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IV. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Global
The term “Ethno botany” was first coined by Hershberger (1896) to
indicate plants used by the primitive people. The term ‘aboriginal botany’
was used by Power (1874) which meant by a study of plants used the by
primitive and aboriginal tribes for food, medicine, shelter, textiles, fabrics and
ornaments etc. Robbins et al. (1916) defined the area of ethno botany as the
investigation and evolution of the knowledge of the primitive societies and of
the effects of plant environment upon the life customs, beliefs and history of
the tribals.
Hernandery (1570-75) studied the flora of Mexico in relation to man
and wrote a 16 folio volumes. This is the first official record of a scientific
expedition in history used as a source material for study (De, 1968).
Lichinscen (1590) published a herbal “Pantsao, Kang Mu “, he recorded all
knowledge of medicinal plants in China. Vestal and Schulte’s (1939)
considered ethnobotany as a part of economic botany. Jones (1941) confined
it to “the study of the inter relations of primitive man and Plants”. Schulte’s
(1941) defined ethnobotany as a “study of the relationships between man
and his ambient vegetation”. Casters (1944) defined ethnobotany as a study
of the botany of man in primitive state culture. Friedberg (1974) studied
about the plants used by tribes in Indonesia. The traditional plants of central
province of Papua New Guinea reported by Holds worth and Lacanienta
(1980). Dele Olowokudeio (1987) studied about 21 medicinal plant species
collected in wild and used for killing and expelling intestinal worms.
Plotkin (1991) described ethno botany as the study of tribal people and
their civilization of tropical plants. Bye (1992) described ethno botany as the
study of biological basis of plant human interaction and relationships at
different levels of organizations over geographic and social space and along
the evolutionary time scale. Bhatpara (1993a) studied the folk medicinal
33
plants used for respiratory disease on central Nepal. Battani (1993b) reported
species of ethno medicinal plants including 1 fungi species to cure diarrhea
and dysentery in central Nepal. Martin (1995) ethnobotany includes all
studies (concerning plants), which describe local people’s interaction with
the environment.
In China, Lishichen (1590) published an herbal “Pantsao Kang Mu” a
record of all knowledge of medicinal plants. Vidal (1971) reported the plants
of ethnobotanical interest from South East Asia. Friedberg (1974) studied the
plants associated with the tribes of Indonesia. Berlin et al. (1974) worked on
Laxical retention and cultural significance in Tzetal–Tzotzil ethnobotany.
Holdsworth and Lacanienta (1980) reported traditional medicinal plants of
the Central Province of Papua New Guinea. Medicinal plants of West Indies
by Ayensu (1981) dealt with medicines derived from plants and used in the
treatment of different diseases and ailments.
Anderson (1985) investigated ethnobotany of Akha tribes of Thailand
and reported 121 species and the medicinal uses attributed to them. In Nepal
considerable work was done by Manandhar (1985, 1986, 1987, 1989a, 1990a,
1994 and 1995a, b). Dele Olowokudeio (1987) presented a brief account of 21
medicinal plant species collected in wild and used for killing and expelling
intestinal worms. Manandhar (1989b) recorded ethnobotanical information
on 50 species of piscicidal plants used by the rural inhabitants in various parts
of Nepal. He (1990b) reported 74 different plants used to treat about 24
ailments by the village tribes of Chitwan district, Nepal. Ethnobotany of
Yukan Region in Alaska was reported first by Holloway and Alexander
(1990). Timprook (1990) worked on ethnobotany of Chumash Indians,
California. In central Nigeria, ethnobotanical studies were conducted by Bhat
et al. (1990). Bhattarai (1990) reported 51 empirically accepted prescriptions
involving 36 plant species belonging to 36 genera and 27 families, collected
from Kabhrepalanchock district of central Nepal. Ethnomedicinal surveys
34
revealed that these prescriptions are very much employed for common
ailments as the remedies are accepted by majority of the masses over
generations. Vickery (1990) recorded 109 ethnobotanical uses of different
plants of Rubiaceae extracted from labels of herbarium specimens in the
British Museum, London.
Ethnobotanical data of Tharu tribes was collected by Dangol and
Gurung (1991) from Nepal. Bhattarai (1993a) studied the folk medicinal uses
of plants for respiratory diseases in central Nepal. He (1993b) reported 48
species of ethnomedicinal importance including one species of fungi to treat
diarrhoea and dysentery in central Nepal. Gill et al. (1993) reported 80 plant
species from Esan people of Nigeria. Gill and Nyawuiame (1994) reported
103 leguminous plants commonly used for ethno medicinal practices in
Nigeria. George (1995) studied pharmacopoeia of 108 medicinal species from
52 families. Martin (1995) wrote a manual on ethnobotany and conservation
of natural resources available in the tropical forests. Velasco et al. (1995)
reported medicinal plants from Peru.
Yazicioglu and Tuzlaci (1996) worked on folk medicinal plants of
Trabzon (Turkey). They reported 67 species recorded from 88 different places
that are being used in folk medicine. Among them 42 species are wild and 25
cultivated. Bourdy et al. (1996) published certain valuable plant drugs used in
maternity. El-kamail and Khalid (1996) reported the use of 68 most
commonly prescribed medicinal plants from central Sudan. Gill et al. (1997)
studied 39 medicinal plant species belonging to 20 dicotyledonous and 6
monocotyledonous families used in phototherapeutic practices and beliefs by
Bini people in Nigeria. Manandhar (1997) dealt with 31 species of unreported
wild food plants used by tribal communities in different parts of Nepal.
According to Manandhar (1998) about 90 percent of the population of more
than 60 ethnic groups residing in Nepal relies on more than 800 species of
medicinal plants for their medicinal folklore uses.
35
Mac Donald Idu et al. (1999) highlighted the traditional use of Sorreal
drinks for hypertension in northern Nigeria, which is made from the fleshy
calyx of Hibiscus sabdarifa L. var sabdarifa. Nwosu (1999) reported 30 plants
belonging to 21 families traditionally used in southern Nigeria by herbalists
for the management of mental disorders. The result of an ethno medicinal
survey among tribals of Bangladesh by Rahman (1999) yielded 53 vascular
plants, which cure several diseases. Huai Huyin et al. (2000) recorded
comparison of commonly used medicinal plants between the Lahu people of
Thailand and China differing in local environmental conditions, including the
characteristics of plant resources and local diseases affect the utilization of
medicinal plants. Ivancheva and Stantcheva (2000) conducted ethnobotanical
inventory on medicinal plants of Bulgaria. Mohammed et al. (2000) conducted
ethnobotanical survey in Palestinian area. Ali Shtayeh et al. (2000) carried out
an ethnobotanical survey in the West Bank to evaluate the relative efficacy of
the plants used to treat skin diseases and prostrate cancer. Fifty nine plants
were claimed to be effective against cancer and prostrate disorders.
According to Rao (2000) the progress of research on medicinal plants in Asia
is somewhat uneven and emphasized the need to have a consolidated list of
medicinal plants for different countries in Asia. Siwakoti and Siwakoti (2000)
reported ethnobotanical plants from Nepal.
Nwosu (2001) compiled folk utilization of some pteridophytes in food,
cosmetics, medicines and manures in sourthern Nigeria. Ballero et al. (2001)
published 65 species with medicinal properties used for different pathologies
in the territory of Fluminimaggiore (South–Western Sardinia). Noumi and
Yomi (2001) listed 76 plant species belonging to 46 families used to treat
intestinal disorders by the traditional healers of Mbalmayo region. The
survey carried out in Sarrabus district of Italy by Teresa Palmese et al. (2001)
showed 70 species of plants belonging to 37 families employed in folk
medicine in more than 120 different remedies. Panthi and Chaudhary (2003)
reported 101 species of plants used to treat various diseases in Arghakhanchi
36
district, Nepal. Hu-yin Huai et al. (2003) documented indigenous knowledge
of two “toxic” plants Lobelia clavata and Gelsemium elegans, a valuable resource
for human beings in curing arthritis by local healers in southeast Yunnan,
China.
Rodrigues and Carlini (2004) studied ethnobotanical knowledge of 48
crude drugs used for effects of central nervous system by the tribals of Brazil.
