World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

DIVERSITY, UTILIZATION AND THREAT STATUS OF ETHNO-MEDICINAL PLANTS IN BETALGHAT BLOCK, NAINITAL DISTRICT (KUMAUN HIMALAYA)

Naveen Ch. Pandey*, Lalit M. Tewari and G. C. Joshi

ABSTRACT

The present study main aim is the documentation of ethno-medicinal plants which traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments and diseases by the local communities of Betalghat block of ditrict Nainital. The present study was carried out in 12 sites in Betalghat block of district Nainital (Kumaun Himalaya). A PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) tool was used. A total of 184 species of ethno-medicinal plants belonging to 71 families and 157 genera includes 40 species of trees, 43 shrubs, 10 climbers and 91 herbs were recorded. Out of 71 families, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, Orchidaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Solanaceae, Apiaceae, Apocynaceae and Asparagaceae were the dominant families of the region. A total of 184 medicinal plants were used to cure 62 diseases such as fever, cough, dysentery, cuts and wounds, asthma, diarrhoea, skin diseases, stomach-ache, arthritis, headache, jaundice, cold, bone fracture, urinary disorders, diabetes, toothache, earache, itching etc. Among these, 25 species belonging to 23 families were categorized under different threatened categories. Therefore, there is an urgent need for sustainable utilization and conservation of threatened plants, by mass cultivation in nearby areas and awareness creation to the local communities.

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