Traditional Knowledge Of Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Folk therapeutic uses of ethnomedicinal plants to cure gynecological disorders- A Meta-Analysis of West Bengal State in India

Background. The present paper is an ethnopharmacological review of plants used to treat gynecological ailments by the indigenous communities of West Bengal. The review abridged the data collected on the plants used to treat gynecological ailments, the plant parts used, and their modes of preparation and administration documented by reviewing the past studies from West Bengal, India. Methods. Systematic review of published literature was done to catalogue, collate and synthesize all available documented evidence on the topic through standardized methods of systematic review protocol. We have reviewed different scientific literature published from 2003 to 2021 related to ethnomedicinal plants used for treating gynecological ailments by the indigenous communities of West Bengal state in India. Only those references where field-based surveys reporting first-hand information on ethno-medicinal plants used to treat human ailments were reviewed. In total we retrieved 50 research papers on ethnomedicinal plants of West Bengal and finally after screening 26 research papers were selected which had references of gynecological disorders/problems for analysis. Result. A total of 114 plant species represented by 63 families and 107 genera were found documented for their traditional therapeutic uses against gynecological ailments by the indigenous communities in the state. Among all the plant parts, roots were the most frequently utilized plant part and herbal remedies for the gynecological ailments were prepared as paste, extract or as solution. Conclusion. Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat gynecological ailments in West Bengal is not very common. However, the review is a useful inventory highlighting the medicinal plants particularly for gynecological ailments which can be used as reference for future documentation and research on formulation of new drugs. Keywords. Gynecological problems; Ethnomedicinal plants; Traditional knowledge; West Bengal

Documentation of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge on Some Medicinal Plants in Saharanpur District of Uttar Pradesh, India

The present ethnomedicinal exploration study presents the indigenous use of certain medicinal plants by the local people of the Saharanpur district in the Uttar Pradesh state of India. The survey was conducted during 2020-2022 in order to access information about traditional knowledge on medicinal plants of the study area and their conservation. Saharanpur is situated in the foothills of Shiwalik that constitute the outer Himalaya. This region forms the northern most part of Ganga-Yamuna Doab. The climate of the area is tropical due to the proximity of the Himalayan region. This area represents a great diversity of medicinal plants and contains deep indigenous traditional knowledge. The objective of the study was to record and document this traditional knowledge of medicinal plants for the welfare of future generations. The methods employed for ethnomedicinal data collection included semi-structured interviews, field observation, preference ranking and direct-matrix ranking. For the collection of ethnomedicinal information, the knowledgeable persons, plant collectors and ayurvedic medical practitioners of the study area were interacted. The conventional medicines obtained from these medicinal plants has been proved highly beneficial in maintaining good health and accordingly ethnic community still depends upon their indigenous knowledge to a greater extent to heal their ailments. A total of 82 plant species were collected, of which 66 plants of medicinal importance were documented with their botanical name, local name, family, habit and parts used. These 66 plant species belong to 59 genera and 35 families. The most dominant families recorded were Amaranthaceae followed by Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Lamiaceae and Moraceae. Herbs were the most common growth form followed by trees, shrubs and climbers. Among the different plant parts, the leaves were most commonly used to treat various diseases followed by root, seed, whole plant, fruit, stem, bark, flower and wood. It was observed that these plants are widely used for the treatment of various ailments such as asthma, kidney stone, rheumatism, fever, urinary infections, syphilis, leucorrhoea, tuberculosis, eye infections, leprosy and skin disorders by the local inhabitants of the study area. This investigation will be of great importance to conserve the heritable knowledge in the field of herbal treatment.

Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Study in the Bulgarian Rhodopes Mountains—Part _I

Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses has been well documented in Bulgaria in the past. However, we know little about the contemporary traditional application of medicinal plants. Rhodopes Mountain is an ethnobotanically poorly studied region. This region is suitable for conducting field research in ethnobotany for several reasons: (i) our preliminary observation in a number of settlements revealed that the local population, in particular, relies solely on previously collected medicinal plants in winter months even in modern times; (ii) due to the relative isolation of the area, considerable authenticity of traditional methods of medicinal plant use is retained there. The aim of this study is ethnopharmacological and ethnobotanical research among the population of the Rhodopes to evaluate the contemporary use of medicinal plants. The field ethnobotanical data were collected through the in-depth method in combination with a semi-structured face-to-face interviews, adapted with modifications to the objectives of this study. The quantitative ethnobotanical index Use Value (UV) was calculated. Here we suggested a new approach in ethnobotanical research. We used nomograms to present a large volume of medicinal plants’ application data, classified by the degree of their UV. This allows for a much broader view of collected and processed data. Data analyses from our filed research showed that the 92 informants mentioned utilization of a total of 114 plant species belonging to 52 families and 110 genera. The most common plants were from the families Asteraceae (16.7%), Lamiaceae (12.3%), Rosaceae (9.6%) and Amrillydaceae (3.5%), followed by Crassulaceae, Plantaginacea, Oleaceae and Solanaceae. The data presented in six nomograms revealed the most popular plants, the way of application and the corresponding medical indications in the Central and East Rhodopes, and the differences between the two sub-regions. Sempervivum tectorum, Tussilago farfara and Plantago major are the most often reported plants in the Central Rhodopes while these are Cotinus coggygria, Prunus spinosa and Teucrium polium in the East Rhodopes. The results of the study show that in the Rhodopes, the contemporary application of traditional medicinal plants is pretty much vivid. The locals in the Rhodopes still use the traditional knowledge and rely on plants to treat various health problems. They use common plants in a sustainable manner and are open to the cultivation of Sideritis scardica—a species which became rare after overexploitation.

Ethnogynaecological Knowledge of Traditional Medicinal Plants Used by the Indigenous Communities of North Waziristan, Pakistan.

Background Since the beginning of civilization, medicinal plants have been used in human healthcare systems. Studies have been conducted worldwide to evaluate their efficacy, and some of the results have triggered the development of plant-based medications. Rural women in Pakistan frequently experience gynaecological disorders due to malnutrition and heavy physical work during pregnancy. Due to the low economic status, the remoteness of the area, and the lack of modern health services, herbal therapy for gynaecological disorders is common among the indigenous tribes of the study area. Methods Field surveys were carried out from April 2018 to October 2020 to collect data regarding medicinal plants used for different gynaecological disorders. A semistructured questionnaire was used to collect ethnogynaecological data. Results In total, 67 medicinal plant species belonging to 38 families are being used to treat 26 different gynaecological problems. The herbaceous growth form and the Lamiaceae family were recorded with the maximum number of plant species (42 species and 7 species, respectively). Leaves are the most highly utilized plant part, with 16 species. In the case preparation method, decoction was the dominant method (25 species, 36.76%). The informants reported the maximum number of species for the treatment of irregular menstrual flow as 11 species (15.28%). The highest relative frequency of citation (RFC) value was obtained for Acacia modesta (0.37), and the use value (UV) for Tecomella undulata (0.85). The highest informants' consensus factor (ICF) value (1.0) was obtained for emmenagogue and tonic each after delivery. The highest consensus index (CI%) value was calculated for Acacia modesta (36.92%). The Lamiaceae had the highest family importance value (FIV) (98.46%). Conclusion This is the first ever quantitative study focusing mainly on ethnogynaecological study conducted in the tribal areas of North Waziristan which highlights the importance of traditional herbal remedies for their basic medical requirements. The results of this study would serve as a baseline for advanced phytochemical and pharmacological screening, as well as conservationists for further studies.

Medicinal plants used in the treatment of snakebite and scorpion sting by the tribes of Shahapur and Jawhar forest division

Many tribal communities living in the forest area deals with emergency cases of snakebite, scorpion sting by using traditional knowledge of medicinal plants. They possess Traditional and authentic information gained from their elders about the antidote for poisonous bites. The present study was conducted in the tribal pockets of Shahapur and Jawhar forest division of Thane forest circle, Maharashtra. Data was collected by interviews with folk healers and informers by using specially design open and close-ended proforma. Collected data have been verified from the classical text of Ayurveda, books and available articles. This medico-ethno-botanical survey reveals the detail information on 27 plants belonging to 19 families. Total 17 and 10 claims have been reported for the treatment of snakebite and scorpion sting, respectively. Only 1 plant is claimed for veterinary use. Tribal has been using flower, fruit, pod, root, stem, stem bark, leaf, etc. as an antidote in the form of fresh juice, powder for internal use and paste for local application. They also are administering medicine via Nasya (nasal administration) and Dhumapan (smoke). The observation generated by this article create scientific curiosity regarding further studies to evaluate the efficacy and develop antidote from medicinal plants based on tribal knowledge