Fasola et al. (2004) recorded ethnobotanical importance of 20 endangered
species from the arid zone of Nigeria. Lewis et al. (2004) gave a collaborative
research effort to discover new pharmaceuticals based on traditional
knowledge of the Aguaruna tribe in Peru, USA. Chhetri and Rabina Shrestha
(2004) dealt with 35 species of weeds from winter crops traditionally used by
ethnic people for various purposes like medicine, vegetables, compost, fodder
etc. in Dhulikkel, Nepal. Al-quran (2005) critically surveyed on the medicinal
usage of wild aquatic dicot plants from Jordan. Guarrera et al. (2005) made
ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants commercialized in the market of
Bolivia. Muhammad et al. (2006) reported 67 medicinal plants from the ethnic
groups of Tian Mushan Biosphere Reserve, China.
Tune et al. (2007) explained the ethno-medico-botanical uses of 275
plant species from the Loja and Zamora – Chinchipe regions of Equador.
Passalacqua et al. (2007) reported 104 plant species belonging to 42 families
used to treat different ailments by the tribes of Calabria region, southern Italy.
Mazandarani et al. (2007) studied the ethonobotany, phenology of north–east
Iran endemic species.
Kayode et al. (2008) reported 45 plant species of 30 families used for
curing some respiratory ailments from Osan state of Nigeria. Hussain et al.
(2008) collected the information from traditional healers about medicinal
plants in Haltar region of Pakistan. Qureshi and Bhatti (2008) reported 51
plant species belonging to 43 genera and 28 families used by the Thari people
of Nara desert, Pakistan, out of which 21 species as new records from Indo-
37
Pak folk herbal medicinal literature. Joshi and Joshi (2008) reported the
remarkable detailed knowledge of 116 plant species belonging to 66 families
used by the local people of the Likhu sub-watershed, Nuwakot district,
Nepal.
Biswas et al. (2010) recorded 190 medicinal plant species belonging to
147 genera and 57 families used by the tribal people in Chittagong Hill tracts,
Bangladesh for their medicinal purposes. A total of 54 plant species belonging
to 51 genera and 40 families were recorded by the tribals of Abbottabad
district of Pakistan to cure various ailments (Abbasi et al. 2010). Balangcod
and Balangcod (2011) described ethno medicinal importance of 125 plant
species used by Kalanguya tribe in Tinoc, Ifugao, Luzon, Philippines for
treating various ailments. Joshi et al. (2011) reported the uses of 87 species
belonging to 54 families used by the people of the Macchegaun, Kathmandu
district, Nepal for medicinal purposes. Bussmann and Glenn (2011)
documented 55 plant species belonging to 53 genera and 43 families used as
herbal remedies to fight pain in Northern Peru. Ong et al. (2011) recorded 52
species of medicinal plants used by the Malay villagers in Kampung Tanjung
Sabtu, Terengganu, Malaysia for general health.
INDIA
In India a great ethnobotanical knowledge exists from ancient period.
Written records on the use of plants for curing human and animal diseases in
India can be traced back to the earliest scripture of the Hindus (4500 -1600
BC), the Rigveda (Jain, 1994). Ayurveda, the indigenous system of medicine
in India, dates back to Vedic ages (1500-800 BC). It has been an integral part
of Indian culture (Weiss, 1987). It is not only a science of treatment of illness
but covers the whole gamut of happy human life involving the physical,
meta-physical and spiritual aspects (Sivarajan and Balachandra Sekaran,
1994). The Vedic Aryans were familiar with medicinal plants. Several plants
were described in the Atharva Veda. This was followed by monumental
38
ancient treatises like Charak Samhita (1000-800 BC) and Sushrut Samhita (800-
700 BC). The Unani system which originated in Greece in about 400 BC came
to India through Arab physicians, who accompanied Moghul invaders and
came to be known as Unani-Tibb. The Siddha system, with a record history
from about 2000 BC is believed to have originated from Lord Shiva and to
have passed on through his wife Parvati to a number of disciples. Its use
became more common in Dravidian civilization. The texts of each of these
three systems deal with herbs used in the respective systems only. Books in
English, written between the 18th century and today, usually include plants
from all three systems (Jain, 1994). The Indian system of herbal medicine and
its plant–drug caught the attention of the West since the beginning of the
colonial days. Garcia da Orta, the personal physician of the then Portuguese
Governor in India published his colloquies on the samples and drugs of India
in 1563. It was later published as 12-volumes work titled Kerala Medicinal
Plants (1678-1703) from Amsterdam.
In India, organized study on ethnobotany is of recent origin. Studies
on ethnobotany were initiated by Janaki Ammal as an official programme in
the Economic Botany Section of Botanical Survey of India (Howrah) in 1954.
She published a paper on subsistence economy of India (Janaki Ammal, 1956).
From 1960, Jain started intensive field studies among tribal areas of central
India (Jain, 1963 a-c; 1964 a-b; 1965 a-b). These publications in early sixties
triggered ethnobotanical activities of many botanists, anthropologists and
ayurvedic medical practitioners. During the last two decades, work has been
initiated, inter alia, at National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow;
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi; Central Institute for
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow; Central Council for Research in
Ayurveda and Siddha and Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine.
Several Indian Universities have introduced Ethnobotany in their syllabi. An
All India Coordinated Reseach Project on Ethnobiology came into operation
in 1982 at NBRI, Lucknow and four centres (Shillong, Howrah, Coimbatore
39
and Port Blair) of Botanical Survey of India (Jain and Mitra, 1997). Mudgal
(1987) provided a synoptic account of ethnobotanical works in India.
India is one of the richest countries in ethnobotanical knowledge with
many groups of tribals with rich vegetation. India is inhabited by over 80
million tribals belonging to about 550 tribal communities. It is estimated that
about 17,500 angiospermic species alone are occurring in India (Jain, 2000).
The flora of India is very diverse on one hand and rich in endemic taxa on the
other. These factors are of significance for the richness of ethnomedicine and
also for its uniqueness (Jain, 1997). With this unique combination of oral
tradition, ethnic diversity and rich flora and particularly with the renewed
awareness about significance of indigenous knowledge in future health care,
ethnomedicobotany has now attracted much attention for study,
documentation and evaluation of credibility and efficacy.
Atkinson (1882) published 12 volumes of Gazetteer of North West
Provinces of India, of which 3 volumes are concerned with Kumaon
Himalayas. The second volume dealt with the economic botany of plants
used as food by man and animals, wild and cultivated edible plants, plants
used in Pharmacy and plants used for preparing oils, dyes, gums and resins.
Bodding (1925, 1927) published notes on the system of medicine practiced by
Santals. He spent 30 years with them and reported 373 species used.
Majumdar (1927) made an extensive study of literature on Indian medicinal
plants followed by Kirtikar and Basu (1933) and Chopra et al. (1956).
Jain (1963a) recorded the plants used by the tribals of Madhya Pradesh.
He (1963b, c) intensified studies on the medicinal plants used by those tribals.
Jain (1965b) concentrated on the musical instruments and medicinal plants of
the tribes of central India. Jain (1967) discussed the plants associated with
healing of bone fracture in Indian medicine and folklore. Shah and Joshi
(1971) studied the ethnobotany of Kumaon region. Jain et al. (1973) studied
the medicinal and food plants of Chenchu, Reddi, Valmiki and Gond tribes of
40
Andhra Pradesh and Saora and Koudh tribes in Orissa. Raghunathan (1976)
studied 6 tribes of Nilgiris and reported some medicinal and economic plants.
Majumdar et al. (1978) gave some folklore medicine from Assam and
Meghalaya. Bhargava (1978) studied the ethnobotany of the tribes of
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Gupta (1979) reported medicinal uses of 15
species of the family Apocynaceae from Varanasi. Gupta et al. (1980a, b)
reported the ethnobotanical and phytochemical screening of 56 high altitude
plant species of Ladakh. Khan (1980) reported folklore utility of 11 aquatic
macrophytes of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The information on 28 species and
11 genera used by the Bhat community for regulating fertility was described
by Lal and Lata (1980). Maheshwari et al. (1980, 1981) reported 62 plant
species used by Tharus of Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh for medicine. Rao
and Neogi (1980) enumerated 65 plant species of ethnobotanical value used
by Khasi and Garo tribes of Meghalaya. Kamble and Pradhan (1980) recorded
folk-claims of 13 plants used by Korukus of Maharashtra. Bhattacharjee et al.
