Author(s):

Shila Singh

Abstract: Present study aims to explore the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used by Tharu community of Parsa district, Nepal to treat various human diseases. This study was carried out from March 2017 to February 2018, in Parsa district of Nepal. The data were collected using semi structured interviews, group discussion, field visit, and observations with participants. A total of 66 medicinal plants, distributed in 55 genera and 37 families, were collected and identified to treat 50 ailments. In the growth forms 26 plants (39%) were shrubs, 23 plants (35%) were trees, 11 plants (17%) were shrubs and 6 plants (9%) were climbers. Highest number of plants used for medicinal purposes was from the two families Lamiaceae and Amaranthaceae (32.4%). The most frequently utilized plant parts as medicines were leaves. Paste was widely used mode of herbal remedies where oral administration was the dominant route. Documentation of these plants will play great role in biodiversity conservation. Extraction and identification of effective chemicals present in the studied medicinal plants could play significant role in the discovery of new pharmaceutical drug for the humanity.

DOI: 10.22271/phyto.2020.v9.i3d.11277

Pages: 268-274  |  1258 Views  484 Downloads

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