Utilization of Medicinal Plants: Case Study in Kelayam Sub-village Manua Sadap Village Kapuas Hulu Regency

Most of the people in the Kelayam sub-village, Manua Sadap village, come from the dayak Iban tribe. Their lives are close to the forest, and they still hold on to their cultural customs are undoubtedly interesting for research, primarily how they use the plants in the forest as part of their traditional medicine. This study aims to record and analyze the medicinal plants used by the people of the Kelayam sub-village, Manua Sadap village, Kapuas Hulu Regency. We conducted this research using a survey method with a sampling technique, and the respondents were selected with a snowball sampling. The results showed that the people of the Kelayam sub-village, Manua Sadap village used 21 medicinal plants for various treatments such as to treat wounds, skin diseases, muscle pain, hypertension, cholesterol, stomach pain, and to treat toothache. There are 17 families of medicinal plants used by the community, and the most dominant is from the Rubiaceae family. The highest utilization of plant parts is leaves (67%) by boiling (31%) and pounding (30%) and the use of plants by drunk and patched, each of which has the same value (32%). The data on medicinal plants in the Kelayam sub-village, Manua Sadap Village, adds to the wealth of knowledge of traditional medicinal plants in Kapuas Hulu Regency, especially in the Iban Dayak comunity.

Indigenous traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used for the management of HIV / AIDS opportunistic infections in Katsina State, Nigeria

Background: Medicinal plants are widely used for the management of many diseases including HIV / AIDS opportunistic infections in Katsina State, North-western part of Nigeria. The usage of those plants is, however, poorly documented. Method: An ethnobotanical study was conducted to document medicinal plants used for the management of HIV / AIDS opportunistic infections in three Local Government Areas (one from each Senatorial Zone) of Katsina State, Nigeria. Information was obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 150 respondents comprising traditional healers, herbalists, farmers and HIV / AIDS patients. Results: The survey revealed 48 plant species distributed among 44 genera and 28 families. The highest Relative Frequency of Citation was observed in Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. and Perr (0.75). Fabaceae represented by 11 species appeared to be the most utilised family. Highest Informant Consensus factor was observed in abnormal vaginal discharge and genital ulcer. Most of the cited species are trees that are sourced from the wild and majority of medications are prepared in the form of decoction which is taken orally. The most used plant parts were leaves (40%). Conclusion: The study revealed substantial numbers and knowledge of medicinal plants used for the treatment of HIV / AIDS related infections in Katsina State, Nigeria. Further investigations to establish the pharmacological potentials of the cited species with regard to the treatment of HIV / AIDS are highly recommended. Keywords: Ethnobotanical survey; HIV / AIDS; Opportunistic infections; Medicinal plants; Katsina state

Medicinal plants used by the local peoples at sadar upazila of Sirajganj District, Bangladesh

The present research focused on medicinal uses of plants by the local peoples at Sadar upazila of Sirajganj district was carried out from October 2019 to December 2021. The information about medicinal uses of rural people was collected through interview. A total of 78 plant species under 73 genera and 46 families have been recorded which were used for the treatment of 85 categories of diseases. This medicinal plants were used by the rural people for the treatment of various disease like diabetes, bronchitis, weakness, leprosy, insect and snake bites, high blood pressure, asthma, passing of semen, gonorrhea, skin disease, jaundice, headache, acidity, diarrhea, dry cough, cancer, dysentery, scabies, menstrual disorder, fever, toothache, burning wounds, stomachache, epilepsy, gout, rheumatism, traumatic injury, tonsillitis, abortion, vomiting, bleeding, ulcer, anemia , ring worm, hiccup, pneumonia, tuberculosis, arthritis, heart disease, diuretic, hypertension, paralysis, constipation, nausea, sore, dyspepsia, chicken pox, pain, pyorrhea, eczema, cholera, scurvy, infection, measles, itches, whooping cough, digestive system disorder, liver disorder, heart disease, sexual disease, gastrointestinal problem, lung infection, wound healing, high cholesterol, urinary tract infection, hepatitis, kidney disease, eye inflammation, cough, catarrhal fever, malarial fever, hair treatment, dry skin, scrofulous sore, piles, sedative, swelling, tumor and other diseases. The result of the study revealed that the local people had rich knowledge of medicinal plants and were using the plants for their primary health care though people inside the study area are most often dependent on allopathic medicine. Now day’s plants are used broadly in modern medication. Therefore, it would be important to document the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants for further healing purpose.