(1980) reported 28 plants used by local healers and herbalists of Assam. Jain
and Borthakur (1980) described plants used by Mikirs living in Karbi–
Anglong district of North Eastern India for food, medicine, religious and
other cultural needs. Srivastava et al. (1980) conducted a systematic survey of
medicinal plants of Kailash in Jammu and Kashmir and identified 180 species
belonging to 54 families used in folklore medicine. Sharma and Sinha (1980)
described folklore medicinal plants of Ranchi district, Bihar. Folklore claims
collected from Assam including information on diseases like asthma, cancer,
insanity, jaundice, malaria, piles etc and some other claims for temporary
sterilization and abortion were recorded by Tiwari et al. (1980).
Ramachandran and Nair (1981a) reported ethnobotanical notes on 90
species from the tribes of Cannanore district of Kerala. They (1981b) also
reported the traditional uses of 138 plant species belonging to 119 genera and
52 families by the Irulas of Tamil Nadu. Abraham (1981) presented
41
ethnobotanical information on the Todas, Kotas and Irulas of Nilgiris.
Oomachan and Khan (1981) listed medicinal plants in aid of family planning
programs in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Karnick et al. (1981) presented an
ethnobotanical and folklore evaluation of 40 medicinal plants occurring
around Gauhati. Shah et al. (1981) enumerated the ethnobotanical notes of
133 plants covering 54 families from Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Hemadri
(1981) studied 22 plants used for rheumatism by the aboriginals of Andhra
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa states. Rao and Jamir (1982a) reported
the uses of plants for relief and cure of certain diseases among the 40 tribes of
Nagaland. They (1982b) also studied botanical and local names of 54
medicinal plants used by different subtribes of Nagas. The medico-botanical
study of 143 species of Tumkur district of Karnataka was published by
Yoganarasimhan et al. (1982).
Sabins and Bedi (1983) listed 52 plants used for ethnobotanical purpose
in Dadra Nagarhaveli and Daman. An account of ethnogynaecology in
relation to plants was given by Tarafder (1983a, b). Pushpangadan and Atal
(1984, 1986) described ethnobotanical investigation on the primitive tribes of
Western Ghats and Travancore in Kerala. Hemadri and Rao (1984) reported
17 plants exclusively used for the treatment of jaundice by the tribals of
Dandakaranya forest area. Yoganarasimhan et al. (1984) reported 210
medicinal species belonging to 191 genera and 79 families used by the people
of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Dixit and Pandey (1984) described 14
plants used in the preparation of crude drugs in Jhansi and Lalitpur sections
of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Jain and Puri (1984) explored the
ethnomedicinal properties of 100 plants of Jaunsal-Bawar Hills of Uttar
Pradesh. Sebastian and Bhandari (1984) reported 69 species of
ethnobotanically interesting plants from Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
Dagar and Dagar (1987) reported economic uses of eight species of
gymnosperms found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ethnobotanical
42
studies on the Flora of Khandala, Maharashtra state was under taken by
Vedprakash and Mehrotra (1987). Bhatt and Sabnis (1987) presented
ethnobotanical data on 41 plants used by the tribals of Khedrahma region of
North Gujarat in their day to day life as food or medicine. Antifertility agents
from plants, a review presented by Bhargava (1988) highlights the
antiovulatory, anti-implantation, abortifacient, foetus resorption, uterine
stimulants, spermicidal, semen coagulants and anti-spermatogenic activities
of different plant agents. Hemadri and Rao (1989a) reported 201 plants from
folklore claims of Koraput and Phulbani districts of Orissa. They (1989b)
presented folklore remedies practiced by Bastar tribals involving some less
known herbs. Singh and Maheshwari (1989) dealt with 40 plants used in
traditional herbal remedies by Tharu tribe of Bahraich district of Uttar
Pradesh. Joshi (1989) accounted 50 herbal plants used in ethnomedicine by
tribals residing on the Aravalis and parts of Kota district of Rajasthan for the
treatment of 25 ailments especially in child birth and child care.
Mukherjee and Namhata (1990) reported ethnobotanical information
on 22 plants collected from Oran, Nunda, Bhaiyen, Dhanuar and Routia tribes
of Sundargarh district, Orissa. Sarin (1990) studied the folk medicinal uses of
17 plants in North-West Himalayas. Ethnobotanical studies of
Gandhamardan Hills of Orissa by Brahmam and Saxena (1990) resulted in
recording folk medicinal uses of nearly 200 species. Kiran Dabas et al. (1990)
surveyed the tribal district of Dangs in Gujarat and studied the primitive
agriculture practiced by 5 tribal communities, which cultivated cereals,
millets, pulses, oil seeds, vegetables, fruits and 18 tribal food preparations.
Jamir and Rao (1990) studied 50 medicinal plants used by Zealings of Naga
sub tribe of Nagaland. Shah and Singh (1990) presented hitherto unreported
medicinal uses of 24 plants species from the tribal pockets of Madhya
Pradesh. Varma and Pandey (1990) focused their works on ethnobotanical
notes on certain medicinal plants used by the tribals of Bihar.
43
Raghupati and Mahadevan (1991) reported 54 plant species used for
food, medicine and other economic purposes by Irulas of Thanjavur district of
Tamil Nadu. Tribal medicine for asthma, cancer, epilepsy, leprosy, polio and
tuberculosis in Chotanagpur and Santal Paraganas of Bihar was studied by
Hembrom (1991). Binu et al. (1992) summarized the ethnobotanical research
work carried out in different states and union territories of India. Singh and
Maheshwari (1992) studied less known medicinal uses of 30 plants among the
Tharus of Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh. Sikarwar and Kaushik (1992)
reported 15 tree species used by Sahariya tribe of Morena district, Madhya
Pradesh. Jain and Saklani (1992) reported cross cultural ethnobotanical
aspects in discovering similarities and dissimilarities in ethnobotanical uses of
25 plants among different ethnic societies in North Eastern India.
Jain and Sahu (1993) reported ethnobotanical uses of 45 species
belonging to 39 genera and 28 families used by the tribals of Noradevi
Sanctuary park of Madhya Pradesh for scorpion sting and snake bite. Thirteen
native plant remedies for child diseases and 21 for women diseases prevalent
among different ethnic groups of Assam along with methods of
administration and prescribed dose were reported by Borthakur (1993).
Aminuddin et al. (1993) reported 17 plant species belonging to 11 families
used in the treatment of malaria by the tribals of Orissa. Kulkarni and
Kumbhojkar (1993) reported 40 kitchen garden plants cultivated by
Mahadeokoli tribals of Western Maharashtra. Mao (1993) reported 71 wild
plant species having wide ethnobotanical applications used by Mao Nagas of
Manipur. Hosagoudar and Henry (1993) reported fertility and antifertility
plants used by Soligas of Biligiri Rangana Betta in Mysore district of
Karnataka.
Khanna et al. (1994) dealt with unreported medicinal uses of 18 plant
species, belonging to 16 families exploited as aphrodisiac among the folklore
of Uttar Pradesh plains. Jain and Puri (1994) studied the traditional use of 37
44
local plant species used for curing various human diseases in Parbati Valley
of Himachal Pradesh. Rajendran and Henry (1994) conducted ethnobotanical
studies on the tribe Kadar in Annamalai Hills of Tamil Nadu and recorded 41
plant species used by them, of which 31 are for the first time. Singh and
Prakash (1994) reported first hand information gathered on 38 ethnomedicinal
plants used by Gond tribe of Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh for the
treatment of various diseases and disorders. Siddiqui and Hussain (1994)
reported 17 medicinal palnts used for abortion, asthma, dysentery, fever,
hydrocele, gonorrhoea, menstrual cycle, tumour, piles and puerperal fever
etc, in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. Singh et al. (1994) studied 82
medicinal plants used in the health care of Gond tribes in Sonbhadra district
of Uttar Pradesh. Singh and Maheshwari (1994) reported 63 plants used by
the Tharus of Nainital district of Uttar Pradesh. Khan and Ahmad (1994)
reported barks of 13 species used as source of medicine in Madhya Pradesh.
