https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/issue/feedEthnobotany Research and Applications2024-03-07T10:21:42+00:00Rainer W. BussmannRainer.Bussmann@iliauni.edu.geOpen Journal Systems<p><strong><em>Ethnobotany Research and Applications</em> </strong>is an electronic, peer-reviewed, multi-disciplinary and multi-lingual journal devoted to the rapid dissemination of current research in any areas related to Ethnobiology. The journal is currently published by the Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia. The journal seeks manuscripts that are novel, integrative and written in ways that are accessible to a wide audience. This includes an array of disciplines (Biological and Social Sciences) concerned particularly with theoretical questions in the field of Ethnobiology that leads to practical applications. Articles can also be based on the perspectives of cultural practitioners and others with insights into plants, people and applied research. Database papers, Ethnobiological inventories, Ethnobotanical Notes, Methodology reviews, Education studies and Theoretical discussions are also published.</p> <p>Papers that are primarily agronomic or horticultural, and those concerned mainly with analytical data on the chemical constituents of plants, or bioassays are out of scope for ERA and should be submitted elsewhere.</p> <p>ERA is indexed in Scopus and Crossref.</p>https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5565Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by people cured of SARS-CoV-2 in the center of Algeria2023-12-18T13:46:12+00:00Messaoud Belmouhoubmessaoudbelmouhoub@gmail.comAberkane BoubekeuraberkaneboubLBA@hotmail.frMustapha Tacherfioutmustaphatacherfiout@gmail.comFarid Boukhalfabiofood067@yahoo.frYazid Khaled Khodjay-khaled.khodja@gmail.comMostapha Bachir beymostapha.bachirbey@univ-bejaia.dz<p><em>Background: </em>The COVID-19 disease has affected more than 760 million people and caused more than 6,780,000 deaths worldwide. These numbers are likely to increase; however, the availability of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine has slowed its rate of spread. On the other hand, several societies around the world have used many medicinal plants to prevent or treat this disease, particularly in regions with a long history of traditional medicine, like North African countries.</p> <p><em>Method: </em>This study was conducted from February to November 2022 in three Algerian provinces (Bejaia, Bouira, and Tizi-Ouzou). The ethnobotanical information was obtained through a direct interview with 459 people cured of COVID-19.</p> <p><em>Results: </em>In this investigation, 35 medicinal plants belonging to 21 families were registered, of which 74.29% are local and 25.71% are imported from other countries. The plants mostly used are <em>Citrus limon </em>L. (68.49%), <em>Origanum vulgare </em>L. (50%), <em>Syzygium aromaticum</em> L. (41.66%), <em>Mentha spicata</em> L. (35.68%), <em>Zingiber officinale</em> Roscoe (26.04%), <em>Aloysia citrodora </em>Palau. (21.09%), <em>Allium sativum</em> L. (8.59%), <em>Citrus</em> ×<em>sinensis</em> L. (8.33%), <em>Eucalyptus globulus</em> Labill. (8.07%), and <em>Allium cepa</em> L. (7.29%).</p> <p><em>Conclusion: </em>This ethnobotanical survey, where information was collected from people cured of COVID-19, is the first in Algeria and probably in the world. Therefore, this study is an interesting contribution to the management of this epidemic, of which at present several cases are recorded throughout the world.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: SARS-Cov-2, cured people, ethnobotanical survey, Algerian population, medicinal plant</p>2024-02-27T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Messaoud Belmouhoub, Aberkane Boubekeur, Mustapha Tacherfiout, Farid Boukhalfa, Yazid Khaled Khodja, Mostapha Bachir beyhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5762Medicinal plants used for dermatological disorders among the Nyamwezi community in Tabora region, Tanzania2024-03-07T10:21:42+00:00David Sylvester Kacholikacholi78@gmail.com<p><em>Background:</em> Dermatological disorders (DDs) are a significant public health concern worldwide as they are considerably affecting the quality of human health and problematic to cure due to persistence. This study aimed to census the traditional medicinal plants (TMPs) used to treat DDs in the Tabora region, Tanzania.</p> <p><em>Methods:</em> Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect information from traditional healers (THs). The emphasis was on local plant names, cured DDs, plant parts used, preparation, and administration of remedies. Quantitative approaches, including family importance value (FIV), species use value (SUV), plant part value (PPV), Jaccard index of similarity (JI), and informant consensus factor (ICF), were calculated too.</p> <p><em>Results:</em> Sixty-four TMPs from 32 families were recorded for treating 14 DDs. The dominant family and life form were Fabaceae (with 20.3% of all TMPs and FIV of 3.455) and tree (50%), respectively. The preferred mode of utilisation and route of administration were crushing (28.1%) and topical (67.2%), respectively, while leaf (PPV = 2.86) was the most utilised plant part. The TMP with the highest SUV (0.818) was <em>Bidens Pilosa</em> L. (Asteraceae). A significant number of TMPs (42.2%) were used for wound healing. The highest ICF was recorded for ringworms (0.972) and the least for sores (0.924). The maximum similarity (JI = 8.3) was with the study from South Africa.</p> <p><em>Conclusion:</em> The study exposed the significance of TMPs used by the THs of the Tabora region against DDs. To offer an understanding of each plant's anti-infective role, an investigation to authenticate the therapeutic potential of the recorded TMPs is underway. This study suggests a need to create awareness among locals and other stakeholders for conserving TMPs and indigenous knowledge in the region and the country at large.</p> <p><em>Keywords:</em> Skin disorders, ethnomedicine, medicinal plants, quantitative indices, traditional knowledge, wound healing</p>2024-03-10T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 David Sylvester Kacholihttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5679Valorization of local ethnobotanical knowledge in Ouled Ben Abdelkader region, Northwest of Algeria2023-11-29T10:26:05+00:00Djahida Hedidid.hedidi@univ-chlef.dzNabila Zemmarn.zemmar@univ-chlef.dzMeryem Belabassmeryem.belabbas@univ-sba.dzFatma Zohra Hamdanif.hamdani@univ-chlef.dzFatima Belhacinieco_vert7@yahoo.frSofiane Abaidias.abaidia@univ-chlef.dz<p><em>Background</em>: This study aims to explore the ethnobotanical practices and to emphasize the local ethnobotanical knowledge of the indigenous population in the region of Ouled Ben Abdelkader, located in the Northwest of Algeria.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: The present ethnobotanical investigation was conducted during the period from November 2021 to April 2022, based on a sample of 269 participants. The collection of information on plants usage was based on semi-structured interviews. The collected data were subsequently analyzed through the calculation of several parameters, including the use value, the relative frequency of citation and the informant consensus factor for each plant.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: Through this ethnobotanical survey, 100 species belonging to 44 botanical families were widely reported by the local population. Lamiaceae, Asteraceae and Apiaceae were the most dominant families with 14%, 10% and 8% respectively. Leaves and aerial parts were the most commonly used parts, with infusion and decoction being the most common techniques. <em>Eucalyptus globulus</em> and <em>Origanum vulgare</em> were the most frequently cited plants, while <em>Pistacia</em> <em>lentiscus</em> had the highest use value. The analysis of the data showed 13 distinct ailment categories, the respiratory system disorders and gastrointestinal system diseases exhibited the highest values with 0.94 and 0.92 respectively, suggesting that the respondents were in agreement regarding the potential therapeutic applications of medicinal plants against these specific ailments.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: As part of this study, the main objective was to enhance the ethnobotanical heritage of the population in this study area by envisaging promising opportunities in the field of pharmacology.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotany, traditional medicine, valorization, quantitative indices, local population, Algeria.</p>2024-01-17T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Djahida Hedidi, Nabila Zemmar, Meryem Belabass, Fatma Zohra Hamdani, Fatima Belhacini, Sofiane Abaidiahttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5547Quantitative ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by local communities in Chamla Valley, Buner District, Pakistan2024-01-22T11:00:58+00:00Nazim Ullahkhannauman41@gmail.comBarkat Ullahbarkatullah@icp.edu.pkMuhammad Nauman khannomiflora@uop.edu.pkAlevcan Kaplankaplanalevcan@gmail.comHubert Olivier Dossou-Yovodohuoly@yahoo.frSana Wahabsanawahab1995@gmail.comMajid Iqbalmiqbal@bs.qau.edu.pk<p><em>Background:</em> An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Chamla Valley, District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan) to document the traditional medicinal knowledge held by indigenous people on local plant species. The study area has a diversified flora with a remarkable potential for ethnobotanical uses. However, ethnomedicinal studies to state such indigenous information lack. The present research is a contribution to fill in this gap of knowledge.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Data were collected from different socio-ethnic groups including aged people, herbal practitioners, and well-known aged people in the study area. To state scientific knowledge, these data were quantitatively analyzed using various ethnobotanical indices such as the relative frequency of citation (RFC), the use value (UV), fidelity level (FL), informant consensus factor (ICF), data matrix ranking (DMR) and the informant consensus factor (ICF).</p> <p><em>Results</em>: A total of 153 plant species belonging to 134 genera and 67 families were recorded in this study, showing the relevance of ethnomedicine in the community. Among all these species, 85% (57 families) were dicots whereas 10.4% of them (7 families) were monocots. Only 4.47% (3 families) and 1.49% (1 family) were Pteridophytes and gymnosperms respectively. With regards to the types of the recorded plant species, herbs were predominant followed by shrubs, trees, and climbers. The most used parts were leaves followed by the entire plant, stem, root, and fruit. Twenty major ailment groups were recorded, of which gastrointestinal disease showed the highest value, meaning the most relative importance whereas cardiovascular disease exhibited the lowest value. Fifteen alien plant species were identified and analyzed by using the EICAT impact assessment.</p> <p><em>Conclusion</em>: This study is the first quantitative investigation that emphasized the traditional herbal medicines used for ethnopharmacological purpose in Buner District, Chamla Valley, with information such as the mode of application and the treated diseases as well as the relative importance of the recorded species. Outputs of this study are of great importance to motivate advanced pharmacological and phytochemical screenings useful in the pharmaceutical sciences serving human health.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotany; Asteraceae, Indigenous communities; Human diseases, Herbal medicine</p>2024-02-24T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Nazim Ullah, Barkat Ullah, Muhammad Nauman khan, Alevcan Kaplan, Hubert Olivier Dossou-Yovo, Sana Wahab, Majid Iqbalhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5759State of knowledge and traditional uses of the organs of Kigelia africana in Benin, West Africa2024-01-16T09:01:18+00:00Charlotte Yamontcheyamontchecharlotte@gmail.comTowanou Houetchegnonhouetchegnon@gmail.comThierry Houehanouhouehanout@gmail.comChristine Ouinsaviouinsch@yahoo.fr<p><em>Background: Kigelia africana </em>(Lam.) Benth. is a wild species whose organs have been used in multiple ways. Despite these multiple uses, there is very little scientific data relating to the use within the different socio-cultural groups of Benin. To fill this information gap which could hinder the sustainable conservation efforts of the species for the benefit of users, this ethnobotanical study was carried out in Benin.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Its objective is to assess ethnobotanical knowledge among major socio-cultural groups. The aim was to determine the levels of knowledge and use of the organs of <em>Kigelia africana</em> and to identify the different types of use of these organs in Benin. Focus groups and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in 26 municipalities to collect information from 1,210 people.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: The results showed that the variables socio-cultural group, gender, level of education and age group have a significant influence globally (p≤0.05) on the levels of knowledge and use. Furthermore, the socio-cultural groups Bariba, Dendi, Yao-Lokpa, Peulh and Ditamari use the organs of <em>K. africana</em> extensively in medicine. The socio-cultural groups Adja, Yoruba and Fon have a higher knowledge than the other socio-cultural groups. Elderly and adult people have higher levels of organ use in medicine than younger people. According to the gender, it turns out that men know better and use said organs much more than women. As for the level of education, the results showed that the uneducated people followed by those of the primary level have the highest frequencies of use in medicine than the people of the primary level.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: This study provides basic information for the valorization of <em>K. africana</em> organs in Benin in West Africa.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotany, traditional knowledge, uses, <em>Kigelia africana</em>, Benin, West Africa</p>2024-02-15T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Charlotte Yamontche, Towanou Houetchegnon, Thierry Houehanou, Christine Ouinsavihttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5661An An ethnobotanical survey of plants used against host-seeking mosquitoes by communities in Mazowe and Shamva districts, Zimbabwe2024-01-01T11:42:43+00:00David Singleton Nyasvisvodavid.nyasvisvo@students.uz.ac.zwTamuka Nhiwatiwadrtnhiwatiwa@gmail.comRudo Sitholerdsithole@gmail.comShadreck Sandeshadrecksande99@gmail.comChristopher Chapanochapanoc@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: There is a dearth of information on plants used to repel mosquitoes in many rural malaria-endemic communities in Zimbabwe. The objective was to assess and document the knowledge and usage customs of mosquito-repellent plants among the people of Mazowe and Shamva districts.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Interviewer-administered questionnaires and key informant interviews were used to collect data on knowledge, perception, and practices concerning the use of mosquito-repellent plants against malaria-transmitting mosquitoes.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: A total of 144 key informants, selected using snowball sampling, were interviewed between April and June 2023. A total of 53 plant species from 29 families consisting of 33 (62%) native and 20 (38%) exotic plants were listed. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) values ranged from 0.01 to 0.97, the highest being for <em>Lippia javanica</em> (Burm.f.) Spreng (0.97) and <em>Ocimum incanum </em>L (0.71). Fabaceae (17%) and Asteraceae (11%) were the most represented families. Leaves (43%) were the most commonly utilized parts while burning plant parts to produce smoke (57%), hanging plants inside rooms (21%), and application of plant extracts on the skin (21%) were the most common methods of application. Amongst the plants with high RFC values, it appears five have not been ethnobotanically studied for mosquito repellency in the country.</p> <p><em>Conclusion</em>: The communities in Mazowe and Shamva districts have substantial ethnobotanical knowledge of mosquito-repellent plants. Ethnobotanical knowledge gathered in this study provides us with many new potential plants for follow-up research for the development of plant-based mosquito repellents.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotanical; Indigenous knowledge; Mosquito-repellent plants; Malaria-transmitting mosquitoes; Plant-based repellents.