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INDEX – GJRMI - Volume 4, Issue 4, April 2015 MEDICINAL PLANTS RESEARCH Ethno-Medicine ETHNOMEDICINAL SURVEY OF HERBACEOUS FLORA TRADITIONALLY USED IN HEALTH CARE PRACTICES BY INHABITANTS OF DHUNDSIR GAD WATERSHED OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA, INDIA Sumati Rathore, Tiwari J K, Zubair A Malik*
65–78
COVER PAGE PHOTOGRAPHY: DR. HARI VENKATESH K R, PLANT ID – FRUITS OF MOORVA BHEDA – DREGEA VOLUBILIS (L.F.) BENTH. EX HOOK.F.* OF THE FAMILY APOCYNACEAE PLACE – KOPPA, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA, INDIA *BOTANICAL NAME VALIDATED FROM www.theplantlist.org AS ON 30/04/2015
Global J Res. Med. Plants & Indigen. Med. | Volume 4, Issue 4 | April 2015 | 65–78 ISSN 2277-4289 | www.gjrmi.com | International, Peer reviewed, Open access, Monthly Online Journal
Research article ETHNOMEDICINAL SURVEY OF HERBACEOUS FLORA TRADITIONALLY USED IN HEALTH CARE PRACTICES BY INHABITANTS OF DHUNDSIR GAD WATERSHED OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA, INDIA Sumati Rathore1, Tiwari J K2, Zubair A Malik3* 1,2,3
Department of Botany and Microbiology, HNB Garhwal University Srinagar (Garhwal) Uttarakhand246174 3 High Altitude Plant Physiology Research Centre (HAPPRC), HNB Garhwal University Srinagar (Garhwal) Uttarakhand-246174 *Corresponding Author, e-mail: malikmzubair081@gmail.com; Tel. +91 9634899743
Received: 12/02/2015; Revised: 25/03/2015; Accepted: 30/03/2015
ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to document the indigenous and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by local inhabitants in Dhundsir Gad watershed area of Garhwal Himalaya. The intensive field surveys were carried out for collection and ethno-medicinal surveys of herbaceous flora of the study area. The ethno-medicinal data was gathered through interviews and semi structured questionnaires from the local people especially from women and elderly people. A total of 79 medicinally important herbaceous species belonging to 75 genera and 32 families were recorded in the study area. The leaves were used more frequently (37%) as compared to roots (24%), whole plants (23%) and seeds (8%). The plant species were used by local inhabitants for treating various ailments like asthma, cough, cold, fever, constipation, cuts/wounds etc. The precious traditional knowledge along with the phytochemical and pharmacological investigations to find out the active ingredients in the plants used by local people, may be a step ahead towards the new drug development. KEY WORDS: Ethnobotany, Traditional Knowledge, Medicinal Plants, Garhwal Himalaya.
Cite this article: Sumati Rathore, Tiwari J K, Zubair A Malik (2015), ETHNOMEDICINAL SURVEY OF HERBACEOUS FLORA TRADITIONALLY USED IN HEALTH CARE PRACTICES BY INHABITANTS OF DHUNDSIR GAD WATERSHED OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA, INDIA, Global J Res. Med. Plants & Indigen. Med., Volume 4(4): 65–78
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INTRODUCTION: The term ethnobotany was coined by John W. Harsberger in 1896 and was considered as the art of collection of useful plants by a group of people and the description of the uses of plants. Over the last century, ethnobotany has evolved into a scientific discipline that focuses on the people-plant relationship in a multidisciplinary manner, incorporating not only collection and documentation of indigenous uses but also ecology, economy, pharmacology, public health, and other disciplines (Gomez-Beloz, 2002). Ethnomedicine, a branch of ethnobotany, is a set of empirical local practices embedded in the indigenous knowledge of a social group often transmitted orally from generation to generation with intent to understand social, cultural, and economic factors influencing health problems and to overcome such problems (Bussmann and Sharon, 2006). The use of plants and plant products as medicine can be traced as far back as the beginning of human civilization. The earliest record of medicinal plant use in the Himalayas is found in the Rigveda. This work was written between 4500 BC and 1600 BC, is supposed to be the oldest repository of human knowledge and describes 67 plants (Rahul et al., 2010).Total 60% of the population of world and 80% of the population in developing countries rely on traditional medicine, mostly plant drugs, for their primary health care needs (Shrestha and Dhillion, 2003). An account of 70% of the population of India is dependent on traditional plant based medicines (Singh et al., 2013). The dependence on herbal resources to cure different types of diseases is well known. It has been estimated that there are between 3,500 and 70,000 plant species that have been used around the world, at one time or another, for medicinal purpose. At least 65,000 species are used in Asia alone as home remedies for various ailments (Karkri and Williams, 1999). In India, the importance of plants as medicine has not diminished in any way in recent times, and traditional medicines are still the most important health care source for the vast majority of the population living in remote
