Ethnobotanical study of the medicinal plants used by rural and peri-urban communities along the bank of River Ganga extending from Katwa to Kalna, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: India, recognized as a mega-diverse country, has been a reservoir of ethnomedicinal knowledge since ancient times. Rural and tribal communities possess a deep understanding of local flora, which they utilize in traditional healing practices. Given the high cost and side effects of conventional medicines, a large section of the population still depends on traditional phytomedicines. The present study aimed to document the indigenous knowledge of ethno-medicinal plants used by the people residing along the banks of the River Ganga in West Bengal, India.

Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted from May 2024 to April 2025. Data were collected through interviews, field observations, and group discussions with 180 informants. The collected information was analyzed using ethnobotanical indices, including Frequency of Citation (FC), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), and Fidelity Level (FL), to assess the cultural importance and usage consistency of the reported species.

Results: A total of 72 plant species belonging to 32 families were documented, with Fabaceae emerging as the most dominant family. Centella asiatica and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis showed the highest FC and RFC values, while Aloe vera exhibited the highest FL value. The most common ailments treated by these plants included digestive disorders, skin diseases, joint pain, diabetes, cold, cough, fever, and respiratory problems.

Conclusions: The rich ethnobotanical heritage of communities along the Ganga River and provides a valuable inventory of traditional herbal knowledge. Plants with high ethnobotanical index values hold promise as potential sources of novel alternative drugs. Urgent measures are required to conserve these threatened species.

Keywords: Ethnobotany, Indigenous knowledge, Ethnomedicine, Ailments, Quantitative ethnobotany.