Ethno-medicinal Uses of the Floristic Wealth of Upper Giri-Khad Watershed, District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, North-Western (NW) Himalaya

Author: Ranjeet Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Dushyant, Pravin Rawat and Swaran Lata

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Abstract

Traditional healthcare system making use of the plants and plant parts for treatment of common diseases is prevalent among the rural population and inhabitants of across different parts of India. Plants have a long-standing relationship with humans, with traditional medicinal methods being affordable and accessible, particularly in rural areas. The present study was carried out to assess the medicinal plant wealth of Upper Giri Khad Watershed of district Shimla, Himachal Pradesh to investigate the important medicinal plants used by local inhabitants. The field surveys conducted between 2021 and 2024 and revealed a total of 70 medicinal plants belonging to 65 genera and 44 families used by the local people. The maximum number of medicinal plants belong to Asteraceae (07 species) followed by Lamiaceae (06) and Rosaceae (06), Asparagaceae, Berberidaceae and Rutaceae (03) family each. These plants were utilized for treating various ailments with different habit forms such as herbs (36), shrubs (19) and trees (15) being employed. Leaves (37 species) are the most commonly used plant part followed by roots (20), fruit (09), flowers (07), whole plant (04), twigs and wood (03) and seeds (02). The study emphasizes the importance of documentation of ethno-medicinal knowledge, particularly in rural areas, as it is at risk of being lost due to urbanization and modernization. The further research is helpful to the discovery of new phytoconstituents for human welfare, aiding in scientific exploration and validating the efficacy and therapeutic benefits of medicinal plants.

Keywords

Inhabitants, medicinal plants, traditional knowledge, Giri Khad, Himalayan region

Conclusion

The study highlights the importance of medicinal plants in traditional Indian healthcare systems for treating various ailments, particularly for humans and cattle. The study of indigenous communities' traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is crucial for documenting the utilization of natural resources. A significant portion of the rural population uses medicinal plants for medicinal purposes. The indigenous people rely on herbal remedies, passing down knowledge from generation to generation. The systematic documentation of ethnomedicinal knowledge is very important but it is lost with urbanization and modernization. It involves a thorough analysis of flora and taxonomic diversity to preserve indigenous knowledge. The study will provide a list of medicinally important flora in the region, aiding in assessment, monitoring and conservation. The high-use plants are recommended for further phytochemical and pharmaceutical investigations, potentially leading to new drug discovery. It also establishes a link between taxonomists, ecologists, and forest departments, which is essential for encouraging active participation in sustainable harvesting, effective management, and conservation of natural resources.

References

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How to cite this article

Ranjeet Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Dushyant, Pravin Rawat and Swaran Lata (2024). Ethno-medicinal Uses of the Floristic Wealth of Upper Giri-Khad Watershed, District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, North-Western (NW) Himalaya. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(12): 130-138.