study provides significant ethnopharmacological information on plant species used in North Kordofan region, western Sudan. The study was undertaken with an aim to document the medicinal uses of the species known to some Northern Kordofan communities. Material and methodsThe study was conducted between 2012 and 2013. The plants were identified and voucher specimens prepared. Information was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with 258 informants (195 men and 63 women). In addition, the use value (UV) of the species was determined and the informant consensus factor (ICF) was calculated for the medicinal plants researched in the study. Further analysis was carried out to compare results with previous studies from the study area and other regions of Sudan. ResultsA total of 44 plant species representing 24 families were found to be commonly used in the treatment of 73 different human health problems. The families most represented were Leguminosae (18%), Caesalpiniaceae (9%), Malvaceae (9%), Asclepiadaceae (6.8%) and Combretaceae (6.8%). The highest number of plant species are used against digestive system disorders (23 species) followed by microbial infections (21 species) and dermatology (19 species). Among all the plant parts leaves (20%), roots (19%), fruits and bark (14% each) were the most preferred plant parts used by the informants. There was strong agreement among the informants as to the usages of the plants (informant consensus factor 0.63–0.93). The most important plants on the basis of use-value were Acacia nilotica, Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca, Cassia occidentalis, Cassia senna, Guiera senegalensis and Tamarindus indica. ConclusionThis study has helped to document information that may otherwise be lost to future generations. This is the first ethnobotanical study in which statistical calculations about plants are carried out by means of the ICF and UV methods in the study area. Plants with high ICF and UV values should be subjected for further phytochemical and pharmacological investigation for scientific validation.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants by population of Valley of Juruena Region, Legal Amazon, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Ethnopharmacological importanceThe use of medicinal plants for treatment, cure and prevention of diseases has been described by many people since time immemorial. Because of this use, commercial and scientific interests have emerged, making it necessary to realize ethnobotanical surveys of medicinal plants species, which is important for subsequent chemical and pharmacological bioprospections. Aim of the studyThis study aimed at surveying, identifying, cataloging and documenting the medicinal plants species used in the Valley of Juruena, Northwestern Mato Grosso, Legal Amazon Brazil for the treatment of various human diseases, as well as assessed the species of interest for bioprospecting potential. Materials and methodsInformants were interviewed using semi-structured form to capture information on socio-demographic and ethnopharmacological data of medicinal plants such as vernacular name, uses, geographic origin, habit, form of preparation and part used. Results were analyzed using descriptive and quantitative means: indices of use-report (Ur) and informant consensus factor (ICF), for the selection of plant species with therapeutic potential. ResultsThree hundred and thirty two (332) plants species belonging to 90 families were reported for medicinal purposes and totaling 3973 use-reports were reported by 365 (92.9%) of the people interviewed. Asteraceae (32.2%), Fabaceae (26.7%) and Lamiaceae (24.4%) families were the most represented, with majority being species native (64.45%) to Brazil. Leaves (64.5%) were the part of the plant most used and infusion (45.7%) was the most utilized form. Gastrointestinal disorders followed by respiratory complaints topped the list of use-reports. The native or naturalized plants with the highest use reports in the order of decreasing absolute frequency per each emic-category are Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapfc (104), Mentha pulegium L. (94), Arrabidaea chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) B. Verl. (97), Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze (71), Baccharis crispa Spreng (57), Phyllanthus niruri L. (48), Gossypium barbadense L. (44), Solidago microglossa DC. (40) and Bauhinia forficata L. (20). And the most cited exotics are: Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (151), Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f., (89) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (72). In some cases, high ICF values were found, which reflects high degree of homogeneity of consensus among informants in this region on medicinal plants. ConclusionThe population of Valle of Juruena makes use of a wide array of medicinal plants distributed in all use categories with predominance of those use in the treatments of gastrointestinal and respiratory ailments. The therapeutic potential of some of the species of medicinal importance extensively utilized by the population of the region have been scientifically validated, and are therefore promising prototype of new drugs. However, there are some of these species whose ethnomedicinal uses are yet to be scientifically verified and thus constitute an unexplored terrain for future biological/pharmacological studies.