and rural areas. India has the ancient indigenous knowledge of medicinal and herbal medicines accumulated through many centuries. This knowledge of curing human illness is based on different Indian systems of medicine, practiced by various communities such as Ayurveda, Unaniand Siddha (Gadgil, 1996). It is estimated that in India, traditional healers use around 2500 plant species in the preparation of traditional medicine (Pei, 2001). Garhwal Himalaya occupies an important place in Indian subcontinent and has a peculiar topography, vegetation, people and traditions. About 80% of the total population is rural and the inhabitants are called the Garhwalis or Paharis. Due to limited means of communication, poverty, and unavailability of modern health facilities, many people, especially in rural areas, still relies on traditional medicines to treat common ailments (Tiwari et al., 2010). However, this traditional knowledge about the use of medicinal plants is vanishing day by day and young generations do not pay any attention towards this vanishing knowledge. Ethnomedicinal studies that explore and help to preserve knowledge are therefore urgently needed before traditional folklores are lost forever. During the recent time, there has been an increasing interest in the study of medicinal plants and their traditional use in different parts of the world. The documentation of traditional knowledge aids in the preservation of indigenous culture, identifies threatened species and contributes to the conservation and management of plant diversity. The precious indigenous knowledge when supplemented and validated by the latest scientific incites can offer new holistic models of sustainable development that are economically viable, environmentally benign and socially acceptable (Shinwari and Gilani, 2003). Keeping the aforesaid facts in view, the present ethnomedicinal study was carried out in a part of Garhwal Himalaya to document the indigenous knowledge about the use of medicinal plants used by local inhabitants for curing various ailments.
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MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area: Garhwal Himalaya occupies central part of the western Himalaya between the latitude and longitude of 30°-31° N and 78°-81° E, respectively. The present study was carried out in a watershed called Dhundsir Gad in Garhwal Himalaya (Figure 1). The watershed is extended in a geographical area of about 50.5 sq. km and is located between 30° 13’ to 30° 23’ N latitudes and 78° 44’ to 78° 49’ E longitudes with the elevation ranging from 530 m to 2350 m asl. The study area is characterized by undulating topography. Agricultural fields are often terraced with less area and with various degrees of slopes. The study area is a remote and rural area of Garhwal Himalaya. There are 22 villages in the watershed with 1325 households. The greater concentration of population is between 12001600 m asl and the minimum inhibition is in the lower altitudinal zones because of deep and narrow valleys with steep slopes. Because of the limited employment opportunities, people
of this region are dependent on the adjacent forests for their basic requirements, such as fuelwood, fodder, timber, medicinal plants, small timber for agricultural implements and other non timber forest products (NTFPs). Methodology: The study area was frequently visited for collection and ethnomedicinal surveys of herbaceous flora of Dhundsir Gad watershed. The ethno-medicinal data was gathered through interviews and semi structured questionnaires from the local people especially from women and elderly people having much traditional knowledge about use of medicinal plants. The questionnaires were used to obtain information on medicinal plants with their local names, parts used, ailment treated and mode of preparation. The collected plant specimens were identified with the help of local floras (Naithani, 1984-85; Gaur, 1999) and deposited in the Herbarium, Botany Department, HNB Garhwal University Srinagar (GUH).
