Authors: Assistant Professor Ajay Kumar
Abstract: This study aims to document and analyze the traditional use of medicinal plants among three indigenous communities, integrating ethnobotanical knowledge into broader conservation and pharmacological frameworks. Field surveys were conducted in each community’s natural habitat, complemented by ninety semi-structured interviews with traditional healers and elders. Guided transect walks facilitated in-situ identification and GPS mapping of specimens, which were then authenticated and deposited as herbarium vouchers. Quantitative analyses employed Use Value (UV), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and Fidelity Level (FL) indices to assess species importance and consensus. In total, 212 medicinal plant species across 78 botanical families were recorded. The most-valued taxa, notably members of Fabaceae and Lamiaceae, exhibited high UV scores (≥0.65), while gastrointestinal remedies showed the strongest agreement among informants (ICF = 0.89). Five flagship species demonstrated fidelity levels above 80 percent, indicating specialized therapeutic roles. These findings underscore the richness and specificity of indigenous pharmacopoeias, offering critical insights for targeted phytochemical investigations. By highlighting culturally salient species and consensus patterns, this research contributes to in situ conservation planning, supports community-led knowledge preservation, and identifies promising candidates for drug-development pipelines.
