European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A REVIEW ON SOME SPECIFIC ETHNO – MEDICINAL PLANTS IN UTTRAKHAND REGION

Pandey Preeti*, Rani Vijeta, Singh D. C. and Arya Rishi

ABSTRACT

Uttrakhand state is considered as repository of biodiversity with particular reference to medicinal plants that can be an important option for sustainable livelihood of the hilly people in coming future. About 300 medicinal plant species have been documented from this state, indicating ethno – medicinal richness as an herbal state and for strengthening herbal – based industry in this region. Traditional medicine has been defined as the sum of the knowledge, skill and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experience indigenous to different culture, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. In many developing countries, a large part of the population, especially in rural areas, depend mainly on traditional medicine for their primary health care. The indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants has been well documented in ancient Hindu literature. Traditional knowledge on medicine since the time of Great sage Charak has led to the discovery of many importat drug of modern age. Today about 65% of the Indian population depend on the traditional system of medicine. Present study is an attempt to document the traditional system of medicine; used by the native of Uttarakhand, associated with medicinal plants and herbs used for the treatment of different diseases. In this progress many medicinal plants e.g. Buransh, Neelkanthi, Bicchu ghass etc. are significantly utilized by the local peoples of Uttarakhand region for ethnomedicinal use.

Keywords: Botanical classification, Uses, Morphology, Pharmacological activity.