</p>2024-01-17T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 David Singleton Nyasvisvo, Tamuka Nhiwatiwa, Rudo Sithole, Shadreck Sande, Christopher Chapanohttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5746Gender Influences on Local Botanical Knowledge: A Northeast Brazil Study2024-02-15T10:04:45+00:00Celiane da Silva Ribeiro Gomescelianebiologia@hotmail.comAline Dourado Sena Gamadourado.aline@yahoo.com.brAníbal da Silva Cantaliceanibalcantalice@gmail.comPaula Thayanne Matapaulaathayanne@gmail.comTaline Cristina Silvatalinecs@gmail.comPatrícia Muniz de Medeirospatricia.medeiros@ceca.ufal.br<p><em>Background</em>: Ethnobotanical studies commonly employ the gender variable to understand how knowledge about medicinal plants is structured. However, most focus specifically on the number of species known among men and women, with limited attention to issues such as collection location, species endemism, and the repertoire of medicinal plants. This study primarily seeks to understand if there are differences in various types of knowledge and in the composition of known and used medicinal species between genders.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: The study was conducted in the rural community of Morrão de Cima, Bahia, Brazil. We gathered information about the knowledge and use of medicinal species, including details on collection sites, through semi-structured interviews. To answer our questions, we used generalized linear models and a multivariate permutational analysis of variance.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: We found no significant difference in the total number of known medicinal species between genders. However, women showed greater knowledge of species close to their homes and exotic species, while men demonstrated more knowledge of species in forested areas and native species. We also observed a significant difference between the species known and used by men and women.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: Our findings emphasize the need to use various knowledge metrics for a deeper understanding of the relationship between medicinal species knowledge and gender. Differences in the composition of medicinal plants between men and women highlight the heterogeneity of knowledge, underscoring the essential role of both genders in shaping local medical systems, resulting from the health/disease dynamics among genders.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotany; Local ecological knowledge; Medicinal plants; Composition; Knowledge and use.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Celiane da Silva Ribeiro Gomes, Aline Dourado Sena Gama, Aníbal da Silva Cantalice, Paula Thayanne Mata, Taline Cristina Silva, Patrícia Muniz de Medeiroshttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5640Treatment of diarrhea and dysentery through ethnomedicinal plants in the Jaunpur region of Garhwal Himalaya, India2024-02-14T10:00:40+00:00Tarseem Laltarseemlal35527@gmail.comLakhi Ram Dangwaldrlrdangwal@gmail.comMinakshi Rawatsannurawat41@gmail.com<p><em>Background:</em> Diarrhea and dysentery are leading causes of death and illness in rural areas of developing countries in worldwide and neighboring countries. Diarrhea ranking as the third most common cause of child mortality in India. It contributes to 13% of deaths in children under five years annually. Even at the present time, majority of the rural people of the country still rely on regional plants resources to treat many diseases, including diarrhea and dysentery. The aim of the present study was to document and record the utilization of ethnomedicinal plants and various herbal remedies for the management of gastrointestinal ailments, with a specific focus on combating diarrhea and dysentery in the rural area of Garhwal Himalaya, specifically the Jaunpur region in the study site.</p> <p><em>Methods<strong>:</strong></em> Ethnobotanical investigation was carried out in 12 villages (namely Dhanaulti, Rautu ki Beli, Nainbagh, Kempty, Thatyur, Almas, Kyari, Pantwari, Devalsari, Teva, Naag Tibba, and Ontal) with traditional practices, interviewing 138 local informants (90 males and 48 females). The various methods (group discussions, meetings, and questionnaires) to gather ethnomedicinal knowledge for curing diarrhea and dysentery treatment. Furthermore, in this study, the informant's consensus factor (ICF), use value (UV), and fidelity index (FI%) were also discussed for each of the studied species.</p> <p><em>Results:</em> In this study, local informants utilized a total of 30 ethnomedicinal plant species (from 28 genera and 30 families) to treat diarrhea and dysentery. The percentage of plant species used for specific ailments was: diarrhea (32% spp.), dysentery (20%), digestive problems (14%), stomach problems (12%), gastroenteritis (8%), appetizers (6%), dyspepsia (4%), oral ulcers (2%), and flatulence (2%). The residents use specific plant parts for ethnomedicinal purposes, with the following distribution: bark (3% spp.), fruits (10%), flowers (3%), leaves (45%), rhizomes (7%), roots (13%), seeds (3%), stems (7%), twigs (3%), and whole plant (6%). The herbal preparations in use include decoction (56% spp.), infusion (20%), juice (12%), paste (8%), and powder (4%).</p> <p><em>Conclusion:</em> The present communication provides valuable insights into the indigenous utilization and availability of ethnomedicinal plants for treating diarrhea and dysentery. It underscores the importance of documenting and preserving this rich reservoir of knowledge passed down through generations for future research endeavors.</p> <p><em>Keywords:</em> Rural people, Child mortality, Gastrointestinal ailments, Herbal preparations, Tehri Garhwal </p>2024-02-24T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Tarseem Lal, Lakhi Ram Dangwal, Minakshi Rawathttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5483How does bitter taste guide the utilization of medicinal plants in the semiarid region of Brazil?2023-09-04T23:44:51+00:00Temóteo Silvatimoteobio@gmail.comWashington Ferreira Júniorwashington.ferreira@upe.brFrancisco Igor Santosigoribss18@gmail.comLerticia Eliasleticia_dominicini@hotmail.comMarleny Prada De La Cruzmarleny.prada@ufpe.brUlysses Paulino Albuquerqueupa677@hotmail.com<p><em>Background: </em>In numerous cultures, taste plays a pivotal role in the selection of medicinal plants by humans. We investigated whether the bitter taste of plants, as perceived by people, influenced the selection of medicinal plants for treating specific ailments<em>.</em></p> <p><em>Method: </em>Using the free-listing technique, we documented local knowledge about medicinal plants across five communities within Catimbau National Park, Pernambuco, Brazil. Participants who were older than 18 years and consented to participate in the study shared insights about medicinal plants, therapeutic targets, and taste attributes. The relationship between a plant's taste and the body systems for which it is recommended was analyzed using the chi-square test.</p> <p><em>Results: </em>A bitter taste was associated with treating specific diseases; addressing ailments of the digestive, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital systems; infectious and parasitic diseases; and injuries as well as general symptoms and signs. Among the taste attributes reported, bitterness was the most common trait (42.34%), followed by astringent (26.78%), sweet (8.04%), sour (1.84%), and other/not classified (21.24%).</p> <p><em>Conclusion: </em>In our study, we discovered that bitter taste is intricately linked to the selection of medicinal plants for treating certain ailments. Our findings underscore the significance of bitterness as a crucial factor in identifying plants for disease treatment in the region.</p> <p><em>Keywords: </em>Bitter Taste, Chemosensory Perception, Local Medical Systems</p>2024-01-23T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Temóteo Silva, Washington Ferreira Júnior, Francisco Igor Santos, Lerticia Elias, Marleny Prada De La Cruz, Ulysses Paulino Albuquerquehttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5725Ethnobotanical appraisal of indigenous medicinal plants used in the Taounate region (Northern Morocco): Qualitative and quantitative approaches2024-01-16T09:03:40+00:00Samir Jeddi samirjeddi5@gmail.comMohamed FeriounMohamed.ferioun@usmba.ac.maNesrine Benkhairanesrine.benkhaira@usmba.ac.maMohamed Jeddi mohamed.jeddi@usmba.ac.maNaoufal El Hachlafinaoufal.elhachlafi@usmba.ac.maKawtar Fikri-Benbrahimkawtar.fikribenbrahim@usmba.ac.ma<p><em>Background: </em>For centuries, Moroccan population uses medicinal plants as a primary source of medication to treat different human ailments. However, few investigations have been carried out to properly document and preserve this traditional knowledge. Indeed, this ethnobotanical exploration aims to establish an exhaustive inventory of medicinal plants used by the population of Taounate for the treatment of different diseases.</p> <p><em>Methods: </em>Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out with 500 participants distributed equally between different stations. The study participants were selected randomly and subjected to semi-structured interviews, conducted individually over four months from January to April 2023. The socio-demographic features were evaluated using percentages and frequencies in a simple descriptive statistical analysis. However, the ethnobotanical data involved the use of different methods, such as relative frequency of citation (RFC), family importance value (FIV) and plant part value (PPV). In addition, the data analysis was completed using hierarchical cluster analysis to reveal the similarity between plants and rank these plants based on indexes or frequency in treating diseases.</p> <p><em>Results: </em>This ethnobotanical survey reported that 112 species of medicinal plants, belonging to 100 genera and 54 botanical families were used for curing a variety of illnesses. Among the 54 families reported, the most predominant are Lamiaceae, with 11 species and a FIV of 22.1%; followed by Apiaceae, with 7 species and a FIV of 1.9% and Asteraceae, with 6 species and a FIV of 8%. Based on hierarchical cluster analysis, Origanum compactum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, Pistacia lentiscus and Chenopodium ambrosioides (RFC= 0.366) had the highest values in FC and RFC indexes. Moreover, the heatmap indicates that these plants are primarily used for treating diseases related to the digestive tract (highest ICF values of 0.98). Furthermore, leaves are the most commonly used plant’s part (63%), followed by stem (8%), roots (7%), flowers (5%) and fruit (4%); otherwise, decoction is the most common method (42%), followed by the use of powder (27%) and infusion (13%). The herbal preparation was mainly administered orally (75%).</p> <p><em>Conclusion: </em>The current study highlights the widespread use of aromatic and medicinal plants in therapy among the Taounate population, forming an integral part of the traditional healing system. This research aims to enhance Moroccan traditional natural heritage while providing researchers with a valuable ethnobotanical database. The latter can serve as an essential resource for more profound research into phytochemistry and pharmacology.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotanical survey; medicinal plants; Taounate; Ethnobotanical indexes; clustering dendrogram analysis.</p>2024-02-16T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Samir Jeddi , Mohamed Ferioun, Nesrine Benkhaira, Mohamed Jeddi , Naoufal El Hachlafi, Kawtar Fikri-Benbrahimhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5622Botanical identity of a medicinal root commercialized under the name "Santa Lucía Morotí" and anatomical, micrographic, and histochemical characterization2024-02-15T10:01:11+00:00Nadia Antonela Gaetanadia.a.gaeta@gmail.comIgnacio Jorge Agudeloignacioagudelo@yahoo.com.arLeonardo Martín Anconatanilmanconatani@gmail.comRafael Alejandro Riccoraricco@gmail.com<p><em>Background:</em> Traditional medicine in Paraguay relies on various medicinal plants referred to as <strong>santa lucía morotí</strong> in the vernacular. These plants have many uses, from treating ophthalmic conditions to serving as a refreshing remedy. This study aims to identify the botanical species associated with the plant material sold under the name <strong>santa lucía morotí</strong> in informal markets within the Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, República Argentina. This investigation aims to determine if there has been a substitution of this plant material with a local species and to establish anatomical, micrographic, and histochemical parameters.</p> <p><em>Methods:</em> Fresh roots were procured from street vendors within the Paraguayan community residing in the Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, República Argentina, labeled as <strong>santa lucía morotí</strong>. These roots were cultivated until the plants reached the flowering stage, at which point they were identified using taxonomic keys. Transverse sections were prepared and stained with safranin and fast green. Additionally, histochemical reactions were conducted to localize and characterize families of metabolites, with a known variety of biological and pharmacological activities.</p> <p><em>Results:</em> The plant was identified as <em>Commelina platyphylla</em> Klotzsch ex Seub. (Commelinaceae). This suggests that there has been no substitution of this plant material. Terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, and flavonoids were successfully histochemical localized.</p> <p><em>Conclusions:</em> The species under investigation has not been replaced as it transitioned from traditional Paraguayan medicine to the urban environment of Buenos Aires City. The characterization of metabolites provides valuable guidance for phytochemical and pharmacological research to validate ethnomedical uses.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Santa Lucía Morotí, <em>Commelina platyphylla</em>, urban ethnomedicine, migrant ethnomedicine</p>2024-03-10T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Nadia Antonela Gaeta, Ignacio Jorge Agudelo, Leonardo Martín Anconatani, Rafael Alejandro Riccohttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5713Ethnopharmacological investigation and traditional cultural use of anticancer medicinal plants in Morocco’s Casablanca-Settat region2023-12-31T11:01:09+00:00Omaima Boudaiaomaima.boudaia@gmail.comAmal El Hamsas El Youbiamal.elyoubi@gmail.comZineb Sekkoutzineb.sekkout-etu@etu.univh2c.maSouha Sahraouisouhasahraoui748@gmail.comChourouk Moustakbalchorouk.moustakbal90@gmail.comNabil Ismailiismailinabil321@gmail.comNajat Elamraninajatelamrani019@gmail.comDriss Radallahdrissradallah2@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: This ethnopharmacological study investigated the usage of medicinal plants by the Moroccan population in the Casablanca-Settat region for combating different types of cancer, aiming to document the traditional knowledge of medicinal plant use passed down through generations, in the area, particularly in the context of cancer treatment.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Using a pre-established questionnaire, the study covered both urban and rural communities in the Casablanca-Settat region, involving 321 cancer patients and 33 herbalists and traditional practitioners over an 11-month period, from November 2021 to October. Data analyses employed ethnobotanical indices, including use value (UV), family use value (FUV), plant part value (PPV), factor informant consensus (FIC), and fidelity level (FL).</p> <p><em>Results</em>: The research revealed a diverse range of participants’ age, with females comprising the predominant users of medicinal plants. The FIC method identified distinct patterns of medicinal plant usage for various cancers. Throughout the investigation, a total of 90 plant species were identified, of which four are endemic to Morocco, belonging to 54 families. Commonly utilized families included Pinaceae (FUV=0.150), Aristolochiaceae (FUV=0.119), Berberidaceae (FUV=0.102), and Lamiaceae (FUV=0.076). <em>Marrubium</em> <em>vulgare</em> (UV=0.534) was the most frequently mentioned species. The study highlighted that plant leaves were the most utilized parts, with decoction and oral route being the preferred methods of preparing and administering the herbal treatments, respectively. Moreover, toxic plants, notably <em>Aristolochia</em> <em>clematitis</em>, were also identified, posing risks like severe kidney damage.k</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: This research provides valuable insights into traditional medicinal practices in the region and their potential applications in cancer treatment.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Casablanca-Settat region, Ethnopharmacology Investigation, Traditional Cultural Use, Medicinal Plants, Cancer disease</p>2024-02-14T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Omaima Boudaia, Amal El Hamsas El Youbi, Zineb Sekkout, Souha Sahraoui, Chourouk Moustakbal, Nabil Ismaili, Najat Elamrani, Driss Radallahhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5617Investigating the dynamics of cultural mutations in local medicinal plant use in NE Brazil 2023-12-31T10:49:58+00:00Janilo Italo M. Dantasitalojanilo124@gmail.comAndré Luiz B. Nascimentoandre.borba@ufma.brTaline Cristina Silvatalinecs@gmail.comUlysses Paulino Albuquerqueupa677@hotmail.comElcida de Lima Araújoelcida.araujo@ufpe.br<p><em>Background</em>: According to cultural evolution theory (CE), the transmission of cultural information can be subjected to "cultural mutations" (random alteration of information). Cultural mutations can have implications for human culture. However, the contributing factors to the increased/decreased establishment of these processes in local medical systems remain unclear. Thus, we tested the following hypotheses: H1: more conservative transmission modes (vertical transmission) are less prone to cultural mutation; H2: knowledge sharing about a medicinal plant influences the occurrence of cultural mutations in local medical systems; and H3: information on versatile medicinal plants (plants used to treat various ailments) is more likely to undergo cultural mutation in local medical systems.