Study of Ethnomedicinal Plants Used by the Local People Of Raipura Upazila of Narsingdi District

An ethnomedicinal investigation was conducted from July 2019 to June 2020 in Raipura Upazila, Narshingdi district. The main aim of this study was to record, integrate and document all the scattered distributions of traditional healthcare knowledge of medicinal plants. Data collection of ethnomedicinal plants were performed through key informant interviews, field interviews, checklist interviews, Plant interviews, semi - structured interviews and group discussion. A total of 87 medicinal species with 114 formularies to treat 69 ailments have been recorded. These species belong to 49 families. Most frequently used plant species are trees (43%) followed by herbs (31%), shrubs (21%) and climbers (5%). Oral consumption is the main mode of treatment in the study area followed by external application. The reported ailments were classified into 15 disease categories. Maximum plant species were reported to treat diarrhoea and dysentery. The highest Factor informant consensus (Fic) value was found in respiratory category (fever, cold, cough, pneumonia).The most cited species for this category are Ocimum sanctum L., Nigella sativa L. and Jasticia adhatoda L. Cardiovascular disease showed second highest Fic value. The most cited plant species for this category are Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex D.C.) Wight & Arn., Tamarindus indica L. and Allium sativum L. In this survey, 8 species scored 100% Fl values for different disease categories. These are Aerva sanguinolenta (L.) Blume, Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser, Tamarindus indica L., Momordica charantia L., Cocos nucifera L., Ocimum sanctum L., Leucus aspera (Willd.) Link. and Jasticia adhatoda L. Therefore, such plant species could be further analyzed for bioactive constituents that can lead to discovery of new and potential drugs. The study also revealed that the medicinal plants and traditional knowledge in Raipura Upazila are in threatened condition due to different disturbances and some suggestions have been recommended for conservation. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 29(1): 137-156, 2022 (June)

Ethnobotany of traditional medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge in Dawuro Zone of Southwestern Ethiopia

BackgroundThe study aimed at documenting the indigenous and local knowledge and use of traditional medicinal plants for treating human and livestock ailments in Dawuro Zone of Ethiopia.MethodsA survey was conducted among traditional healers and native administrators through discussion, interviews, and field observations. The snowball sampling technique was used to select 384 traditional healers in purposefully selected 50 villages spanning seven districts for face-to-face individual interviews. The chi-square test was applied to establish associations between traditional healers’ demographics, the distance between the village site and the nearest natural forest and a health center, and SPSS V.20 software was used for the analysis.ResultsThe traditional healers of the study area reported the use of 274 traditional medicinal plant species belonging to 217 genera and 82 families. Asteraceae (11.68%), Fabaceae (9.49%), and Lamiaceae (9.12%) were the foremost frequently used families. Herb species (54.8%) and leaves (65%) were predominantly sourced from the wild environment. The quantity of medicinal plants used (x2 = 278.368, df = 20, P = 0.000) and years of (experience in) traditional healing using herbs (x2 = 76.358, df = 10, P = 0.000) varied with distance from the natural forests. The service charge for healing had strong positive association (x2 = 24.349, df = 5, P = 0.000) with healer’s age (x2 = 309.119, df = 184, P = 0.000) and educational level (x2 = 851.230, df = 598, P = 0.000) with distance of traditional healer's residence from the medical institution. The agricultural activities, urbanization, low or no charge for the healing service, the secrecy and oral transfer of the knowledge, and the demand for medicinal and other multiple purposes species were some of the factors threatening the resource and the associated knowledge as well as the service in the study area.ConclusionThere are diversified traditional medicinal plants applied for healthcare of the community and domestic animals of the study area. The source of remedies mostly depends on herbs of natural forests, and the leaf was the most frequently used plant part. Developing conservation intervention and sustainable systems of utilization is needed for multipurpose medicinal plants. Finally, integrating with modern system and formalizing, legalizing, and capacitating the traditional medicine practitioners are needed for access of primary healthcare systems to rural communities.

