Abstract

The ethnobotanical survey of the medicinal plants used in the management of jaundice (hepatic disorder) was carried out in the District Raisen of Madhya Pradesh. The herbalists, herb sellers and traditionalists were interviewed by the administration of questionnaires. Floristically, the area is placed in Malwa plateau region of Madhya Pradesh. Aims of the study were to document the medicinal plant resources and their use patterns by the tribal people. A total of 19 plant species belonging to 16 families were reported as locally used for the hepatic disorder purposes. Majority of the recipes are prepared in the form of decoction from freshly collected plant parts. Mostly a single species is used and taken orally. Field observations showed that vegetation of the area was generally threatened with the ignorance of local communities. The trends like urbanization, deforestation, over grazing, habitat fragmentation, unscientific extraction of natural vegetation, introduction of the exotic taxa and habitat loss were the visible threats. Measures for the conservation of plant resources especially medicinal plants of Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh are urgently needed. Some of the important species for the alleviation of hepatic disorders are Aegle marmelos, Azadirachta indica, Cajanus cajan, Cuscuta reflexa, Gloriosa superba and Ricinus communis.

Key words: Jaundice, tribe, medicinal plant, conservation, hepatic disorders.