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Methods</em>: To test our hypotheses, we conducted a case study in the Lagoa do Junco community, Santana do Ipanema municipality, Alagoas. The data were collected through semistructured interviews with 120 individuals older than 18 years. Analyses utilized a generalized linear model (GLM) with the binomial and Poisson families.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Results</em>: We found a lower cultural mutation rate for more conservative transmission modes (p<0.01). Information about more widely shared medicinal plants was more prone to cultural mutations (p<0.001). Versatile medicinal plants are more susceptible to cultural mutations.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: Less conservative cultural transmission modes promote greater variation in plant-based medicinal systems. Factors such as information sharing and plant versatility, though important in local medical systems, may have implications for human culture, as exemplified by maladaptive cultural traits, and need assessment in future studies.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Cultural evolution, Copy errors, Ethnobotany, Medicinal plants</p>2024-01-18T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Janilo Italo M. Dantas, André Luiz B. Nascimento, Taline Cristina Silva, Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque, Elcida de Lima Araújohttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5403Ethnobotany and urban life: medicinal and food use of plants from Karachi (Pakistan’s largest metropolis)2024-01-26T19:42:45+00:00Anjum Perveenanjum_tahir@hotmail.comCalvin R. Weiwei.calvin@shinghueigroup.comSyed Waleed Ahmed Bokharisyedwaleedahmedbokhari50@gmail.comShabir Ijazshabirijazbot@gmail.comJaveed Iqbaljavedkhattak76@yahoo.comSaima Ashrafs.ashraf084@gmail.comShazia Kousarshaziakousar110@gmail.com<p><em>Background: </em>Traditional medicines knowledge is more famous and well-documented in rural and remote areas in Pakistan and worldwide than in urban areas. A present effort was made to document the ethnobotanical practices among the communities of Karachi city and provide the basis for the development of natural drug discovery.</p> <p><em>Methods: </em>For ethnobotanical data collection, 177 local informants and traditional healers were interviewed. Various quantitative indices such as the relative frequency of citation (RFC), fidelity level (FL), use value (UV), and the Jaccard Index (JI) were applied to the documented data.</p> <p><em>Results: </em>The traditional medicinal uses of 97 plant species belonging to 47 families were reported. Solanaceae (seven taxa) was followed by Boraginaceae and Fabaceae (six taxa each), Cucurbitaceae (five taxa); Amaranthaceae, Convolvulaceae, Malvaceae, Verbenaceae, and Zygophyllaceae (four taxa each), which were the leading families that contributed the highest number of taxa. The highest plant-used parts were leaves, with 45 reports (28.84%), followed by fruit (15.38%). It was observed that the majority of species were used to treat stomach problems, respiratory issues, general wellness, skin conditions, liver-related conditions, and fever, respectively.</p> <p><em>Conclusion: </em>Ethnomedicinal findings reported in this study offer concrete proof of the use of therapeutic plants by residents of Karachi city. The research also showed that the medicinal plants in the region constitute a significant source of herbal medicines used to treat various ailments. This survey can serve as a starting point for future scientific research aimed at creating new plant-based pharmaceuticals for the market.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotany; Karachi, Sindh, Human diseases, Herbal medicine</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Anjum Perveen, Calvin R. Wei, Syed Waleed Ahmed Bokhari, Shabir Ijaz, Javeed Iqbal, Saima Ashraf, Shazia Kousarhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5708What role does symbolism still play on German graveyards? A case study from Saxony, Germany2024-01-22T10:57:28+00:00Thea Lautenschlägerthea.lautenschlaeger@uni-hamburg.deVictor Lossauvictor.lossau@tu-dresden.de<p><em>Background</em>: In terms of the history of sepulchral culture in Germany, the customisation of gravesites with plants is a relatively recent but widespread practice in German-speaking countries. The diverse, temporally changing and regionally varying connections between plant and grave, and in particular the current relationship in relation to the original symbolism of plants in the Christian sense, have not been researched in detail and are the aim of this study.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Between November and January 2022/2023, 458 graves were randomly selected at eleven cemeteries of the German city Dresden and their planting was photographed and determined. Plants from wreaths and flower arrangements as well as plant representations on grave markers were included in the survey. In addition, 29 relatives were interviewed about their intentions for the planting and 9 experts of garden centers were asked about trends they had observed.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: A total of 152 plant species were identified. On average, the graves were planted with 3.8 species. <em>Calluna</em>, <em>Hedera</em> and <em>Abies</em> were used particularly frequently. Plant representations were found on approx. 1/3 of the grave markers, of which roses were the most common.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: The study shows a change in grave planting. Traditional Christian or more generally symbolic plants associated with death are in decline compared to longer-lasting, easier to care for, but also more colourful plants. The cemetery and the grave are becoming aesthetic places of active remembrance and togetherness with the deceased.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: graveyard, cemeteries, Saxony, Germany, decoration, plants, symbols, Christianity</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Thea Lautenschläger, Victor Lossauhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5694Quantitative ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by native people of selected areas of Chhota Bhangal, Himachal Pradesh2024-02-20T12:39:11+00:00Anchal Thakuranchalthakur2861@gmail.comRuchika Kumariruchikasandhu8@gmail.comAshok Kumarfbashok82@gmail.comAshun Chaudharyashun.chaudhary@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: Ethnobotanical information about medicinal plants and their indigenous uses plays a major role in the conservation of biodiversity and cultural traditions. The native people of Chhota Bhangal hold the traditional knowledge and practices of using diverse medicinal plants for treating various diseases. But this traditional knowledge base is fading gradually. Keeping this in mind, the present study aimed to document the ethnobotanical data on medicinal plants traditionally used by the native people of Chhota Bhangal.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Snowball sampling and a structured questionnaire were used to collect ethnobotanical data which was quantitatively analysed using Use Value, Relative Frequency of Citation, and Informant Consensus Factor.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: A total of 66 plant species from 29 families were reported which are utilised traditionally by the residents of the study area. Different life forms of collected plants were herb (90.9%), trees (4.05%), climbers (3.03%), and shrub (1.5%). Asteraceae was the most utilised medicinal plant family (11 species) and leaves were the most utilised plant part (40%) for medicinal purposes. <em>Picrorhiza kurroa</em> was a highly used species with high UV and RFC values. ICF values range from 0.90-0.97 and the plant is used to cure gastrointestinal problems were highest in number.</p> <p><em>Conclusion</em>: The study revealed that the native people of Chhota Bhangal still use several plants for curing different ailments and 66 plant species are reported with medicinal value. This documented ethnobotanical information will help in the conservation of ethnobotanical knowledge as well as further research for drug discovery to treat various chronic diseases.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotany, Chhota Bhangal, Medicinal plants, IKS, Quantitative analysis</p>2024-03-09T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Anchal Thakur, Ruchika Kumari, Ashok Kumar, Ashun Chaudharyhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5587Ethnoveterinary utilization of medicinal plants in Ghamot National Park Western Himalayas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan2023-12-31T10:48:32+00:00Muhammad Jahangeerkhushikhlaqjahangeer@gmail.comMuhammad Siddique Awansiddique.awan@ajku.edu.pkMuhammad Shakeel Awanshakeelawan7452@gmail.comRiaz Aziz Minhasriaz.aziz@ajku.edu.pkMir Muhammad Saleemsaleemmir001@gmail.comUsman Aliusman.zoology@must.edu.pkAbid Sudhzoiaries.abid606@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: The local communities in Pakistan possess extensive traditional knowledge about indigenous medicinal plants, which has been passed down through generations for centuries. However, this invaluable ethnic knowledge is currently facing a threat to its preservation. In Pakistan, research on medicinal plants predominantly centers on documenting the local flora and its applications. The indigenous population, with ancestral wisdom, holds traditional insights into the uses of regional plants. Ethno-veterinary medicine encompasses the collective beliefs, expertise, techniques, and customs within communities concerning animal welfare, particularly prominent in rural settings where it serves as a primary approach to livestock treatment. This study aims to address the existing knowledge gap by documenting ethno-veterinary knowledge from this untapped area. The specific objectives are focused on recording the essential ethno-veterinary applications of local plant species by mountain populations in treating livestock ailments and disorders.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Data regarding the use of ethno-medicinal plants for treating livestock ailments were gathered through a semi-structured questionnaire, one-on-one interviews, and group discussions. From 2022 to 2023, we interviewed 124 individuals about 28 plant species, with the majority of ethno-veterinary data coming from respondents in the 40–69 age groups. The frequency of citation was determined to assess how often a specific plant species was mentioned for treating veterinary diseases. Additionally, the Use Value (UV) for each species was computed using UV = FC/N.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: The research identified 28 medicinal plants from 22 different plant families used for treating 23 distinct livestock ailments. These plants comprised 21 herbs (75% of the total), 5 shrubs (17.85%), and 2 trees (7.14%). The dominant plant family was Asteraceae (3sp.). Roots (46%) were the primary plant part used in medicines, and paste (19 sp.) was the most common herbal formulation method. Most medicinal plants (8) were employed to cure digestive system diseases such as dysentery and indigestion. A comparison of the collected medicinal plants and related indigenous medicinal knowledge was made with previously published work on surrounding areas.</p> <p><em>Conclusion</em>: This study assumes a vital role in preserving indigenous plant-based knowledge from potential oblivion and introduces new ethno-veterinary applications in the region. Further investigations involving phytochemical and pharmacological assessments are necessary to isolate active compounds and evaluate plant efficacy against specific veterinary diseases, both in vitro and in vivo. Comprehensive toxicological studies are also imperative to ensure the safe and secure utilization of documented ethno-medicines.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethno-veterinary, Medicinal plants, Western Himalayas, Ghamot National Park</p>2024-01-29T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Muhammad Jahangeer, Muhammad Siddique Awan, Muhammad Shakeel Awan, Riaz Aziz Minhas, Mir Muhammad Saleem, Usman Ali, Abid Sudhzoihttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5882Implementation of conservation partnership to improving the role of local community in the management of Mount Rinjani National Park, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia2024-02-12T07:23:16+00:00Robert Siburianrobertsdes1970@gmail.comHerman Hidayathermanhidayat246@gmail.comSulistya Ekawatisulistya.ekawati@yahoo.co.idDicky Rachmawandickybrin@gmail.comMuktasammuktasam03@yahoo.comMarcellinus Mandira Budi Utomomarc004@brin.go.id<p><em>Background: </em>The conventional emphasis solely on protective measures in national park management has proved ineffectual in averting damage resulting from illicit human interventions. Facilitating local community access to the national parks through conservation partnerships constitutes a strategic conciliation, aimed at forestalling potential conflicts. This study seeks to ascertain if the government's proposition of conservation partnerships, serves as a conciliatory mechanism to alleviate tensions between local communities and park administrators.</p> <p><em>Methods: </em>Data was procured through in-depth interviews and field observations conducted within the research site. The informants consisted of academicians, staff of the national park, local government, village leaders, and local communities. Field observations encompassed an immersion into the national park locale, involving the scrutiny of diverse community activities.</p> <p><em>Results: </em>The conservation partnerships have fostered a more symbiotic rapport between national park management and local communities. The local community is now perceived as collaborative guardians of the sustainability of the national park, while park managers assume the role of facilitators and protectors of community activities within the park. The fears and illegal actions of local communities that were carried out before the partnership have been replaced with harmonious engagement and unhindered participation.</p> <p><em>Conclusion<strong>: </strong></em>The implementation of conservation partnerships has brought positive impacts on the livelihood of local people and also on the sustainability of the forest. Through conservation partnerships, the activity of the local community to access non-timber forest products was protected by the park office. This condition encourages the creation of harmony between local communities and the forest manager.</p> <p><em>Keywords: </em>conservation partnership, local community, management, national park.</p>2024-03-11T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Robert Siburian, Herman Hidayat, Sulistya Ekawati, Dicky Rachmawan, Muktasam, Marcellinus Mandira Budi Utomohttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5687An ethnobotanical survey on the therapeutic use of Cannabis sativa L. in the province of Taounate, Morocco.2024-01-16T09:06:45+00:00Taha Balafrejtaha.balafrej@um5r.ac.maSouad Skallis.skalli@um5r.ac.maSouad Benaichs.benaich@um5r.ac.maAymane Bessiaymane.bessi@usmba.ac.maAnas El Mekkaouianas_elmekkaoui2@um5.ac.maBasma Boukourbasma_boukour@um5.ac.maSlimane Mehdads.mehdad@um5r.ac.maYounes Zaidy.zaid@um5r.ac.maSaadia Raissaadia.rais@usmba.ac.maChaimae Raisraischaimae18@gmail.comSaid Benlakhdarsaid-benlakhdar@um5s.net.maRachida Hassikour.hassikou@um5r.ac.ma<p><em>Background: </em>Cannabis has been used for over 4,500 years in different area, including medicine, to treat many illnesses. This study was to investigate to carry out an ethnobotanical survey to collect information on therapeutic uses of this plant by local population.</p> <p><em>Methods</em><em>: </em>Ethnobotanical study was conducted in Taounate province using semi-structured interviews with random informants. The data was analysed using statistical indices and tests as cultural Importance (CI), fidelity level (FL), relative frequency of citation (RFC), Chi square () test, logistic regression, multiple corresponding analysis (MCA), and Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (nMDS).</p> <p><em>Results: </em>65.4 % of the informants used <em>Cannabis sativa</em> L. Among them, therapeutic use showed a CI of 0.40. 