Indigenous knowledge on ethnic plant resources of a rural community, Khandachakra-11, Kalikot

Abstract

Background: Ethnobotanical knowledge plays a vital role in healthcare for rural communities, particularly in remote areas of Nepal, where modern medical facilities are limited. Despite its importance, many regions, including Khandachakra-11 in Kalikot district, remain understudied. This study aimed to document medicinal plants used by local communities and evaluate their cultural and therapeutic significance.

Methods: An ethnomedicinal survey was conducted in Khandachakra-11 with 70 respondents using semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Quantitative indices, including use value (UV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), fidelity level (FL), and informant consensus factor (ICF), were calculated to assess the cultural and medicinal importance of each species. A generalized linear model was used to examine the relationship between medicinal plant knowledge and sociodemographic factors.

Results: A total of 66 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented, including herbs (30 species), trees (20), climbers (7), shrubs (6), and vines (2). Roots, shoots, seeds, rhizomes, barks, fruits, flowers, and leaves were used for medicinal purposes. Zanthoxylum armatum (RFC=0.66, UV=1.39), Tinospora sinensis (RFC=0.73, UV=0.41), Acorus calamus (RFC=0.33, UV=0.93), and Drymaria diandra (RFC=0.23, UV=0.70) emerged as the most culturally and medicinally significant species, reflecting their central role in local healthcare practices. FL values (100%) were recorded for Zanthoxylum armatum, Tinospora sinensis, Bauhinia variegata, and Ocimum tenuiflorum, indicating strong agreement among informants on their specific medicinal uses. ICF values were highest for eye, neurological, digestive, and dermatological ailments, demonstrating consistent and well-preserved ethnomedicinal knowledge within the community. Sociodemographic factors significantly influenced ethnobotanical knowledge, e.g., elderly (p < 0.001), females (p = 0.001), and illiterate or primary-level educated respondents (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively) reported significantly more medicinal plants. However, 86% of respondents noted a decline in medicinal plants, attributing it primarily to climate change, grazing, fire, and inadequate regulations. Therefore, local inhabitants were looking for support programs to conserve the medicinal plants.

Conclusions: Rural communities in Kalikot heavily rely on medicinal plants for healthcare, highlighting the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and implementing support programs for sustainable conservation.

Keywords: Diseases; Ethnobotanical knowledge; Medicinal plants; Rural community; Sociodemographic factors