A Study onTraditional Knowledge and Medicinal Applications of the Endemic Herbal Species in the Western Ghats of Shimoga Region, Karnataka, India

Abstract

India is very rich in cultural, ecological climate and consisting of rich soil area and floral diversity with also possesses a vast livestock wealth. In India, the rural, local and tribal people are still depend upon traditional herbal remedies for their own as well livestock healthcare. The Western Ghats of Shimoga district consisting of five different forest types and a variety of plant species which have rich in economic values are distributed and utilized by the local community for their traditional healthcare management. The present research work reveals the traditional knowledge of the endemic herbal species, their medicinal applications during local healthcare management and vulnerability of endemic species in the Western Ghats of Shimoga region. The study showed that more than 301 plant species belonging to 106 families are being utilized as herbal medicine and among them, about 86 endemic herbal species belonging to 44 families are being consumed by the local communities during their local medical care for varieties of diseases. Also, the study reveals about the vulnerability and critically endangered situation of 28 endemic herbal species which are high demand and reported greater potential towards medicinal values due to over exploration, pollution and habitation loss.