Figure 1: Map showing the location of study area
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RESULTS A total of 79 medicinally important herbaceous species belonging to 75 genera and 32 families were recorded in the study area (Figure 2 and 3). The complete list of the recorded plant species with ethnomedicinal properties is given in Table 1. Most of these species (86.06%) belonged to dicots and monocots were represented by only a small percentage (13.92%) as depicted in Figure 4. The most privileged family used for the curing of disease was the Asteraceae (17%) followed by Lamiaceae (7.89%), Brassicaceae (6.57%), Fabaceae and Scrophulariaceae (5.26% each) etc. (Figure 5). Although all plant parts were used in various remedies (Figure 5) however, the
leaves were used more frequently (37%) as compared to roots (24 %), seeds (8%), fruit (6%) and flowers (2%, Figure 6). The plant species were used by local inhabitants for treating various ailments like asthma, cough, cold, cholera, constipation, cuts/wounds, digestive disorders, fever, eye/ear diseases, rheumatism, toothache, etc. (Figure 7). It was observed that a particular disease (e.g. digestive disorder) was cured by many different plant species and, further, many plant species were reported to cure more than one ailments (Table 1). The disease that was cured by maximum number of plants (20) was “Cuts and Wounds”, followed by fever and skin ailments (11 each), asthma/bronchitis and digestive disorders (by 8 plants each) and so on (Figure 6). The disorder of “Hair fall” was cured by minimum number of plant species (3).
Figure 2: Total numbers of families, genera and species of plants having medicinal values
79 75
32
Families
Genera
Species
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Figure 3: Medicinal Plants in the study area
1: Anagalis arvensis, 2: Iris kumaonensis 3: Verbascum Thapsus, 4: Tridex procumbens , 5: Ajuga bracteosa, 6: Capsella bursa-pastoris, 7: Mentha arvensis, 8: Sauromatum pedatum.
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Figure 4: Percentage of various taxonomic categories of dicots and monocots in the study area Species
Genera
Families 86.06 86.66
Dicots 81.25
13.92 13.33 Monocots 18.75
0
20
40
60
80
100
Percentage (%)
Figure 5: Major families used for ethnomedicinal purpose 18 16
Percentage (%)
14 12 10 8 6 4 2 Amaranthaceae Apiaceae Araceae Asteraceae Boraginaceae Brassicaceae Caryophyllaceae Crassulaceae Cucurbitaceae Euphorbiaceae Fabaceae Fumariaceae Geraniaceae Hypoxidaceae Iridaceae Lamiaceae Liliaceae Malvaceae Menispermaceae Oxalidaceae Papaveraceae Poaceae Polygonaceae Primulaceae Rosaceae Rubiaceae Saxifragaceae Scrophulariaceae Solanaceae Urticaceae Violaceae Zingiberaceae
0
Families
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Figure 6: Statistics of plant parts used
2% 24%
23%
6% 8%
37%
Roots
Leaves
Seeds
Fruit
Whole plants
Figure 7: Number of plants used for treating various diseases
Number of Plant Species
20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Diseases Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants & Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Flowers
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Table 1: List of medicinal plants traditionally used by the inhabitants of Dhundsir Gad watershed of Garhwal Himalaya, India Botanical Name of the plant
Local Name
Altitude
Parts used
Ailment used for
Dicotyledons Amaranthaceae Aerva sanguinolenta (L.) Bl. Bijdr.
Sufed phulia
600-1000
Whole plant
Urinary disorders and inflammation
Apiaceae Centella asiatica L.
800-1000 Brahmi butti Asteraceae
Whole plant
Skin ailments
Ageratum conyzoides L.
Gundrya
1000-1500
Bugla
1500-2000
Cuts and wounds, skin ailments Cuts and wounds, boils
600-2500
Circium wallichi DC. Echinops cornigerus DC.
Kumur, kurei Kandra Kandara
1500-2200
Whole plant Whole plant Whole plant Roots Roots
Eupatorium adenophorum Sprengel. Gnaphalium hypoleucum DC.
