| Medicinal plant diversity and use in the highlands of Dolakha district, Nepal. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 12686446 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
This paper presents the ethnomedical uses of wild species among nine rural communities managing local forest resources in the Bonch Village Development Committee (VDC), Dolakha district, Nepal. Local communities possess knowledge of 113 medical remedies derived from 58 species belonging to 40 families to treat a wide range of ailments. A review of literature indicated that 56 medical remedies reported in this paper are new. Most medicines were prepared in the form of juice and were administered orally. Roots and leaves were the most frequently used plant parts. Local people were familiar mostly with the species dealing with common ailments particularly cough/cold, digestive problems, fever, headache, and skin infections. Complex ailments were treated by traditional healers. Haphazard harvesting and over-exploitation of commercial species were also reported. Sustainable harvesting methods and domestication of potential commercial species require attention in the local forest operational plans. The present study indicates that the area harbors a high diversity of medicinal plants. Despite gradual socio-cultural transformation, local communities still possess substantial knowledge of plants and their uses. The reliance on folk medicines for health care is associated with the lack of modern medicines and medication, poverty and the traditional belief of its effectiveness. Since there is a lack of phyto-therapeutic evidence for many of the species, we recommend that phytochemical and pharmacological studies be carried out in order to confirm the validity of properties attributed to these species: this is particularly relevant for species with market potential beyond the district. With setting up management plans for their extraction, these medicinal resources can provide for both subsistence needs and income. This, however, requires detail assessment of resource quantities, productivity potential, sustainable harvesting methods, domestication possibilities, market value of potentially promising species, and importantly, equitable benefit sharing regimes. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Prasanna M Shrestha; Shivcharn S Dhillion |
Related Documents
:
|
18619816 - Anti-toxoplasma gondii rh strain activity of herbal extracts used in traditional medicine. 9213616 - Research, valorization and exploitation of biological resources for medicinal purposes ... 19575486 - A systematic review of the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used in the treatmen... 12813616 - Cardiovascular adverse effects of herbal medicines: a systematic review of the recent l... 10254066 - Receipt of petition of rulemaking from the american association of physicists in medici... 11851026 - Guidelines for brain radionuclide imaging. perfusion single photon computed tomography ... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Review |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Journal of ethnopharmacology Volume: 86 ISSN: 0378-8741 ISO Abbreviation: J Ethnopharmacol Publication Date: 2003 May |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2003-04-10 Completed Date: 2003-09-04 Revised Date: 2004-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 7903310 Medline TA: J Ethnopharmacol Country: Ireland |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 81-96 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Department of Biology and Nature Conservation, Agricultural University of Norway, P.O. Box 5014, N-1432 As, Norway. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Ecosystem* Humans Medicine, Traditional* Nepal Plant Extracts* / isolation & purification, therapeutic use Plants, Medicinal* Rural Health* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
|
0/Plant Extracts |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Snake venom neutralization by Indian medicinal plants (Vitex negundo and Emblica officinalis) root e...
Next Document: Traditional herbal remedies used by South African women for gynaecological complaints.