Informant Consensus Factor Value Research Articles

Quantitative ethnobotanical appraisal of Shawal Valley, South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Background: This study's primary goal was to collect and document uses of plants by local residents of Shawal Valley, South Waziristan, Pakistan. Methodology: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview 65 residents (24 women and 41 males). The Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and Jaccard Index (JI). Results: The research region is abode of 60 plant species belonged to 32 families of ethnobotanical significance. Lamiaceae family contributed maximum number of species (7), followed by Pinaceae (6 species). The most preferred plant parts among the reported species were the leaves (60%), followed by the stem (28.3%). Thymus mongolicus was found to have the highest RFC (0.86), while Adiantum capillus-veneris had the lowest (i.e. 0.02). The UV was between 0.02 and 1. Thymus mongolicus was found to have the greatest UV (UV=1); whereas, Adiantum capillus-veneris had the lowest UV (0.02). Twelve plants had a fidelity level of 100% while Quercus dilatata had the lowest (33.3%). Plants' ICF values varied from 0.87 to 0.96. The Average Direct Matrix Ranking revealed that Quercus dilatata received the highest rating (1st) for its many uses, followed by Pinuswallichiana (2nd), and Rumex dentatus (3rd), Pinus gerardiana (4th), and Zingiberofficinale (5th). Conclusion:Ethnomedicinal research indicates that indigenous people in the studied area are knowledgeable on the use of plants. These plants and indigenous knowledge must be preserved.

An Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used for Primary Health Care from Patan Sher Khan and Surrounding Areas of District Sudhnoti, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Life on mountains is difficult and people depend on medicinal plants for primary health care. Many of mountain areas of Azad Kashmir are unexplored from taxonomic and ethnobotanical point of view. This study was conducted to document the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants of village Patan Sher Khan and allied areas of District Sudhnuti Azad Kashmir Pakistan. Field surveys were conducted during March 2020 to March 2021 for collection of medicinal plants knowledge following standard ethnobotanical methods. A total of 120 key informants were interviewed by using semi-structured questioners. The data were analyzed through ethnobotanical indices i.e., Relative frequency of citation (RFC), Use value (UV), Informant consensus factor (ICF) and Fidelity level (FL). A total of 37 medicinal plant species belonging to 32 genera and 25 families were recorded during the study. Dominant ethnomedicinal families were Fabaceae with 4 species followed by Moraceae and Rosaceae with 3 species each. Leaves were the most frequently used parts (36 %) and decoction was preferred medicinal preparation (19 use reports). Highest relative frequency of citation was recorded for Ficus palmata (0.15) followed by Melia azedarchta (0.14) and highest use value was found for Dodonaea viscosa (0.58). The most valuable plant species of the study area are Ficus carica with 8 use reports and 48 use citations, Bauhinia variegata with 7 use reports and 45 use citations. The maximum value of FL was recorded for Berberis lyceum (100 %) and Plantago lanceolate, (100%). Based on documented data the reported ailments were grouped into 9 categories, The ICF values ranges between 0. 33 (sexual) to 0.90 (teeth and urinary). Medicinal plant knowledge is still alive and large papulation of area still depend on medicinal plants for primary healthcare. But medicinal plant knowledge is declining especially among younger people. Hence, there is an urgent need to document such precious knowledge by continuous ethnobotanical studies.

Ethno-medicinal plants of indigenous people: A case study in Khatling valley of Western Himalaya, India

