An Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal plants and Traditional practices of Ethnic people in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Ethnopharmological relevanceAnantapuram district is known for rich plant source and their traditional practices from long time by certain tribes for different diseases. Despite of increase in acceptance of traditional medicines in India, this rich indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants of Anantapuram district is not adequately documented previously.MethodsExtensive was done for past three years and a total of 66 plants from 66 species and 64 genera of 42 families were recorded. Interviews, Observations and guided talks with 415 participants were conducted to obtain ethno botanical data on medicinal plants grown and maintained in Anantapuram District of Andhra Pradesh, India. The names of plant species, their local name, mode of administration and parts used for different diseases are gathered with FIC and FL values.ResultsPlants widely used to cure the common symptoms of Intestinal disorders has highest agreement of FIC, followed by Toothache, Fever, Snake bite, Eye drops, Dermatological, Headache (0.88%), Hair shampoo (0.87%), Cut and Wounds (0.85%), Boils and Burns (0.84%), Bronchitis/cough (0.83%), Earache (0.82%), Pain (0.82%), Antihelmintic (0.81%), Diabetes (0.81%) and Stress (0.63%).ConclusionThis ethano botanical survey noticed that in Anantapuram very few medicinal plants were reported with their traditional use, can be an important economic source to develop this region and also planned exploitation is needed to make tribal people to continue folk medicine.