Ethnobotany of semi-arid medicinal plants used by Bunaq Tribe in Lamaknen, Belu District, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Abstract. Mela YJA, Bria EJ, Tnunay IMY. 2022. Ethnobotany of semi-arid medicinal plants used by Bunaq Tribe in Lamaknen, Belu District, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Intl J Trop Drylands 6: 16-25. The diversity of traditional medicinal plants of the Bunaq Tribe in Lamaknen, Belu District, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, is a basic study of the development of local potential in supporting plant conservation in the border areas of Indonesia. This study aimed to determine the types of medicinal plants, the organs used, processing methods and ways of using plants as traditional medicines, and species use-values ??(SUV) by the Bunaq Tribe in Belu District, a semi-arid climatic area in Timor Island, Indonesia. This study uses a descriptive qualitative and quantitative approach. The research method used was semi-structured interviews with village shamans. The results showed that there were 26 families consisting of 63 species of plants used as medicine. Fabaceae had the highest number of species used in medicine. The most widely used growth form was a tree and the most frequently used plant part was the leaf (30%). The most widely applied processing method was boiling. Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) showed the highest use-value, 0.57, compared to other species. In conclusion, the Bunaq Tribe still preserves traditional knowledge of medicinal plants through village shamans. This information can be used as the basis for developing the social and cultural values of the Bunaq Tribe in the border areas of Indonesia.

Documentation of Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used in Health Care by Poumai Tribe of Manipur, India

The paper deals with plants used as a traditional system of medicine by the Poumai tribe of Manipur, India. The Poumai tribe is one among the major tribes of Manipur, mostly resides in the Senapati District, Manipur. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood and also the main sector for employment although it is highly unorganized and unskilled. An ethno-medicinal investigation was conducted to understand the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants being used by the local healers of Poumai tribe, Manipur, India. Some of the medicinal plants used by the community exhibits established pharmacological activities which signify the importance of the traditional knowledge of the tribes. Besides, many other species traditionally used by the tribes assume to have pharmacological potentiality. The result documented 35 plant species belonging to 23 families were found to use for curing 22 ailments. Leaf was used in the majority of cases for medicinal preparation (20 species) followed by bark, fruit, whole plant, flower, stem, bark, seed and rhizome. Among the 35 plant species, they were mainly used to treat diabetes (6 species) followed by diarrhoea and dysentery, hypertension and gastritis (5 species each). The study thus focuses on the potentials of the ethno-botanical research and the need for the proper documentation of indigenous healthcare knowledge pertaining to the medicinal plant utilization for the greater benefit of human mankind.

Potential Plant Resource for Oral Health, Kozhikode, Mukkam.

Dental/oral sicknesses are one of the major public health problems globally. The software of natural drug treatments for the supervisor of oral illnesses are considered as a powerful alternative to synthetic compound because of their lower aspect effect. The present study was carried out to document the indigenous traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used for dental problems, in Mukkam village (Kurinjipara, koompara), Calicut which revealed the ethno medicinal information of 23 plant species belonging to 14 families and of the total 23 species documented. A number of plants parts are used in the form of chewing sticks in various parts of world that help in clearing the buccal cavity. These days a number of plants are used to prepare plant-based tooth pastes and gels, since plant contains chemical constituents which are active against microbes. The present investigation brought out some popular and frequently used medicinal description utilized by the Mukkam people for dental problems. Key words: Dental, medicinal plants, Kerala

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by ethnic people of Gechi District, South West Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract. Desalegn A, Egigu MC, Sasikumar JM. 2022. Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by ethnic people of Gechi District, South West Oromia, Ethiopia. Nusantara Bioscience 14: 104-116. This study recorded medicinal plants used by ethnic people of Gechi District, Buno Bedele zone of South West Oromia region, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 386 informants through semi-structured interviews, guided field observations, and focus group discussions. Descriptive statistics and quantitative ethnobotanical indices were used to analyze the data. Moreover, an independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were employed to analyze the effect of Socio-demographic traits on traditional medicinal knowledge. The study documented 70 medicinal plant species belonging to 61 genera and 36 families. The majority of the plants (83.7%) were used to treat human ailments. Asteraceae (7 species) mostly represented the family. Most of the plants collected were shrubs (32.9 %), followed by herbs (25.7%). Leaves (42.3%) represented the highest part for remedy preparation. The dominant route of administration of remedies was Oral (56%). Jaccard’s similarity index (JI) showed a high degree of similarities (JI = 0.75-0.91) among the Kebeles. The highest Informant consensus factor (ICF) value (0.73) was detected for the sensory organs category illnesses. Juniperus procera Hochst. ex. Endl. was observed with the highest fidelity level (FL) index value (0.97) for the wound. The highest preference ranking (PR) was adjudged to Ruta chalepensis L. for stomach ache. Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. was top-ranked as a multipurpose plant in direct matrix ranking (DR). It was observed that the Traditional Knowledge (TK) of medicinal plants was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by gender, age, and educational level of the people. Therefore, our documentation of TK on medicinal plants possessed by the people of the studied area could help preserve their knowledge for extensive use.