11 diseases were found to be treated by cannabis. The most recommended preparation method was smoking, and the most common administration method was inhalation. Cham was the most cited ailment with a FL of 92.9 %. Results showed a significant correlation of therapeutic use with sex and type of locality. MCA revealed that people using cannabis for therapeutic use were sharing common trait with male, urban areas, secondary education level, and informants aged between 20 to 40 years. Then, Nmds showed that the treated disease were uniformly dispersed between rural and urban locality.</p> <p><em>Conclusion<strong>: </strong></em>The present study highlights the importance of therapeutic use of <em>Cannabis sativa</em> L. in Taounate province. However, more in-depth phytochemical, pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical research is needed to investigate its effectiveness and safety.</p> <p><em>Keywords: Cannabis sativa </em>L., survey, ethnobotany, Taounate, therapeutic use.</p>2024-01-29T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Taha Balafrej, Souad Skalli, Souad Benaich, Aymane Bessi, Anas El Mekkaoui, Basma Boukour, Slimane Mehdad, Younes Zaid, Saadia Rais, Chaimae Rais, Said Benlakhdar, Rachida Hassikouhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5682Assessment of diversity and cultural importance of wild Plants in district Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan 2024-01-26T12:35:46+00:00Abida Azizamberuaf2010@gmail.comQamar Abbasabbasqamar49@yahoo.comMuhammad Farooq Azharfaarooqazhar@yahoo.comEhsan Aliehsanagri97@gmail.comShazia Perveendrshazia.zool@wum.edu.pkHafiz Bashir Ahmadbashir.ahmad@uos.edu.pkMuhammad Sajjad Haidersajjad.haider@uos.edu.pkMuhammad Talha Imtiaztalhabhai111@gmail.com<p><em>Background:</em> The present study was conducted in the town of Miani, district Sargodha, Punjab to make an inventory of economically important plants and further assess their conservational status by documenting the indigenous knowledge of local communities, hakims, and plant experts. The locals have close contact with the neighboring plant resources.</p> <p><em>Methods:</em> Quadrat and line transect methods were used for vegetation sampling. Several parameters like plant availability, exploitation level, and conservation efforts were studied. After the primary survey, 19 important medicinal wild plants of the area were short-listed with the help of local inhabitants and hakims. 100 samples were collected from 4 sites</p> <p><em>Results:</em> The most abundant species were <em>Artemisia absinthium</em> and <em>Cannabis sativa</em>. The cultural importance and conservational status of economic and medicinal plants in the area were also assessed. Major species of the study area belong to the family Asteraceae (19.05%). <em>Artemisia absinthium </em>has a higher plant density (0.12). <em>Cannabis sativa</em> has the highest significance factor and <em>Chenopodium album</em> has the 2nd highest value of the Cultural Significance Index (CSI) in the study area. <em>Cannabis</em> <em>sativa</em> has the highest significance factor and <em>Chenopodium album</em> has the 2nd highest value of CSI in the study area.</p> <p><em>Conclusions:</em> It is concluded that the area offers a high potential for plant resources and a rich tradition of indigenous knowledge about how to utilize these species but the economic potential should be channelized and explored because these species are usually treated as wild weeds.</p> <p><em>Keywords:</em> Wild Medicinal plants, Conservation, Economic importance, Cultural Significance Index (CSI), plant resources.</p>2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Abida Aziz, Qamar Abbas, Muhammad Farooq Azhar, Ehsan Ali, Shazia Perveen, Hafiz Bashir Ahmad, Muhammad Sajjad Haider, Muhammad Talha Imtiazhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5557Ethnobotany Resources from Metropolitan Parks of Quito City2023-12-20T09:01:50+00:00Paco Noriegapnoriega@ups.edu.ecLissette Calderónlcalderonm2@est.ups.edu.ecAlberto-Taxo Tacoataxo@hotmail.comMaría Belen Montaluisammontaluisa@ups.edu.ecKimberly Jaramillokjaramillo@ups.edu.ecPatricia Noriegapdnoriega@uce.edu.ec<p><em>Background</em>: Quito, the largest city in Ecuador, has a population of over two million. Despite significant growth in the last 50 years, remnants of native flora can still be found within the city’s metropolitan park system. These parks contain large areas of both native and introduced ethnobotanical resources. This study aimed to collect and catalog species based on their medicinal, nutritional, ritual, and cosmetic properties. The opinions of informants with extensive knowledge of traditional medicine were considered, and many scientific documents were analyzed to obtain more information on each identified species.</p> <p><em>Methods:</em> Under the guidance of Andean sage Tayta Alberto Taxo Taco Chicaiza and accompanied by six informants, we visited five metropolitan parks in Quito known for their significant biodiversity. Between March and July 2017, we collected and identified medicinal species over several working days. To confirm the traditional knowledge, we then complemented our findings by evaluating approximately one hundred scientific documents.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: Ninety-two species were identified as valuable plants, highlighting their medicinal, food, cosmetic, and ritual uses. The highest percentage corresponded to native Andean species, 68%, and endemism reached 3.3%. Forty-nine botanical families were identified, with Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Solanaceae standing out. The use of a significant number of plants is related to magical-religious practices.</p> <p><em>Conclusion:</em> This study reveals that even in large urban areas, pockets of plant biodiversity exist as small refuges that maintain a connection to life. These refuges can be utilized to enhance the health and well-being of city dwellers.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Quito, Andean biodiversity, metropolitan parks, ancestral knowledge</p>2024-02-25T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Paco Noriega, Lissette Calderón, Alberto-Taxo Taco, María Belen Montaluisa, Kimberly Jaramillo, Patricia Noriegahttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5664Traditional healing of Lio People in Flores, Indonesia: The source of knowledge2023-11-29T10:32:33+00:00Budiyanto Dwi Prasetyobudi066@brin.go.idGrace Serepina Saragihgrac004@brin.go.idRidwan Fauziridw010@brin.go.idMuhamad Yusup Hidayatmuha284@brin.go.idAne Dwi Septinaaned001@brin.go.id<p><em>Background</em>: Ethnomedicine research employing the positivist paradigm has documented the types and benefits of flora and fauna used in traditional medicine. However, it has failed to explain the production of ethnomedical knowledge. A multidisciplinary approach provides opportunities for ethnomedicine research to explore the role of traditional knowledge sources in producing ethnomedical knowledge and analyze the impact of modern knowledge dominance on the existence of ethnomedicine. This study aims to document Lio's traditional healing practices and investigate the sources of their knowledge and transmission methods.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Lio’s people ethnomedicinal data and traditional healing practices were gathered from seven Lio’s traditional healers through semi-structured questionnaires. Ethnomedicinal data were quantitatively analyzed using Use Value (UV) and Family Importance Value (FIV). Qualitative data obtained from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: This study concludes that the Lio people possess significant potential in terms of knowledge and raw materials for traditional medicine. Dreams serve as a medium for Lio herbalists to obtain and pass on ethnomedical knowledge to the next generation. The younger generation's interest in pursuing a career as herbalists has declined due to the modernization of the healthcare system in rural areas.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: The communities of the Rwenzori region depend a lot on herbal medicine to treat various diseases irrespective of the availability of modern health care.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Dreams; Ethnomedicine; Traditional knowledge; Traditional healing practices</p>2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Budiyanto Dwi Prasetyo, Grace Serepina Saragih, Ridwan Fauzi, Muhamad Yusup Hidayat, Ane Dwi Septinahttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5543Study of the Utilization of Medicinal Plants by Traditional Healer of the Tolaki Ethnic Tribe, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia2023-11-18T05:54:04+00:00Sarmadhan Saputra Tahoangakosarmadhansaputra380@gmail.comDjoko Santosadjoko5346@ugm.ac.idNanang Fakhrudinnanangf@ugm.ac.id<p><em>Background</em>: Plants are potential sources for drug discovery from natural resources. Indonesia, with its thousands of islands, harbors vast plant biodiversity. To identify promising plants for medication, an ethnomedicine study of medicinal plants was conducted in the Southeast Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. This study aimed to collect information on traditional medicinal plant usage.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: The identity of plants, parts of plants used for medication, preparation methods, and dosages were systematically documented through snowball sampling, involving interviews with traditional local healers (mbu'uwai) utilizing a comprehensive questionnaire covering disease types, plant species, preparation techniques, and dosing regimens. Data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively, employing the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Fidelity Level (FL) values.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: The study revealed that 91 plant species from 44 families were utilized by healers. The most common diseases treated with medicinal plants are related to the eyes (0.97), osteoarticular system (0.96), digestive system (0.95), metabolic system (0.95), and cardiovascular system (0.95). Prominent medicinal plants include <em>Andrographis paniculata</em> (Burm.f.) Nees (100%), <em>Chromolaena odorata</em> L. (100%), <em>Curcuma longa</em> L. (100%), <em>Orthosiphon aristatus</em> Blume (100%), and <em>Phaleria macrocarpa </em>(Scheff.) Boerl. (100%). Leaves are the most commonly used plant part in traditional preparations, with boiling with water being the preferred method.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: This study demonstrates the persistent utilization of plants for medicinal purposes within the Tolaki ethnic tribe, highlighting several species with potential as prospective drug candidates. Notably, 91 species of medicinal plants are harnessed through boiling to address prevalent ailments.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnopharmacology; Drug discovery; Informant Consensus Factor; Fidelity Level</p>2024-03-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Sarmadhan Saputra Tahoangako, Djoko Santosa, Nanang Fakhrudinhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5660An Insight into Indigenous Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants from Kashmir Himalayan Region 2023-12-10T05:37:55+00:00Syed Waseem Gillanisgillani@bs.qau.edu.pkMushtaq Ahmadmushtaqq@qau.edu.pkMushtaq Ahmadmushtaqq@qau.edu.pkMushtaq Ahmadmushtaqq@qau.edu.pkMuhammad Zafarzafarr@qau.edu.pkSheikh Marifatul Haqmarifat.edu.17@gmail.comMuhammad Waheedf19-phd-bot-5013@uo.edu.pkMuhammad Manzoormanzoorbaloach@gmail.comHamayun Shaheenshaheenecologist@gmail.comShazia Sultanashaziasultanaa@hotmail.comFazal Ur Rehmanfazalurrehman@bs.qau.edu.pkTrobjon Makhkamovtorbjanuzbek@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: Documenting traditional knowledge of medicinal plants has enabled researchers to obtain a good understanding of the consumption patterns of plants for basic healthcare purposes. This study highlighted the ethnobotanical significance of medicinal and aromatic plants in the biodiversity hotspot landscape of the western Himalayan region of Kashmir.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Extensive field visits were made to collect traditional ethnobotanical knowledge from the study area through group discussions in the local language using the questionnaire method. The acquired data was then analyzed using quantitative ethnobotanical measures such as Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC).</p> <p><em>Results</em>: Our findings revealed 72 plant species belonging to 51 genera and 16 families. The dominant families recorded were Lamiaceae and Apiaceae followed by Polygonaceae. Among plant parts, leaves were the most frequently used, followed by roots. The majority of the studied plants were herbaceous, accounting for 90.3% of the area flora. Based on the medicinal plant use category, 72 plant species with medicinal uses were identified. According to the Use Value and Relative Frequency Citation, <em>Saussurea costus</em> and <em>Angelica cyclocarpa</em> had remarkably high values of 1.38 and 0.68, respectively.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: These findings complement the considerable plant knowledge of the local population, confirming the traditional usage of plants in indigenous healing. People in Muzaffarabad continue to have vital information about native flora, even though younger individuals are losing it as a consequence of socioeconomic changes. There is a need to raise awareness among local populations about the sustainable use and conservation of medicinal flora.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Medicinal plants, Kashmir Himalayas, Field survey, Ethnobotanical knowledge, Aromatic plants</p>2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Syed Waseem Gillani, Mushtaq Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar, Sheikh Marifatul Haq, Muhammad Waheed, Muhammad Manzoor, Hamayun Shaheen, Shazia Sultana, Fazal Ur Rehman, Trobjon Makhkamovhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5509Ethno-veterinary practices for animal healthcare from Sudhnutti Azad Kashmir, Pakistan2024-02-06T16:49:08+00:00Rizwan Taj Khandrrizwantajkhan@gmail.comKiran Nasimkirannasim.bot@gmail.comMuhammad Jamil Ahmedjammumughal.bot86@gmail.com<p><em>Background:</em> Medicinal plants have been substantial role for livestock health care system in remote area. This study aims to documents the folklore ethnoveterinary knowledge of medicinal practiced by local inhabitants of District Sudhanoti, Azad Jammu and Kashmir for primary health care management of livestock.</p> <p><em>Methods:</em> A total of 70 informants of different age groups were interviewed using semi-structure questionnaire method to collect the data. Data was quantitatively analyzed using Use value, Fidelity level, Informant Census Factor, Relative Frequency of Citation and Jaccard Index. The information regarding plant parts uses, herbal formulation and mode of administration were also recorded.</p> <p><em>Results:</em> A total of 48 plant species belonging to 32 families were being used as ethnoveterinary practices in the study area. Leaves were the most preferred part used followed by the stem, bark and fruit. Latex, seeds, pods were among the least used parts. As for as the mode of herbal remedy preparation is concerned, the paste was mostly used (30 %), followed by raw form (26%), and decoction (20%), while oil (2 %) is the least preferred method. The highest ICF values were recorded for respiratory diseases (0.90) followed by toxic effects (0.86) and infectious diseases (0.84) and least for abdominal disorder.</p> <p><em>Conclusion:</em> The present study contributes to the documentation and preservation of significant folklore ethnoveterinary knowledge from the local communities of study area. The present findings suggest that plant species with high fidelity level, use value and relative frequency of citation should be screened for phytochemical and pharmacological analysis</p> <p>Keywords: Indigenous knowledge; Livestock ailments; Remote area; Medicinal plants; Ethnobotanical indices, Sudhanoti </p>2024-02-10T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Rizwan Taj Khan, Kiran Nasim, Muhammad Jamil Ahmedhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5744Ethnobotany and local conservation of Durio graveolens Becc. (Malvaceae): A threatened wild edible fruit plant in Sumatra, Indonesia2024-01-20T04:45:52+00:00Syamsuardisyamsuardi@sci.unand.ac.idIzu Andry Fijridiyantoizuandryf@gmail.comVauzia Vauziavauzia.ivo@gmail.comErman Munirerman@usu.ac.idAdi Bejo Suwardiadi.bsw@gmail.comReki Kardimankardimanreki@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: <em>Durio graveolens</em> is essential for the livelihoods of local communities and has been used for multiple purposes. However, the existence of this species is under threat, particularly by human activities. As a result, there is a critical need to conduct ethnobotanical investigations and document indigenous botanical knowledge of local communities in a given area. The aim of the study is to investigate the different ethnobotanical uses of <em>Durio graveolens</em>, as well as the associated indigenous botanical knowledge of the local community, threats, and local conservation practices in Sumatra, Indonesia.