ISSN 2736-173X
African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 10 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research paper
Ethnomedicinal studies on some pteridophytes of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Orissa, India
S. D. Rout1, T. Panda2* and N. Mishra3
1Department of Wildlife and Conservation Biology, North Orissa University, Takatpur, Baripada - 757003, India.
2Department of Botany, S. N. College, Rajkanika, 754 220, Kendrapara, Orissa, India.
3Department of Zoology, Chandbali College, Chandbali- 756133, Bhadrak, Orissa, India.
Accepted 21 January, 2022
Abstract
Investigations had been made on medicinal values of higher plants but pteridophytes are often ignored. In spite of the luxuriant growth of these plants in and around Similipal in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa, northern India, they had not been studied taxonomically or ethnobotanically. The dominant tribes involved in using pteridophyte as medicines in the district are Santhal, Kol, Bhumija, Bhuyan, Mahalis, Sounti and Saharas. The plant parts, viz. leaves, roots, rhizomes and fronds were used in raw or cooked forms for the treatment of malaria, gonorrhea, leprosy, rheumatism etc. Mostly used genera are Adiantum, Asplenium, Lygodium and Pteris .The present study had been designed to assess the medicinal uses of 33 pteridophyte species belonging to 21 families on the basis of field surveys and taxonomic identification of plants.
Key words: Ethnomedicinal, pteridophytes, similipal biosphere reserve, Orissa.