Sacred Groves—Repository of Medicinal Plant Resources: A Review
Sayantani Chanda*,  T.V. Ramachandra ,  
Energy and Wetlands Research Group,
Centre for Ecological Sciences,
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding Author: isayantani.chanda@gmail.com

 

 

Results and Discussion

A total number of 827 medicinal plant species under 544 genera and 136 families have been recorded in this study based on the published literatures. Highest number of plant species found in Eastern zone (225 spp.) followed by Northeast (207 spp.), Northern zone (150 spp.), Central zone (125 spp.) and Western zone (125 spp.), as shown in Figure 2.

Fig.2 Number of Plant Species in Different Zones

The dominant plant form is herbs (35.91 %) as represented in Figure 3 followed by trees (30.83 %), shrubs (20.07%), climbers (12.93%) and orchid (0.24%). Different plant parts have been used for curing many ailments.

It was also observed that some medicinally important plants have more than one part with the medicinal uses. Leaves have major use (25 %), along with root (16.13 %) and stem bark (11.66%), as per Figure 4.

It appears from the study that the most dominant families are Leguminosae (89 spp.) followed by Asteraceae (45 spp.) and Rubiaceae (39 spp.), depicted in Figure 5. Ficus with 11 species, Dioscoreae and Phyllanthus with 8 species are the most dominant genera found in the study region being depicted in Figure 6. Here 590 members of plant species have more than one use for remedial measure.

Fig.3: Plant Forms are Reported in Different Zone

Fig.4 Plants Part used for Curing Different Diseases

It appears from the study that the most dominant families are Leguminosae (89 spp.) followed by Asteraceae (45 spp.) and Rubiaceae (39 spp.), depicted in Figure 5. Ficus with 11 species, Dioscoreae and Phyllanthus with 8 species are the most dominant genera found in the study region being depicted in Figure 6. Here 590 members of plant species have more than one use for remedial measure.Aegle marmelos has wide use in 18 locations of different region followed by Cynodon dactylon (17 locations), Azadirachta indica (16 locations), Ocimum tenuiflorum (15 locations) and many are reported from at least 2 locations shown on Figure 7. The five zones of India are inhabitants by local tribes like Kinnara, Amchi, Bodo, Bhil, Bhilala and system. The plant species which are used in Pataya, Meitei, Rawal, Gond, Bhumij, Kurmi

Fig.5: Dominant Families among Different Parts of India

Fig.6: Dominant Genera among Different Parts of India

Fig.7 Species Presence in Studied Area

Among these, 157 plant species are noted for abdominal problem (diarrhoea, dysentery, dyspepsia, stomach ache, stomach problem), skin diseases with 141 plants species and respiratory problems (fever, cold, cough) with 138 species. Ninety plant species act as a drug (aphrodisiac, anthelmintic, laxative, febriguge, antiseptic). 52 plant species act as remedy for the persons bitten by animals.

It was also reported that the plant species have medicinal benefits for animals. The ethnoveterinary medicine used from 12 plants against 9 disease (galactagogue, ulcer, wounds, eye disease, urination, loose evacuation, stomach ache, typhoid fever and for removing parasites from their skin.). Stem bark and seeds are most used plants parts for veterinary medicine than root, whole plants, leaves and fruits. The route of administration for animals is oral by using plant parts in the form of decoction, externally as a paste and powder. The ethno medicine for humans are used mostly paste followed by juice, powder, decoction as shown in Figure 8.

Fig.8 Route of Administration used in Health Care System

Fidelity Level

Table 1 lists the FL values which highlight the most important medicinal species among the five zones of India. Fidelity Level (FL) of plants has been calculated based on most dominant plant and showed the corresponding plant against a particular ailment. Higher values of Fidelity Level (%) indicate the most preferred dominant plant species for each particular ailment category. The analysis showed that the highest FL value found in 3 plant species among the five study region for different diseases are Gymmema sylvestre (diabetes, 100%) followed by Biden pilosa (tooth problem, 100%) and Valernia jantamansi (stomach ache, 100%). The least FL values for Oxalis corniculata (23%) which indicates less preferred plant species in regards to constancy.

Disease Dominant plants Fidelity level
Diarrhoea Aegle marmelos 37.5%
Cold Cold Ocimum sanctum Cold Ocimum sanctum 41.17%
Wounds & cuts Tridax procumbens 78%
Skin problem Azadirachta indica 70%
Malaria Andrographis paniculata 50%
Diabetes Gymmema sylvestre 100%
Tooth problem Bidens pilosa 100%
Piles Piles Oxalis corniculata Piles Oxalis corniculata 23.07%
Stomach ache Stomach ache Valernia jantamansi Stomach ache Valernia jantamansi 100%
Asthma Emblica offcinales 25%

Table 1: Dominant Plant Species for a Particular Diseases and their Fidelity Level.

Informant Consensus Factor (ICF)

ICF is considered to know the traditional values of plants among the five zones of India to treat certain ailment categories (Table 2). From the study literature, out of the 489 sacred groves, 829 species with medicinal values, treating 33 different ailments. In our study, for the sake of simplicity out of 33 different ailments only 10 ailments are categorized. It is clear from the study that the ICF values varied from 0.04 to 0.64. Cold has the highest ICF value 0.64 with 40 use-reports for 15 plant species followed by diarrhoea have 0.24 with 76 use-reports for 58 plant species, wounds and cuts have 0.24 with 103 use-reports for 78 plant species.
The high ICF value for cold possibly showed that this ailment is common in the study area. High ICF values also helps searching for bioactive compounds and subsequently considered as more preferred traditionally to treat ailments. The low ICF value is for asthma due to lack of less constancy about the ailments.

Threats

These small patches have multiple disturbance factors like anthropogenic pressure, pollution, urbanization, soil erosion, logging, agriculture conversion of forest into land and road construction, invasion, over grazing, encroachment, developing industries, shifting social and cultural perspectives which put these medicinal plant resources under threat category. Out of 829 medicinal plant species, herbs species have 3 spp. endangered, 1 spp. critically endangered, 27 spp. under least concern, where tree species, have 1 spp. near threatened, 2 spp. vulnerable, 18 spp. least concern, shrub have 8 spp. least concern, climber have 1 spp. vulnerable and 2 spp. least concern and even orchid also 1 spp. under least concern.

Disease No of Plant Species Used Report ICF
Diarrhoea 58 76 0.24
Cold 15 40 0.64
Wounds and cuts 78 103 0.24
Skin problem 141 185 0.23
Malaria 23 29 0.21
Diabetes 39 49 0.2
Tooth problem 42 54 0.12
Piles 45 52 0.07
Stomach ache 17 20 0.15
Asthma 30 34 0.04

Table 2 Category of Different Diseases and their Informant Consensus Factor (ICF).

Citation : T V Ramachandra, Bharath Setturua, Rajan K S and Subash Chandran M D, 2017. Modelling the Forest Transition in Central Western Whats, India. Spat. Inf. Res. (2017)25: 117–130, DOI 10.1007/s41324-017-0084-8.
* Corresponding Author :
Dr. T.V. Ramachandra
Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560 012, India.
Tel : +91-80-2293 3099/2293 3503 [extn - 107],      Fax : 91-80-23601428 / 23600085 / 23600683 [CES-TVR]
E-mail :tvr@iisc.ac.in , emram.ces@courses.iisc.ac.in, energy@ces.iisc.ernet.in,     Web : http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy, http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/grass
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