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: A total of 389 respondents were involved in this study, with gender, age, and educational status considered. Semi-structured interviews and field observations were used to collect data. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Pearson's chi-square test, direct matrix ranking, and pair-wise ranking were used to compute respondents' ethnobotanical knowledge.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: <em>Durio graveolens</em> provides multiple uses to local people’s livelihoods as food, building materials, fuelwood, furniture, agricultural tools, fences, and fodder. Local people's indigenous knowledge of the usage of <em>Durio graveolens</em> has significant correlations with age groups and educational status. Respondents' consumption habits are significantly related to their age and educational status. Due to agricultural expansion and timber harvest for building materials, the status of <em>Durio graveolens</em> has declined. The attitudes and interests of respondents toward the maintaining and conserving of this species have been found to be significantly related to age groups and educational status.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: The present study provides information on multiple uses of <em>Durio graveolens</em>. Given the importance of <em>Durio graveolens</em> for people and the environment in improving family food security, as well as the threats to it, it is critical to protect it in natural forests. Concerned studying of this species will eventually allow local people to receive the promised advantages in areas where this plant species is becoming rare, particularly in the Sumatra region.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: <em>Durio graveolens</em>, indigenous knowledge, tropical fruit, West Sumatra</p> <p><strong>Abstra</strong><strong>k</strong></p> <p><em>Latar Belakang</em>: <em>Durio graveolens </em>berperan penting bagi penghidupan masyarakat lokal dan telah digunakan untuk berbagai keperluan. Meskipun demikian, keberadaan spesies ini dalam kondisi terancam, terutama akibat berbagai aktivitas manusia. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan upaya untuk melakukan investigasi etnobotani dan mendokumentasikan pengetahuan botani asli masyarakat lokal di suatu wilayah. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menyelidiki keragaman pemanfaatan <em>Durio graveolens</em> secara etnobotani, serta pengetahuan botani indeginus yang terkait dengan masyarakat lokal, ancaman, dan praktik konservasi lokal di Sumatera, Indonesia.</p> <p><em>Metode</em>: Sebanyak 389 responden dilibatkan dalam penelitian ini, dengan mempertimbangkan jenis kelamin, usia, dan status pendidikan. Wawancara semi terstruktur dan observasi lapangan digunakan dalam pengumpulan data. Data dianalisis dengan menggunakan metode statistik deskriptif. Uji chi-kuadrat Pearson, pemeringkatan matriks langsung, dan pemeringkatan berpasangan digunakan untuk menghitung pengetahuan etnobotani dari responden.</p> <p><em>Hasil</em>: <em>Durio graveolens</em> memberikan berbagai manfaat bagi kehidupan masyarakat lokal sebagai bahan pangan, bahan bangunan, kayu bakar, furnitur, alat pertanian, pagar, dan pakan ternak. Pengetahuan masyarakat lokal mengenai pemanfaatan <em>Durio graveolens</em> berkorelasi secara signifikan dengan kelompok umur dan status pendidikan. Kebiasaan konsumsi responden secara signifikan berkaitan dengan umur dan status pendidikan. Akibat perluasan lahan pertanian dan pemanenan kayu untuk bahan bangunan, status <em>Durio graveolens</em> mengalami penurunan. Sikap dan minat responden terhadap pemeliharaan dan konservasi spesies ini berkaitan dengan kelompok umur dan status pendidikan.</p> <p><em>Kesimpulan</em>: Penelitian ini memberikan informasi tentang berbagai kegunaan <em>Durio graveolens</em>. Mengingat pentingnya <em>Durio graveolens</em> bagi masyarakat dan lingkungan dalam meningkatkan ketahanan pangan keluarga, serta ancaman terhadapnya, maka sangat penting untuk melindungi habitatnya. Kajian yang mendalam terhadap spesies ini pada akhirnya akan memungkinkan masyarakat lokal untuk menerima manfaat pada daerah dimana spesies ini menjadi langka, khususnya di wilayah Sumatera.</p> <p><em>K</em><em>ata Kunci</em>: <em>Durio graveolens</em>, pengetahuan asli, buah tropis, Sumatera Barat</p>2024-02-11T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Syamsuardi, Izu Andry Fijridiyanto, Vauzia Vauzia, Erman Munir, Adi Bejo Suwardi, Reki Kardimanhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5636Species selection criteria for firewood. Preferred species and classification categories in two local communities in eastern Misiones, Argentina2023-12-14T18:33:16+00:00Mario Gabriel Sacksergabriel.sackser@fcf.unam.edu.arHéctor Alejandro Kellerkellerhector@hotmail.comNorma I. Hilgertnormahilgert@yahoo.com.ar<p><em>Background</em>: Human populations develop locally-based knowledge about the species used as firewood through the use of natural resources, and by experimenting with cultural guidelines and transmitting their experiencies. In the selection and use of firewood this knowledge is mainly based on the igneous properties of each species. This study was carried out in rural settlements and indigenous populations of the province of Misiones, Argentina. We surveyed combustion properties and local categories of firewood classification. We analyzed the most relevant characteristics of the firewood obtained from different species and the multiple applications assigned to it according to local criteria. We recorded the origin of the species used as fuel and their selection criteria, the vernacular nomenclature and the descriptor elements of the firewood qualities. Based on them we identified classification categories.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: The information was obtained through semi-structured interviews, free lists and participant observation.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: Through Principal Component Analysis, we established groups of species associated with combustion properties or attributes and identified the emerging criteria that associate them. There were 21 species preferred, most of them native. Differences were observed in the frequency of firewood collection by the two groups, with more frequent activity among the indigenous. In both groups, wood usually comes from dry, medium to large individuals. They both select, use and prefer species whose main attributes as firewood are duration of the embers, intensity of the flames and low emission of smoke.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: The tudy of classification system provides key information and broadens knowledge of the semantic corpus involved in their perception and practices.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotany; Cultural knowledge; Settlers; Indigenous; Combustion properties</p>2024-02-20T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 M. Gabriel Sackser, Héctor A. Keller, Norma I. Hilgerthttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5479Assessment of Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants Practiced by Rural Communities Residing Around Musk Deer National Park, Kashmir Himalaya, Pakistan2023-11-29T10:44:47+00:00Mumtaz Hussainmumtazkailvy86@gmail.comJan Alamjanalamkuh@yahoo.comGhulam Mujataba ShahGmujtabashah72@yahoo.comAlia Gulaliagulbotanist@gmail.comAbdul Majidabdulmajidhu@hu.edu.pkNosheen Shafqatnoshinshafqat@gmail.comSardar Muhammad Rafique Khanddcccajk@gmail.com<p><strong>Abstract </strong></p> <p><em>Background: </em>Traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge and robust association of native communities with plant biota are the key contributors to environmental sustainability. Its documentation becomes crucial because the communities residing in remote mountainous landscape having strong dependence on wild flora for medication of different ailments. The current study was conducted to document the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants species practiced by the inhabitants of Musk Deer National Park (MDNP) Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.</p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><em>Methods: </em>The data was acquired by administrating a total of 110 detailed semi structured interviews targeting respondents from different age groups, ethnic background, education and professions focusing on to capture the holistic picture of medicinal plants practiced with traditional wisdom. Data was analyzed using ethnobotanical indices like Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Informant Consensus Factor (IFC) and comparison with previous ethno medicinal literature.</p> <p> </p> <p> <em>Results: </em>In total 84 plant species belonging to 69 genera and 43 families were recorded used by resident of MNDP for 66 prominent therapeutic purposes. Family Asteraceae was the main contributor with 16 species followed by Polygonaceae and Fabaceae with 7 and 4 species, respectively. Roots were the dominant plants parts used with (30 species, 29.7 %), followed by leaves (19 species, 18.81 %) and whole plant (15 species, 14.85). Among six drug formulations, powder was commonly used (51 medications) followed by cooked (38), extract (28) and decoction (21) respectively. The maximum informant consensus factor (ICF) value was calculated for digestive system problem (0.98) followed by respiratory and skeletomuscular system problem (0.97 each). <em>Taxus baccata</em>, <em>Juglans regia</em>, <em>Fragaria nubicola</em>, <em>Berberis lycium</em>, <em>Heracleum canescens</em>, <em>Pinus wallichiana</em>, <em>Saussurea costus</em>, <em>Thymus linearis</em>, <em>Aconitum heterophyllum</em>, <em>Picrorhiza kurroa</em> and <em>Jurinea himalaica</em> were the most significant plants with the highest use value and relative frequency of citation. </p> <p> </p> <p><em>Conclusion:</em> The ethno medicinal inventory reflects reasonable number of wild plants with valued traditional practicing knowledge by the local inhabitants in the form of primary and vital source of therapy. Therefore, it required to develop a comprehensive participatory conservation and management plan clearly reflecting mechanism for sustainable utilization of medicinal flora and further detailed investigation in Musk Deer National Park, Kashmir Himalaya, Pakistan.</p> <p> </p> <p> <em>Keywords:</em> Musk Deer National Park, Traditional knowledge, Ethnomedicine, Kashmir Himalaya</p> <p><strong> </strong></p>2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Mumtaz Hussain, Jan Alam, Ghulam Mujataba Shah, Alia Gul, Abdul Majid, Nosheen Shafqat, Sardar Muhammad Rafique Khanhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5718Quantitative Ethnomedicinal Survey of Wild Edible Fruits Used by the Indigenous Community in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan2023-12-09T06:13:39+00:00Sabith Rehmansabitkhan07@yahoo.comZafar Iqbalzafar.hu@yahoo.comRahmatullah Qureshirahmatullahq@yahoo.comGhulam Mujtaba Shahchairman_botany@hu.edu.pkAftab AfzalAftab.bot@hu.edu.pkKhursheed Ur Rahmankhursheed823@yahoo.comWahid Hussainwahidhussain@hed.gkp.pkMuhammad Younasmuhammadyounas872@gmail.comSaba Latifsabalatif335@gmail.comAyesha Siddiqasiddiqaayesha932@gmail.comSyed Sabir Hussain Shah syedsabir576@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: This study documented ethnomedicinal importance of wild edible Fruits (WEFs) from the wild floristic emporium of North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. There is good diversity of plant species in the studied area which are being used for therapeutic purpose for a wide range of applications.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Ethnomedicinal data was collected through face-to-face interviews and semi-structured questionnaires. Various ethnobotanical indices such as Relative frequency of citation (RFC), Use value (UV), Fidelity level (FL), and Jaccard index (JI) were used for calculating values for the WEFs, diseases treated, and important fruit species based on use reports by the informants.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: A total of 57 species of WEFs belonging to 35 families were reported to be used in traditional medicines. Rosaceae Family was dominated in the area with 6 species, followed by Fabaceae (5 spp.), and Moraceae (4 spp.) with mostly tree-type growth form (49.12%). The most consumed part of plants was fruits (84.48%) used in making folk recipes, followed by seeds (15.52%). Using raw (33.33%) and powder (24.64%) formation were the major modes of crude drug preparation. The highest RFC value was reported for<em> Morus nigra</em> (0.36), followed by <em>Morus alba</em> (0.35).</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: The tradition of using WEFs in curing ailments is common in practice among the tribal people of North Waziristan, depending on the socio-economic conditions of the community. The multiple uses of these WEFs augments for further investigation regarding pharmaceutical applications and phytochemical analysis.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Indigenous Knowledge, Wild edible fruits, Floristic emporium, Ethnobotany, North Waziristan, Pakistan.</p>2024-01-18T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Sabith Rehman, Zafar Iqbal, Rahmatullah Qureshi, Ghulam Mujtaba Shah, Aftab Afzal, Khursheed Ur Rahman, Wahid Hussain, Muhammad Younas, Saba Latif, Ayesha Siddiqa, Syed Sabir Hussain Shah https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5618Quantitative ethnomedicinal investigation of medicinal plants used by traditional healers to treat various diseases in the district Dindori, Madhya Pradesh, India2023-11-12T09:46:39+00:00Ramesh Kumar Ahirwardr.rkahirwar@gmail.comVivek Guptavivekmicro@yahoo.co.in<p><em>Background</em>: Despite the wisdom of using medicinal plants for various diseases therapies by practitioners of Ayurveda and traditional medicine, the process of documenting this knowledge is untapped to date. The aim of the present study was to record the knowledge and utility of medicinal plants used as remedies for various diseases by traditional healers in Dindori, Madhya Pradesh.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Field surveys were conducted from January 2018 to December 2019 to collect ethnomedicinal data through semi-structured interviews and group discussions by using standard questionnaire. Reported data was analyzed using various ethnobotanical indices. All collected plant specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of Department of Botany, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh for future reference.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: A total of 88 plant species belonging to 80 genera in 46 families were reported during current study and were used for the treatment of 65 different diseases categorized into 14 ailment categories. The highest ICF of 1.0 was noted for gynecological disorders, hair care and male infertility problem. <em>Cynodon dactylon </em>recorded highest UV and FL of 33.33 to 100%, respectively. Among plant parts, Leaves (40.33%) were most commonly used by traditional healers.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: Traditional knowledge of plants was only passed on by passing of information from person to person using oral communication is on the verge of extinction. Hence, the medicinal plants and traditional treasures associated with it must be documented. The species reported with high use value (UV) and fidelity level value (FL) should be explored for further phytochemical and pharmacological investigation to authenticate this indigenous knowledge.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Quantitative ethnobotany, Ethnomedicinal plants, Traditional healers, Dindori, Madhya Pradesh</p>2024-01-21T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Ramesh Kumar Ahirwar, Vivek Kumar Guptahttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5443Ethnobotanical survey of anti-constipation medicinal plants used in Sikonge District, Tanzania2023-11-29T10:46:40+00:00David Sylvester Kacholikacholi78@gmail.comHalima Mvungi Amirhalima_amir@yahoo.com<p><em>Background:</em> Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder in most low-and middle-income countries, including Tanzania. The disorder causes economic burdens to many societies in the country. Most of the locals in Tanzania depend on medicinal plants (MPs) to treat various ailments, including constipation. This study aimed to document MPs used by Nyamwezi traditional health practitioners (NTHPs) to manage constipation in Sikonge district, Tanzania.</p> <p><em>Methods:</em> This study was conducted between August and October 2020 in Sikonge district. The ethnobotanical data on MPs used to treat constipation, plant part(s) used, mode of preparation, and route administration of remedies were collected from twenty-three (23) NTHPs using a semi-structured questionnaire. The aim of the study was communicated to all NTHPs, and their consent was requested before interviewing them.