Background: Khatling valley is an unexplored and remote region located in the Uttarakhand state of Indian Himalaya, the area possesses rich medicinal flora, and local inhabitants using these plants since generations. The majority of primary health care depends upon traditional medicine due to the unavailability of a modern medicinal facility, however, the identity of medicinal plants is limited to traditional healers or elder people in the region thus the documentation of such important medicinal knowledge is a dire need for sustainable use. Methods: An ethnomedicinal survey was carried out in this region from 2018 to 2020. Ethnomedicinal data were collected from 82 informants through semi-structured questionnaires and group conversations. To check the popular and frequently used species URs and Informant consensus factor (ICF) were calculated for the collected data. Results: The present study recorded 68 plants from 63 genera and 35 families utilized for treating various disorders. The dominant families were Asteraceae (7) and Rosaceae (6) followed by Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Ranunculaceae, Polygonaceae, Zingiberiaceae (4 species each). The majority of the useful plants were herbaceous (78%) followed by trees (12%), shrubs (9%), and climbers were the least in number (1%). Most of the plant parts used were leaves and roots 25% each, followed by rhizome, aerial part and tuber (9% each), seeds, fruits, and whole plant (5% each), bark (4%) while, stem, flower, resin, and the bulb has less proportion (1% each). Five drug formulations were used by the local inhabitants of which paste was the most common (32%) followed by powder (31%), decoction (19%), raw (12%), and juice (6%). Some important medicinal plants based on use reports (URs) were Valeriana jatamansi Jones (300 URs and 5 uses), Aconitum lethale Griff. (275 URs and 5 uses), Nardostachys jatamansi (D. Don) DC (250 URs and 4 uses), Solanum nigrum (L.) (234 URs and 5 uses), Paeonia emodi Royle (230 URs and 4 uses). ICF values ranged between 0.96 and 1. The highest ICF value (1) was recorded for mental disorders (ICD code F) and epilepsy (ICD code G) while a minimum of 0.96 was recorded for blood problems (ICD code I). Conclusion: Ethnomedicinal plants having high URs and ICF can be a good source for novel phytoconstituents and novel drug discoveries, apart from this documentation of traditional knowledge will be helpful for the new generation, researchers, and policymakers for sustainable use of the species. Keywords: Ethnomedicine; Indigenous knowledge; Medicinal plants; Remote region

Thnomedicinal and conservation evaluation of the traditional medicinal plant species employed by the Van Gujjar Tribe in the Dehradun Shivalik Hills, Uttarakhand, India Authors

Background: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first quantitative and conservation ethnomedicinal evaluation of the Van Gujjar Tribe inhabited in the Delhi-Dehradun Highway Shivalik hills Belt (DHSB). The study area is situated adjacent to biodiversity hotspot Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand, which is an important part of Himalayan systems. The area is ecologically sensitive, increasing anthropogenic disturbance and overexploitation of medicinal herbs is also major concern. So, along with conventional ethnobotanical studies, conservation analysis of the area is important. Methods: This ethnomedicinal study comprised extensive field surveys and repetitive interviews of 120 informants of the Van Gujjar tribe with different social and educational backgrounds. Procured data were analyzed using three different quantitative indices, i.e. the relative frequency of citations (RFC), informant consensus factor (ICF), and the fidelity level (FL%). Collected plant samples were identified by relevant flora literature and online plant databases. Identified species conservation status was derived from The IUCN online database. Results: A total of 71 medicinal plant species from 67 genera and 41 families were documented from the study area. The most frequently used species, Zingiber officinale Azadirachta indica A. Juss, and Ageratum conyzoides L. were employed for multiple health issues, mainly for digestive and respiratory disorders. The highest RFC values are Z. officinale (RFC = 1.0), A. indica A. Juss. (0.99) and A. conyzoides L. (0.92. FL% of these species were 96%, 90% and 83 % viz. The highest ICF value is 0.98, which shares dental & gum problems, digestive disorders and wounds categories. The IUCN status of 71 reported medicinal plant species indicated 28.1 % plant species were least concerned, 4.2 % critically endangered (Chlorophytum borivilianum,Commiphora wightii, Nardostachys jatamansi ), 1.4 % near threatened and 1.4 % endangered, 2.8 % Data Deficient, while 61.9 % species status remained unknown as currently not available in IUCN Red data list. Highly utilized species IUCN status however under ‘least concerned’ category. Conclusions: The study aids medicinal plant species data with current conservation status in the Delhi-Dehradun Highway Shivalik hills Belt. Medicinal plant species such as Chlorophytum borivilianum, Commiphora wightii, and Nardostachys jatamansi are critically endangered and others could be prone due to overexploitation. The present data could help to fill the previous conservation and quantitative ethnobotanical studies gaps in the study area. Keywords: Medicinal flora, Rajaji National Park, Himalaya, IUCN status, Critically Endangered Species, Traditional Knowledge,

Ethnomedicinal survey of Bhalessa, Jammu and Kashmir, a remote region of Western Himalaya

