Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used Traditionally for Managing Cuts and Wounds by the Rural People of Kailashpur, Assam, India

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Folk medicinal knowledge of plants is vital in primary health care management system, predominantly in rural and remote areas. Managing cuts and wounds continues to be a significant healthcare issue, and it becomes even more critical when left untreated or improperly treated. The objective of this study is to carry out a survey on the use of medicinal plants for treating cuts and wounds in the village of Kailashpur in Assam. Materials and Methods: The information was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire from 30 informants in Kailashpur, Assam, India. Quantitative analysis of these data to find Use Value (UV), Frequency of Citation (FC), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Family Use Value (FUV), Consensus Index (CI), Rehman's Similarity Index (RSI) and Jaccard Index (JI) also completed. Results: The present study documented 45 medicinal plant species belonging to 30 families and their mode of application. Compositae (5 species), Orchidaceae (4 species) and Leguminosae (3 species) were dominant families. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part (PPV 0.50). Curcuma longa and Ocimum tenuiflorum (UV 0.33) were the species most commonly used by the local people. Highest FC was calculated for Ageratum conyzoids (5.27), followed by Tagetes erecta (4.51). JI and RSI indicated that plant species reported in our study were more similar to the Tezpur region of Assam, India. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the significance of specific plant species in the treatment of cuts and wounds, and suggest that further scientific investigation can be pursued to discover potential therapeutics. Keywords: Ethnomedicinal survey, Kailashpur village, Medicinal plants, Cuts, Wounds.