Basha / Bakura Buglya
500-1800
Leaves
600-1000
Whole plant
Inula cappa (Buch – Ham. ex D. Don) DC. Saussurea heteromalla (D.Don) Hand.-Manz. Senecio graciliflorus DC.
Athhu / Tamagari Murang
1200-2000
Roots
1200-1800
Kikret
2500-3500
Pili - dudhi Genda
1000-3000
Leaves, roots Whole plant Leaves Flower, leaves Leaves
Anaphalis adnata Wallich ex DC. Bidens pilosa L.
Sonchus asper (L.) Hill. Tagetes erecta L. Tridex procumbens L. Cynoglossum glochidiatum Wallich ex Benth. Capsella bursa-pastoris L.
Coronopus didymus (L.) J. Smith
1300-3000
500-1800
600-1000 Kumra Boraginaceae 1500-2500 Lichkura
Brassicaceae 400-1800 Tuntkya
-
600-1300
Cough and bronchitis Dysentery and chest pain Fever, emergence of teeth in infants Cuts and wounds Cuts and wounds, supposed to increase lactation when applied on breasts Urinary disorders Fever, cuts and wounds Insect bites, cuts and wounds Cuts and wounds Cuts and wounds Cuts and wounds
Roots
Digestive disorders
Roots, leaves
Gonorrhoea, urinary troubles, cuts and wounds Cuts, wounds and inflammation
Leaves
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Nasturtium officinale R. Br. Raphanus sativus L.
900-2000
Muli
800-1000
1500-2500 Maula Caryophyllaceae
Thlaspi arvense L. Gypsophila cerastioides Don Silene conoidea L.
-
D.
Stellaria media L.
Bakarchee
1500-2700
Tumriya – ghas Badyalu
700-2100 600-1650
Whole plant Whole plant Leaves
Constipation
Whole plant Leaves
Boils, cuts/wounds
Whole plant
Boils, cuts/wounds
Leaves
Cuts, wounds and inflammation
Fever, bronchitis and liver disorders Cuts and wounds
Skin infections
Crassulaceae Bryophyllum pinnatum Lam.
Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, Hort. Trichosanthes anguina L.
800-1500 Bish Khapru Cucurbitaceae 900-1400 Kaduri 1000-1800
Chachinda
Euphorbiaceae 1600-2800 Chuplya
Euphorbia pilosa L.
Leaves, roots, fruit Leaves, roots
Diabetes, skin ailments and gonorrhoea Diarrhoea
Roots, fruits
Constipation
Seeds, roots Seeds
Constipation and blood purifier Blood purifier
Seeds Young plants, fruits
Diarrhoea and dysentery Abdominal pains and diabetes
Leaves
Cuts and wounds
Roots
Ophthalmia and hair fall
Fabaceae Crotolaria albida Heyne ex Roth. Crotolaria juncea L. Melilotus indica (L.) Allioni Trigonella corniculata L.
Fumaria indica (Haussknecht) Pugsley Geranium wallichianum Don ex Sweet
D.
Ajuga bracteosa Wallich ex Benth Leucas cephalotes (Roth) Sprengel. Mentha arvensis L. Micromeria biflora (Buch.Ham. ex D.Don) Benth.
Ban-methi
1300-1700
Jhun – jhunia Ban – Methi Ban – Methi
700-1200 1200-1500 1800-4000
Fumariaceae 400-1500 Pit- papra Geraniaceae 2300-3000 Ratanjot, Laljari Lamiaceae Neelkanthi
1000-1500
Leaves
Fever
Gumba
1200-1500
Antidote to snake bite
Pudina Ban Ajwain
500-1500
Whole plant Leaves Leaves
800-2000
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Digestive disorders Cold and digestive disorders
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Nepeta ciliaris Wallich ex Benth. Ocimum tenuiflorum L.
Nueet
600-2000
Tulsi
1500-2000
Leaves, seeds Leaves
Fever
Gonorrhoea, cuts and wounds Dysentery, cuts and wounds Boils, cuts/wounds and joint pains
Fever, cough cold, urinary disorders
Malvaceae Soncheli
1500-2000
Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Garcke Sida rhombifolia L.
