Ethno botanical studies of medicinal plants prevailing in Northern hill region of Chhattisgarh

Abstract

This study reveals the occurrence of 96 species belonging to 47 families of ethno medicinal plants found in the villages Khokhania, Radhakrishnanagar, Bhainsamunda, Changro, Aiyari, Bhagwatpur, Parsagudi, Rewatpur, Dharampur, Kalyanpur, Gotgawan, Makanpur Batidand, Karsi, Makanpur, Kundi kala situated in remote areas and the Semarsot forest area adjoined to these villages. It was observed that tribal population of this region consists of primitive tribes Pahadi korba, Khairwar, Cherwa, kanwar and gond, living below poverty line, use the local medicinal plants and their parts for curing their common diseases. The age old knowledge regarding sources and use of these local plants among these villagers and tribals was collected from more than 60 people through questionnairs and interviews, cross questioning etc. The important species comprised of Adhatoda vasica, Aloe vera, Argemone mexicana, Asperagus racemosus, Azadirachta indica, Boerhavia diffusa, Mucuna pruriens, Gloriosa superba, Terminalia arjuna, Dioscoria bulbifera, Ocimum sanctum, Chlorophytum borivillianum, Vetiveria zizanioides, Gymnema sylvestris and Cyperus rotundus. The vast untapped knowledge regarding domestic use of medicinal and aromatic plants and possibilities of their cultivation found in the villages.