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe traditional knowledge about ethnomedicinal plants has a significant impact on human healthcare. However, across the globe especially in remote areas, this treasure-trove of traditional knowledge is being rapidly lost. Therefore, it is important to scientifically document and validate the folklore claims about medicinal plants, which will contribute to their bioprospection and sustainable use. Aims of the studyThe study was conducted to elucidate the traditional knowledge and practices about the usage of medicinal plants by the tribal population inhabiting Bhalessa, a remote area in district Doda, Jammu, and Kashmir, Western Himalaya. Material and methodsWe collected ethnomedicinal data through focused interviews of the local population in the study area by employing in situ and ex-situ survey methods. The collected data was subjected to statistical tools of informant consensus factor (ICF), use reports and comparison with previous studies. ResultsWe report a total of 80 medicinal plant species traditionally used against 17 disease categories in the area. The most frequently used plant parts were roots and leaves and the route of administration of the medicines was largely oral in the powdered form. The ICF values were indicative of a higher agreement among the users about the usage of plants in the treatment of disease categoriesmusculoskeletal and connective tissue, genitourinary and gastrointestinal disease categories. Based on the number of use report and number of taxa utilized, the most prevalent disease in the study area were joint pain and fever. ConclusionNovel information has been generated as the elderly people of Bhalessa possess precious knowledge of medicinal plants. These novel folklore claims about the various therapeutic values of medicinal plants require scientifically sound validation. Therefore, we call for focused phytochemical research and proper pharmacological validations of the reported medicinal uses in the study area, particularly of the Himalayan endemic species such as Aconitum lethale, Arisaema jacquemontii, and Saussurea costus.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Asagirt District, Northeastern Ethiopia

BackgroundThe people in Ethiopia have developed their own specific knowledge to use, manage and conserve plant resources, giving traditional medicine its diverse nature. Documenting and investigating the traditional and cultural use of remedial plants is vital to extract bioactive chemicals and preserve plant species. This research was conducted with the aim of documenting ethnobotanical and associated knowledge on medicinal plants in Asagirt District, northeastern Ethiopia.MethodologyThe study was conducted from September 27, 2018, to April 9, 2019. A total of 367 informants (244 males and 123 females) were involved in the interviews. General informants (n = 349) were randomly selected, whereas key informants (n = 18) were selected purposively. Data were collected by using semistructured interviews, group discussions and guided field walks. We performed direct matrix ranking and preference ranking, and calculated the fidelity level and informant consensus factor (ICF). Descriptive statistics, including analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent sample t-test were used to analyse the data.ResultsOverall, 103 medicinal plant species belonging to 96 genera under 45 plant families were recorded to be used by Asagirt people to alleviate different health problems. The species used to heal human diseases only were (64%, 66 species) followed by both livestock and human ailments (31%, 32 species) and livestock diseases only (5%, 5 species). Asteraceae and Fabaceae were best-represented (10.7%, 11 species each). The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (28%, 29 species), followed by seeds (16%, 17 species). The most important method of herbal remedy preparation was crushing (20.4%, 21 species). The common route of administration was oral (46.6%, 48 species), followed by dermal (22.3%, 23 species). Febrile illness, fever, headache, amoebiasis, typhoid and diarrhoea ailment categories had the highest ICF value (0.99). Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. ex Benth. scored the maximum fidelity level value (98%).ConclusionAsagirt District is comparatively rich in medicinal plants and their associated knowledge. However, firewood collection, construction, the expansion of agricultural activities and timber production are the major challenges to medicinal plants. Hence, joint management with the people in Asagirt District in overall medicinal plant conservation would save medicinal plant resources.

Diversity of Medicinal Plants Used by the Local Communities of the Coastal Plateau of Safi Province (Morocco)

Traditional herbal medicine is still used for basic healthcare by a significant portion of the population in developing countries. This study aimed to explore the medicinal plant's diversity and to document related traditional knowledge in the Safi region of Morocco. We used semi-structured questionnaires to interview 222 informants living in the study area. To perform data analysis, we used quantitative indices like use value (UV), family use value (FUV), fidelity level (FL), the relative popularity level (RPL), rank of order priority (ROP), and informant consensus factor (ICF). We reported the ethnomedicinal uses of 144 medicinal plants belonging to 64 families. According to the findings, the dominating families were Lamiaceae (17 taxa), Asteraceae (15 taxa), and Apiaceae (12 taxa). The most commonly utilized plant part (48%) was leaves. The decoction was reported as the main preparation method (42%). Highly cited plant species were Marrubium vulgare (UV = 0.56), Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (UV = 0.47), Thymus serpyllum (UV = 0.32), and Dysphania ambrosioides (UV = 0.29). Papaveraceae (FUV = 0.26), and Urticaceae (FUV= 0.23), Geraniaceae (FUV = 0.17), Oleaceae (FUV = 0.17), Lamiaceae (FUV = 0.17) had the highest family use-values. Gastrointestinal disorders (88%), respiratory diseases (85%), and anemia (66%) have the greatest ICF values. This study reveals the indigenous people's reliance on plant-derived traditional medicine to prevent, alleviate, and treat a broad range of health concerns. Our findings will provide a scientific basis for ethnomedicinal legacy conservation and further scientific investigations aimed at new natural bioactive molecules discovery.

Ethnobotanical Study on Medicinal Plants Used by the Local Communities of Ameya District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

In the present study, the diversity of medicinal plants and associated traditional medicinal knowledge of the rural community in the Ameya district in Ethiopia was assessed and documented. A survey was conducted through semistructured interviews, guided field walks, focus group discussions, and field observations. The snowball and purposeful sampling techniques were employed to select general and knowledgeable informants, respectively. Accordingly, a total of 210 respondents, 156 (74.3%) males and 54 (25.7%) females, were participated in this study. The informants were selected from seven kebeles (the lowest administrative units) following the recommendations of the local community for the availability of traditional medicinal plant use practice. Descriptive statistics, preference ranking, fidelity level, informant consensus factor, and direct matrix ranking were used to analyze and present the data. A total of 78 medicinal plants represented in 70 genera and 40 families were identified. Croton macrostachyus and Dodonaea viscosa were the most preferred species used to treat wounds, whereas Cucumis ficifolius and Phragmanthera macrosolen were the most popular species applied to treat stomachache. Leaves (38%) and roots (20%) were the most predominantly used plant parts for remedial preparation to treat 42 human ailments. The informant consensus factor (ICF) value ranged between 0.45 and 0.81, with the respiratory diseases category scoring the highest ICF value. The fidelity level (FL) value for the medicinal plants ranged from 24 to 95%. Considerable proportions (55.5%) of the medicinal plants were collected from wild habitats. Higher ICF (0.81) and FL (>90%) scores indicate the presence of rich traditional knowledge in the community. This knowledge can be used to select medicinal plants (such as Croton macrostachyus, Cucumis ficifolius, Dodonaea viscosa, and Phragmanthera macrosolen) for further pharmacological and phytochemical studies.

Medicinal plants used in Soran district Kurdistan region of Iraq, an ethnobotanicals study

Context: The current study, the first of its type, focuses on the ethnobotanical uses of 97 medicinal plant species by the inhabitants in the Soran area, Kurdistan region of Iraq. Aims: To evaluate local knowledge of medicinal plants and provision of preliminary data on the user-benefit of the accessible plant species in the area. Methods: Between October 2021 and May 2022, key informant interviews were conducted as part of an ethnobotanical survey. Information about a particular study through face-to-face interviews with 171 participants (98 males and 73 females) were collected. For the therapeutic plants considered in the study, quantitative indices such as use value (UV), family use value (FUV), the relative frequency of citation (RFC), fidelity level (FL), and informant consensus factor (ICF) were applied in addition to detailed notes on each plant species. Results: The survey discovered 97 plant species and 41 plant families. Leaves were the plant portion that was used the most (44%) while seeds were the least (12%). The most popular three methods of preparation were decoction (52%), row (36%), and crushed (6%). The Olea europaea species had the highest use values (0.82), while Vitex agnus-castus had (0.005). Amaryllidaceae had the highest family use value (1.218), while Asteraceae had (0.005). According to the consensus index, Ficus carica and Datura stramonium had (140.84%) and (1.011%). The digestive tract disease category was shown to have the highest informant consensus factor value out of all disease categories (0.57), while the lowest value ICF was (0.0) for tooth pain. Conclusions: As a result of the development of natural medicines, this study gives information on the indigenous medicinal plants utilized in the Soran district to treat common illnesses that are ready for additional pharmacological and phytochemical examination. For better use of natural resources, the traditional use of plants requires conservation methods and additional research.

Ethnopharmacological survey of endemic plants used in ethnomedicinal knowledge of Soqotra Island

