ABSTRACT:
An ethnobotanical survey were carried out during 2004-2010 to document the precious indigenous health care practices prevalent among the different ethnic groups, i.e., Gond, Kolam, Pradhan, Naiked and Andh of Mahur range forest of Nanded district. The tribals of this area have staunch confidence in ethnomedicine they rely on herbal medicine. The ethnobotanical knowledge was passed verbally from generation to generation. Therefore, the study was conducted for the collection of medicinal plants and documentation of ethnomedicinal wisdom of the tribals. Ethnobotanical survey was conducted along with tribal people. Information was collected during field trips on the basis of interviews with the traditional practitioners, village heads, women folks senior villagers at different localities inhibited who have knowledge of curative properties of plant. Occasionally, the resource persons were also taken into the jungles as guide for collection of plant specimens. Present study enumerated ethnomedicinal uses of 33 plant species with their botanical name, local name, family. parts used. The different methods of administration of drugs noted during this study are: raw plant part or product, juice, extract, decoction, paste, ash, poultice, vapors or fumes, oil, contact drug to body part, bath by adding drugs in bath water etc. The study reveals that the medicinal plants were used to treat fits, eye diseases, cough, abdominal pain, piles, rheumatism, eczema, dysentery, hepatitis, joint pain, asthma, skin diseases, fever and typhoid. The study is useful to develop a new novel drug against dreadful diseases and conservation of these valuable plants is emphasized to secure it for our future generation.