Suchi
600-1300
Leaves, seeds Leaves
Bhinuli
700-1000
Leaves
Cissampelos parerira L.
Menispermaceae 500-2000 Pahre
Roots
Constipation and gastric troubles
Oxalis corniculata L.
Oxalidaceae 1600-2700 Chalmori
Leaves
Cataract and conjunctivitis
Argemone mexicana L.
Papaveraceae 400-1200 Pili Kateli
Seeds, roots
Seeds used as narcotic, root used as wormicide and chewed in leucorrhoea
Leaves, seeds Roots
Abdominal pains Hair fall
Leaves
Cuts and wounds
Roots Whole plant Roots
Toothache Fever, asthma, skin ailments Ophthalmia, fever and abdiminal pains
Whole plant
Leprosy
Leaves, fruits Leaves, fruits
Diarrhoea and dysentery
Malva parviflora L.
Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn. Polygonum recumbens Royle ex Bab. Rumex hastatus D.Don. Delphinium ajacis L. Ranunculus arvensis L. Thalictrum foliolosum DC.
Anagallis arvensis L.
Polygonaceae 1800-2700 Phaphar 1200-2800 Oglya – Jhar 600-1600 Kilmori Ranunculaceae 1000-3000 Nirbishi
1200-2500
Kirmuli
Primulaceae 600-1000 Jonkmari Rosaceae
Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Fock. Fragaria nubicola Lindley ex Lacaita.
Bhiun – kaphal Gand – Kaphal
600-1500 1600-3500
Earache
Rubiaceae Galium aparine L.
Kuri, Khuskusa
1000-2700
Leaves
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Skin diseases
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Berginia ciliata Haworth
Bacopa monnieri L.
Saxifragaceae 1000-3000 Silpara Scrophulariaceae Ban - Brahmi 700-1200
Kickxia ramosissima (Wallich) Janchen. Mazus pumilus Burm.f.
-
1500-2500
Mastyar
700-2500
Verbascum thapsus L.
Akulbir
800-2800
Rhizome, leaves Whole plant Whole plant Leaves Whole plant
Digestive disorders and skin ailments Rheumatic pains Diabetes Burns, cuts and wounds, Abdominal pains Asthma, bronchitis
Solanaceae Solanum nigrum L.
1600-2200
Makoi
Whole plant
Piles, dysentary, diarrhoea, fever, eye ailments
1500-1800
Leaves
Gonorrhoea
1000-1800
Leaves
1000-3000
Leaves
Gonorrhoea, stomachache, cuts and boils Hair fall
Urticaceae Girardinia diversifolia (Link) Friis. Pouzolzia zeylanica (L.) Bennett & Brown.
Jhir – Kandali
Urtica dioica L.
Bicchu ghas
Violaceae Viola biflora L.
Vanafsa
2800-3000
Viola canescens Wallich
Vanafsa, Kauru
2000-3000
Viola pilosa Blume.
Vanafsa
2500-3000
Whole plant Whole plant Flower, leaves
Cold and cough Malarial fever, bronchitis, asthma, cuts/wounds Cough, cold, headache and jaundice
Monocotyledons Araceae Sauromatum pedatum Willd.
Hypoxis aurea Lour.
500-1800 Bhasma – Kand Hypoxidaceae 1800-2500 Golkya Iridaceae 2000-3500
Iris kumaonensis D.Don ex Royle
Tuber
Cuts, wounds and inflammation
Leaves
Used as an aphrodisiac
Rhizome
Constipation
Liliaceae Allium cepa L. Allium sativum L.
