Volume 166, 26 May 2015, Pages 119–128
Research Paper
New ethnomedicinal claims from Gujjar and Bakerwals tribes of Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India
Abstract
Background
Medicinal
plants are frequently employed by Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes in Rajouri
and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India for treatment of
various ailments in humans and livestock. Hence, extensive field work
was conducted to document the ethnomedicinal plants used by these
tribes.
Methodology
Ninety one
key informants were interviewed using both in situ and ex situ type of
survey methods. The data were analyzed using user value (UV), informant
consensus factor (Fic), fidelity level (FL) and relative frequency of
citation (Rfc).
Results
A total
of 104 species of medicinal plants used in the treatment of 40 different
non-communicable ailments with 138 remedies are reported. Cephalanthera longifolia
(L.) Fritsch was recorded for the first time with ethnomedicinal uses
and the rest of the species were previously reported with different
medicinal uses by other tribal people. Out of 138 remedies, 129 were
employed for human ailments and the remaining seven were used to treat
livestock. Most of the species were harvested for leaves (24 species).
Herbs (66 species) were the major life form used for medicinal purpose
and the most common method of remedy preparation was decoction/tea
(27.8%). The highest use value plant was Verbascum thapsus L. for the treatment of stomachache and snake bite.
Conclusions
Plants such as Allium humile Kunth, Angelica glauca Edgew, Arnebia benthamii (Wall. ex G. Don) I.M.Johnst, Asparagus racemosus Willd., Balanophora involucrata Hook. f. & Thomson, C. longifolia (L.) Fritsch, Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L., Geranium wallichianum D. Don ex Sweet, Gloriosa superb L., Habenaria intermedia D. Don, Phyllanthus emblica L., Ramaria Formosa (Pers.) Quel. and V. thapsus L. showing high Rfc and FL values may be studied for associated pharmacological activities.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Ethnomedicine;
- Gujjar;
- Bakerwals;
- Medicinal plants;
- Folk medicine
- Corresponding author. Mobile:
+91 9968172445.
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