Medicinal Plants Used by the Nicobarese Inhabiting Little Nicobar Island of the Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago, India.

This study is an attempt to document the medicinal plants used by the tribal community of Little Nicobar Island. Despite modern healthcare facilities, tribals often consume medicinal herbs, with traditional knowledge practitioners (TKPs) serving as local medical experts. The aim is to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Nicobarese, whose medicinal practices are yet to be documented. Field research was conducted in all five villages of Little Nicobar Island, situated in the southernmost part of the Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago, during 2012-2013. Seven TKPs were interviewed using a questionnaire-guided ethnomedicinal survey protocol. The data obtained were analyzed using the informant consensus factor (ICF) and use value. Voucher specimens of all the cited plant species were deposited at the Regional Medical Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Port Blair. Uses of 34 medicinal plant species, belonging to 23 families encompassing 32 genera, were recorded during the survey. These 34 species are employed to treat a total of 16 ailments. The highest ICF (1.00) was obtained for respiratory diseases. The Euphorbiaceae family exhibited the highest number of citations, and plants with the highest use values were Glochidion calocarpum Kurz, Senna occidentalis (L.) Link, Ocimum tenuiflorum L., and Passiflora suberosa L. Of the medicinal plants reported, the most common growth form was herbs. Remedies were generally prepared using water. The medicinal plant preparations were administered topically or orally. Traditional knowledge of herbal medicines is handed down orally through generations. These plants attained a significant role under the healthcare of the Nicobarese residing in Little Nicobar Island. Efforts to ensure their documentation are necessary in order to prevent its loss, either because of natural calamities or lack of interest among younger generations in carrying out their tradition.

Diversity of Plants, Traditional Knowledge, and Practices in Local Cosmetics: A Case Study from Alexandria, Egypt

Diversity of Plants, Traditional Knowledge, and Practices in Local Cosmetics: A Case Study from Alexandria, Egypt. In this study, we explored the diversity of traditional knowledge and plants that have cosmetic values in Alexandria, Egypt. Ethnobotanical data were collected from 396 local Alexandria women using semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using informant consensus factor (FIC) and fidelity level (FL) metrics. In total, 27 plant species, belonging to 27 genera and 17 families, were identified as local cosmetic resources. Overall, 63% of these plants (17 species) are used in the form of oils, while the most frequently used organ is plant leaves (41% of all species). Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Cinnamomum verum L. have the largest number of cosmetic uses (8 uses for each). The highest FIC value was 0.98 for the hair treatment category followed by eyes (0.96), female hormones (0.96), skin (0.93), and face treatment (0.93). Plants with the highest citations in this study for hair treatment were Olea europea L. (54% of all citations) and Lawsonia inermis L. (48% of citations). The most important species according to their fidelity level were Lawsonia inermis L. (FL = 87%) and Eruca sativa L. (FL = 84%) in hair treatments, Linum usitatissimum L. (FL = 83%) as a source of female hormones, Avena sativa L. (FL = 63%) for beautification of women’s faces, and Jasminum grandiflorum L. (FL = 46%) for skin treatments. Demographic factors such as education and age play a significant role in the use of herbal remedies. The study reveals the importance of plants in the local cosmetic industry. The high fidelity score and informant consensus factor suggests that traditional knowledge could potentially guide the search for modern cosmetic products.