</p> <p><em>Results:</em> The study documented 15 MPs belonging to 12 families and 14 genera. Euphorbiaceae was the wealthiest family with three MPs. Tree (40%) was the dominant life form utilised for herbal remedies preparations, and most MPs (67%) were collected from the wild areas. Roots (44%) were the most utilized plant part, decoction (73%) was the preferred remedy preparation method, and oral administration (93%) was the most used route in administering remedies. <em>Euphorbia hirta </em>Oliv. (81%)<em>, Ricinus communis</em> L. (76%),<em> Euphorbia candelabrum </em>Welw. (67%), and <em>Clerodendrum capitatum </em>(Willd.) Schumach. (62%) were frequently mentioned by the NTHPs as the most widely used anti-constipation MPs in the area.</p> <p><em>Conclusion:</em> The study discloses that MPs are vital for primary health care needs in most rural areas in Tanzania. Moreover, it offers evidence for forthcoming pharmacological studies to discover effective and affordable novel drugs against constipation.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, constipation, digestive disorders, gastrointestinal, herbal remedies, Nyamwezi healers, Tabora region</p>2024-01-02T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 David Sylvester Kacholi, Halima Mvungi Amirhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5711Diversity and ethnobotany of useful plants in Bandar Pusaka, Aceh Tamiang District, Indonesia2023-12-11T15:31:53+00:00Zidni Ilman Navianavia@unsam.ac.idAdi Bejo Suwardiadi.bsw@gmail.comNuraini Nurainiadi.mipa@gmail.comAdnan Adnanadnan@unsam.ac.idBaihaqi Baihaqiikmacehtamiang@gmail.comMuhammad Yakobadi.mipa@gmail.comParlindungan Lubisadi.mipa@gmail.comChairul Chairulchairul57@sci.unand.ac.id<p><em>Background</em>: Plants, both wild and cultivated, contribute significantly to global food security and have a considerable impact on human health and well-being by delivering various ecosystem services. However, modernization and urbanization keep altering human lifestyles, resulting in an erosion of traditional knowledge concerning the use of plants for various purposes. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of useful plant species and their utilization by local people in Bandar Pusaka, Aceh Tamiang District, Indonesia.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: The ethnobotanical study was carried out in ten villages, in the Bandar Pusaka subdistrict, i.e. Pengidam, Bengkelang, Batu Bedulang, Babo, Perupuk, Serba, Pantai Cempa, Rantau Bintang, Aras Sembilan, and Blang Kandis villages. The ethnobotanical survey was carried out from July to August 2023 and included 306 randomly selected informants. The ethnobotanical investigation uses semi-structured questionnaires to gather information on the traditional knowledge of useful plants. Plant specimens were collected and identified in Universitas Samudra.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: A total of 2,088 individual plants representing 276 species and 81 families were recorded in the study areas. In terms of frequency of citation, 121 taxa were cited by 75% or more of the interviewed people, and 9 taxa were very rarely cited. <em>Musa x paradisiaca</em> L., <em>Mangifera indica</em> L., <em>Cocos nucifera</em> L., <em>Durio zibethinus</em> L., <em>Garcinia mangostana</em> L., <em>Curcuma longa</em> L., <em>Kaempferia galanga</em> L., <em>Zingiber officinale</em> Roscoe, <em>Annona muricata</em> L., and <em>Ananas comosus</em> (L.) Merr. are the ten most cited useful plants in the study area. A total of 14 use categories delivered by plants were most commonly for medicine (111 species), ornament (100), food (96), fodder (30), ritual (14), beverages (13), building materials (11), fuelwood (9), agricultural tools, fencing, and herbicide (6 each), handicraft (4), and shade plant (2). Indigenous knowledge of useful plants was significantly associated with villages, age groups, and educational levels.</p> <p><em> </em><em>Conclusions</em>: Bandar Pusaka sub-district has a diverse range of useful plants, but only a small proportion has been used by local people, particularly wild plants. Promotion and domestication of useful plants should be a primary concern in the Bandar Pusaka sub-district to take advantage of their nutritional value and potential economic value. Moreover, enhancing local peoples' abilities and expertise in recognizing, gathering, and preparing various useful plants is critical, since, in addition to promoting their household income, it may contribute to sustaining biodiversity and traditional knowledge.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Biodiversity; ecosystem services; indigenous knowledge; Aceh Tamiang</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Abstrak</strong></p> <p><em>Latar Belakang</em>: Tumbuhan, baik liar maupun budidaya, memberikan kontribusi signifikan terhadap ketahanan pangan global dan mempunyai dampak besar terhadap kesehatan dan kesejahteraan manusia melalui penyediaan berbagai jasa ekosistem. Meskipun demikian, modernisasi dan urbanisasi telah mengubah gaya hidup manusia yang mengakibatkan terkikisnya pengetahuan tradisional terkait pemanfaatan tumbuhan untuk berbagai keperluan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui keanekaragaman jenis tumbuhan berguna dan pemanfaatannya oleh masyarakat lokal di Bandar Pusaka, Kabupaten Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia.</p> <p><em>Metode</em>: Kajian etnobotani dilakukan pada sepuluh desa di kecamatan Banar Pusaka, meliputi Desa Pengidam, Bengkelang, Batu Bedulang, Babo, Perupuk, Serba, Pantai Cempa, Rantau Bintang, Aras Sembilan, dan Blang Kandis. Survei etnobotani dilakukan pada Juli hingga Agustus 2023 dan melibatkan 306 responden yang dipilih secara acak. Investigasi etnobotani menggunakan kuesioner semi-terstruktur untuk mengumpulkan informasi tentang pengetahuan tradisional tentang tumbuhan berguna. Spesimen tumbuhan dikumpulkan dan diidentifikasi di Universitas Samudra.</p> <p><em>Hasil</em>: Sebanyak 2.088 individu tumbuhan yang mewakili 276 jenis dan 81 suku tumbuhan telad ditemukan di lokasi penelitian. Berkaitan dengan frekuensi kutipan, 121 taksa telah dikutip oleh 75% atau lebih dari orang yang diwawancarai, dan 9 taksa sangat jarang dikutip. <em>Musa x paradisiaca</em> L., <em>Mangifera indica</em> L., <em>Cocos nucifera</em> L., <em>Durio zibethinus</em> L., <em>Garcinia mangostana</em> L., <em>Curcuma longa</em> L., <em>Kaempferia galanga</em> L., <em>Zingiber officinale</em> Roscoe, <em>Annona muricata</em> L., dan <em>Ananas comosus</em> (L .) Merr. merupakan sepuluh tumbuhan berguna yang paling banyak dikutip di lokasi studi. Sebanyak 14 kategori kegunaan tumbuhan telah diiidentifikasi dengan kategori yang paling banyak untuk obat (111 spesies), diikuti dengan tanaman hias (100), makanan (96), pakan ternak (30), ritual (14), minuman (13), bahan bangunan (11), kayu bakar (9), alat pertanian, pagar, dan herbisida (masing-masing 6), kerajinan tangan (4), dan tanaman peneduh (2). Pengetahuan masyarakat lokal mengenai tanaman bermanfaat secara signifikan berhubungan dengan desa, kelompok umur, dan tingkat pendidikan.</p> <p><em>Kesimpulan</em>: Kecamatan Bandar Pusaka memiliki beragam jenis tumbuhan bermanfaat, namun hanya sebagian kecil yang dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat setempat, khususnya untuk tumbuhan liar. Promosi dan domestikasi tumbuhan berguna harus menjadi perhatian utama di Kecamatan Bandar Pusaka agar dapat memanfaatkan nilai gizi dan potensi nilai ekonominya. Selain itu, meningkatkan kemampuan dan keterampilan masyarakat lokal dalam mengenali, mengumpulkan, dan menyiapkan berbagai jenis tumbuhan berguna sangatlah penting, karena selain meningkatkan pendapatan rumah tangga, aktivitas ini juga dapat berkontribusi terhadap pelestarian keanekaragaman hayati dan pengetahuan tradisional.</p> <p><em>Kata kunci</em>: Biodiversitas; jasa lingkungan; pengetahuan asli; Aceh Tamiang</p>2024-02-15T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Zidni Ilman Navia, Adi Bejo Suwardi, Nuraini Nuraini, Adnan Adnan, Baihaqi Baihaqi, Muhammad Yakob, Parlindungan Lubis, Chairul Chairulhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5615Ethnobotanical study of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn in the Taounate Region (Northern Morocco): Knowledge and Use of the Plant for Food and Medicinal Purposes2024-01-22T11:05:45+00:00Boutaina Louafiboutainalouafi@gmail.comChaimae Slimanichaimae.slimani94@gmail.comAymane Bessiaymane.bessi@usmba.ac.maChaimae Raisraischaimae18@gmail.comLahsen El Ghadraouilahsen.elghadraoui@usmba.ac.maMeryem Benjellounmeryem.benjelloun@usmba.ac.ma<p><em>Background</em>: in order to highlight the knowledge and use of <em>Silybum marianum</em> (L.) Gaertn plant, an ethnobotanical investigation was carried out amongst Taounate local population. This study aims at raising the degree of valorization of the plant studied by the local population of this region.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted amongst the population of some communes of Taounate region between October and December 2022. The survey was conducted in the study area on a sample of 121 people of different age categories, gender, educational level, and socioeconomic level. The data was collected through detailed and well-structured questionnaires. It was statistically analyzed using SPSS software (IBM SPSS Statistics version 26).</p> <p><em>Results</em>: The results of our study indicate that the knowledge and use of <em>Silybum marianum</em> (L.) by the local population of the rural and urban communes of Taounate province remains very limited. The Pearson chi-square test carried out showed the existence of a statistically significant correlation between the different variables studied. This means that there is a correlation between these variables that is not simply due to chance. That is, we found a strong significant relationship between Age and knowledge of the <em>S. marianum</em> plant. This may indicate that older individuals generally have a more knowledge of <em>S. marianum</em> than younger people. Similarly, we found that there was a strong relationship between educational level and knowledge of <em>S. marianum</em>. This may suggest that people with higher levels of education are more likely to have a deeper understanding of the plant. Finally, we found that there was a significant relationship between socio-economic level and the use of our plant. This suggests that people with a low socio-economic level tend to use the <em>S. marianum</em> plant more frequently than those with a higher socio-economic level.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: The study revealed that <em>Silybum marianum</em> (L.) Gaertn. remains among the most neglected species in Morocco. Scientific data and research on this plant remain rare despite its economic and therapeutic virtues.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotanical, medicinal plants, <em>Silybum marianum</em> L., Socio-economic, Taounate, Morocco</p>2024-01-29T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Boutaina Louafi, chaimae slimani, aymane bessi, chaimae rais, lahsen el ghadraoui, meryem benjellounhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5700Exploring the Medicinal flora of district Musakhel, Pakistan: A DNA Barcoding and Ethnobotanical Investigation2024-02-08T16:49:41+00:00Razia Kanwalraziakanwal55@yahoo.comShanzia Irfanirfanshazia16@gmail.comHina Ali AhmedHina29_zoo@yahoo.comSaad Ullahsaad.ullah4@buitms.edu.pkFarah Naz Channafarah.naz@sbkwu.edu.pkNazeer Ahmednazeer.ahmed@buitms.edu.pk<p><em>Background</em>: District Musakhel in Pakistan is known for its unique geographical and climatic conditions, fostering diverse flora and fauna, including unexplored medicinal plants. This study aims to systematically categorize these medicinal plant species using traditional taxonomic methods and advanced DNA barcoding techniques.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: The methodology included the ethnobotanical study and plant sampling, DNA extraction, PCR amplification of rbcL and ITS2 regions, sequencing, and subsequent taxonomic identification using BLAST and Phylogenetic analysis via the Neighbor-Joining method.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: The <em>rbcL</em> barcode exhibited efficacy in discerning taxonomic relationships at the familial and generic levels, while the <em>ITS2</em> barcode excelled in elucidating species-specific variations, albeit encountering challenges in clustering species within families. Nevertheless, the most precise taxonomic resolution was achieved by combining both barcodes. Furthermore, Phylogenetic tree analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the <em>rbcL</em> over <em>ITS2</em> and the combined barcoding approach. The <em>rbcL </em>tree displayed robust performance, with 76.9% of nodes surpassing the 50 bootstrap value threshold and successfully resolving 85% of the studied species. The <em>ITS2</em> tree, while weaker, still resolved 65% of the species. The combined analysis, integrating <em>rbcL</em> and <em>ITS2</em> data, achieved a 58% success rate in species resolution. This research explored the ethnobotanical features, highlighting that Plantago major had the highest utilization among the species surveyed. <em>Cirsium shansiense</em> showed the greatest use value (0.37), while <em>Ficus palmata</em> and <em>Solanum xanthocarpum</em> had the highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) values.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: In a nutshell, this study serves as a foundational contribution to thoroughly document, precisely identify, and conserve the priceless indigenous medicinal plant species in District Musakhel.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: DNA Barcoding, Ethnobotany, ITS2, Phylogenetic, <em>rbcL</em>, Species Resolution.</p>2024-02-24T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Razia Kanwal, Shanzia Irfan, Hina Ali Ahmed, Saad Ullah, Farah Naz Channa, Nazeer Ahmedhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5259Cultural and livelihood relationship between medicinal trees at-risk and indigenous people of Madhya Pradesh 2023-11-30T16:54:27+00:00Abhay Kumar Patilakpatil.ifs@gmail.comKaushalendra Kumar Jhajhakk1959@gmail.com<p><em>Background:</em> Indigenous communities depended on forest resources for food, shelter, health care and cultural need throughout the world. Such association existed in central India too where many medicinal trees are at risk due to their worrisome conservation status. Therefore, the study was taken to understand the dependency of indigenous people on medicinal trees at-risk (MTR) for livelihood, medicinal use, and their cultural need.</p> <p><em>Methods:</em> Qualitative methods of research (questionnaire survey, structured interview and focus group discussion) along with quantitative method (field survey: crop availability and regeneration status) were employed.</p> <p><em>Results:</em> Medicinal trees were the part of their culture as they used them in family functions and religious ceremonies. The MTR products were used for health care along with some livelihood options (sale of gums and resins), though with low dependency. Two cross culture use models showing people-MTR relationship could be developed using basic and published information: i. plant-ailment-community and ii. ailment-plant-community. Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) related to these trees was disappearing due to noninvolvement of youth in traditional occupation, reduced use and resources were on decline due to poor regeneration, climatic events-based (drought, flash flood) and natural (stem hollowness) damages.</p> <p><em>Conclusion:</em> Though the dependency was low, survival of MTR as well as ITK was in danger. For their conservation, a mechanism of shared management responsibility and revisit of <em>nistar</em> policy (free of cost use of forest resources) is suggested along with detail recording and promotion of ITK.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Traditional knowledge; cross cultural model; tree damages; regeneration status; management</p>2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Abhay Kumar Patil, Kaushalendra Kumar Jhahttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5690Ethnomedicinal appraisal of the medicinal flora among the sub-alpine and alpine Iindigenous communities of Palas Valley Kohistan, Northern Pakistan2023-12-13T02:38:17+00:00Sadaf Kayanisadafkayanii98@gmail.comMushtaq Ahmadmushtaqq@qau.edu.pkSyed Waseem Gillanisgillani@bs.qau.edu.pkMuhammad Manzoormanzoorbaloach@gmail.comFazal Ur Rehmanfazalurrehman107@gmail.comShaista Jabeensj2244@gmail.comMaryam Akram Buttmarakrambutt12@gmail.comChoudhary Muhammad Babarchomuhbabar22@gmail.comSyed Awais Hussain Shahsyawhussshah11@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: The contemporary research was conducted to explore the ethnomedicinal potential of wild flora exploited by the indigenous communities of Palas valley of Kohistan, Northern Pakistan. It constitutes an important contribution to the knowledge of biological resources used for treatment of ailments through traditional practices.