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

61

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

62

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

63

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.

64

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.