Ethnoveterinary plants of Renuka tehsil in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh (India)

Abstract

Background: Aboriginal therapeutic awareness of medicinal plants possibly will have realistic inference in the development of novel medications and offer additional imminent for sustenance of their unrelenting utilization in society. But, there was very less documentation on ethno-veterinary formulations, therefore, an assessment was conceded in a precise area of our country to obtain the knowledge on ethnoveterinary medicines amongst the inhabitants of Renuka Tehsil located in district Sirmour of Himachal Pradesh.

Methods: Information on ethno-veterinary medicinal plants has been recorded through intensive field survey, interviews and discussion with the inhabitants of Renuka tehsil of Himachal Pradesh. Information were collected surveying 245 households with the help of semi structured interview and open-ended questionnaires.

Results: Overall 68 ethnic veterinary therapeutic species belonging to 63 genera and 40 families were recorded. Usage of herbs is maximum amongst all the plant species (35.30%) in the region. The medicinal preparations include powder, extract, decoction, paste and among the plant parts usage of leaves was maximum (42.16%). Stomach disorders was predominant in the area and treated through 14 plant species (11.2%). Vitex negundo, Acorus calamus, Artemisia roxburghiana, Opuntia dillenii are well known and utmost used plant species in the region.

Conclusions: Significance of ethnoveterinary plants in conventional medicines should be put into practice which endow with an indication to explore original vicinity. This study will be helpful in providing the records of unique ethnoveterinary medicinal formulations. The research work will prove valuable in the maintenance of these plant resources and their acquaintance which are used by the inhabitants of the region.

Keywords: Ethno-veterinary, Inhabitants, Medicinal plants, Renuka, Traditional knowledge