ETHNOBOTANICAL DOCUMENTATION AND TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANT KNOWLEDGE AMONG TRIBAL COMMUNITIES OF KANKER DISTRICT, CHHATTISGARH, INDIA

Abstract

Ethnobotanical knowledge plays a very significant role in tribal communities inhabiting forest-rich areas. The present study aims to document the medicinal plant knowledge of the tribal communities of Kanker district, Chhattisgarh. The survey was planned to be conducted in the tribal inhabited areas i.e., Bagod, Sarangpal, Narharpur and Govindpur of the Kanker district. The ethnobotanical data were collected through field visits and personal communication with the local tribal inhabitants and traditional healers such as Baiga, Binghwar, Kanwar, etc. Collection of plant material, their identification and preservation followed. The taxonomic nomenclature of all the plant specimens was done using standard reference books and preserved as herbarium specimens. Information related to vernacular names, therapeutic uses, plant parts used and traditional methods of preparation of remedies were recorded. The study also includes phytosociological data of the important medicinal plants of the region. Tribal festivals like Karma, Sarhul and Jeotiya were also studied. The present study is likely to contribute significantly towards the conservation of traditional knowledge related to plants and medicinal plants in particular, by providing a baseline data for the future studies on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and biodiversity conservation in the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh.