Ethnobotanical study of traditional knowledge on medicinal plants utilized by Tharu Tribe of Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Background: Uttarakhand is immensely rich in biological diversity. Udham Singh Nagar district, located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, is populated by two indigenous tribes- Tharu and Buksa. The Tharu tribe is endowed with ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plants used for treating human illnesses. The purpose of the study is to investigate and document the utilization of the ethnomedicinal plants by the tribe.

Methods: An ethnobotanical study was conducted among 21 Tharu villages in Khatima and Sitarganj blocks. In total, 23 traditional healers and knowledgeable informants were interviewed using a semi‑structured questionnaire, and quantitative indices such as Use Value (UV) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) were calculated to evaluate the documented plant use data.

Results: A total of 71 plant species belonging to 40 families were documented as being used by Tharu community. Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Acanthaceae, Asteraceae, Solanaceae, and Malvaceae were the dominant families that accounted for the largest number of medicinal plants. Leaves were the most commonly used plant part for remedy preparation.

Conclusions: The present study emphasizes the significant utilization of medicinal plants by Tharus for the treatment of various ailments. Several earlier studies justified their traditional methods of healing. Additionally, this research also highlights the significance of preserving their traditional knowledge, their heritage and medicinal plants usage. It becomes imperative to carry out studies of pharmacological and biological activities of these plants to scientifically validate the therapeutic potential of these medicinal plants.

Keywords: Tharu community, Traditional knowledge, Ethnomedicinal plants, Ethnobotanical knowledge.