Pyaz
400-1800
Lehsun
500-2100
Whole plant Bulb, leaves
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Digestive and skin ailments Respiratory and digestive disorders
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Lilium wallichianum J.A. & J.H. Schultes
500-1800
Findura
Flowers
Fever
Roots Roots Leaves
Fever and internal injury Cuts and wounds Asthma and cholera
Rhizome
Digestive disorders and skin ailments Asthma, cold cough, tuberculosis. Seeds believed to cause abortion
Poaceae Cynodon dactylon L. Phalaris minor Retz. Saccharum spontaneum L. Curcuma domestica Valeton Hedychium spicatum Buch. – Ham. ex J.E. Smith
400-1800 Bhoob 700-1300 Phulla 400-1200 Munj Zingiberaceae 900-1500 Haldi
Ban-Haldi
DISCUSSION The present study documented 79 medicinal plants traditionally used in health care practices by inhabitants of Dhundsir Gad watershed area of Garhwal Himalaya. It reveals that the denizens of the area prefer using herbal drugs for primary health care, even the health facilities are available nearby. The study has confirmed the fact that ethnomedicine presents an alternative source of healthcare for most rural dwellers. The local people have good knowledge of medicinal plants. Since such knowledge is still mostly taught orally without written records, there is need to conduct a similar survey in as many rural areas as possible. Due to the changing perception of local people and the ever-increasing influence of global commercialization and socioeconomic transformation, indigenous knowledge of plant resource use is constantly diminishing. The younger generation does not seem much interested in keeping this traditional knowledge alive. With the passage of time, knowledge about these valuable medicinal plant resources will vanish. In the future, the information will be completely lost, thereby greatly weakening traditional medical practices. Therefore, this valuable information needs to be systematically collected and documented, so that it can serve mankind for generations to come and may also conserve the precious plant resources of high economic utility. Further, phytochemical and pharmacological
1000-1800
Root
investigations about the medicinal use of plants, along with the precious traditional knowledge may be a step ahead towards the new drug development. The most commonly used parts of ethnomedicinal plants in the present study comprised of leaves (37%), roots (24%), whole plants (23%), seeds (8%), fruit (6%) and flowers (2%). Bhat et al., (2013) while studying the ecological status and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in a protected area of Garhwal Himalaya, also reported that most frequently used parts of medicinal plants were leaves (32%), roots (24%), whole plants or plant (13%), followed by fruits (9%) and seeds and flowers (6% each). Based on their studies from east African equatorial country, Keter and Mutiso (2012) reported that leaves were the most frequently used plant parts (48%) followed by stem bark (16%), roots and root bark (10%), while the fruits, whole plant, and aerial parts accounted for less than 10% for each. Akhtar et al., (2013) also reported from Pakistan that the most frequently used plant parts in the preparation of herbal remedies were leaves (29%), followed by fruit (18%), roots and rhizomes (17%), and whole plants (7%). Uttarakhand state of India is the hub of medicinal plants species due to its rich biodiversity. The state has tremendous potential for medicinal plants cultivation and it can become one to the important options for
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sustainable livelihood for the hilly area. About 300 medicinal plants species have been documented from Uttarakhand, indicating its potential as an herbal state and for strengthening herbal-based industry in this region (Kala et al., 2004). New approaches of biotechnology and conservation strategy can help preserve and utilize the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants for humankind.
used by local inhabitants in a part of Western Himalaya, India. Indigenous knowledge systems are culturally valued and scientifically important. The identification of the active ingredients of the plants used by the local people may provide some useful leads for the development of new drugs.
CONCLUSION
The authors are thankful to the residents of study area for sharing their knowledge and cooperation during the field surveys and interviews.
The study provides comprehensive information about the degrading indigenous and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
REFERENCES
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants & Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Global J Res. Med. Plants & Indigen. Med. | Volume 4, Issue 4 | April 2015 | 65–78
Shinwari SK, Gilani SS (2003). Sustainable harvest of medicinal plants at Bulashbar Nullah, Astore (Pakistan). J Ethnopharma, 84:289.
Singh A, Singh MK, Singh R (2013). Traditional Medicinal Flora of the District Buxar (Bihar, India). J. Pharm. Phytochem., 2(2): 41–49.
Shrestha PM, Dhillion SS (2003). Medicinal Plant Diversity and Use in the Highlands of Dolakha District, Nepal. J Ethnopharm, 86:81–96.
Tiwari JK, Radha Ballabha, Tiwari P (2010). Ethnopaediatrics in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India (Psychomedicine and Medicine). New York Sci. J, 3(4): 123–126.
Source of Support: NIL
Conflict of Interest: None Declared
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants & Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
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