A quantitative ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used to treat skin disorders in Balodabazar-Bhatapara District, Chhattisgarh

Abstract

Background: The present systematic and quantitative ethnobotanical survey was conducted due to the limited documentation of medicinal plants used for treating skin ailments in the Balodabazar-Bhatapara district of Chhattisgarh, India.

Methods: To gather the ethnobotanical data, semi-structured open interviews were carried out with the participation of local informants who represented different age groups, educational levels, and traditional occupations. To determine the cultural significance and therapeutic relevance of documented species, they were analyzed using various quantitative indices.

Results: Eighty-nine medicinal plant species of 41 families were listed to treat dermatological illness. The most common family was Fabaceae (9 species), with a second place of Combretaceae and Lamiaceae (5 species each). The commonest growth forms were trees (37.08) and herbs (30.34). The most common plant part that was used was the leaves (27.91%), then the bark (15.70%), and the roots (13.95%). The most prevalent ways of preparation were paste (46.48) and poultice (15.49), but the most significant means of administration was topical application (93.66). The most common treated wound-related conditions (54 species) were treated along with infectious, inflammatory, and immune-related skin diseases. The most common species with the highest UV (0.05), RFC (0.03), and FL (100 percent) were five, sixteen, and seven species, respectively. The FIV was highest in Zingiberaceae (10.50%).

Conclusion: The results indicate that there is an experience-based, organized traditional dermatological healthcare system. Although high informant consensus has been endorsing these applications, more phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological validation is yet to be done.

Keywords: Ethnobotany; Medicinal Plant; Skin Disorder; Local people; Traditional Medicine.