Ethnomedicinal plants of Kathua district, J&K, India

Ethnopharmacological relevanceNatural products, especially those derived from plants, continue to provide new and important leads in the drug discovery process. The first step in drug discovery is to document material traditionally used to treat an ailment. Documentation of such knowledge will lead to its conservation and facilitate future research on medicinal plant safety and efficacy to validate traditional use. The present study was undertaken with an aim to document the ethnomedicinal plants of Kathua district. Material and methodsThe data were quantitatively analysed using indices like use-value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (Fl). ResultsA total of 112 informants (78 males and 34 females) were interviewed. They were using a total of 197 plants from 87 families and 174 genera for the ethnomedicinal purposes. The most dominant families were Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae. The most important plants of the study site on the basis of use-value were Mentha longifolia, Curcuma domestica, Zingiber officinale, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Viola odorata, Mentha arvensis and Acorus calamus. The diabetes treatment had the maximum consensus (0.96 ICF) among the informants. Other important categories with high ICF values were gastrointestinal disorders and respiratory disorders. Total 23 species recorded 100% Fl. Medicinal plants with high Fl were Brassica rapa, Plumbago zeylanica, Punica granatum, Catharanthus rosea, Tinospora cordifolia, Acacia catechu, Aegle marmelos, Abrus precatorius, Oxalis corniculata, Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, Achillea millefolium, Tamarindus indica, Taxus baccata and Butea monosperma. ConclusionThe plants with high UV and Fl like M. longifolia, C. domestica, Z. officinale, O. tenuiflorum, A. capillus-veneris, A. calamus, B. rapa, P. zeylanica, C. rosea, T. cordifolia, A. catechu, O. corniculata, N. plumbaginifolia, A. millefolium, T. indica, T. baccata and B. monosperma should be analysed for pharmacological components and discovery of new drugs.

Ethnoveterinary medicinal plant knowledge and practice among the tribal communities of Thakht-e-Sulaiman hills, west Pakistan

Ethnopharmacological relevancePastoralist tribal communities inhabit Thakht-e-Sulaiman hills since centuries. In this remote and geographically isolated area, local people mainly rely on their natural environment for ethnoveterinary care. The area is therefore of special interest for the documentation and analysis of ethnoveterinary plant use and efficacy. Materials and methodsField work was conducted from 2010–2012 and 86 informants were interviewed. First, detailed unstructured interviews and group discussions were done with key informants, and second, successive oral freelisting and semi-structured interviews were performed. The veterinary diseases as described by the informants were categorized according to the symptoms they cause and the organs they affect. Information on the cited plants, informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL) were calculated based on use reports. ResultsA total of 22 ethnoveterinary medicinal plant species, belonging to 21 genera and 20 families with 559 use reports were recorded from two different ecological zones. More species were documented from the foothills but total use reports were higher for mountain species. Mainly leaves are used to prepare decoctions which are administered orally. Most use reports concerned skeleto-muscular problems followed by gastrointestinal ailments, but ritual uses and dermatological illnesses got highest ICF. Most often cited species were Pinus gerardina, P. wallichiana and Daphne papyracea while highest FL was obtained for Salix tetrasperma, Berberis calliobotrys and Litsea monopetala. Interestingly, 50% of the species have the same or similar use for humans. ConclusionAccording to the local people, the most often mentioned species have high medicinal potential. They show a wide acceptance, broad application, multiple ways of preparation and administration. There is a need to conserve the knowledge of medicinal plant use in the Thakht-e-Sulaiman hills for future generations and to incorporate it into existing livestock health care services.

Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants: Preparation and application methods by traditional healers in selected districts of southern Ethiopia.

Aim:The aim was to document the ethnoveterinary medicinal plants, their preparation, and application methods used by traditional healers in treating different animal diseases, in four districts with different culture and languages in southern Ethiopia.Materials and Methods:Information of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants was obtained through in-depth direct interview with the local healers and field observations. A descriptive statistics was used to analyze the reported ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. The informant consensus factor (ICF) was calculated for each category of diseases to identify the agreements of the informants on the reported cures. Preference ranking was used to assess the degree of effectiveness of certain medicinal plants against most prevalent animal diseases in the area.Results:The healers had a very high intention to keep their traditional knowledge secrete and none of them was ready to transfer their knowledge either freely or on incentive bases to other people; they need to convey their knowledge only to their selected scions after getting very old. A total of 49 plant species used to treat 26 animal ailments were botanically classified and distributed into 34 families. The most commonly used plant parts for remedy preparations were leaves (38.8%), followed by whole roots (20.4%). Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth was the most preferred effective treatment against external parasite and skin problem, which is the most prevalent disease with the highest ICF (0.68).Conclusion:The study suggests that the community of the study districts depend largely on ethnoveterinary medicinal plants for the treatment of different animal ailments though the healers have a very high intention to keep their traditional knowledge secrete. Commonly reported plant species need to be tested for their antimicrobial activities in vitro and validated their active ingredients in order to recommend effective preparations and treatments to this community.

