Ethnobotanical studies in Rewari districts were conducted during 2020-2024 to collect information about the knowledge, and traditional uses of herbs and shrubs. The data was collected through interviews and questionnaires from local inhabitants, hakims, and medicine practitioners. A total of 56 species of ethnobotanical plants belonging to 23 families were recorded. Maximum number of plants (10.71%) belonged to Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae. From recorded plant species, most were herbs (82.14%), and the rest of the usable plants were shrubs (17.86%). The study reveals a practice of using various plant parts by local people, finding that leaves (25.6%) are the most commonly used plant parts tracked by roots (22.4%), whole plant (17.6%), seeds (10.4%), stem (7.2%), fruit (6.4%), flowers (5.6%), bark and latex (2.4%). Overall, 35 maladies were reported, which are cured by ethnomedicinal plants in the study area. The most commonly treated ailments were fever, stomach, lung, kidney and skin problems, ENT, inflammation, diabetes and snake bite. It was experiential that the majority of plants were used through boiling of plant parts, followed by crushing of plants or parts, mixing with other substances powdered, and squeezing directly without processing. The present study provides complete ethnobotanical data on herbs and shrubs used by local habitants of the study area. It was concluded that the study area even now possesses abundant useful ethnomedicinal knowledge. Disbursing care to the ethnomedicinal plants found in the area may support strengthening the role of these plants in healthcare and wellness, as well as the conservation of biodiversity.
Key words: Disease; Ethnobotany; Haryana; Medicinal plant; Traditional knowledge.
|