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Rapid appraisal approach (RAA), semi-structured interviews, and personal monitoring, group discussion with community and interviews with herbalist were carried out to obtain information of ethnomedicinal values. The data gathered from the site was examined using quantitative ethnobotanical indices, viz., informant consensus factor (ICF), use value (UV), and Fidelity level (FL).<em>Results</em>: The current study recorded 102 plants with medicinal values which belong to 48 families which were described by 243 informants of area (female informants 87, male informants 137 and herbal specialists 19). Family Rosaceae was the abundantly utilized family with 10 reported plants species with medicinal values. Wild herbs were the prime source of herbal medicines (40.19%), followed by wild shrubs (39.21%). Leaves (23%) were the most frequently used plant part, followed by roots (12%) and whole plants (10%), and decoctions were the most preferred preparations.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: Indigenous herbal medicines play a major role in the system of local healthcare of Palas valley. The native people prefer to utilize the traditional preparations of herbal plants as remedies for various diseases. The plant with greater UV and FL% is playing vital role in the basic healthcare system. This outcome suggests further phytochemical studies to discover novel biological compounds for the exploration of drugs in future.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnomedicinal appraisal, Subalpine, Alpine, Indigenous communities, Palas valley</p>2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Sadaf Kayani, Mushtaq Ahmad, Syed Waseem Gillani, Muhammad Manzoor, Fazal Ur Rehman, Shaista Jabeen, Maryam Akram Butt, Choudhary Muhammad Babar, Syed Awais Hussain Shahhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5583An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by ethnic communities of Nuapada District, Odisha to treat periodontal disorders 2023-10-24T20:56:47+00:00Binapani Barikbinapani.barik@cutm.ac.inGurudutta Pattnaikgurudutta.pattnaik@cutm.ac.inBhabani Sankar Satapathybbhabanisatapathy@yahoo.comBiswajeet Acharyabiswajeetacharya896@gmail.comLadi alik kumaralikkumar.ladi@cutm.ac.in<p><em>Background</em>: The herbal remedies commonly employed in the management of dental disorders have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and astringent characteristics. Antibacterial plant species can prevent tooth decay and bacterial growth. Despite the fact that ethnobotanical knowledge offers insightful perspectives on conventional thought, scientific inquiry and secure dental disease treatments, some cultures have established specific customs related to the use of botanical specimens for oral hygiene. The study's main goal was to document Nuapada's indigenous people's ethnomedicinal uses of plant species to treat periodontal disorders.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Questionnaires in local languages were used to collect information from 30-80-year-olds in multiple locations. The survey covered each recommended plant's component, therapeutic uses and preparation. Study findings were analyzed using frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), cultural importance index (CI), informant participants (IP), informant response (IR) and use report (UR).</p> <p><em>Results</em>: The outcomes of the investigation proved that <em>Azadirachta indica</em> showed the highest RFC and highest CI value of 0.96 among the plants that were investigated. The plant species <em>Ocimum basilicum</em> , <em>Curcuma longa</em> and <em>Withania somnifera</em> also showed a significant RFC value of 0.90, 0.89, and 0.87, respectively. The CI of each plant lies in its therapeutic value, as it offers a pharmacological approach for treating dental disorders.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: The above ethnobotanical surveys conclude that <em>Azadirachta indica </em>is widely recognized as a traditional medicinal plant with significant potential for treating dental disorders, as compared to other plant species.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotanical Study, Nuapada District, Medicinal Plants, RFC, CI, Oral Diseases</p>2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Binapani Barik, Gurudutta Pattnaik, Bhabani Sankar Satapathy, Biswajeet Acharya, Ladi alik kumarhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5686Effect of age, gender and formal education on endogenous knowledge of woody plants in communities bordering forest patches of the Lubero Mountain Massif (DR Congo)2023-11-29T10:31:11+00:00Norbert K. Ndavaroabbenorbertmarie@gmail.comApollon D.M.T. Hegbeapollonrossi@gmail.comRamdan Dramaniramdand08@gmail.comAliou Dickodicko_aliou@yahoo.frMuhindo W. Sahanisahaniwalerem@gmail.comArmand K Nattaarmand.natta@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: In rural human societies, people's knowledge of plants can vary according to some factors, including socio-demographic characteristics. This study was carried out among local communities living near forest patches of the Lubero Mountain Massif in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Its aim was to assess the effect of age, gender and formal education on the level of endogenous knowledge of woody plants of the forest patches.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out among 449 people in 13 villages bordering forest patches in the study area, using semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups. The different categories of use of woody plants were identified. The effect of age, gender and formal education on the level of local knowledge of woody plants was investigated using negative binomial regression.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: A total of 80 woody species belonging to 77 genera and 43 families were mentioned by the respondents, who used them in five main categories: energy, handicrafts, medicine, construction and food. Age and gender had a significant effect on the number of woody species identified (P<0.05). Old people (age ≥ 60 years) knew on average twice as many woody species as adults (30 < age < 60) and young people (age ≤ 30 years), while men knew significantly more species than women.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: These findings confirm the unequal distribution of endogenous knowledge based on socio-demographic factors and suggests that males and older people with more knowledge of woody species should be considered as key players in the conservation of woody plant resources in the study area.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotanical hypothesis, Endogenous knowledge, Socio-demographic characteristics, Woody plants, Conservation, Mountain forests, Lubero, DR Congo.</p>2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Norbert K. Ndavaro, Apollon D.M.T. Hegbe, Ramdan Dramani, Aliou Dicko, Muhindo W. Sahani, Armand K Nattahttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5511Incense and Islam in Indonesian context: An ethnobotanical study2023-09-21T21:54:33+00:00Mohammad F. Royyanimoha026@brin.go.idAry P. Keimarykeim@gmail.comOscar Efendyosca001@brin.go.idIim Imadudiniimi001@brin.go.idM. Irfan Mahmudmirf001@brin.go.idPahmi Sypahmi.sy@uinjambi.ac.idTitiek Setyawatititiek2962@gmail.comLia Nuralialian004@brin.go.idAsep Hidayatasep066@brin.go.idWawan Sujarwowawan.sujarwo@brin.go.id<p>in which the resins are burned to produce fragrant fumes. The study aims to understand the arrival and development of Islam in Indonesia, which is apparently brought by the Muslim traders with good understanding of Sufism. In order to achieve the high level of enlightenment, the Sufis need medium in the form of incense.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Ethnohistorical approach was used in this study by combining historical events from an anthropological perspective with data collected in the form of literature review and supporting documents.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: The study revealed that the Arabs have interacted with incense from Indonesia since the pre Islamic time mainly the so called Indonesian incenses, such as Sumatran incense or <em>kemenyan</em> (<em>Styrax benzoin</em> Dryand., and <em>Styrax sumatranus</em> J.J.Sm.), Sumatran camphor (<em>Dryobalanops aromatica</em> C.F.Gaertn.), agarwood (<em>Aquilaria malaccensis</em> Lam.), and sandalwood (<em>Santalum album</em> L.).</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: The traders from Indonesia came to the Southern Arabia (particularly Hadhramaut in Yemen) to trade the valuable spices. When Islam came to Southern Arabia, the people of Indonesia might learn Islam there and brought back to Indonesia prior to the coming of the Muslim teachers from Arabia. Indonesia, i.e., Sundaland, has been recognized as the area that produces the best known incenses since the Late Pleistocene. Incense has been an integral part of the Austronesian (including Indonesian) civilization and societies; thus both cannot be separated.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnobotany; Incense; Indonesia; Islam</p>2024-01-17T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Mohammad F. Royyani, Ary P. Keim, Oscar Efendy, Iim Imadudin, M. Irfan Mahmud, Pahmi Sy, Titiek Setyawati, Lia Nuralia, Asep Hidayat, Wawan Sujarwohttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5611A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Plant Species Utilized for Dental Care Management in Himachal Pradesh, India2023-10-12T08:12:08+00:00Rawat Sumansumanrawat84@gmail.comSurbhisurbhi81381@gmail.comSunil Kumar Dhatwaliadhatwalias@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: Mouth is a mirror that reflects the health of our body. There is a connection between oral health and other health systems of our body. Oral diseases and mouth disorders affect individuals of all age groups. These include bad breath, ulcers, pyorrhea, dental caries, gingivitis, edentulism, oral cancer, etc. There is an increasing demand of herbal remedies for toothcare nowadays. This paper offers a concise overview of research conducted on the utilization of plant resources for dental hygiene maintenance in Himachal Pradesh.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: An extensive survey of literature was carried out by retrieving and screening a number of articles from various sources. Only relevant articles were selected and studied thoroughly.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: About 90 plant species which belong to 55 families are enumerated, of which Lamiaceae family is used most frequently with six species. Mostly, leaf parts are used to treat oral problems. 23 plant species are used as tooth powder or brushing sticks. Many plant species are used to cure oral problems like toothache (38 species), mouth ulcers (13 species), mouth sores (eight species), pyorrhea (four species), gum inflammation (two species) and mouth blisters (two species).</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: A number of plant species have been used since ages for toothcare management in Himachal Pradesh. These are economical, safe and have numerous benefits.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Dental hygiene; Toothache; Oral health; Pyorrhea</p>2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Rawat Suman, Surbhi, Sunil Kumar Dhatwaliahttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5760Ethnobotanical inventory and indigenous therapeutic applications of wild medicinal plants in Parishing valley, District Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan2024-02-06T13:58:26+00:00Salim Khadimsalim.edu.pk@gmail.comSujjad Hydersujjad.hyder@kiu.edu.pkTehseen Zuhratehseensalim2020@gmail.comHasnain Abbashasnainabbas.shafaei@gmail.com<p><em>Background:</em> This research, through an ethnobotanical survey, explores the diverse array of wild medicinal plants in Parishing Valley, District Astore, Pakistan. The study investigates traditional knowledge continuity, assesses medicinal plant familiarity, and identifies vital regional treatments.</p> <p><em>Methods:</em> In the field, we collected ethnobotanical data using methods included free listings, key informant interviews, and semi-structured interviews. From seven villages of Parishing Valley, 160 local informants were involved in interviews and questionnaire distribution. To gauge the importance of plant species, we applied indices, Relative Frequency Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informant Consensus Factor Index (ICF).</p> <p><em>Results:</em> The study revealed the presence of 90 wild medicinal plant species in the region, belonging to 79 genera and 35 families, utilized for treating various ailments among Parishing Valley residents. Asteraceae emerged as the predominant family (13 species). The habit category, herbs were dominated with (72%), shrub with (16%), trees about (8%) and sub-shrub (4%) used in the study area as folk medicine, primarily utilizing leaves (34.4%) in traditional practices. Decoction (63%) was a prominent method for utilizing medicinal plants. The highest RFC reported for <em>Thymus linearis</em> was (0.8), UV for <em>Delphinium brunonianum</em> was (0.95), FL for <em>Thymus linearis</em> was (97.5%) and ICF for the Digestive system (0.91) highlighting their prevalence and significance in the region.</p> <p><em>Conclusion:</em> In Parishing Valley, the healing traditions of wild plants are vital for healthcare, emphasizing the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge for sustainable resource use. Further research is crucial for uncovering deeper local perspectives.</p> <p><em>Keywords:</em> Parishing Valley, Astore, Ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, indigenous knowledge, medicinal plants, Relative Frequency Citation</p>2024-02-15T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Salim Khadim, Sujjad Hyder, Tehseen Zuhra, Hasnain Abbashttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5756The scholarly publishing landscape of ethnobotany in the Philippines2024-02-26T03:08:46+00:00Venice Nicole Magsayo11500283@usc.edu.phJoselle Pulmones11500283@usc.edu.phNyanha Caira Ca11300140@usc.edu.phChastine Hazel Fiel18010674@usc.edu.phKyra Alexa Kwong18010712@usc.edu.phFebie Anne Sanchez20100963@usc.edu.phKurt Bryant Bacharokbbacharo@usc.edu.ph<p><em>Background</em>: Ethnobotany deals with the investigation on the interaction and inter-relationship between plants and human societies. Owing to the research priorities in finding new drugs, conserving plant biodiversity, and documentation of vanishing indigenous cultures, bibliometric analysis on ethnobotany had been conducted in various countries to assess its research productivity. This bibliometric analysis purposively summarizes the current scholarly publishing state of ethnobotany in the Philippines.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: All published primary articles on ethnobotany that has been conducted in the Philippines from 2001 to 2022 and available in Google Scholar were retrieved, screened, and analyzed using three bibliometric indicators namely quantity, performance, and structural.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: A total of 163 articles has been retrieved related to Philippine ethnobotany published in 106 journals. The journal Biodiversitas was shown to have the highest number of articles published (4.91%) while the Journal of Ethnopharmacology was the most cited. Contributors included 370 authors and co-authors affiliated to more than 100 local and foreign institutions. Of these, G.J. Alejandro was identified as the most prolific author (18 articles, 343 citations) while the University of Santo Tomas was the most productive institution (22 articles). International collaboration revealed that Filipino researchers collaborated with 13 different institutions located in seven countries. In terms of funding, only less than half of the total articles examined (46.01%) declared to received financial support. The main research theme in the entire study period centered around medicinal plants while the most recent focused on the different indigenous communities in Mindanao Island and the field of ethnophycology.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: Despite these developments, potential predatory publishing practices and parachute science are documented. The former can threaten the quality and credibility of research outputs whereas the latter can be exacerbated when local scientists and Indigenous Peoples are not empowered to participate in the scholarly process. Moving forward, we call for the participation of current and future researchers in the field of Philippine ethnobotany and all fields to raise the bar of scholarly publishing high. Carrying the best practices should be adopted across all publishing landscape.