Ethnobotany of medicinal plants among the communities of Alpine and Sub-alpine regions of Pakistan

Ethno-pharmacological relevanceTo best of our knowledge it is first quantitative ethno-botanical study from Alpine and Sub-alpine, Western Himalaya of Pakistan. The study aims to report, compare the uses and highlight the ethno-botanical significance of medicinal plants for treatment of various diseases. MethodsA total of 290 (278 males and 12 females) informants including 14 Local Traditional Healers (LTHs) were interviewed. Information was collected using semi-structured interviews, analyzed and compared by quantitative ethno-botanical indices such as Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL) and Jaccard index (JI). ResultsA total of 125 plant species (Gymnosperms 7 species, Monocotyledons 2 and 116 Di-cotyledons) belonging to 41 families are collected, identified and ethno-botanically assessed. The most dominant family is Ranunculaceae (20 species) followed by Rosaceae (14 species). In diseases treated, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) diseases have highest proportion (27.5%) followed by respiratory diseases (20%) in the mountain communities. The most dominant life form of plants used is herbs (78%) followed by shrubs (19%) while the most commonly used plant parts are leaves (44 reports) followed by underground part, the roots (37 reports). The highest ICF (0.68) is found for ear, nose and eye disease category followed by respiratory disorders (0.46). There are 15 medicinal plants having 100% FL. Use value (UV) and Relative frequency of citation (RFC) range from 0.03 to 0.53 and 0.04 to 0.23 respectively. In comparison, maximum similarity index is found in the studies with JI 19.52 followed by 17.39. Similarity percentage of plant uses range from 1.69% to 19.52% while dissimilarity percentage varies from 0% to 20%. ConclusionsThe Alpine and Sub-alpine regions of Pakistan are rich in medicinal plants and still need more research exploration. On the other hand, ethno-botanical knowledge in study areas is decreasing day by day due to high emigration rates resulting from after effects of wars during the last few decades. Historically developed ethno-botanical heritage should be preserved and promoted on global level for analyzing phytochemical, pharmaceutical and other biological activities for future drug discovery.

Plants with topical uses in the Ripollès district (Pyrenees, Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula): Ethnobotanical survey and pharmacological validation in the literature

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe skin is the main structure that protects the human body from environmental factors and has, in addition, a relevant relationship to people׳s appearance and beauty. Official medicine and cosmetics have shown interest on elaborating products to protect the dermal system, yet the role of folk medicine is highly unknown in this field. Taking this into account, we performed an ethnobotanical study in a Catalan district of the eastern Pyrenees (northeast Iberian Peninsula), with the purpose of assessing popular plant knowledge and use. In this paper, we present exclusively the results on topically-used plants. Additionally, we have performed a thorough literature search in order to validate the uses of plants recorded in well-established pharmacological works. MethodologyA number of 163 informants (57.7% women and 42.3% men, born between 1915 and 1988, with an average age of 71.6 years) were interviewed by means of 104 semi-structured interviews. Voucher specimens were collected, prepared and deposited in the BCN herbarium. ResultsWe collected information on the popular uses implying topical application of 115 plant taxa (three determined at generic level and 112 at specific level), belonging to 92 genera and 51 families. Taxa with use reports higher than 5% included Arnica montana subsp. montana, Hypericum perforatum, Thymus vulgaris, Lilium candidum and Tussilago farfara. The degree of reliability of the results is very high, as indicated by a big number of report uses (1676) and a very high informant consensus factor (0.93 of a maximum of 1). Topical uses of 21 plant taxa with more than 1% of use reports have been validated consulting pharmacological literature. ConclusionsData indicate a high degree of plant knowledge in the studied region regarding dermal conditions, cosmetics and additional affections (such as snake bite). The present study constitutes a good basis for further phytochemical and pharmacological research, which could be of interest in the design of new drugs. Furthermore, the evidence of these folk uses could be the key information in simplified procedures established by the European Union for the registration of herbal medicinal products based on traditionally used plants, reinforcing the already recognized role of ethnobotany in the mentioned applied research and development field.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for traditional maternal healthcare in Katsina state, Nigeria

