A search of ethno-botanical literature revealed that 62 plant species belonging to 32 families are used as ethnomedicines under various preparations in the treatment of fever by ethnic groups residing in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, India. A coordinated field study however recorded 71 plant species from 35 families that were explained to deal with fever by the countryside dwellers. Out of these two lists, 23 plant species belonging to 17 families are found common. The total identified families containing all plant species (n=109) are arranged as per the latest edition of Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) Classification System (APG IV, 2016) with indications of newly recorded ones for a future interests.

Context:Mādhava is regarded as a 7th century Indian Physician who composed two treatises (in Sanskrit) on Ayurveda, the Mādhava Nidāna and Mādhava Cikitsā. The former treatise deals with the diagnosis of diseases while the latter with the treatment using medicinal plants and other recipes. In Mādhava Cikitsā, a common Sanskrit name is found to describe two or more totally different botanical plant species (thus leading to ambiguity) and a distinct botanical species is also found to represent two or more Sanskrit names at several instances.Aims:The present paper deals with the correct botanical identification (most probable) of Sanskrit named plants described in Mādhava Cikitsā for the treatment of Diarrhoea (Atisāra Cikitsā).Subjects and Methods:The authentic manuscripts of ‘Mādhava Cikitsā’ were critically studied for the present research outcome. A detailed literature survey is carried out from various references and texts.Results:The list of Sanskrit named plants contains 103 names, while after the critical study and assigning the most probable botanical identification as per ICBN, the list of plant species described in the text for the treatment of Diarrhoea is found to contain 73 names.Conclusions:The present study will certainly benefit Ayurvedic medical practitioners and pharmaceutical companies in selection of proper plant species avoiding substitutions for drug formulation.