Ethnopharmacological relevanceDue to the long biogeographical isolation since ancient times, Soqotra Island (southern Yemen) is rich in medicinal endemic plants. However, information on their traditional therapeutic knowledge is scarce in scientific literature and still not completely documented. Aim of the study(1) Documentation and search the native traditional therapeutic knowledge focusing on the medicinal plants which are endemic to Soqotra (2) Identification of the important endemic plants treating diseases by quantitative analysis of the collected data. Materials and methodsEthnobotanical data were collected from 105 local informants through open interviews, semi-structured questionnaires and field survey in February 1990 to document the traditional medicinal plants in Soqotra Island. Of them we reported in this study the data of the endemic species, due to their wide biodiversity in the island. The quantitative data were analyzed for use reports (URs) and the informant consensus factor (ICF). The reported diseases were classified according to the International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2). New reported medicinal plants in this study were identified compared to literature review. The level of traditional Soqotri knowledge among Islanders was observed during 1990–2003. ResultsIn the study, 86 medicinal endemic plants with 7654 therapeutic URs were explored for 69 ailments types belongs to 11 (ICPC-2) groups. The highest ICF value (0.99) were calculated for both eye and ear diseases categories, followed by general and unspecified ailments (0.98), digestive and skin (0.97 for each), and musculoskeletal ailments (0.96) among all diseases categories. While the highest URs (2276) were identified for skin diseases, followed by digestive diseases (URs = 2146). All the 86 recorded medicinal plant species were endemic to Soqotra, belonging to 57 genera and 29 families. Euphorbiaceae and Burseraceae were the dominant families, followed by Apocynaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae. Shrubs were the dominant growth form (41 species, 47.67%), followed by herbs (27; 31.4%), and trees (14; 16.28%). Leaves (45 species; 31.25%) were the most frequently used parts, followed by stems (34 species; 23.61%) and barks (species 23; 15.97%). The most cited preparation method was paste for 51 species followed by liquid exudates (48 species) and powder (26 species). Based on the comparative literature review, we recorded 36 new endemic medicinal plants and reported new traditional therapeutic uses for the remaining 50 endemic plants for the first time. On the other hand, all the reported endemic medicinal plants have been enlisted in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, of them 21 endemic species enlisted as highest threatened species. ConclusionAccording to the quantitative data analyzed, Soqotra Island has a valuable traditional knowledge in several medicinal endemic plants that used by local people in the primary health care until the study time at 1990. This study emphasizes the importance of early time in documenting traditional indigenous knowledge before losing and to protect and conserve the endemic plants against highly endangered. Consequently, these ethnomedicinal data could be used in the future as guide for pharmacological and phytochemical studies to discover new therapeutic drugs.

Assessment of Indigenous Plants Knowledge among Traditional Healers in Eastern Morocco: Quali-Quantitative Approach (Part I)

Background: This is the first ethnobotanical study focused on medicinal plants traditionally recommended by traditional healers (THs) of Eastern Morocco. In this work, we documented the medicinal plants recommended by THs and highlighted the value and importance of medicinal plants recommended by specialist healers. Methods: A quali-quantitative ethnobotanical method has been performed, snowball sampling and structured interviews were used to evaluate the traditional plant knowledge by traditional healers in the study area. Species identification was performed and verified from the African Plant Database and Plant List. Two Relative Cultural Importance indices were used for this analysis “Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Frequency of Citation (FC)”. Results: A total of 135 plants were inventoried in our surveys. These species belong to 64 families and were reported to be used to treat 23 different categories of ailments. The botanical profile of the plants listed is dominated by LAMIACEAE’s Family with 12 species, followed by FABACEAE (11 species) and ASTERACEAE (10 species). In the category of the digestive system, nutrition problems and nervous system problems seem to be the predominant diseases treated. The Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) results indicated that cancer and gastrointestinal disorders had a higher concordance among informants (ICF = 0.60 and 0.58 respectively). Conclusion: Our results, showed that the Traditional healers, in Eastern Morocco, hold impressive knowledge related to the use of medicinal plants. This observation is reflected in the high number of medicinal plants recommended for the medication of the population. Furthermore, the consistency of healers in this area of study is justified by the ICF values.

Diversity and use of traditional medicinal plant species in Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park, Indonesia

Abstract. Husaini IPA, Maulany RI, Nasri N, Ngakan PO. 2022. Diversity and use of traditional medicinal plant species in Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 5539-5550. The people of Minasatene (Pangkep District) in Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park, South Sulawesi (Indonesia) have used traditional medicinal plants for many centuries. However, this local knowledge has not been recorded. This study aims to examine the diversity of plant species used to treat various ailments in the area. A set of semi-structured questionnaires was distributed to 60 respondents, consisting of traditional healers, elderly people, herb sellers and local people of Minasatene. This was used to obtain a demographic profile, vernacular names of plants and their uses, plant parts used, modes of preparation and methods of application. The diversity and use of the medicinal plant species in a traditional context were descriptively analyzed. The data were further extrapolated using Use Value (UV) to analyze the relative importance of plant species based on the number of uses; Fidelity Level (FL) to determine the specific uses of each plant species and preference over other species, and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) to investigate an agreement between each group of diseases and related remedies. The study reveals that there were 74 species of medicinal plants belonging to 65 genera and 44 families being used as traditional medicines, which have been known to treat 54 ailments. Among the plant species, soursop (Annona muricata) had the highest UV (0,95), while the fig tree species, Ficus septica (100%) had the highest FL with the most frequent citation. From the data gained, it was found that skeletomuscular disorders had the highest ICF value (0,92).

