Main Article Content

Abstract

Conventional medicines are very important part of Indian culture. In the study, the outcome of 2 years survey of ethnomedicinal uses of flowering plants in District Reasi and nearby area is reported. Information related to different plants which are used by the local tribes i.e. Gujjar, Bakerwal, Paharis and Gaddis etc. in the treatment of many common diseases and well being in the area was collected.  Data on the uses of medicinal plants were collected by negotiations and conversations with the local communities. Approximately 80 species of flowering plants belonging to 47 families and 77 genera used by the local healers were reported. Further, 80 plant species collected from the study area belongs to different 4 different life forms viz. trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers. Herbs dominated the floral composition with 32 species (40%) followed by shrubs represented by 23 species (28.75%), trees 22 species ( 27.5%) and climbers are represented by only 3 species (3.75%). Out of 80 families, Asteraceae dominate the floral composition comprised of 6 genera and 6 species (7.5%)  followed by Euphorbiaceae represented by 3 genera and 5 species (6.25%) and Rosaceae and Lamiaceae represented by 4 genera and 4 species each (5%) were the dominant families. Fabaceae, Rutaceae and Acanthaceae represented by 3 genera and 3 species and Moraceae contributed 2 genera and 3 species while rest all represented by single genera and two species each. The utilization pattern of the species indicated that different parts of the plants viz. leaves are used most widely (46 species) followed by roots (17 species), fruits (14 species), whole plant (13 species), bark (12 species), seeds (07 species), flower (06 species), resin and latex are known to use against various ailments. The medicines are prepared in the form of powder, decoction, infusion, paste, juice, extract and pill etc.

Keywords

Ethno-botanical floral composition north west Himalayas Reasi tribes and life forms utilization pattern

Article Details

How to Cite
Sarver, J. ., Dubey, S. ., & Kumar Atri , R. . (2016). Diversity and ethnomedicinal uses of flowering plants of District Reasi, of J&K-North West Himalayas (India). Environment Conservation Journal, 17(1&2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.2016.171201

References

  1. Aiyeoloja, A. A. and Bello, O.A. 2006. Ethnobotanical potentials of common herbs in Nigeria: a case study of Enugu state. Educational Research and Reviews, Vol.1. pp 16-22.
  2. Aswal, B.S and Mehrotra, B.N.1999. Flora of Lahul and Spiti (Cold Desert in North West Himalayas), Bishen Singh Mahender Pal Singh, Dehradun, Uttaranchal, India.
  3. Bent S, K.R. 2004. Commonly used herbal medicines in the United States- A review.America Journal of Medical Genetics. 116, 478-485.
  4. Dubey, N.K., Kumar, R. and Tripathi, P. 2004. Global promotion of herbal medicine: India’s opportunity. Curr. Sci. 86(1):37-41.
  5. Gaur, R.D. 1999. Flora of the District Garhwal,North West Himalaya(with ethnobotanical notes).Trans Media-Srinagar,Garhwal.Uttaranchal, India.
  6. Jain, S.K., Rao, R.R.1977. A Handbook of Field and Herbarium Methods, Today and Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers, New Delhi, India.
  7. Kala, C.P., Dhyani, P.P. and Sajwan, B.S. (2006). Developing the medicinal plants sector in Northern India: challenges and opportunities. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Vol.2 aricle 32.
  8. Khan, M. and Dubey, S. 2015. Some Observations of Medicinal Folklores of Dogras inhabiting Shivalik Hills of Jammu and Kashmir State. Indian J.L.Sci., 4(2):25-31.
  9. Kumar, S. M., Seth, A. Gautam, D.N.S. and Singh, A.K. 2015. Biodiversity and Indeginous Uses of Medicinal Plants in the Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandauli District, Uttar Pradesh. International Journal of Biodiversity, Vol.2015 Article ID 394307, PP1-12.
  10. Muthu, C., Ayyanar, M., Raja, N. and Ignacimuthu, S. 2006. Medicnal plants used by the traditional healers in Kanchepuram District of Tamil Nadu, India.Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Vol. 2, Article 43.
  11. Pandey, S.K. and Shukla, R.P. 2003. Plant Diversity in managed Sal (Shorearubusta Gaertn.) forest of Gorakhpur, India: Species Composition, regeneration and conservation. Biodiversity and Conservation, Vol.12, (11), 2295-2319.
  12. Poonam, K. and Singh, G.S. 2009. Ethnobotanical studies of medicinal plants used by the Taungya community in Terai Arc Landscape, India. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol.123(1), 167-176.
  13. Ramakrishnappa, K.2002. Impact of cultivation and gathering of Medicinal Plants and abiodiversity: Case Study From India.” Bio-diversity and Ecosystem Approaches in Agriculture, Forestry and fisheries, Proceedings FAO, inter departmental, working group on Biological Diversity for Food and Agriculture, 171-189, FAO, Rome, Italy.
  14. Samant, S.S and Joshi, H.C.2003. Floristic Diversity and community pattern and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi National Park, Uttaranchal Forest department,39-44.
  15. Sarver, J.M. 2007. Ethnobotanical Studies on the Medicinal Plants of Ramanagar (Udhampur).M.Phil Dissertation, Deptt. Of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu.
  16. Sarver, J.S., Koul, S. and Anand, V.K. 2009. Some Noteworthy Ethnomedicinal Plants from Shivalik Hills of J & K. India.Journal of Plant Development Sciences.Vol.1(3&4):81-86.
  17. Semwal, R.L. 2005. The Trai arc Landscape in India,” in Securing Protected Areas in the FACE of Global Change, WWF for Nature, New Delhi, India.
  18. Sharma, B.M. and Kachroo, P. 1981. Flora of Jammu and Neighbourhood. Bishen Singh Mahender Pal Singh, Dehradun.
  19. Sharma, R. 2013. Preliminary Survey on the Ethnomedicinal Plants of TehsilReasi, J&K. Project Report of M.sc.(Botany), Submitted in the Deptt. of Botany and Microbiology, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar(Garhwal), Uttaranchal.
  20. Singh, G. and Kachroo, P. 1994. Forest Flora of Srinagar and Plants Of Neighbourhood, Bishen Singh Mahender Pal Singh, Dehradun. Uttaranchal, India
  21. Singh, G.S. 1999. Utility of Non-Timber of forest products in a small watershed in the Indian Himalayas; The Threat of its Degradation. Natural Resources Forum, Vol.23, 65-77.
  22. Swami, A. and Gupta B.K.1998. Flora of Udhampur. Bishen Singh Mahinder Pal Singh.Dehradun, Uttaranchal( India).
  23. Tiwari, J.K., Ballabha, R. and Tiwari, P. 2010a. Ethnopaediatrics in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India (Psychomedicine and Medicine).New York Science Journal, 3 (4):123-126.
  24. Tiwari, J.K., Ballabha, R. and Tiwari, P. 2010b. Diversity and present status of Medicinal Plants in and around Srinagar Hydroelectric Power Project in Garhwal Himalayas, India: Needs for Conservation. Researcher, 2(2):50-60.
  25. www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgs/inpsg/main/why.html. IUCN Special Survival Commision. Medicinal Plants Specialist Group. 2007.“Why Conserve and Manage Medicinal Plants?”