Srivastava and Rout (1994) studied the ethnopaediatric importance of 18
species of plants prescribed for children as herbal medicine by the local
medical men in Koraput district of Orissa. Chhetri (1994) presented 36
ethnomedicinal plants belonging to 34 genera and 22 families used by Khasi
tribe for treating various ailments in Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.
Sahoo and Mudgal (1995) studied less known ethnobotanical uses of 23
plant species belonging to 21 families from 23 genera of Phulbani district of
Orissa. Verma et al. (1995) studied 17 ethnomedicinal plants used by the Baiga
tribal of Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. Girach and Aminuddin (1995)
recorded medicinal uses of 46 plant species used by the tribe communities of
Singbhum district of Bihar.
Borthakur et al. (1996) studied 52 plants used by the people of Nepali
ethnic origin in Assam for traditional medicine. Sinha et al. (1996) dealt with
27 ethnomedicinal plants belonging to 24 genera and 19 families of Andaman
and Nicobar Islands for curing various skin disorders among different ethnic
45
groups. Borthakur (1996) studied postnatal care of women in traditional
system in Assam and listed a total of 28 species of plants distributed in 28
genera and 24 families and noted that 18 types of complaints for women
during postnatal period are treated with 8 tropic recipes and 13 prescriptions.
Singh (1996) discussed ethnomedicobotany of Dards tribe of Gurez Valley of
Kashmir and recorded 62 plants used by them for treating various ailments.
Rana et al. (1996) reported strategies for sustainable utilization of plant
resources by the tribals of Tons Valley, Western Himalayas and reported
information on 48 medicinal plant species and other 72 species variously used
by the inhabitants. Native medicinal uses of 58 plants common among Sauria
Pharia tribe inhabiting Rajmahal Hills of Santhal Paragana Division, Bihar
were reported by Jha and Varma (1996). Jain and Sharma (1996) studied
ethnobotanical aspects of Saharia tribe of central India. Kothari and Moorthy
(1996) presented different species of plants to cure blood pressure, diabetes,
jaundice, skin and stomach disorders, urinogenital diseases and antidotes for
snake or scorpion bites used by the tribals of Raigad district of Maharashtra.
Henry et al. (1996) reported 125 potential medicinal plants from South
Western Ghats of India. Ranjendran and Mehrotra (1996) discussed
unrecorded medicinal uses of 18 angiospermic species in 14 families used by
Kolar, Madvar and Sunkan tribes of Parambikulam of Kerala. Brahmam et al.
(1996) reported 54 plant species with interesting folk, therapeutic uses and
values among the tribals of Dhenkanal district of Orissa. Medico-
ethnobotanical studies carried out by Mohanty et al. (1996) in Ganjam and
Phulbani districts of South Orissa reveal that the people use 49 plant species
for treatment of diarrheal diseases. Kulkarni and Kumbhojkar (1996) reported
the use of 51 food grain plant species used by Mahadeokoli tribals for pest
management in five district of Western Maharashtra.
Arora (1997) emphasized the importance of ethnobotanical studies in
areas rich in genetic resources. Singh et al. (1997) provided first hand
information on 30 medicinal plants belonging to 29 genera and 18 families
46
used by the Tripuri tribes of Tripura state for the treatment of different
ailments. Jamir (1997) studied the ethnobiology of Naga tribe in Nagaland.
Lalnundanga et al. (1997) presented the ethnobotanical flora of the humid
subtropical semi-evergreen forests of Mizoram. Lalramnghinglova and Jha
(1997) studied the ethnomedicine from Mizoram, North East India. Katewa
and Arora (1997) reported some plants used in the folk medicine of Udaipur
district of Rajasthan. Upadhye et al. (1997) documented plants used in
worship right from the ceremony of birth to mourning for death by the tribal
communities from Western Maharashtra along with observations on their
medicinal utilities. Topno (1997) gathered first hand information on 21 plants
and their role in therapeutic uses by the tribals of Chotanagpur, Bihar. Varma
(1997) made a comparative study on folk drugs of Santhal, Paharia, Munda
and Oraon tribals of Chotanagpur and Santhal Paragana of Bihar for asthma,
boils and ulcers, bone fractures, birth control, cholera, cough and cold,
dysentery, eczema, epilepsy, fever, piles, snake bite and tuberculosis.
Balasubramanian et al. (1997) presented an account of folk medicine of 25
species and uses hitherto not reported from Irulas of Coimbatore district of
Tamil Nadu. Rawat et al. (1997) provided notes on the Monpa tribe of
Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh and plants used by them as medicine and
vegetables etc. Viswanathan (1997) surveyed Ethnobotany of the Malayalis in
North Arcot district, Tamil Nadu and gave information on new uses of seven
plants for beliefs and taboos and 22 plants for medicinal purposes.
Vedprakash (1998) highlighted the current status of knowledge on
Indian medicinal plants in relation to their use in Ayurveda, ethnomedicine
and modern medicine and also on the efforts of researchers towards the
development of modern medicines. Ghate (1998) identified 45 species as
requisite resources for “Patra-Pooja” in Maharashtra. Mohanty et al. (1998)
reviewed the phytotherapy of diarrheal diseases and revealed the uses of 151
plant species in different parts of India. Girach et al. (1998) provided a brief
account of 44 plant species belonging to 25 families used by the tribals of
47
Sundargarh district of Orissa for alleviating their medical problems. Vivek
Kumar and Jain (1998) described 50 species belonging to 34 families, used by
the tribals of Sarguja district in Madhya Pradesh. Information regarding the
traditional uses of about 200 species of medicinal plants found in different
areas of Rajgir, Bihar was provided by Singh et al. (1998). The medicinal uses
of 55 plants belonging to 53 genera and 35 families among Kanikar tribes of
Mundanthurai Sanctuary, Western Ghats were presented by Ignacimuthu et
al. (1998). Hitherto unknown uses of 15 plants species belonging to 11
families and 15 genera in the treatment of rheumatism and other diseases by
the rural people of Udaipur, Rajsamand, Bhilwara and Jothipur districts of
Rajasthan were reported by Katewa and Sharma (1998). Punjani (1998)
reported 30 plant species which are used as tooth brushes by the tribals of
Sabarkantha district of North Gujarat. Kaushal Kumar and Goel (1998)
collected 29 species of little known ethnomedicinal plants used by the Santal
and Paharia in Santal Paragana, Bihar. During the course of ethnomedicinal
investigations, ethnobotanical observation on rattan palms among Adi and
Nishing tribes of Arunachal Pradesh was made by Sunny Thomas et al. (1998).
Singh and Kaushal Kumar (1999) studied the ethnotherapeutics of
some medicinal plants used as antipyretic agents among the tribals and
aboriginal population of Uttar Pradesh and gathered less known information
about ethnomedicinal plants used as antipyretic agents. Ten ethnomedicinal
plant species frequently used among the various tribal communities of Bihar
with their documented uses for remedies of 30 ailments have been
enumerated by Kaushal Kumar and Goel (1999). Singh et al. (1999) accounted
37 wild edible plants used as main diet by the Tripuri tribes of Tripura. Rana
et al. (1999) highlighted the traditional phytotherapy of 28 indigenous
medicinal plants for the treatment and control of diabetes among the tribals
and rural population of India. The study of 21 medicinal plants used to cure
rheumatism by rural people of Chhatrapur district of Madhya Pradesh was
discussed by Khare and Khare (1999). Medicinal uses of 22 plant species
48
belonging to 22 genera and 15 families by Gonda tribe of Chindwara district
of Madhya Pradesh was enumerated by Khan (1999). Khan et al. (1999)
enumerated a list of 88 plants belonging to 44 families dispensed by the local
hakims for the control of diabetes. Shrivastava et al. (1999) dealt with 20
preparations of herbal medicines used by tribals of Bastar district of Madhya
Pradesh for antifertility and abortification. Bora (1999) dealt with new and
less known medicinal uses of 34 plant species used by the Bodo tribe of
Sonitpur district of Assam. An ethnobotanical census of medicinally
important diabetic plants of Midnapur district of West Bengal by Ghosh and
Das (1999) yielded 55 species belonging to 25 dicot and 4 monocot families
used as antidiabetic plants by the tribal and local people.