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Bibliometric Analysis, Scientometrics, Google Scholar, Ethnobotany, Philippines</p>2024-03-09T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Venice Nicole Magsayo, Joselle Pulmones, Nyanha Caira Canton, Chastine Hazel Fiel, Kyra Alexa Kwong, Febie Anne Sanchez, Kurt Bryant Bacharohttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5856Promising medicinal plants as a starting point for clinical research into therapies for COVID-19: A literature review2024-02-17T23:04:15+00:00Lamiae Amallahl.amallah@uae.ac.maRachida Hassikour.hassikou@um5r.ac.maBasma Boukourbasma_boukour@um5.ac.maAllal Douiraallal.douira@uit.ac.maSouad Skallis.skalli@um5r.ac.ma<p><em>Background</em>: The world community continues to tackle the life-threatening Coronavirus infection which has spread across the world. In times of pandemic, it is to be expected that people turn to those medicinal plants (MPs) commonly used to protect themselves against disease.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: To meet our objectives, we examined all documented findings about the antiviral activity of MPs as well as some other essential compounds, which may act as future research targets for treating Coronavirus (COVID-19). For this purpose, a range of electronic databases have been reviewed up until 15 November 2021: Medline via PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and Scopus. Data on MPs that demonstrated one or more of these three actions were recorded, including the extraction method and plant part used, the chemical compounds present, the mechanism of action and the type of study. The compounds in some of these MPs responsible for these activities have also been discussed in the literature.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: The following findings were obtained: 41 MPs with antiviral activities and 19 phytocompounds under clinical trials. The secondary metabolites with direct or indirect antiviral activity are mainly flavonoids, tannins, phenols, polysaccharides, terpenes, lectins, alkaloids and steroids.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: These informative data could constitute a starting point for further studies to validate antiviral activities in vivo, as well as meaningful efficacy in humans, for potential therapeutic agents for COVID-19</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Medicinal plants; Antiviral activity, Phytocompounds; Secondary metabolites, COVID-19 Therapy</p>2024-03-05T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Lamiae Amallah, Rachida Hassikou, Basma Boukour, Allal Douira, Souad Skallihttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5467Quantitative ethnobotany of medicinal plants used by indigenous communities of Gandhamardan Mountain Chains at Bargarh District of Odisha, India2023-11-29T10:45:46+00:00Abhishek Kumar Pandeyvidrohi.abhishek@gmail.comSubham Pradhanpradhansubham730@gmail.comFaiz Buxfaiz.bux@kalingauniversity.ac.in<p><em>Background:</em> This study aims to collect the traditional medicinal knowledge among the tribal communities and residents of villages near the Gandhamardan Mountain Chain in the Bargarh District of Odisha, India.</p> <p><em>Method: </em>From Dec 2022 to May 2023, ethnobotanical surveys were done using interviews, discussions, and observations. Data from 85 participants included plant names, uses, preparation, and administration methods. The quantitative analysis involved RFC, UV, and ICF. Participants comprised 62 males and 23 females, contributing to diverse knowledge from various communities.</p> <p><em>Results: </em>In this area, 70 plants from 65 genera and 36 families are employed for medicinal purposes. The primary families used are Fabaceae, followed by Asteraceae. Leaves are the preferred plant part for medicinal preparations. The most favoured method to extract medicinal properties is obtaining plant juice, succeeded by decoction. The top RFC values are attributed to <em>Tridax procumbens</em> (0.54), <em>Ocimum sanctum</em> (0.51), <em>Boerhavia diffusa</em> (0.38), and <em>Cynodon dactylon</em> (0.38). For UV, the leading values are for <em>Tridax procumbens</em> (0.67), <em>Ocimum sanctum</em> (0.61), and <em>Cynodon dactylon</em> (0.54). The highest ICF value pertains to neurological and psychological disorders (1.00), followed by fever, cold, and cough (0.95), and musculoskeletal disorders (0.92), with the lowest in hormonal disorders (0.58).</p> <p><em>Conclusion: </em>Maiden ethnobotanical study in this area unveiled novel ethnomedicinal plant uses. Traditional healers and elders participated, offering vital documentation for future drug discovery and research.</p> <p><em>Keywords:</em> Traditional medicine, ethnobotanical knowledge, Indigenous uses, RFC, UV, ICF</p>2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Abhishek Kumar Pandey, Mr. Subham Pradhan, Dr. Faiz Buxhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5567Ethnomedicinal uses of the Flora of Kohimoor Baba valley, Tribal District Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan2024-01-02T01:09:48+00:00Subhani Jansubhanijan3322@gmail.comsubhGul Janguljan@awkum.edu.pkMuhammad IrfanMirfan310@yahoo.comFarzana Gul JanFarzanagj@awkum.edu.pkFazal Ullahfazalullah.38uoswabi@gmail.comMuhammad Saeeddrsaeedhu1@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: The present ethnomedicinal study was conducted in Kohimoor Baba valley, tribal district Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The aims of the study were to document the medicinal plant resources and their usage patterns.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: To obtain the profile of flora and general information from the local people of the area. The specimens were collected in each visit from the protected vegetation sites. A total of 157 informants including (2 females and 155 males) were interviewed for data collection. The informants recognized 153 plant species in treatment of 71 different diseases. Most of them were aged between 30-70 years. The ethnobotanical data was collected through interviews among the local communities. Documented data was assessed using Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Use Value (UV) and Fidelity Level (FL), Frequency citation (FC), and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC).</p> <p><em>Results:</em> A total of 153 taxa of plants belonged to 64 families were reported as being locally used for medicinal purposes. In collected specimens the 150 species belonged to Angiosperms while the Gymnosperms had one family with two species. However, the Pteridophytes had two families and each family had one species. Amongst the Angiosperms Lamiaceae was the dominant family with 12 species, followed by Asteraceae with 9 species, Fabaceae and Rosaceae with 8 species each. Based on habit wise distribution 91 (59.4%) species were herbs, while 33 (21.56%) were shrubs and 29 (18.95%) were trees. Leaves were the most commonly used plant parts of 69(45.09%) plants, followed by fruits 18 (14%), whole plants 16 (11.76%), roots 15 (9.80%), seeds 8 (5.22%), and bulb 6 (3.92%), latex and gums of 3 (1.96%), rhizome, flower and bark of 2 each (1.30%), while the rest of parts were used in a minor percent. The percentage of taxa used against digestive disorders was (28.57%), respiratory problems (15.58%), nail, skin and hairs diseases (11.68%), muscles and skeletal disorders (9.74%), nervous disorders (7.79%), anodyne (7.79%), body tonicity (6.49%), infectious diseases (4.54%) and (7.14%) for ear, nose and eye diseases. The highest value of informant consensus (0.8) was recorded for heart problems followed by sexual disorders (0.7). There were <em>Prunus armeniaca</em> (0.77), <em>Salix babylonica</em> (0.76), <em>Dodonaea viscosa</em> and <em>Ficus carica </em>(0.75), <em>Vitex negundo</em> (0.71), <em>Berberis lycium</em> (0.68), <em>Podophyllum hexandrum </em>had the top Fidelity level.</p> <p><em>Conclusion </em>: The study was carried out for the first time in the area<strong>,</strong> which indicated that tribal district Bajaur has abundance of indigenous medicinal plants to cure a broad spectrum of human ailments. It was concluded that extinction and declines in plant diversity is due to a range of factor including heavy biotic interference, anthropogenic activity of humans, deforestation and overgrazing. It is recommended to create awareness in local communities about the conservation of these valuable medicinal plants.</p> <p>Keywords: Ethnobotany, Quantitative assessment, Kohimoor Baba valley, Pakistan.</p>2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Subhani Jan, Gul Jan, Muhammad Irfan, Farzana Gul Jan, Fazal Ullah, Muhammad Saeedhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5597Ethnoveterinary study of plant resources of Takht Bhai, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan 2023-12-17T13:43:03+00:00Syed Awais Shahashah3277@gmail.comMuhammad Adiladilbotany@qurtuba.edu.pkHamid Ullahhamidcpb6@gmail.comAdil Muhammad adilmuhammad0346@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: This ethnoveterinary medicine study conducted in Takht Bhai investigates plant-based remedies for animal diseases, acknowledging the significant role animals play in the environment. Local residents possess substantial knowledge of medicinal plants.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Ethnoveterinary data were obtained through interviews, observations and questionnaires in 2018-2019, with a primary focus on documenting plant habits, local names, ethnoveterinary uses and the plant parts employed for treating animal diseases.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: A total of 79 plants from 46 different families were collected, dried, and preserved on herbarium sheets, encompassing 47 herbs, 26 trees, 4 shrubs, and 2 climbers. Various plant parts were analyzed, including leaves from 26 plants, bark from 5 plants, roots from 2 plants, oils from 2 plants, tubers from 1 plant, stems from 1 plant, and rhizomes from 2 plants. Additionally, 5 complete plants were utilized for treating various ailments. Herbs demonstrated particular efficacy in addressing severe illnesses such as hepatitis, diarrhea, mastitis, bleeding, gastrointestinal issues, mouth and foot tympany, and gas. Local residents utilized diverse plant parts, such as leaves, fruits, seeds, barks, and rhizomes, to prepare medicinal remedies.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: The ethnoveterinary study conducted in Jalala, Mad-e-Baba, and Takkar underscores the potential of indigenous flora for promoting livestock health. This knowledge holds promise for informing sustainable healthcare solutions tailored to rural communities reliant on livestock.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Ethnoveterinary; Medicinal plant, Rural communities; Livestock, Animal diseases.</p>2024-01-02T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Syed Awais Shah, Muhammad Adil, Hamid Ullah, Adil Muhammad https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5345Sustaining Odisha's legacy: Traditional rice cakes as cultural treasures2023-12-08T16:27:35+00:00Taranisen Pandataranisenpanda12@gmail.comNilamani Dikshitdikshitn@gmail.comNirlipta Mishranirliptamishra2013@gmail.comShaik Rahimuddiniamshaik1@gmail.comBikram Pradhanbikram.bot@gmail.comRaj Ballav Mohantyrajballavmohanty@gmail.com<p><em>Background:</em> Food in India reflects the complex interplay of caste, class, and spirituality, creating a cultural tapestry that mirrors societal intricacies. This paper focuses on the indigenous knowledge held by women in Odisha's coastal regions, shedding light on the cultural richness surrounding rice cakes and emphasizing the need to preserve these culinary traditions in the face of modernization.</p> <p><em>Methods:</em> To catalog rice cake varieties, we conducted a survey in the coastal districts of Odisha, India, covering three seasons. Data from one hundred and thirty-three female informants were gathered through semi-structured interviews, key informant discussions, and direct observations.</p> <p><em>Results:</em> The study documented ten types of rice cakes, ranging from Arisa to Tala Pitha. These rice cakes highlighted a culinary fusion, blending rice with diverse plant and animal-based ingredients, including chenna, coconut (<em>Cocos nucifera</em>), groundnut (<em>Arachis hypogea</em>), ada (<em>Zingiber officinale</em>), among others. Notably, these rice cakes held profound socio-cultural significance—Manda for Kumar Purnima, Poda for Ratha Jatra, and Arisa for marriage ceremonies. All the documented Pithas’ were exclusively crafted at the household level, showcasing the expertise and culinary skills of the women in the coastal districts of Odisha.</p> <p><em>Conclusion:</em> These traditional culinary delights, steeped in tradition, symbolize auspicious occasions, preserving the region's culinary heritage. Passed down through generations, the art of crafting these rice cakes strengthens intergenerational bonds and safeguards cultural traditions. Initiatives like "Food Festivals" play a crucial role in revitalizing indigenous cuisine, fostering awareness, and inspiring the youth to actively contribute to the preservation of their cultural identity.</p> <p><em>Keywords:</em> Coastal Odisha, Indigenous knowledge, Ethnic food, Natural resources, Rice cake</p>2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2023 Taranisen Panda, Nilamani Dikshit, Nirlipta Mishra, Shaik Rahimuddin, Bikram Pradhan, Raj Ballav Mohantyhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5818Notes on the history and uses of thistles and Cynara cardunculus L. in Portugal2024-01-22T23:46:42+00:00João Diasjoao.dias@ipbeja.ptLuis Carvalholmmc@ipbeja.pt<p>This paper presents and discusses some of the historical applications of thistles in the Portuguese heritage, such as in art and in culinary, since Roman times. Nowadays, the use of thistles is almost limited to the manufacture of cheese, where an aqueous extract of <em>Cynara cardunculus</em> L. dried flowers is added to milk for the coagulation process.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Thistles, Cardoon, Cheese, Cookery, <em>Cynara cardunculus</em> L.</p>2024-02-01T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Luis Carvalho, João Diashttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5401The Enchanting Flora of Chamba: Unveiling Sacred and Magico-Religious Plants in Himachal Pradesh2023-10-12T08:10:35+00:00Suman Rawatsumanrawat84@gmail.comRajinder Kumarrajinder.kumar@gmail.com<p><em>Background</em>: The current research was carried out in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh to investigate and document ethno-magico-religious beliefs based on plant uses.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: Data was collected through extensive field surveys using semi-structured questionnaires and open discussions with various ethnic groups. This study involved 45 informants, primarily older individuals with no formal education level. Magico-religious beliefs of plants were categorized into magic beliefs, sacred practices, social ceremonies, and taboos. The data was analysed with the help of quantitative indices such as informant consensus factor (ICF), relative frequency of citation (RFC), relative importance index (RI), cultural value (CV) and cultural importance index (CI).</p> <p><em>Results</em>: The 45 households, provided the information of 47 plant species belonged to 27 families were documented. Herb and tree worship were common, with 21 and 18 species associated with religious beliefs. The most utilized plant parts were the whole plant, fruits, and leaves. The social ceremonies use category had the highest consensus factor among informants for uniform information. <em>Cynodon dactylon</em> had the highest citation frequency, and <em>Hordeum vulgare</em> ranked highest in cultural importance.</p> <p><em>Conclusions</em>: Comparisons with previous studies showed the conservation of certain plant species across India based on religious beliefs. This conservation contributes to biodiversity and traditional knowledge conservation. Overall, the study emphasizes the cultural significance of plants and the need for conservation strategies integrating cultural values.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: Sacred, Sustainable, Deities, Relative importance, Cultural value</p>2024-01-27T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Dr Suman Rawat Sumanhttps://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5938The willow (Salix sp.) toothpicks from the Cistercian Monastery of Lorvão (Penacova, Portugal)2024-03-04T14:06:06+00:00Luis Carvalholmmc@ipbeja.ptFrancisca Maria Fernandesfranc579@yahoo.comPaula Nozesp.nozes@ipbeja.ptAna Paula Figueiraapf@ipbeja.ptSara Albuquerquesma@uevora.ptPaula Silvapaucrisilva@gmail.comMaria de Fátima Nunesmfn@uevora.pt<p>In Portugal, the tradition of handmade white willow (<em>Salix alba</em> L.) toothpicks began in the Cistercian Monastery of Lorvão (Penacova), in an uncertain date during the 17th century. After the suppression of all monastic orders (1834), people from Lorvão continued this craft and, later, this parish became the main Portuguese center of the toothpick industry, an activity that still flourishes today. Handmade toothpicks, following ancient methods, are now made as a cultural symbol of the Penacova region.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em> willow wood, toothpicks, monastery traditions.</p>2024-03-07T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2024 Luis Carvalho, Francisca Maria Fernandes, Paula Nozes, Ana Paula Figueira, Sara Albuquerque, Paula Silva, Maria de Fátima Nunes