Ethnopharmacological analysis of medicinal plants in Jech Doab, Pakistan

Background: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the aboriginal knowledge regarding use of medicinally important plant species from Tehsil Malakwal, District Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan. Methodology: A total of 120 inhabitants (75women and 45 men) were interviewed for by using semi structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed qualitatively as well as by using quantitative indices of Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Jaccard Index (JI). Results: A total of 60 medicinally important plant species belonging to 35 families were reported from study area. Plant diversity showed that Fabaceae (20%) was dominating family. Herb (55%) was leading life form of plants and leaves (31.03%) showed maximum usage for medicinal purpose. Decoction (20.92%) was most common mode of utilization. RFC and UV ranged from 0.16-0.90 and 0.02 to 1, respectively. 9 plant species showed 100% fidelity level. The highest ICF value was recorded for gastrointestinal disorders (0.96). The value of Jaccard Index ranged from 0.54 to 28.24%. Some of medicinal plants showed new medicinal uses not reported in previous studies. Conclusion: Study concludes that local inhabitants still prefer medicinal plants over allopathic medicine for treating various ailments. But this precious knowledge is restricted to old age people. So, awareness is necessary to conserve this knowledge. Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Malakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Indigenous people, Medicinal plants

Ethnobiological Uses of Plant Species among the three Ethnic Communities in the Administrative District (Kupwara) of Jammu and Kashmir-India: A cross-cultural Analysis

Introduction: In the valley of Kashmir-India, use of flora is not only prioritized over fauna species to get against health disorders but plays a vital role in the cultural aspects. The uses of herbs, particularly those that have a scientific basis as remedy of minor illnesses are progressively appreciated across the modern world. Methods: The present study was conducted from March 2019 to August 2021 for the collection of medicinally important plants and related traditional knowledge in the frontier administrative district (Kupwara) of Kashmir- India. A simple stratified sampling using semi structured interviews followed by group discussions was employed to achieve the goal. Results: A total of 53 plant species belonging to 36 families, with Asteraceae as the dominant family (11%) were recorded. The most dominant life form used in the treatment of various ailments were herbs with 42 species (79%), followed by trees (6 species, 11%), shrubs (3, 6%), ferns and fungi (1 species each). Roots were most frequently used (39%), followed by leaves (21%), tuber, stem latex, whole plant (5% each), wood, fruits (3% each), fruit, bark, seed, fruiting body, twig and whole frond (2% each). The ICF (Informant Consensus Factor) values ranged from 0.95 to 0.98, and the highest ICF was recorded for gastrointestinal disorders, liver diseases, bone and joint disorders, dental diseases and kidney problems (0.98 each), while as the lowest values of ICF were recorded for ethno-veterinary diseases (0.95). Gastro-intestinal disorders were treated with most species (22%). Highest Use Value (UV) was recorded for Artemisia absinthium while lowest values of UV were recorded for Eryngium billardieri. A cross-cultural comparison of plant resources shows that 41 plants were commonly used by all ethnic groups. Upon the similarity of usage, Gujjars and Bakarwals (26%) showed greater similarity, whereas the least overlap was observed between Kashmiri and Bakarwal (9%). Cluster analysis yielded two primary clusters, cluster first included the plant species with medicinal (Med) attributions and Cluster 2 comprised the species with a variety of attributions like food, fodder, spice, black magic (bla-mag); herbal tea (her-tea) and fuel wood (fue-wod). The highest FUV (Family Use Value) was reported for Pinaceae (0.49) followed by Asteraceae (0.47) and Polygonaceae (0.46). The results in this study have listed some of the medicinal plants like, Rhodiola fastigiata, Lilium polyphyllum, Betula utilis and Anagallis arvensis reported for the first time with traditional usage. Conclusion: The present study reveals the importance of the plants across the frontier administrative district (Kupwara) of Kashmir- India. The use of local plants for medicinal purposes and other traditional uses are being practiced from generations; in this regard species with high UV can be bio-profiled for the possible elucidation of some novel molecule with potent medicinal attribution. Keywords: Plants, medicinal, Use Value, cross-culture

Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants in Kastamonu province (Türkiye)

