Ethnomedicinal plant diversity in Thailand

J Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Dec 11;214:90-98. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.12.003. [Epub ahead of print] . Phumthum M1, Srithi K2, Inta A3, Junsongduang A4, Tangjitman K5, Pongamornkul W6, Trisonthi C3, Balslev H7. Author information 1 Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Building 1540, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. 2 Program in Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Production, Maejo University, Sansai, Chiang Mai 50290, Thailand; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. 4 Science and Technology Department, Liberal Art and Science Faculty, Roi Et Rajabhat University, Thailand. 5 Faculty of Science and Technology, Muban Chom Bueng Rajabhat University, Chom Bueng, Ratchaburi 70150, Thailand. 6 Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50180, Thailand. 7 Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Building 1540, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: henrik.balslev@bios.au.dk. Abstract ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Plants have provided medicine to humans for thousands of years, and in most parts of the world people still use traditional plant-derived medicine. Knowledge related to traditional use provides an important alternative to unavailable or expensive western medicine in many rural communities. At the same time, ethnomedicinal discoveries are valuable for the development of modern medicine. Unfortunately, globalization and urbanization causes the disappearance of much traditional medicinal plant knowledge. AIM OF THE STUDY: To review available ethnobotanical knowledge about medicinal plants in Thailand and to estimate its diversity. METHODS: Information about ethnomedicinal uses of plants in Thailand was extracted from 64 scientific reports, books, and theses produced between 1990 and 2014. Plant identifications in the primary sources were updated to currently accepted names following The Plant List website and the species were assigned to family following the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Use Values (UV) were calculated to estimate the importance of medicinal plant species (UVs) and families (UVf). Medicinal use categories, plant parts used, preparations of the medicine, and their applications were noted for each use report. RESULTS: We found 16,789 use reports for 2187 plant species in 206 families. These data came from 19 ethnic groups living in 121 villages throughout Thailand. The health conditions most commonly treated with medicinal plants were in the categories digestive system disorders, infections/infestations, nutritional disorders, muscular-skeletal system disorders, and genitourinary system disorders. Plant families with very high use values were Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Acanthaceae, Lamiaceae, and Zingiberaceae and species with very high use values were Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC., and Cheilocostus speciosus (J.Koenig) C.D.Specht. Stems and leaves were the most used plant parts, but also other parts of the plants were used in medicinal recipes. The most common way of using the medicinal plants was as a decoction in water. CONCLUSION: We found 2187 plant species that were used in traditional medicine in Thailand. Of these a few hundred had high use values, suggesting that they may produce bioactive compounds with strong physiological effects. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS: Asia; Ethnic groups; Ethnobotany; Medicinal use category; Thai; Traditional medicine; Use value PMID: 29241674 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.12.003