Abstract

SURVEY OF ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS OF DEOBAN (CHAKRATA) REGION

Santosh Kumar Tamta*, Dr. Suresh Chaubey, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Tiwari, Dr. Gajendra Singh

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Abstract

Medicinal plants play a significant role in healthcare practices among tribal and rural communities. These communities possess extensive knowledge on the effective treatment of various health problems solely through the use of plant parts. This knowledge, which is passed down orally through generations, is invaluable. Therefore, an effort was made to assess the ethnomedicinal information of herb species utilized by the local residents of Deoban (Chakrata) in the Dehradun District of Uttarakhand. The information presented in this paper was collected through extensive field visits in the forest and nearby villages, participatory observations, group discussions, and interviews with local residents who possess knowledge about medicinal plants. The data collection period extended from April 2022 to July 2023. A total of 46 plant species were collected during the field visit and reported to possess ethnomedicinal properties by the local dwellers. These plants are used by the community for their primary healthcare needs. The plants utilized for various purposes are listed along with their Botanical name, family, local name, and ethno-medicinal importance. This study suggests that the inhabitants of Deoban (Chakrata) possess a profound traditional knowledge regarding the medicinal use of plants. Documentation of this knowledge could potentially pave the way for further pharmacological research.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, Ethno medicine, Health, Local Dwellers, Species.