An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by tribal migratory shepherds in hills of Tungasigarh of Thunag Subdivision of district Mandi Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

In Himachal Pradesh tribal migratory shepherds carry rich repository of traditional knowledge of wild medicinal plants and its uses, in this respect, an ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Tungasigarh and its surrounding area of Thunag Subdivision district Mandi Himachal Pradesh from 2018 to 2019. The required information on ethnomedicines used by tribal migratory shepherds was collected through personal field visits, interview method and by using a pretested questionnaire. Total 64 medicinal plant species were reported viz. Aconitum heterophyllum Allium ursinum, Allium humile, Trillium govaninum, Bergenia ciliata, Berberis lyceum, Cannabis sativa, Dioscrea deltoidea, Rhododendron arboratum, Pistacia integerrima, Zanthoxylem armatum was recorded. Total of 64 species were documented herb species were dominant (48) followed by shrub (9), tree (7). This study shows that shepherds in tribal areas are highly dependent on ethnobotanical medicines, which evolved over generations of experience, for the healthcare. This survey can help as baseline data on ethnomedicinal plants used in Thunag sub division of Mandi district and could be helpful in conservation of traditional knowledge as well as medicinal plants.