An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by ethnic people of thoubal and kakching district, Manipur, India

Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to explore the traditional knowledge on medicinal plants being used by the different tribes of Thoubal and Kakching district of Manipur, India. The present study was executed throughout the different community lives in Thoubal and Kakching district of Manipur like Maitei, Meitei-Muslim, Loi, Taithibi, Chiru, Hmar, Gangte, Kabui, Kom etc. People live in rural and remote areas largely depend on the local tribal healers for their basic healthcare needs who are using different plants parts in the form extract, infusion, decoction, juice, powder and paste to treat a number of diseases. Altogether 40 plant species belonging to 35 families were documented and discussed briefly with particular emphasis on their scientific name, common name, family, habit, plant parts, and medicinal benefits. The usage of aboveground medicinal plant species was higher (72.5%) compare to underground (12.5%) followed by whole plants (15%). This study found that 40 medicinal plants are used to cure around 56 ailments, and all most all medicinal plant species documented in this study are used to cure more than one ailment related to primary health care problem.