A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Medicinal Plant Utilization among the Four Ethnic Communities in Northern Regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India
Medicinal plants are utilized around the globe for the treatment of a wide range of ailments. This study is an attempt to document the utilization of medicinal plants across the four different cultural groups residing in the rural and remote villages of the northern districts of the Union territory...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/11/1578 |
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| author | Tawseef Ahmad Mir Muatasim Jan Hammad Ahmad Jan Rainer W Bussmann Francesca Sisto Imad Mohamed Tahir Fadlalla |
| author_facet | Tawseef Ahmad Mir Muatasim Jan Hammad Ahmad Jan Rainer W Bussmann Francesca Sisto Imad Mohamed Tahir Fadlalla |
| author_sort | Tawseef Ahmad Mir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Medicinal plants are utilized around the globe for the treatment of a wide range of ailments. This study is an attempt to document the utilization of medicinal plants across the four different cultural groups residing in the rural and remote villages of the northern districts of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. To gather information related to medicinal plants and health care practices among the local folk, field surveys were conducted from February 2018 to May 2021. The ethnomedicinal information was gathered through semi-structured interviews and group discussions. During the study, a total of 109 plant species belonging to 35 families were recorded as commonly utilized by the local population, with Asteraceae reported as the dominant family. The most common growth form was herbs, with a percentage contribution of 86%. Leaves (38%) were the most commonly used plant part for the preparation of traditional remedies, and most of the remedies were prepared as paste and applied topically. The highest use value of 0.30 was reported for <i>Capsella bursa-pastoris</i>. Greater similarity (14% species) in the usage of plants was shown by Bakerwal, Gujjar, and Pahadi ethnic groups, whereas the least similarity (1%) was observed between Bakerwal and Kashmiri ethnic groups. Based on the results obtained in the present study, further phytochemical and pharmacological analysis of plants is recommended to confirm the efficacy and safety of the remedies used and to possibly elucidate candidates for the development of new drugs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:15:41Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:15:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb85c66122e74cf3a18998c9ddeec5db2023-11-24T03:47:43ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372022-10-011111157810.3390/biology11111578A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Medicinal Plant Utilization among the Four Ethnic Communities in Northern Regions of Jammu and Kashmir, IndiaTawseef Ahmad Mir0Muatasim Jan1Hammad Ahmad Jan2Rainer W Bussmann3Francesca Sisto4Imad Mohamed Tahir Fadlalla5Centre of Research for Ethnobotany, Government Model Science College, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474009, IndiaCentre of Research for Ethnobotany, Government Model Science College, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474009, IndiaDepartment of Botany, University of Buner, Swari 19290, PakistanDepartment of Botany, State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe, 76133 Karlsruhe, GermanyDepartment of Biomedical, Surgery and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via C. Pascal 36, 20133 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum P.O. Box 204, SudanMedicinal plants are utilized around the globe for the treatment of a wide range of ailments. This study is an attempt to document the utilization of medicinal plants across the four different cultural groups residing in the rural and remote villages of the northern districts of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. To gather information related to medicinal plants and health care practices among the local folk, field surveys were conducted from February 2018 to May 2021. The ethnomedicinal information was gathered through semi-structured interviews and group discussions. During the study, a total of 109 plant species belonging to 35 families were recorded as commonly utilized by the local population, with Asteraceae reported as the dominant family. The most common growth form was herbs, with a percentage contribution of 86%. Leaves (38%) were the most commonly used plant part for the preparation of traditional remedies, and most of the remedies were prepared as paste and applied topically. The highest use value of 0.30 was reported for <i>Capsella bursa-pastoris</i>. Greater similarity (14% species) in the usage of plants was shown by Bakerwal, Gujjar, and Pahadi ethnic groups, whereas the least similarity (1%) was observed between Bakerwal and Kashmiri ethnic groups. Based on the results obtained in the present study, further phytochemical and pharmacological analysis of plants is recommended to confirm the efficacy and safety of the remedies used and to possibly elucidate candidates for the development of new drugs.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/11/1578ethnomedicinecross-cultural analysisfour ethnic communitiesNorth Kashmir |
| spellingShingle | Tawseef Ahmad Mir Muatasim Jan Hammad Ahmad Jan Rainer W Bussmann Francesca Sisto Imad Mohamed Tahir Fadlalla A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Medicinal Plant Utilization among the Four Ethnic Communities in Northern Regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India Biology ethnomedicine cross-cultural analysis four ethnic communities North Kashmir |
| title | A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Medicinal Plant Utilization among the Four Ethnic Communities in Northern Regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| title_full | A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Medicinal Plant Utilization among the Four Ethnic Communities in Northern Regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| title_fullStr | A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Medicinal Plant Utilization among the Four Ethnic Communities in Northern Regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Medicinal Plant Utilization among the Four Ethnic Communities in Northern Regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| title_short | A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Medicinal Plant Utilization among the Four Ethnic Communities in Northern Regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| title_sort | cross cultural analysis of medicinal plant utilization among the four ethnic communities in northern regions of jammu and kashmir india |
| topic | ethnomedicine cross-cultural analysis four ethnic communities North Kashmir |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/11/1578 |
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