AbstractThis study is aimed at determining some of the plants traditionally used in the treatment of diseases by the local people living in Kastamonu province center and surrounding villages. A face-to-face questionnaire was applied and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 52 informants, 34 women and 18 men. Identification of 92 plants belonging to 41 families has been confirmed and their medicinal uses have been recorded. The most used families were Rosaceae (13 taxa), Asteraceae (11), and Lamiaceae (11). The most preferred folk recipes of medicinal plants was decoction (55 taxa) and in preparations and applications, the most used were the leaves (45 taxa). According to the International Classification of Primary Care categories, plants were the most used for digestive disorders (37 taxa), respiratory disorders (27 taxa), and urological disorders (24 taxa). The highest use-value was recorded forUrtica dioica(0.519), and highest relative frequency citation was recorded forTilia rubrasubsp.caucasica(0.231). Male genital diseases had the highest informant consensus factor value (0.83). New areas of use were also determined forPilosella leucopsilonsubsp. pilisquama,Galium palustre, andAstragalus nitens. With this study, new information for folkloric medicines is presented and the usage of herbal drugs in the study area are enhanced.

Ethnobotanical study on traditional medicinal plants used by Oromo ethnic people of Goro district, Bale zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia

Background: An ethnobotanical study was conducted among Oromo people in Goro district, Oromia region, Ethiopia to document ethnomedicinal uses of plants. Methods: Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and field walks were used to collect data on medicinal plants and demography during October 2017- September 2018 from 369 non-traditional and 24 traditional medicine practitioners. Descriptive statistics and quantitative indices viz. Independent t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), multiple regression analysis, Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Fidelity Level (FL), Preference Ranking (PR) and Direct Matrix Ranking (DMR) were performed to analyze the data. Results: A total of 84 medicinal plants belonging to 45 families were documented. The family Asteraceae was represented by six species. Most of the plants were herbs (30). The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (39.36%) followed by roots (19.18%). Oral route was frequently (62.26%) cited way of remedy application. Gastrointestinal and Dermatological illnesses had the highest ICF value (0.80), whereas the least ICF value was for Parasitic infections (0.47).The highest FL (100%) was recorded for Aloe ruspoliana and Nicotiana tabacum for Wound and Leech repulsion, respectively. Achyranthes aspera was top-ranked plant to treat stomachache. The analysis of DMR revealed Cordia africana as top-ranked multipurpose plant. Gender, age and educational status significantly (p<0.05) affected the traditional medicinal knowledge. Results of multiple linear regression showed that age and educational status predicted traditional medicinal knowledge. Conclusion: Our study explored the profound indigenous knowledge of the Oromo people of the study area. Their traditional knowledge on the medicinal plants must be validated with phytochemical and pharmacological studies and the knowledge needs to be preserved. Keywords: Direct matrix ranking, Fidelity level, Goro district, Informant consensus factor, Preference ranking, Traditional medicine

Ethnoveterinary studies of medicinal plants used to treat livestock in the Haridwar region of Uttarakhand, India

Ethnoveterinary practices are still prevalent in rural livestock healthcare. This research contributes significantly to the understanding of biological resources employed in ethnoveterinary practices in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. This current study focuses on ethnoveterinary knowledge among ethnic populations in Haridwar and quantitatively documented the traditional knowledge about the usage of different medicinal herbs. The field survey was carried out at four sampling sites, i.e., Chilla range, Mohand range, Vindhyavasini hills, and Shyampur range. The ethnoveterinary information was documented and collected in the study areas through interviews, questionnaires, and group discussions with ethnic communities and traditional healers, primarily elderly shepherds and farmers. The collected data were quantitatively analysed utilizing the informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), and use value (UV). In this study, 102 medicinal plant species were identified in which herbs (58.8%) were the maximum used life forms. Leaves (27.1%) were found to be the most commonly used plant part. The oral mode of medication was used most often in the ethnoveterinary practices (79.4%) used. Quantitative analysis revealed that the most important species having high UV values for curing livestock was Zingiber officinale (L) (UV = 2.67). FL% values ranged between 27.8 to 100% and ICF values ranged from 0.97 to 0.99. This study reveals that a large variety of medicinal plant species are of great ethnoveterinary relevance and are used by informants in Haridwar to treat cattle ailments. Further phytochemical and pharmacological studies would be needed to determine the usefulness and safety of the identified plants, allowing communities to use them in a more cost-effective, and safe manner.

