ETHNOVETERINARY SURVEY OF HERBAL THERAPY FOR TREATING LIVESTOCKS OF MELGHAT REGION (MAHARASHTRA)

ABSTRACT: The study describes detail ethnoveterinary uses of plants from Melghat region of Amravati district situated in Maharashtra. The tribal population of region predominantly includes Korku, Gond, Nihal, Gawali and Gawlan. A field data were collected with structural interviews and open discussion from few villages of Melghat. Knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicine was found to be orally preserved and there were no documentation occurred. Survey revealed that this knowledge was more with the elderly persons than younger generation. In the present investigation, each plant species have been provided with scientific name, local name, flowering and fruiting time followed by parts used and some mode of preparations. The doses of medicines found to be varying according to animals and their weight. Total 49 plant species distributed in 32 families were recorded to be used by traditional healer of region to treat animals. It represents intensely valuable data that provide base line information for commercial exploitation of biological resources. Such documentation may helpful in further scientific research which can lead to develop chipper and more efficious ethnoveterinary medicine. Folk ethnoveterinary practices largely remain neglected and little has been done to document this precious wealth hence there is urgent need to document it on scientific line