Rosakutty et al. (1999) collected 74 plant species belonging to 64 genera
and 43 families for traditional medicinal uses from Kanyakumari district of
Tamil Nadu. Subramanian (1999) enumerated medicinal value of about 106
species belonging to 91 genera, 54 families from different areas of Chitheri
Hill in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. Awasthi and Goel (1999)
discussed ethnobotanical information on 71 plant species used by Onge tribe
from Little Andaman Island for various purposes in day to day life. Uses of 4
species of pteridophytes under 3 families, and 9 species of monocotyledons
under 7 families among the aborigines of Andaman and Nicobar Islands were
given by Dagar and Dagar (1999). Sharma and Singh (1999) dealt with 51 less
known ethnobotanical uses of 42 angiosperms, which are used by traditional
healers in different regions of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Bhatt et al. (1999)
enumerated 54 plants used for the treatment of various ailments by the tribals
of Gujarat. Out of 230 plants of Mizoram studied by Lalramnghinglova and
Jha (1999a), 61 were recorded for the first time as having ethnomedicinal uses.
Girach et al. (1999) dealt with 38 plant species used by the natives of Bhadrak
district of Orissa for skin diseases. Satapathy and Brahmam (1999) described
42 wild and domesticated species by the tribals of Jaipur district of Orissa
having ethnobotanical applications which might give some clue for evolving
49
new drugs in near future. Fifty three species of medicinal plants belonging to
34 families being used in folk system and ethnomedicine of North Eastern
Karnataka for the treatment of various diseases like jaundice, fracture, fever,
dysentery and aphrodisiac were given by Seetharam et al. (1999). Vivek
Kumar (1999) listed some indigenous tools used by the folk of Surguja district
of Madhya Pradesh. Lalramnghinglova and Jha (1999b) reviewed the work
done so far in ethnobotanical researches by different workers to help modern
world as well as local communities in rescuing disappearing knowledge and
returning it to local communities in India and abroad.
A survey of tribals of Western Madhya Pradesh by Samvastar and
Diwanji (2000) yielded 13 plants for the treatment of jaundice. Pande et al.
(2000) enumerated some common ethnomedicinal uses of 7 species of ferns
from Almora district of Kumaon Himalaya. The medicinal plants used in the
treatment of skin diseases and related problems in North East India were
reviewed by Begum and Nath (2000). Suresh Kumar and Praveen (2000)
enumerated a total of 116 medicinal plants belonging to 99 genera and 52
families used as house hold remedies in traditional medicinal system and
commercialized medicines in arid Western Rajasthan. Bark of 213 plant
species belonging to 143 genera and 60 families have been recorded by Islam
(2000) from North East India for their ethnobotanical importance. A disease
wise preference for the use of ethnomedicine was reported by Dam et al.
(2000) in the Thar Desert of North Western India. Kshirsagar and Singh
(2000) dealt with 33 medicinal plants used traditionally in Coorg district,
Karnataka for 24 medicinal uses by Malekudiya tribe. Khanna and Ramesh
Kumar (2000) gave an account of the medicinal uses of 50 plant species
known among the Gujjar tribe of Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh for curing
22 ailments.
Rajan et al. (2001) provided a list of 24 flowering plants belonging to 23
genera in 16 families whose stem and stem bark are used by the tribals, Irulas
50
and Paniyas of Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu with their local names,
ethnomedicinal uses, dosage and mode of application. The traditional plant
drugs of arid areas of Rajashtan having ethnomedicinal value and work on
their scientific exploration was reviewed by Tripathi et al. (2001). Rajendran
et al. (2001) surveyed 36 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 33 genera
and 24 families used as crude drugs for certain prior diseases by Valaya
tribals of Virudhnagar, Tamil Nadu. Vivek Kumar and Rao (2001) dealt with
25 plant species belonging to 19 families used as beverages in traditional
medicine by tribals of Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir. Bhandary and
Chandhra Sekhar (2001) described 43 species of plants with different herbal
methods for treating venomous snake bites in coastal Karnataka. Garg (2001)
prescribed some plants which are very important ethnobotanical antidotes for
snake bite. Nautiyal et al. (2001) documented indigenous knowledge systems
of tribals of Garhwal, Himalaya. These tribal communities are using about
220 plant species, either as whole plants or their parts only. Girach (2001)
listed ethnobotanical uses of 31 plant species recorded from Saora tribal
people in Mahendragiri Hills of Gajapati district. Viswanathan et al. (2001)
gave an account of 56 ethnomedicines used in 49 preparations by Kanis and
Kanikkars in the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu.
Sharma et al. (2001) presented information on 135 plant species from 122
genera and 65 families from Mizoram. Katewa et al. (2001) reported 38 plant
species belonging to 25 families and 36 genera by tribals as folk medicine in
treating various ailments in Rajsamund district of Rajasthan.
Arya (2002) dealt with traditional uses of 19 common plants used by
the local inhabitants and vaidyas of Drongiri, a mythic hill of Almora district
in Uttaranchal for their indigenous folklore. Das and Saikia (2002) enlisted 9
species used as abortifacients in Lakhimpur district of Assam. Das and Gogoi
(2002) dealt with 45 species of plants from 33 families used by Karbis of
Pragjyotishpur area of Kamrup district of Assam to cure different ailments.
51
Sikarwar (2002) reported the important role of Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) in
socio-economic life and also its use as food, medicine, fodder, fuel, drink and
timber by the tribals of Madhya Pradesh. Lalramnghinglova (2002)
enumerated 78 wild edible and famine food plants consumed by the local
people of Mizoram. Patole and Ashok (2002) studied 45 plant species
consumed by the tribals and rural people living in Pachmarhi Biosphere
Reserve. Uniyal et al. (2002) described the traditional and ethnobotanical uses
of 211 wild plant species used by the local inhabitants of Bhagirathi Valley,
Western Himalaya. Rajendran et al. (2002) dealt with the medicinal uses of 36
plant species belonging to 36 genera and 24 families which are used in day to
day ailments as medicines by Valaya tribals in Seithur Hills of Virudhnagar,
Tamil Nadu. Bhatt et al. (2002) gave an account of gums and resins having
medicinal importance apart from traditional use for making sweets and
fumigation with 21 plant species in Gujarat. Harsha et al. (2002) recorded
ethnomedical knowledge of the tribe Kunabis of Uttara Kannada district in
Karnataka and listed 45 species of plants belonging to 26 families which are
used to treat a wide range of discomforts.
Sen and Behera (2003) reported 78 ethnomedicinal plants belonging to
47 families used by the tribals of Bargarh district in Orissa for treatment of
skin diseases. Suresh Kumar et al. (2003) surveyed Kolayat tehsil in Bikaner
district, Rajasthan and revealed that 38 plant species were used for curing 23
types of ailments in different villages. Maliya and Singh (2003) dealt with
some new or less known ethnomedicinal uses of 20 plant species utilized by
Tharu tribe and other rural inhabitants in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh.
Katewa et al. (2003) documented the precious traditional knowledge about the
uses and properties of wild plants by aboriginals of Aravali Hills of Rajasthan.
Laxmikant Sharma et al. (2003) provided information on uses of Ayurvedic
medicinal plants for cure of skin and hair problems and also on herbal
cosmetics. Chandra Sekar and Srivastava (2003) dealt with 35 ethnomedicinal
plant species used as crude drugs by the tribals for different human ailments
52
in Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh. During
ethnopharmacobotanical investigations in Uttar Kannada district, Karnataka,
33 species from 23 families useful in women folk health care were recorded by
Ramana et al. (2003). Nadanakunjidam (2003) revealed the use of 51 plant
species belonging to 48 genera and 39 families by the tribals of Attapadi Hills,
Western Ghats as timber, fiber, fuel, fence, thatching grass, wild food, fodder,
manure, insecticide, pesticide, piscicide, tooth brush, hair soap and body
wash, ornamental and in the manufacture of agricultural implements.
Pramod et al. (2003) studied the use of 40 plant species belonging to 34 genera
and 27 families related to magico-religious beliefs and medicine by Kurichyas
of Wayanad district, Kerala. Kshirsagar et al. (2003) enumerated 57
ethnobotanical plant species used by the tribals for different ailments in
coastal area of South Gujarat.
