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Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 13: 1468-75, 2009. Ethnomedicinal
Plants and Associated Traditional Knowledge of Jogimatti Forest, Chitradurga
District, Karnataka, 1V.T. Hiremath * 2 T.C. Taranath� 1 Department of
Botany, 2 Environmental
Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, *Corresponding
author,� Email: hiremath2047@gmail.com �Issued� 01 December, 2009 Abstract plains
with chains of hills. General elevation of the district is between 500 m to 600
m above mean sea level. The forests of the division do not present a complex
diversity either in their� distribution
or in composition. The forests are being retrogressed to various stages of
degradation because of biotic influences like excessive grazing, lopping for
fodder and fuel and unregulated felling, unscientific collection of medicinal
plants by the health healers. ����������� The present investigation is an
attempt to an ethnomedicinal plants survey was carried out in Key words:
Ethnomedicinal, Jogimatti forest, Chitradurga. Traditional knowledge. Introduction ����������� The value of medicinal plants to
the mankind is very well proven. It is estimated that 70 to 80% of the people
worldwide rely chiefly on traditional health care system and largely on
herbal medicines [Farnsworth et al., 1985; Farnsworth and Soejarto, 1991; Pei
Shengji, 2002; Shanley and Luz, 2003]. Nature has been a source of medicinal
plants for thousands of year and an impressive number of modern drugs have
been isolated from natural sources. Various medicinal plants have been used
for years in daily life to treat disease all over the world. Higher plants as
source of medicinal compounds have continued to play a dominant role in the
maintenance of human health since ancient times [Farombi, 2003].� These plants are not only used for primary
health care in rural areas in developing countries, but also in developed
countries where modern medicines are predominantly used. Due to the side
effects of modern allopathic drugs in the present days, people are attracted
towards herbal medicines and their consumption. [Seth et al, 2004]. Several workers were reported the utility of plants
for the treatment of various ailments [Goel and Bhattacharaya, 1981; Yaniv et al., 1987; Eddouks et al., 2002; Hebbar et.al., 2004 ; Katz et al., 2007; Leach, 2007]. Methodology ����������� The
study area Chitradurga is one of the central districts of Karnataka state
with much racial and socio-cultural diversity. Bedas, Besthas, Gollas,
Lambanis, Hakki-pikki are the tribals who are intimately associated with the
Jogimatti forest. The forests are dry deciduous with undulating chain of
hills. Agriculture is the mainstay of economy. Local traditional healers
having practical knowledge of medicinal plants either for self-medication or
for treating others were often visiting the Jogimatti forest of the district
to collect plant species. A total of 30 health healers were identified
between the ages of 40 and 80 for the survey. �The present survey was conducted in villages
around the Jogimatti ����������� Standard methods were followed for
the collection of plant materials, mounting, preparation and preservation of
plant species. Voucher specimens were collected identified, by refering
standard flora (Hooker, 1884; Gamble 1936; Karnataka Flora by H J.
Saldhana(1984). All the preserved specimens were deposited in the department
of botany, Results ����������� The
results of the investigation are presented in Table.1, based on the plants
and parts used for the treatment of various ailments. The present study
comprises 50 plant species of ethno-botanical uses belonging to 34 families.
For each plant species, botanical name, family, local name, part used,
methods of preparation is provided. Among the plants used by the health
healers, trees constitute [25 species], Shrubs [10], Herbs [11], Climbers
[03] followed by the epiphytes with one species (Fig.2).� The top 05 plant families used in the
treatment are Fabaceae, Mimosaceae, Caesalpinaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae,
followed by Combretaceae, Amaranthaceae, Papavaeraceae, Meliaceae,
Bambucaceae etc. (Fig.1.)
Discussion ����������� The
ethnobotanical survey reveals that among the different plant parts used by
the local health healers/tribals for the treatment of various ailments,
leaves were most frequently used [18 plants], followed by seeds [13 plants],
Fl/flower buds [09 plants], roots [08 plants], fruits[07 plants], entire
plant [04 plants], and latex [03 plants] for the treatment of various
ailments like eye problems, joint pains, paralysis, urinary infections etc.,
under single /multiple plant applications (Fig.3).� It is observed that majority of the
formulations were multiple applications [28], when compared to single
applications [22].
Conclusion � ��������� The
survey indicated that, the study area has magnificent plant diversity with
plenty of medicinal plants to treat a wide spectrum of human ailments. It is
evident from the interviews conducted in different villages; knowledge of
medicinal plants is limited to traditional healers, herbalists who are living
in rural areas and collecting the medicinal plants from the Jogimatti forest
unscientifically. The investigation concluded that the unscientific
collection of ethno-botanical plants from the Jogimatti forest poses greater
pressure on the depeletion of diversity of the local region. Hence there is
an urgent need to assess the biodiversity of the local forest, and conserve
the biodiversity as well as the traditional knowledge by proper documentation
and conservation strategies. Acknowledgements ����������� The authors are greatfull to the
local traditional health healers in the district for sharing their knowledge
on herbal medicine. We also thank the Chitradurga Forest Department for
providing facilities to document the medicinal plants available in Jogimatti
forest. Authors also greatfully acknowledge the financial assistance given by
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