Women in Katsina State, Nigeria have been using medicinal plants to cure various ailments associated with maternal health since time immemorial; however the use of such plants was never documented. In this study an ethnobotanical survey was conducted to document medicinal plants used for traditional maternal healthcare in Katsina State, Nigeria. Semi structured questionnaire method was used to interview 300 respondents (50 from 2 Local Government Areas of each of the 3 Senatorial Districts) comprising of herbalists, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs), House Wives, Farmers and others. Medicinal plants belonging to 101 genera distributed among 50 families were documented. Most of the reported plants belong to the Fabaceae (22.52%), Asteraceae (7.21%) Malvaceae (5.41%) and Anacardiaceae (4.51%) families. Acacia nilotica (L) Delile and Gueira senegalensis J.F. Gmel had the highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Fidelity Level (FL) of 0.93; 100% and 0.92; 100%, respectively. Among the 18 categories of ailments, headache, navel pain, postpartum hemorrhage, and postpartum wound healing had the highest Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) of 1.00 each. Most of the reported plants (68.47%) were herbs and shrubs and about 84.68% of the surveyed plants were wild. Leaves were the most frequently used (32.14%) plant's part. Most of the medications (32%) were prepared as decoctions and preparations are mostly administered orally (84.68%). Scientific validation of the biological properties of the surveyed plants is highly advocated and cultivation of medicinal plants to minimize the pressure on wild species is also recommended.

Herbal medicine in the Marquesas Islands

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThis manuscript reports data on medicinal plants used in Marquesas Islands traditional medicine. The subject is interesting due to the extreme geographical isolation of this archipelago and the scarcity of data on this subject. The hypothesis of the authors was that traditional knowledge in this area should be consequently largely preserved.The usual ethnobotanical collection of use/symptom was completed by an additional quantitative ethnobotany analysis providing two indices: the relative frequency of plant uses for a given affliction (RF) and the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). Materials and methodsOur ethnopharmacological study was carried out between 2009 and 2012 in several parts of the archipelago by collecting the accurate names of the medicinal plants, their uses, the methods of preparation of the remedies and the associated traditional nosology. Two methods were applied: ex situ focus groups with scientists and local association partners, using fresh plant specimens, dried specimens, and photographs, guided by an outline of simple questions, and in situ semi-structured interviews of informants during walk in the woods or homegarden sampling. Results96 plant species were pointed out as medicine for which we collected 1774 use reports; 77 of these species cited by more than 1 informant are listed with their frequency of use.Three species account for one-third of use reports: Cocos nucifera (coconut), Gardenia taitensis (tiare Tahiti) and Microsorum grossum.Native species (either indigenous or endemic) represent only one quarter of all used species. The Polynesian introductions (plants introduced during Polynesian migrations) represent 42% of the Marquesan medicinal plants. On the other hand, one-third are modern introductions, introduced, for most of them, less than 200 years ago.Diseases are analyzed according to Marquesan concepts. In the present study, a special attention was focused on the descriptions of the local diseases. Their translation in French was discussed and verified in focus groups involving both scientists and Marquesan language specialists from the “Académie des Marquises”.40 plant species showed a high frequency of citation for a given affliction (RF>20). Despite the complex nosology the ICF to Marquesan traditional illness categories showed generally high ICF values, suggesting their strong coherence. ConclusionsAn overview of the Marquesan pharmacopoeia, linked with ethnomedicinal practices, is presented in this paper. Marquesan traditional medicine survived until now despite the culture shock faced by the Marquesan population switching to numerous introduced plants commonly found in their close environment and easily gathered.Marquesan herbal medicine appears to draw its inspiration from a common Polynesian root. However further investigations on Marquesan nosologies are necessary to appreciate the originality of the Marquesan pharmacopoeia.Finally, the crossing of ICF and RF indices shows that 36 species have at least one significant use (frequencies>20%) with high ICF value (>0.5). This suggests that some key phytochemical ingredients may be present in these plants which require further phytopharmacological studies to a better knowledge of their medicinal properties.