Pawar and Patil (2004) reported 39 medicinal plant species belonging
to 25 families used by rural people, aboriginal medicine men and tribals for
controlling urinogenital disorders in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. Dolui et
al. (2004) conducted a survey on 46 folk herbal plant species belonging to 44
genera and 34 families by tribals of Meghalaya for treatment of various
human ailments. Parinitha et al. (2004) surveyed 60 ethnobotanical plant
species belonging to 50 genera and 35 families used by tribals of Bhadra Wild
Life Sanctuary in Karnataka for various ailments. Nayak et al. (2004) dealt
with 39 ethnomedicobotanical species belonging to 36 genera and 26 families,
used as crude drugs by tribals for various diseases in Kalahandi district of
Orissa. Ghosh and Das (2004) reported preparation of rice beer by the Oraon
and Santhal tribal in Terai region of West Bengal. Ramesh Kumar et al. (2004)
presented the traditional medicinal uses of 20 plants belonging to 16 families
for 24 different diseases and use of 1 plant for medico religious belief by the
tribes of Amarakantak region, Madhya Pradesh. Augustine and Sivadasan
(2004) identified 180 ethnobotanical species, of which 66 species are used in
medicine by the tribals of Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala. Sensarma (2004)
53
described 14 ethnobotanical plant species used for dental care in India.
Sutanu Lal Bondya and Sharma (2004) presented 11 ethnomedicinal plant
species used in Baharagora block of Jharkhand for treatment of diabetes.
Srivastava and Chandra Sekar (2004) described 10 ethnomedicinal plant
species used by the tribals of Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh for
treatment of dysentery. Kar (2004) reported 25 wild vegetable plant species
used by Aka tribe in Arunachal Pradesh as food, fodder, medicine etc.
Borthakur et al. (2004) recorded 39 hepato–protective herbal recipes prevalent
among different ethnic groups of Assam. Ganesan et al. (2004) enumerated
ethnomedicinal information of 45 plant species belonging to 30 families used
by the Pyliyan and Pulayan tribes of lower Palni Hills of Tamil Nadu. Patil
and Ramaiah (2004) reported ethnomedicinal uses of 50 plants for treating
human skin diseases from tribal areas of Nandurbar district of Maharashtra.
Patil and Patil (2005) reported the age old empirical ethnomedicinal
knowledge of 30 plant species belonging to 20 families from aboriginal and
rural populace of Nasik district, Maharashtra. Rekha Sinha and Valeria Lakra
(2005) studied plant consumption pattern in 5 tribal groups in the tribal
dominated districts of Orissa, Kheonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Dhenkenal.
Sharma et al. (2005) studied 35 plant species associated with indigenous
knowledge among the Malanis of Kulu district, Himachal Pradesh. Udayan et
al. (2005) enumerated medicinal uses of 51 plants belonging to 36 families
used by the Chellipale community in Kolli Hills of Namakkal district, Tamil
Nadu. Patel (2005) described the traditional uses of bamboo by the Kotwalis
tribe of Gujarat. Katewa and Galav (2005a) surveyed the ethnomedicinal uses
of 48 species of dicotyledonous and 2 species of monocotyledonous plants for
different ailments by local people from Shakhawati region of Rajasthan.
Ayyanar and Iganacimuthu (2005) surveyed 28 plant species belonging to 21
families, out of which 14 plants cure skin diseases and 15 plants used for
poisonous bites by ethnic groups in Tirunelveli Hills, Tamil Nadu. Sharma
and Maheshwari (2005) documented traditional practices to cure pin worm
54
and diarrheal problems among infants by Gaddi tribes in Kangra district,
Himachal Pradesh. Purkayastha et al. (2005) reported 55 plant species
belonging to 52 genera and 34 families used for the treatment of various
ailments by the ethnic communities of Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve in
Northern India.
Bhogaonkar and Kadam (2006) documented 22 prescriptions using 39
plant species in different combinations used by Banjara tribe of Umarkhed
region of Maharashtra for reproductive disorders. Ethnobotanical study of
Jalgaon district, Maharashtra by Pawar and Patil (2006a) revealed that many
angiospermic species of exotic origin are employed for treatment of various
ailments. Pawar and Patil (2006b) dealt with 26 species belonging to 20
families employed against rheumatic disorders by aboriginal and rural folk of
Jalgaon District, Maharashtra. Jadeja et al. (2006) described 94 plant species
belonging to 82 genera and 52 families used by the indigenous people for
treatment of hemorrhoids by tribals of Saurashtra, Gujarat. Bhatt and Negi
(2006) revealed the indigenous medicinal uses of 66 plant species belonging to
52 genera and 41 families by Jaunsari tribe of Garhwal Himalaya and
Uttaranchal. Das and Hui-Tag (2006) studied ethnobotany of 45 medicinal
plants for curing different ailments by Khamti tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.
Jain et al. (2006) reported 400 medicinally important plants of Madhya
Pradesh and Chhattisgarah for their pharmaceutical activity. Patil and
Bhaskar (2006) reported 33 tribal medicinal preparations for curing different
ailments by tribals of Nandurbar district, Maharashtra. Yadav et al. (2006)
revealed the traditional uses of 52 plants by the rural women of Haryana for
gynecological disorders. Sharma et al. (2006) surveyed 26 plant species in
cold desert of Himachal Pradesh for traditional phytotherapeutic plant
resources. Negi and Subramani (2006) studied 38 ethnobotanical plant
species belonging to 23 families and 17 red listed plant species used as crude
drugs by the tribals for curing different ailments in Naggar area of Kulu
Valley, Himachal Pradesh. Zamir (2006) evaluated the efficacy of some
55
medicinal plants against specific gynecological morbidity. Sau (2006) studied
indigenous knowledge system for preventing and curing pediatric diseases at
South 24 Parganas of West Bengal.
Amit (2007) discussed about 19 antipyretic plant species belonging to
19 genera and 16 families practiced by Vaidhya or Hakim, rural and common
people in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. Dinesh Jadhav (2007a) dealt with
17 plant species belonging to 17 genera and 13 families for the treatment of
typhoid by the Bhil tribe of Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh. Information on
the use of 15 species belonging to 15 genera of 10 families was presented by
Dinesh Jadhav (2007b). They are very effective in the treatment of joint
diseases used by Bhil tribe of Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh. Murugesan
and Balasubramaniam (2007) presented information on the role of 63
medicinal, 28 edible and 3 miscellaneous uses of plant species among Irulas of
Velliangiri hills, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Vidhyasagar and
Prashantkumar (2007) recorded 18 plant species belonging to 18 genera and
13 families used for the treatment of gynecological disorders in women by the
tribes of Bidar district, Karnataka. Ethnobotanical studies of Nahan area,
Sirmour district, Himachal Pradesh by Nilay Kumar and Chauhan (2007)
revealed the importance of 55 plant species in the traditional knowledge of
forest wealth. Upadhyay and Singh (2007) presented the knowledge of 67
medicinal uses derived from 33 plant species belonging to 22 families to treat
a wide range of ailments practiced by the Bhar community residing at Tikri
forest area of Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. Tripathi et al. (2007) reported
less known medicinal plants from Northern hill region of Chhattisgarh.
An ethnobotanical survey by Panda and Padhy (2008) revealed that out
of the recorded 111 flowering plants of 60 families, 49 plants have new uses
that were not known before against 42 human ailments practiced by tribes of
Kalahandi district, Orissa. Chiranjibi Pattanaik et al. (2008a) surveyed an
ethnic community Didayi in Malkangiri district, Orissa and described 53
56
medicinal plant species belonging to 34 families and 52 different species.
Ethnobotanical survey was conducted among Savaras, Santals and other local
communities in sand dune vegetation of 6 coastal districts of Orissa on the use
of 55 plants by Chiranjibi Pattnaik (2008b). Jagtap et al. (2008a) discussed the
uses of 13 plant species belonging to 12 families including their conservation
and cultivation, practiced by Korku tribe of Amaravati district, Maharashtra.
Brij Lal and Singh (2008) reported the use of 18 plant species belonging to 14
families used by the natives of Lahout-Spite in Himachal Pradesh, for curing
different skin disorders. Udayan et al. (2008) enumerated the traditional uses
of 48 plants used by Kurichiar tribes of Tirunelli forest, Wayanad district,
Kerala. An extensive ethnobotanical survey was carried out by Jain et al.
