Ethnomedicinal plants traditionally used in health care practices by inhabitants of Western Himalaya

Zubair A Malik; Jahangeer A Bhat; Radha Ballabha; Rainer W Bussmann; A B Bhatt

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.06.002

Ethnomedicinal plants traditionally used in health care practices by inhabitants of Western Himalaya

J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Aug 22:172:133-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.06.002. Epub 2015 Jun 16.

Authors

Zubair A Malik¹, Jahangeer A Bhat², Radha Ballabha¹, Rainer W Bussmann³, A B Bhatt¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Botany and Microbiology, HNB Garhwal Central University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India.
² Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Fiji National University, Koronivia, PO Box 1544, (Nausori) Republic of Fiji Islands. Electronic address: jahan191@gmail.com.
³ William L. Brown Center, Missouri Botanical Garden, PO Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299, USA.

PMID: 26087233
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.06.002

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Inspite of tremendous advances made in allopathic medicine, herbal practice still plays an important role in management and curing various ailments in remote and rural areas of India. However, traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants is eroding day by day and there is a need to document such knowledge, before it is lost forever. The aim of the present study was to document the indigenous and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by local inhabitants in and around Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary of Indian Himalaya for the advancement of biomedical research and development.

Materials and methods: The intensive field survey was carried out at three different altitudes of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) and its adjoining areas. The inhabitants were interviewed about the local name of plants having ethno-medicinal values, plant parts used, mode of processing/application and preparation and dosage through discussions and semi structured questionnaires.

Results: A total of 97 medicinal plant species belonging to 52 families and 83 genera were reported for curing various ailments like fever, cough, cold, digestive disorders, constipation, menstrual disorders etc. Out of 97 plant species reported, 21 are rare or threatened. Literature review revealed that 11 out of the 97 plant species are reported with new therapeutic uses. The most frequently utilized plant part was the root/rhizome (33%) followed by leaf (27%). In some cases whole plant was utilized. A few medicinal plants had some veterinary uses also.

Conclusion: The study provides comprehensive information about the eroding indigenous and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by local inhabitants in a part of Western Himalaya, India. The identification of the active ingredients of the plants used by the local people may provide some useful leads for the development of new drugs and such new approaches of traditional knowledge regarding medicinal plants and laboratory analysis might help pharmaceutical industry in new chapters for the wellbeing of mankind.

Keywords: Ailments; Altitude; Medicinal plants; Traditional knowledge; Western Himalaya.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Ethnobotany
Ethnopharmacology*
Humans
India
Phytotherapy / methods*
Plants, Medicinal*
Surveys and Questionnaires