Biodiversity and Strategies for Conservation of Ethnoveterinary Medicinal plants in Khanapur Taluka Gandigwad of Belgaum District, Karnataka, India (original) (raw)

Biodiversity refers to the numbers, variety and variability of living organisms and ecosystem. India is one of the world’s top 12 mega diversity countries with 10 biogeographic regions. India alone includes two among the world’s eight biodiversity hotspots. The medicinal plants are used by various tribal’s and local people to cure different ailments ranging from simple Foot & mouth disease, Fever, Nose bleeding, bone Fractures, Worms, Snake bite, Eye problems, Skin disease, Dysentery etc. The Medicinal plants occupy a vital sector of health care system in India and represent a major national resource. A survey for documentation of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants used by the folk traditional healers in Khanapur Taluka Gandigwad area of Belgaum District in Karnataka , India has been conducted during June 2014 to November 2014. Ethnoveterinary information was gathered through individual interviews and observations among the Gandigwad area tribals. A total of 25 species of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants belongs to 20 families and 25 genera and 14 ailments were recorded in the study with the help of five ethnoveterinary traditional healers. Among the plant parts used by the Gandigwad area tribals for their domestic animals, leaves are most commonly used for the preparation of medicine. Of the plants recorded Vitex nigunda, Bacopa monnieri, Aegle marmeolus, Tridax procumbus, Tinospora cardifolia, Aloe vera, Ficus caraca papaver somniferum, Cassia fistula, Gymnema sylvestre, precatorius & Andrographis paniculata are recognized as very commonly used ethnoveterinary medicinal plants. Hence, Our study suggested that, there is a need for conservation of diversity of medicinal plants wealth for the present and fore coming generations, by adapting the suitable strategy with most appropriate method of conservation.