STUDY OF FLORA, ETHNOBOTANY AND MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

• Author
• Anand Prakash
• Co-authors
• Mridul Shukla
• Abstract

•  

  Knowledge of flora and vegetation of any area is very essential for the study of biodiversity, environment and conservation of natural resources. The assessment and revision of floras for economic use of plant wealth and to conserve rare, endangered and threatened plants are realized by many developing countries since Rio Convention (1992). The protected areas like parks and reserves have a vital role to play in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity because of their potential for the monitoring of populations, ecological processes and the habitat. India has fortunately, very rich floristic and ethnic diversity, associated indigenous knowledge (IK) on plants and traditional cultural heritage, It is one of the world’s 12 mega diversity centers has 47000 plant species. The state of Uttar Pradesh is botanically rich on account of its diverse forests, rivers, valleys and hillocks. Large numbers of tribal and aboriginal populations like Tharus, Gond, Kols, Baiga Cheros, Kharwar, Korwa, Ghasiya, Agaria, Panika, Oraon, Mushar and Shaharia etc. inhabit in the state. They collect and utilize various plants, leaves, roots, rhizomes, tubers, flowers, fruits and seeds of many wild as well as cultivated plant species grown in ambient vegetation for their day today needs, livelihood and healthcare. The paper highlights some of the potential plants species utilized by the tribal medicine man for treating various diseases and disorders like Achyranthes aspera, Acorus calamus, Aristolochia indica, Arisaema tortuosum, Boerhavia diffusa, Cassia fistula, Cassia tora, Celastrus paniculatus, Diospyros exsculpta, Gloriosa superba, Hemidesmus indicus, etc  are used for the treatment of snakebite. The species like Ajuga bracteosa, Aristolochia indica, Azadirachta indica, Bacopa monnieri, Cyperus rotundus, Hemidesmus indicus, and Tinospora cordifolia etc. are used for treating the malaria and fever. In the treatment of potency the species like Asparagus racemosus, Curculigo orchioides, Ficus religiosa, Hemidesmus indicus, Helminthostachys zeylanica, Tephrosea purpurea and Withania sominifera are utilized. The species like Aegle marmelos, Bombax ceiba, Euphorbia fusiformis, Emblica officinalis, Trminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula etc. are utilized for the treatment of stomach diseases and disorders. The potential medicinal plants discussed in the paper need further phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical investigation for the isolation, standardization and development of safe, sustainable and potential drug molecules in the healthcare and human welfare.

   

   

• Keywords
• Study, Flora, Ethnobotany, Medicinal Plants, Uttar Pradesh
• Modality
• Pôster
• Subject Area
• Educação e Conhecimento, Etnociências

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