(2008) documented 45 different plant species belonging to 29 families used in
the precious indigenous health care practices prevalent among the different
ethnic groups of Rajasthan. Puri and Chaturvedi (2008) dealt with 14 wild
plants used by Gond and Korku tribes of Vidarbha, for manufacturing
musical instruments. Prashantkumar and Vidyasagar (2008) described about
the use of 26 plant species belonging to 25 genera and 16 families along with
the method of drug preparation and mode of administration for the treatment
of skin diseases in Bidar district, Karnataka. Information on 33 plant species
used by the tribes of North-West Maharashtra for the treatment of
gastrointestinal disorders was collected by Kamble et al. (2008). Prakash et al.
(2008) dealt with some less known ethnobotanical uses of 15 plant species
belonging to 13 families used as effective remedies by Kani tribes of
Agasthiyamalai region of southern Western Ghats.
A study by Prachi et al. (2009) revealed 15 plant species belonging to 13
families used as anti-urolithiatic agents in the treatment of urinary tract and
kidney stones by the tribals of Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
Koushik Majumdar et al. (2009) provided 184 species of medicinal trees
belonging to 56 families occurring in the state of Tripura. Jeyaram et al. (2009)
studied traditional fermented foods of Manipur. Kingston et al. (2009)
57
reported 30 plant species belonging to 29 genera and 22 families used for the
treatment of skin diseases by the tribals of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu.
Kadavul and Dixit (2009) described ethnomedicinal importance of 60 woody
species belonging to 51 genera and 34 families from Kalrayan and
Shervarayan Hills of Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Ansarali and Sivadasan
(2009) reported 61 plant species belonging to 37 families used for
ethnobotanical purposes by the tribals of Lakshadweep Islands.
Rout and Panda (2010) reported 77 plant species belonging to 73
genera and 41 families employed ethnomedicinally by the tribals of
Mayurbhanj district, Orissa. Augustine et al. (2010) revealed the use of 15
plant species for ethnogynecological purposes by the tribes of Periyar Tiger
Reserve, Western Ghats. Punjani (2010) reported 49 plant species belonging to
30 families of ethnomedicinal interest used by the tribals of Northeast Gujarat
for curing urinary complaints. A total of 67 medicinal plant species
distributed in 37 families are documented by the tribals of Satpuda region of
Dhule and Jalgaon districts of Maharashtra for the preparation of medicines
(Jain et al. 2010). Sharma and Sharma (2010) gathered information on 40 plant
species from 40 genera and 34 families used for ethnomedicines by the tribals
of Sonapur, Kamrup district, Assam. An attempt has been made to document
31 plant species belonging to 31 genera and 22 families being used
traditionally by the tribals of Southern Rajasthan (Meena and Yadav, 2010).
Shukla et al. (2010) explored 166 plants from 69 families used for curing
different diseases by the tribals in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. Harish
Singh et al. (2010) dealt with 15 plant species belonging to 13 families used
traditionally by the tribal people of Mayurbhanj district of Orissa for the
treatment of leucorrhoea.
Ghatapanadi et al. (2011) documented 52 plant species belonging to 27
families and scientifically validated for their therapeutic properties. Meena
and Yadav (2011) enumerated the ethnomedicinal uses of 35 plant species
58
belonging to 34 genera and 27 families used by Garasia tribe of Sirohi district
in Rajasthan. Kumar and Hamal (2011) observed that the local populace in the
Kishtwar High Altitude National Park use 13 different herbal treatments
involving 14 plants/plant parts for arthritis. Anita Jain et al. (2011) reported 44
species of plants used for snakebite by the tribals of Rajasthan. Jain et al.
(2011) collected information on 50 medicinal plant species belonging to 50
genera and 31 families used in refractory diseases by the tribals of Balaghat
district, Madhya Pradesh. Malik et al. (2011) described the ethnomedicinal
uses of 30 plant species belonging to 30 genera and 22 families in the Kashmir
Himalaya. Ray et al. (2011) dealt with 63 species of medicinal plants belonging
to 55 genera and 43 families commonly used by the tribal people of East
Nimar region, Madhya Pradesh. Beegam and Nayar (2011) dealt with 66
preparations made out of 58 plant species specifically employed in prenatal
(14), postnatal (23) and child healthcare (29) in folk medicine of Kerala.
Bhandary and Chandrashekar (2011) observed 34 different methods of
treatment for herpes infection using 57 plant species by the traditional
herbalists of coastal Karnataka. Jain et al. (2011) dealt with 25 plant species
used traditionally by the tribes of Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh for
treatment of various ailments. Khongsai et al. (2011) reported 84 species of
ethnomedicinal plants used by different tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. Binu
(2011) reported information about 10 plants used for treating body pains by
the tribals of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. Xavier et al. (2011) revealed that
the Malayali people in Kolli Hills used 50 plant species distributed in 45
genera belonging to 33 families to treat various diseases. Nath et al. (2011)
provided information on traditional herbal recipes using 28 plant species
belonging to 26 genera and 22 families in treating various joint diseases by
different ethnic groups of Assam.
59
ANDHRA PRADESH
Andhra Pradesh state received little attention in ethnobotanical and
folklore studies. Roxburgh (1795-1819) initiated the ethnobotanical
investigations in the state and reported on therapeutic uses of plants and
plant products used by the local tribes. Tribal Botany of Andhra Pradesh
caught the attention of Pal and Banerjee (1971) when they surveyed the
nutritional properties of 22 less known plants used by tribals like Bhagatas,
Chenchus, Gonds, Konda Reddis and Valmikis. Banerjee (1977) studied
ethnobotany of Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam district. Hemadri et al. (1980)
reported 80 folklore claims, mostly of therapeutic value gathered from the
tribals and villagers. Kapoor and Kapoor (1980) reported 189 plant drugs and
their important uses from Karimnagar district.
Singh et al. (1981) published 29 medicinal plants which were commonly
used by local tribes of Mannanur forest and also studied their biological
activity. Hemadri and Rao (1983a, b) reported 11 claims of folklore medicine
for leucorrhoea and menorrhagia and 26 medicinal plants extensively used for
antifertility, abortifacient and also for promoting fertility by the local tribes of
Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. Rama Rao et al. (1984) reported 7 unknown or
less known medicinal plants which are exclusively used for various ailments
by the aboriginals. Hemadri (1985) studied the medicinal wealth of Chittoor
district. Prakasa Rao and Harasreeramulu (1985) presented authentic data on
52 selected medicinal plants along with their ethnobotanical uses and
distribution in Srikakulam district. Raja Reddy (1986, 1988) reported
medicinal plants used by folklore and tribes of Chittoor district for healing
jaundice. Hemadri et al. (1987a, b) enumerated 117 well known medicinal
plants widely used in different systems of medicine based on
medicoethnobotanical explorations. Basi Reddy et al. (1988) recorded 64
crude drugs used by the Chenchu tribes of Nallamalai forest in Kurnool
district.
60
Chetty and Rao (1989) reported 65 species of medicinal plants in
Sarakallu and adjacent regions of Chittoor district. Naga Raju and Rao (1989)
described folklore use of 26 antidiabetic plant species occurring in
Rayalaseema region. Raja Reddy et al. (1989) reported the use of 125 plant
crude drugs used by the tribals of Chittoor district for different ailments. Basi
Reddy et al. (1989) investigated plant based crude drugs of Anantapur district
and reported 64 plant drugs. Reddy et al. (1989) surveyed the medicinal
plants used for crude drugs by Chenchus of Anantapur district. Venkanna
(1990) made a preliminary survey of medicinal plant wealth of Krishna
district. Vedavathy and Rao (1990) reported medicinal plants which are used
by the village folk of Rayalaseema for curing kidney ailments. Naga Raju and
Rao (1990) reported ethnomedicinal use of 37 antiviral hepatitic plant species
occurring in Tirupati hills of Chittoor district. Hemadri (1990) reported
medicinal wealth of Karimnagar and Warangal districts. Thammanna and
Rao (1990) enumerated the common medicinal plants of Tirumala.