Ethnobotanical and phytochemical study of the medicinal plants used by Kanawan Aytas in Morong, Bataan, Philippines

This study systematically evaluated the medicinal plants used by the Magbukún Ayta Negrito indigenous group in Sitio Kanawan, Morong, Bataan, Philippines through ethnobotanical methods, i.e. Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from 35 informants. All the plants mentioned were collected and identified. The World Health Organization (WHO) use category and the number of use report for each botanical specimen were taken into account as well. The therapeutic uses of 61 plant taxa were documented against 12 categories of ailments. Psidium guajava and Category II (Neoplasms) had the highest UV and ICF values respectively. Five plants with notable ethnobotanical index values were subjected to phytochemical screening for bioactive compounds; all tested positive for sterols, flavonoids, glycosides, and tannins, while Alstonia scholaris (Linn.) R. Br. and Gonocaryum calleryanum (Baill.) Becc. showed abundant amounts of alkaloids. This study highlights the rich culture and traditions of the Ayta Negrito indigenous group although results also indicate that ethnomedicinal knowledge is fading away. Nevertheless, this study opens up various avenues in pharmacological research and pharmacognosy.

Wild edible plants contributing to the traditional foods of Mardin (Turkey) Province

This study comprises the ethnobotanical investigation of wild edible plants that contribute to the creation of the gastronomic image of Mardin cuisine. The edible plants specific to the region were determined and the local uses made with these plants were recorded. The studies were carried out in 56 neighborhoods with high ethnobotanical potential in 9 districts of Mardin in 2019 and 2020. Plant samples distinguished as a result of interviews with a total of 202 participants were collected and classified. It was determined that 117 taxa belonging to 34 families and 92 genera were utilized for food purposes as a result of the study. The use of 26 taxa as the food was recorded for the first time. Also, 4 of the taxa used are endemic. Among the endemics, the use of Centaurea sclerolepis Boiss. and Stachys menthoides Kotschy & Boiss. as food was recorded for the first time. In addition, the Use Value (UV) index and Informant consensus factor (ICF) was calculated. Taxa with the highest UV value are as the following: Gundelia mesopotamica Fırat (UV: 0.81), Malva neglecta Wallr. (0.74), Rumex crispus L. (0.54), Notobasis syriaca (L.) Cass. (0.44), Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., Onopordum carduchorum Bornm. & Beauverd (0.40), Sinapis arvensis L. (0.34) and Urtica dioica L. (0.33). ICF ranges from 0.83 to 0.97 based on use reports against each usage category. Pickle had the highest ICF value (0.97), seasonings and beverages, the lowest ICF value was recorded (0.83).

Ethnobotany of medicinal plants used by the Yao people in Gongcheng County, Guangxi, China

BackgroundGongcheng Yao Autonomous County (Gongcheng) is typical for the Yao people in northeastern Guangxi, southern China. The Yao people have a long history of using medicinal plants. In this study, we used ethnobotanical methods to collect traditional knowledge regarding herbal medicines in Gongcheng. Our study provides fundamental data for developing and applying local ethnic medicines and their protection.MethodsEthnobotanical data were collected from 103 villages in nine townships from 2014 to 2018 in Gongcheng. A total of 352 informants (279 male and 73 female) were interviewed through semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, and guided field walks. All the informants were local inhabitants aged between 28 and 101 years of age, of which 40 key informants were selected based on the recommendations of knowledgeable elders and local medical institutions. The informant consensus factor (ICF) was used to evaluate the degree and importance of differences in medicinal plant species and calculated the relative frequencies of citation (RFC) for the recorded medicinal plants.ResultsData from 352 local healers were collected for the study. The Guanyin and Sanjiang townships had the highest distribution of per capita healers (Pch), while the Gongcheng, Lianhua, and Ping'an townships were relatively lower. Of the 352 local healers, more than half were older than 60 years of age and therefore faced the problem of suitable successors and potential loss of traditional medicinal knowledge. There are 12 types of diseases treated by local healers in the study area, and most of the types had a high ICF value. The highest ICF (0.80) was reported for digestive system disease, followed by urinary system disease (0.78) and nervous system disease (0.77). Traumatic injury and orthopedics, digestive system, and rheumatic disease are the most common ailments. The RFC value calculated in 33 medicinal plant species (with an FC of more than 5) ranged from 0.024 to 0.056. The higher RFC values included Kadsura longipedunculata, Schefflera heptaphylla, Plantago asiatica, etc. The most commonly used medicinal method was decoction; plasters, creams, and some form of moxibustion and cupping skills were locally practiced, but only rarely. The local healers used 306 medicinal plant species (116 families and 255 genera). Herbal plants were most commonly used among these, with whole plants and roots being favored.ConclusionThe Yao people are highly skilled at using medicinal plants to treat various diseases in Gongcheng. Their treatment methods are varied, convenient, and efficient. Due to the impact of urbanization and economic development, knowledge of traditional medicine is under threat, with declining numbers of local healers and a lack of suitable successors. In order to protect and inherit Yao's traditional medicinal knowledge, it is necessary to educate young healers and to protect biodiversity.