Ethno medicine and healthcare practices among Nicobarese of Car Nicobar – An indigenous tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThis study is an attempt to document the use of medicinal plants by Nicobarese tribe from the Car Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Inspite of the availability of modern healthcare facilities tribal people often take herbal medicines and Traditional Knowledge Practitioners (TKPs) serve as the local medical experts in Car Nicobar Island. Aim of the study: The present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the TKPs of Nicobarese tribe of the inhabitants of Car Nicobar Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Materials and methodsField research was conducted in 15 villages of Car Nicobar Island during March 2011–February 2012. TKPs were interviewed with a questionnaire-guided ethnomedical survey protocol. The data obtained were quantitatively analysed using the informant consensus factor (ICF) and use value (UV). Voucher specimens of all cited plants were collected and deposited at Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR), Port Blair. ResultsUse of 150 medicinal plant species, belonging to 122 genera encompassing 59 families were recorded during the survey. These 150 species are employed to treat 47 different medicinal uses, divided into nine categories of use. The highest ICF (0.68) was obtained for the gastrointestinal system. The Euphorbiaceae family exhibited the highest number of citations, and the species with the highest UVs were Morinda citrifolia L., Tabernaemontana crispa Roxb. and Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. Of the medicinal plants reported, the most common growth form was shrubs (28%). Among several parts of individual plant species which are used, leaves constitute the major portion in preparation of medicines. Remedies were generally prepared using water as the excipient. ConclusionsThis study is an attempt to document the use of medicinal plants from the Car Nicobar Island of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Future phytochemical and pharmacological studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of the identified plants.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by people in Oriental Morocco to manage various ailments

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThis document presents the uses of plants in traditional herbal medicines in Oriental Morocco. It also determines the homogeneity of informant knowledge in medicinal plants suitable for different ailment categories and the most preferred plant species used to treat each illness category in the study area. Materials and methodsThe ethnobotanical information was obtained from 3151 inhabitants who were 20 years and older in five different areas of Oriental Morocco region. The data were analyzed through informant consensus factor (ICF) and frequency of uses (FC). ResultsThe results indicated that 65.7% of the participants interviewed used medicinal plants to treat 23 ailments. The inventory of medicinal plants is summarized in a synoptic table, which contains the scientific and vernacular names of the plant, the part of the plant and the preparation used and the therapeutic indication. Extensive investigations have brought to light 148 medicinal plants belonging to 60 families; of these, 108 are used for the disorders of the digestive system, 74 for diabetes, 73 for dermatological problems, 66 for allergy, 66 for cardiovascular disorders and 63 for respiratory problems. In this region, the most frequently used plants including Origanum compactum Benth., Trigonella foenum graecum L., Lavandula dentata L., Mentha pulegium L., Nigella sativa L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Lippia citriodora L., Tetraclinis articulata Benth., and Atemisia herba-alba Asso. Lamiaceae and Asteraceae are the dominant locally used families. Most medicines were prepared in the form of powder and used orally. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part. Gastro-intestinal ailments have high ICF (0.92) whereas pathologies of the circulatory and ophthalmological uses have low ICF (0.22 and 0.24, respectively). ConclusionOriental Morocco boasts an extensive phytotherapy knowledge base and ICF values indicated that there was high agreement in the use of plants in gastro-intestinal ailment category among the users. The frequency use value (FC) indicated that these plants are the most preferred species used in study areas. These preferred plant species could be prioritized for conservation and subjected to further studies related to chemical screening for their authenticity.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in the management of skin disorders among the Xhosa communities of the Amathole District, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSkin diseases have been of major concern recently due to the association of skin opportunistic infections and HIV/AIDS, are usually the first sign of HIV infection and conversion to AIDS. More than 90% of HIV-infected individuals develop skin and mucosal complications at some stage during the disease. Although classical medicine is undoubtedly addressing these diseases, the people of the Eastern Cape, South Africa still depend, to a large extent on traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The current study was undertaken to investigate the local peoples characterisation of skin diseases/disorders and to document the medicinal plants used for various skin disorders among the Xhosa-speaking communities of the Amathole District, Eastern Cape. Materials and methodsInformation was obtained by interviewing 54 respondents in 7 locations. Collection of the reported medicinal plants from the wild was assisted by the informants and identification of the collected plants specimens was done with the help of floristic works of South Africa. Quantitative methods including the use-value and the informant consensus factor (ICF) were computed for determining the relative importance of species known locally and the homogeneity of the informants׳ knowledge respectively. ResultsTwenty five skin disorders, classified under 5 categories are being treated with the listed medicinal plants in the study area. The highest ICF (0.45) was linked to bacteria-related skin disorders. This category comprised of 57 use citations, 3 skin disorders; with sore throat being the most frequently mentioned (4.2%). In this study, 106 plant species distributed in 61 families and 107 genera were identified as being used to treat one or more of the skin disorders. The species with the highest use-value was Aloe ferox Mill. (Xanthorrhoeaceae) known locally as Umhlaba. The most representative families were Solanaceae and Asteraceae with 6 species each, followed by Fabaceae, Poaceae and Rutaceae (5 species each). The leaves were the most frequently used plant part, followed by the bark (10%) and fruits (7%). Administration of the different plant parts was mostly topical (77%) on the affected area. ConclusionA total of twenty five skin disorders/conditions, classified under 5 categories are being treated with the listed medicinal plants in the study area. 106 plant species distributed in 61 families and 107 genera were identified as being used to treat one or more of the skin disorders. The species with the highest use-value was Aloe ferox Mill. (Xanthorrhoeaceae) known locally as Umhlaba. The most representative families were Solanaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Rutaceae and Euphorbiaceae. Majority of the plant species were herbs and the leaves were the most frequently used, mostly applied topically as a paste, powder or sap on the affected skin area.