Narayana Rao et al. (1991) reported information on 42 plant drugs
currently used by the tribal people and folklore of Chittoor district of treating
different ailments. Vedavathy et al. (1991) reported 25 plant species from
Rayalaseema region used for family planning and birth control. Vedavathy
and Rao (1991) reported antipyretic activity of 6 indigenous medicinal plants
of Tirumala hills. Basi Reddy et al. (1991) reported plants used in traditional
medicine by local tribal people of Kadapa district. Krishna Mohan and
Bhairava Murthy (1992) reported 97 selected species of plants which are used
as medicine by the tribals of Prakasam district. Imam et al. (1992) discussed
folk medicines used for snake bite in different forest areas of Andhra Pradesh.
Sudarsanam and Balaji Rao (1994) studied 31 plant crude drugs used by
Yanadi tribe of Nellore district. Vedavathy and Rao (1995) reported herbal
therapies for conjunctivitis, diabetes, chronic fever, malaria, typhoid,
pneumonia, menorrhagia, leucorrhoea, whooping cough and infective
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hepatitis. Balaji Rao et al. (1995) reported folklore use of 21 plant species
occurring in Rayalaseema region for curing dental ailments.
Rajendran et al. (1996) reported the hepatic stimulant plants of Andhra
Pradesh. Balaji Rao et al. (1996) gave an account of 25 plant species used by
local herbalists of Tirumala hills, Chittoor district for dandruff. Pullaiah and
Dharma Chandra Kumar (1996) studied ethnomedicobotany of Mannanur
forest of Mahboobnagar district and enumerated 21 plants used by the tribals
for their medicinal uses in curing asthma, diarrhoea, snake bite etc. Rama Rao
and Henry (1996) reported the ethnomedicinal practices of Jatapu and Savara
tribal communities of Srikakulam district. Vedavathy and Mrudula (1996)
examined the traditional medicinal practices of Yanadi tribe. Hemambara
Reddy et al. (1996) surveyed plant crude drugs being used for snake bite by
Chenchus inhabitng Nallamalais yielding 37 medicinally important species
belonging to 27 families. Rao et al. (1996) reported the medicinal plants of
Tirumala hills for dental disorders. Vedavathy et al. (1997) surveyed and
documented 202 medicinal plant indexed along with tribal applications for
cure of various ailments in Chittoor district. During ethnomedicinal
investigations in Andhra Pradesh some interesting indigenous medicinal
plants were reported by Rajasekhar et al. (1997) for treatment of paralysis
among Sugalis. Vijaya Kumar and Pullaiah (1998) reported first hand
information on 50 ethnomedicinal plants traditionally used by Chenchu,
Yanadi, Sugali and Yerukala tribes of Prakasam district for treatment of
various diseases. Chetty et al. (1998) identified 39 species belonging to 36
genera and 26 families to cure various ailments from Chittoor district.
Sudhakar and Chetty (1998) recorded 100 species of angiospermic weeds
belonging to 92 genera and 39 families used for various ailments by the rural
people of Chittoor district. Six endemic medicinal plants used by tribal
inhabitants of Tirumala hills of Chittoor district were reported by
Savithramma and Sulochana (1998). According to Vedavathy (1998) 450
species of medicinal plants are used in Chittoor district by various groups in
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different areas for their folk remedies. Venkaiah (1998) reported medicinal
uses of 55 plant species belonging to 38 families used by the tribals of
Vizianagaram district. Dharma Chandra Sekar Kumar and Pullaiah (1999)
gave information on useful aspects of ethnobotany of 31 plant species
collected from the tribal communities of Mahaboobnagar district. Satya (1999)
conducted ethnobotanical survey of Nellore district. Goud et al. (1999)
enumerated 29 plants used by the tribals of Kurnool district for their
medicinal uses in curing fever and malaria.
Rao et al. (2000) collected about 110 plant species of medicinal interest
used by the tribals of Paderu division of Visakhapatnam district. Jeevan Ram
and Venkata Raju (2001) dealt with 45 plant species encompassing 44 genera
and 35 families used as crude drugs for curing skin diseases by the Adivasis
in Nallamalais, Andhra Pradesh. Muralidhar Rao and Pullaiah (2001) dealt
with 50 selected species of wild plants used as medicine by tribals of Guntur
district. Rao et al. (2001) reported about 160 medicinal plants in the Paderu
division of Visakhapatnam district. Jeevan Ram et al. (2002) identified 48 plant
species of ethno-medico-botanical importance, belonging to 46 genera and 29
families by Sugalis of Gooty forests. Imam et al. (2003) enumerated some
important folk herbal medicines used as antidote for snake bite from tribal
pockets of Atmakur forest division. Venkataratnam and Venkata Raju (2005)
dealt with 25 crude drugs belonging to 16 plant families used by Adivasis in
Eastern Ghats for curing leucorrhoea and menorrhagia. Raju and Reddy
(2005) enumerated 37 ethnomedicinal plant species representing 34 genera
and 28 families used by the tribals of Khammam district for dysentery and
diarrhea in humans and cattle. Rao et al. (2006) provided information on 11
medicinal plants belonging to 10 families, used by Khonds for treatment of
various ailments in Visakhapatnam district.
Ethnobotanical studies were carried out by Sudhakar Reddy et al.
(2007) to collect information on the use of 51 medicinal plants belonging to 48
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genera and 33 families to cure 26 ailments by the Chenchus of Nallamalais in
Kurnool district. Jeevan Ram et al. (2007) reported the use of 53 plant species
belonging to 48 genera and 31 families gathered from herbal practitioners of
Chenchu, Yanadi and Yerukala tribes of Nallamalais of the Eastern Ghats.
Ratnam and Raju (2008) discussed the therapeutic properties of 21 species
used for bone fractures from the native tribes of Eastern Ghats. Ramarao
Naidu et al. (2008) described 38 plant species belonging to 30 families
employed by the tribals of Srikaulam district for curing rheumatoid arthritis.
Reddi et al. (2009a) provided information on 37 flowering plant species under
35 genera belonging to 24 families used by the tribals of Eastern Ghats as
nephroprotectors. They (2009b) also reported 42 species belonging to 41
genera and 33 families used for curing sexually transmitted diseases by the
Adivasis of the same locality. Suneetha et al. (2009a) dealt with 51 plant
species under 48 genera belonging to 29 families for the treatment of
diarrhoea and dysentery by the tribals of East Godavari district. They (2009b)
reported 39 species belonging to 26 families for the treatment of cold and
cough. They (2009c) also reported 45 ethnomedicinal plants with 46
prescriptions traditionally utilized for curing bites. Suneetha et al. (2009)
reported 43 new species of angiosperms belonging to 31 families for curing
gynaecological disorders by the tribals of East Godavari district. Ramarao
Naidu et al. (2009) reported 63 medicinal plant species belonging to 63 genera
and 38 families used as antipyretic agents by the tribals of Srikakulam district.
Ramarao Naidu et al. (2010a) dealt with ethnomedicobotany of
Srikakulam district and reported 25 plant species belonging to 18 families
used by the tribals for curing dental disorders. They (2010b) also reported 20
plant species belonging to 15 families from the same study area used for
curing malaria. Rao and Reddi (2010a) reported 35 tuberous medicinal plant
species used for a variety of ailments by certain tribal people of
Visakhapatnam district. They (2010b) also enlisted 30 new plant species
belonging to as many genera and 23 families used for a variety of ailments.
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Swamy and Reddi (2010) described 46 species used as antidotes by the tribals
of Adilabad district. Hari Babu et al. (2010) reported 21 medicinal plants
belonging to 19 genera and 16 families used by the tribals of Visakhapatnam
district for piles.
Suneetha et al. (2011) reported 42 plant species belonging to 33 famlies
used in indigenous phototherapy for bone fractures by the tribals of Eastern
Ghats. Manjula et al. (2011) described 28 species included in 27 genera and 20
families used to cure jaundice by the tribals of Khammam district. Reddi
(2011) reported folk medicinal wisdom of Konda Reddis for gynecological
problems. Hari Babu et al. (2011a) reported 41 speceis belonging to 31 families
to treat abdominal pain by the tribals of Visakhapatnam district. They (2011b)
also highlighted the uses of 18 ethnomedicinal plants traditionally utilized for
the treatment of diabetes. Rao et al. (2011a) dealt with 11 beverages brewed by
the primitive tribal groups of Visakhapatnam district. Rao et al. (2011b)
reported 46 species used by the primitive tribal groups of Northcoastal
Andhra Pradesh for curing jaundice.