Application of DNA barcoding tool for authentication of traditionally important medicinal Dendrobium (Orchidaceae) species from Sikkim Himalaya

Dendrobium, the second largest genus of the Orchidaceae family, is equally important for ornamental value and traditional medicine. Sikkim Himalaya region is rich in traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their diversity. However, these regions were least explored through modern molecular tools. Reference databases association with DNA Barcoding technique is a new tool for species authentication. Here, we tested the efficiency of DNA barcoding loci (ITS, matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA) based on similarity search, characters based and phylogenetic methods to authenticate the medicinally important Dendrobium species. DNA from young leaves of studied species were isolated, and ITS (∼700 bp), rbcL(∼650 bp), matK (∼ 800 bp), trnH-psbA (∼ 450 bp) were amplified and sequenced for species-level identification. ITS, rbcL and trnH-psbA regions showed easy amplification and sequencing. Among the 54 sequences, 9 sequences were first time submitted to GenBank. In case of similarity search, ITS showed most efficient to identify all Dendrobium species except two species Dendrobium thyrsiflorum and Dendrobium densiflorum. However, the characters-based method easily differentiated between Dendrobium thyrsiflorum and Dendrobium densiflorum. The similarity-based methods and ITS sequence information together may help correct species identification for medicinal plants of Dendrobium.

Level of Community Knowledge in RT.006/RW.002 Nusa Beautiful Tamalanrea Against the Use of Traditional Medicine Increasing Body Resistance

One of the efforts to prevent COVID-19 is to increase the body's resistance. Basically, the human body has an immune system or immune system to fight viruses and bacteria that cause disease which can be maintained with the use of traditional medicine. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge of the community in RT.006/RW.002 Nusa Tamalanrea Indah on the use of immune-enhancing traditional medicines. This type of research is descriptive, namely research that includes surveys with data collection techniques in the form of filling out questionnaires. This research was conducted in Tamalanrea Indah Village, Makassar City, South Sulawesi in February-March 2022 with a total sample of 55 respondents with criteria 17-50 years old, able to communicate well, willing to be interviewed and physically and mentally healthy. The results of the study in RT.006/RW.002 Nusa Tamalanrea Indah concluded that the largest number of respondents were 29 women (52.73%), the data on the age of the most respondents were aged 31-50 years amounted to 20 people (36.36%). data on the work of the most respondents, namely household workers, other jobs and not working each 12 people (21.82%), respondents' knowledge of traditional medicinal plants to increase endurance are ginger, turmeric, lemongrass and moringa leaves. The most used part of the plant is the leaves. The most used processing method is by boiling and the percentage of knowledge is 97.18%. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the level of knowledge of the community in RT.006/RW.002 Nusa Tamalanrea Indah towards the use of traditional medicine for increasing endurance is relatively high.

A module for digital conservation of medicinal plants used by tribal communities living in selected villages of Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh, Central India

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to develop a suitable module for digital conservation of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants (MPs) used by tribal communities living in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh, Central India.Design/methodology/approachThe research used a qualitative approach to gather the data of MPs through the use of literature review and field survey. Based on the acquired data, a prototype digital learning system was constructed and assessed. This study used digital learning technologies to assess the requirements for transmitting traditional knowledge of important MPs used by tribal communities so that people can absorb and conserve them.FindingsOver time, the focus on the digital conservation of traditional MP’s knowledge has progressively increased globally. Despite the rise in this field of study, information technology methods to preserve and distribute traditional knowledge of MPs have remained a few. When adopting digital learning to maintain traditional knowledge of MPs, it was discovered that it would be necessary to engage with relevant knowledge keepers, use multimedia, and provide content in local languages.Research limitations/implicationsThis study helps in conservation of important MP species that are having biologically important therapeutic compounds meant for treating various ailments. Older generations of various tribal communities mainly hold traditional knowledge of important MPs, and unless it is preserved, it will perish along with its caretakers.Originality/valueIt is worth looking at a digital platform that can help future generations to maintain traditional knowledge of MPs, as it is a dynamic and ever-changing, it must involve a digital tool for its future conservation. Current methods for maintaining traditional knowledge of MPs were ineffective and constrained by space and time.