Ethnobotanical study of Kani tribes in Thoduhills of Kerala, South India

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIndia is having a rich vegetation with a wide variety of plants, because of the extreme variations in geographical and climatic conditions prevailing in the country. Plants have been used since ancient times for the treatment of various ailments. Especially, Kani tribal communities in Thodu hills of Kerala meet their healthcare needs by using non-timber minor forest products and preparations based on traditional knowledge. They still depend on medicinal plants and most of them have a basic knowledge of medicinal plants which are used for first aid remedies, to treat cough, cold, fever, headache, poisonous bites and some simple ailments. The present study was initiated with an aim to identify traditional healers who are practicing herbal medicine among the Kani tribals in Thodu hills of Kerala, India and quantitatively document their indigenous knowledge on the utilization of medicinal plants, particularly most common ethnomedicinal plants. MethodsA field study was carried out over a period of 1 year in Thodu hills. The ethnomedicinal information was collected through interviews among the Kani traditional healers. The collected data were analyzed through use value (UV), informant consensus factor (Fic), fidelity level (FL) and relative importance (RI). ResultsDuring the present study a total of 35 medicinal plant species belonging to 28 families and 34 genera have been documented. These plants were used to treat various diseases and ailments grouped under 14 disease categories, with the highest number of species (7) being used for liver problems, circulatory system and dermatological disorders, followed by skeleto muscular system disorders (6), and fever (5). In the study area the informant consensus about usages of medicinal plants ranges from 0.70 to 1 with an average value of 0.83. Herbs (46%) were the primary source of medicine, followed by shrubs (23%). Plumbago zeylanica (UV of 1.86) and Ocimum tenuiflorum (UV of 1.57) are the most frequently and popularly used medicinal plant species in the study area. Aristolochia tagala is rare and a vulnerable climber, Curculigo orchioides, Elephantopus scaber, Helicteres isora, Smilax zeylanica and Strychnos nux-vomica are rare species which need to be conserved for future use. ConclusionThe high degree of consensus among the informants suggests that the current use and knowledge is still strong. The efficacy and safety of all the reported ethnomedicinal plants needs to be evaluated for phytochemical and pharmacological studies, especially the plants with high informant consensus factor, use value and fidelity level should be given priority to carry out bioassay and toxicity studies. We recommend the plants Plumbago zeylanica, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Artocarpus hirsutus, Andropogon muricatus, Helicteres isora, Coscinium fenestratum and Justicia adhatoda with high UV and RI values. Biophytum sensitivum, Curculigo orchioides, Strychnos nux-vomica, Gossypium hirsutum, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Elephantopus scaber, Pergularia daemia and Pyrrosia heterophylla (newly reported claims with highest FL) for further ethnopharmacological studies for the discovery of potential new drugs.