Common ethnomedicinal plants used by Santal tribes of Odisha, India

The Santals are one of the most populous tribal communities in India. In Odisha state, they are mainly found in the Mayurbhanj district. They have their own traditional practitioners who rely mostly on medicinal plants for treatment of a variety of ailments. Due to many factors, these practices are going extinct. Therefore, the present study was carried out in different villages of Mayurbhanj and the above-mentioned tribal areas to document the available ethno-medicinal plant consumption and traditional application by the Santal tribe. Field explorations were carried out from January to August 2023. The ethnomedicinal survey was conducted particularly with the Santal tribe in villages in Mayurbhanj district. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and observations during the field visits. According to the survey, the local population uses a total of 20 common plant species belonging to 17 families to cure a variety of diseases. Altogether, 20 plants were recorded that are used by the Santal tribe in the formulation of different ethnomedicinal preparations for curing 18 different types of diseases. Many of these ethnoveterinary medicinal preparations are new, as they have not been recorded earlier. Among the uses, some are administered in the form of single drugs to cure indigestion, reduced lactation, colic pain, colds, fevers, mouth diseases, eye problems, etc. In some cases, compound drug preparations are used for urinary troubles, diarrhoea, boils in the nose, etc. Lastly, the investigated plants have been enumerated with their botanical names and families, followed by tribal and local names, parts used, diseases, and modes of administration. The present study concluded that the Santal tribes of the study area possess rich knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants and their utilization. Thus, the present survey focuses on the documentation of the traditional knowledge of these valuable plant species, which could enhance the potential of these medicinal plants for other people or communities as well. By understanding their importance, others can also be helpful in the conservation of these bioresources for further use