Ethnomedicinal landscape: distribution of used medicinal plant species in Nepal

BackgroundThe risk of losing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their use and conservation is very high. Documenting knowledge on distribution and use of medicinal plants by different ethnic groups and at spatial scale on a single platform is important from a conservation planning and management perspective. The sustainable use, continuous practice, and safeguarding of traditional knowledge are essential. Communication of such knowledge among scientists and policy makers at local and global level is equally important, as the available information at present is limited and scattered in Nepal.MethodsIn this paper, we aimed to address these shortcomings by cataloguing medicinal plants used by indigenous ethnic groups in Nepal through a systematic review of over 275 pertinent publications published between 1975 and July 2021. The review was complemented by field visits made in 21 districts. We determined the ethnomedicinal plants hotspots across the country and depicted them in heatmaps.ResultsThe heatmaps show spatial hotspots and sites of poor ethnomedicinal plant use documentation, which is useful for evaluating the interaction of geographical and ethnobotanical variables. Mid-hills and mountainous areas of Nepal hold the highest number of medicinal plant species in use, which could be possibly associated with the presence of higher human population and diverse ethnic groups in these areas.ConclusionGiven the increasing concern about losing medicinal plants due to changing ecological, social, and climatic conditions, the results of this paper may be important for better understanding of how medicinal plants in use are distributed across the country and often linked to specific ethnic groups.

Diversity and Traditional Use Knowledge of Medicinal Plants among Communities in the South and South-Eastern Zones of the Tigray Region, Ethiopia

In the present study, the diversity of medicinal plants (MPs) and associated traditional knowledge of rural community herbalists to treat human and animals’ diseases were assessed in two districts in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia. Study participants were randomly selected for survey and focus group discussions, while key informant traditional healers were identified through snowball/chain-referral sampling. The informant consensus factor (FIC) by ailment category and fidelity level (FL) for some MPs were determined. About 97 MP species were identified. Leaves, roots, and seeds are the parts predominantly used for phytomedication preparation to treat 30 human and 5 animal diseases. Diseases, such as epilepsy, arthritis, otitis media, and fever, are treated with a combination of 2–4 MPs. The FIC value ranged from 0.29–1.00, with most human diseases showing an FIC value of above 0.7. The FL value for the MPs ranged from 53–100%, with plants used to treat more than one disease tending to have lower FL values. Higher values of FIC and FL indicate high levels of traditional knowledge used to identify and administer medicinal preparations. Despite the frequent use of MPs, the four-cell analysis showed that most of them risk extinction due anthropogenic and climate factors. We recommend botanical gardens as a solution to sustainable conservation, study, education and a source for these declining MP species.

Traditional use of medicinal plants among the indigenous communities in Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir, India

A number of indigenous communities reside in the Himalayan belt of Baramulla, where the lack of modern health care facilities represents crucial problems to their survival. Therefore, the current study was aimed at documenting traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in the region. Ethnomedicinal data was collected during 2018–2020. Fifty‐one informants were interviewed in seventeen villages via questionnaires, semi‐structured interviews and group discussions. Data was also analyzed by various ethnobotanical indices. A total of 85 plant species distributed in 40 families was documented. Asteraceae was reported to be the dominant plant family and leaves were the most frequently utilized plant part. Musculoskeletal disorder scored the highest informant consensus factor (ICF) value (0.87). Colchicum luteum (0.61) and Verbascum thapsus (0.59) had the highest use value (UV) and Viola odorata and Ajuga integrifolia had the highest fidelity value (FL) (100%). Of the documented species, the use in this area of about 18 plants (21%) is reported here for the first time.. Medicinal plants still play an important role in the health care sector in the region and the folk knowledge attached to them is remarkable, although declining among the younger generations. Medicinal plants reported for the first time need to be studied pharmacologically.