ETHNO-MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR USES BY VAN PANCHAYAT PEOPLE IN NAINITAL OF KUMAUN REGION, UTTARAKHAND

ABSTRACT Kumaun is characterized by a rich diversity of ethno-medicinal plants as well as a rich heritage site in traditional medicine system in the western Himalayan region. Present study deals with the status, identification and to explore the traditional knowledge of plant species about their uses in local medicine by village people in Gahelna Van Panchayat of Kumaun region. All these data were collected during field survey participatory rural appraisal method. A total 28 ethno-medicinal plants species belonging to 18 families were reported. The average density of ethno-medicinal herbs, shrubs and trees ranged from 332000-457000, 80-480 and 100-310 ind ha-1 respectively in Gahelna Van Panchayat forest. We identified plant species and their parts that have been used by local people to cure various ailments through their traditional use system. REFERENCES Bargali, K., Lodhiyal, N., Kapkoti, B. and Parihaar, R. S. 2013. Indigenous traditional knowledge on some medicinal plants from Kotabagh Block (Ramnagar), Nainital. IJBPAS. 2(1): 20-25. Dangwal, L. R., Sharma, A and Rana, C. S. 2010. Ethno- medicinal plants of the Garhwal Himalaya used to cure varies diseases. A case study. New York Science Journal Vol 3(12) pp28-31. Gangwar, K. K., Deepali and Gangwar, R. S. 2010. Ethnomedicinal Plant Diversity in Kmaun Himalaya of uttarakhand, India. Nature and Science. 8(5): 66-78. Kumari, P., Joshi, G. C. and Tewari, L. M. 2012. Indigenous uses of threatened Ethno-medicinal plants used to cure different diseases by Ethnic people of Almora District of Western Himalaya. International Journal of Ayurvedic & Herbal Medicine.2:4. Mathur, A. and Joshi, H. 2012. Traditional remedies in Tarai region of Kumaun, Uttarakhand. India Journal of Traditional Knowledge. Vol. 11(4) pp. 652-657. Misra, R. 1968. Ecology Work Book. Oxford and IBH Publ. Calcutta. Mukhergee, T. K. 2004. Protection of Indian Traditional knowledge: In Ethno medicinal Plants, edited by Trivedi, P.C. & Sharma, N.K. (Poiner Publishers, Jaipur). Pp.18-33. Raghupathy, L. 2001. Conservation and sustainable use of Medicinal plant: Current Issue, Himalaya Medicinal Plants: Potential and prospects (Edited by S. S. Samant) Samant, S. S., Dhar, U. and Palni, L.M.S. 1998. Medicinal plants f Himalaya, diversity, distribution and potential values. Gyonadaya Prakashan, Nainital. Saxena, A. K. and Singh, J. S. 1984. Tree population structure of certain Himalayan forest associations and implications concerning their future composition. Vegetatio, 58: 61-69. Saxena, A. K. and Singh, J. S. 1982. Quantitative profile structure of certain forest in the Kumaun Himalayan: Proceeding of the Indian Academy of Sciences, 91: 529-49. Sharma, J., Gaur, R. D. and Paiuli, R. M. 2011. Conservation status and diversity of some important plant in the Shiwalik Himalaya of Uttarakhand, India. Int. J. Med Aron Plants. Vol. 1 (1), No.2, pp 75- 82. Singh, M. P., Srivastava, J. L. and Pandey, S. N. 2007. Indigenous Medicinal Plants, Social Forestry And Tribals. Daya Publ. House. pp.2 Swe, T. and Win, S. 2005. Herbal gardens and cultivation of medicinal plants in Myanmar regional consultation on development of traditional medicine in the South East Asia region, Department of Traditional Medicine, Ministry of Health, Myanmar, Pyongyang, DPR Korea, 22-24 June 2005, World Health Organization (Regional office for South-East Asia). Vinatha Naini and Estari Mamidala. 2013. An Ethnobotanical Study Of Plants Used For The Treatment Of Diabetes In The Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Biolife, 1(1), 24-28.