Ethno-medicinal Usage of Invasive Plants in Traditional Health Care Practices: A Review
Prabin Adhikari, Swastika Acharya, Sabina Sigdel, Ganga Kandel
Abstract
Nepal is a small South Asian country with a varied geographical and bioclimatic landscape. Invasive Plant Species have already been introduced in large numbers, causing the extinction of native species, changing plant species composition, interfering with tree seedling regeneration and disrupting crop production, as well as degrading endangered animal habitats. However, it is useful in the health treatment of rural populations in developing countries like Nepal. Our study will look at and compile knowledge on the therapeutic applications of invasive plants utilized by a range of Nepalese communities. We combed through numerous websites, including Research Gate and Google Scholar, for historical and contemporary studies on the therapeutic usage of Nepal's invasive plants. 24 species from 12 families of invasive plant species were identified to be utilized for medicinal purposes by Nepalese rural people. The 39 diseases for which medicinal plants were reported were diabetes, rheumatism, fever, ulcers, bronchitis, kidney
stone, asthma, urinary insufficiency, and others. Traditional knowledge of invasive plant species' uses is diminishing due to the negative effects of invasive plant species on the ecosystem; hence, rigorous documentation of ethnomedicinal knowledge on invasive plant species is needed. Thus, the medicinal potentialities of unwanted invasive species, which are sometimes neglected by others, will provide a gem for the study world.
Keywords: Exotic; Medicine; Nepal; Rural population; Traditional healers
Prabin Adhikari, Swastika Acharya, Sabina Sigdel, Ganga Kandel
Abstract
Nepal is a small South Asian country with a varied geographical and bioclimatic landscape. Invasive Plant Species have already been introduced in large numbers, causing the extinction of native species, changing plant species composition, interfering with tree seedling regeneration and disrupting crop production, as well as degrading endangered animal habitats. However, it is useful in the health treatment of rural populations in developing countries like Nepal. Our study will look at and compile knowledge on the therapeutic applications of invasive plants utilized by a range of Nepalese communities. We combed through numerous websites, including Research Gate and Google Scholar, for historical and contemporary studies on the therapeutic usage of Nepal's invasive plants. 24 species from 12 families of invasive plant species were identified to be utilized for medicinal purposes by Nepalese rural people. The 39 diseases for which medicinal plants were reported were diabetes, rheumatism, fever, ulcers, bronchitis, kidney
stone, asthma, urinary insufficiency, and others. Traditional knowledge of invasive plant species' uses is diminishing due to the negative effects of invasive plant species on the ecosystem; hence, rigorous documentation of ethnomedicinal knowledge on invasive plant species is needed. Thus, the medicinal potentialities of unwanted invasive species, which are sometimes neglected by others, will provide a gem for the study world.
Keywords: Exotic; Medicine; Nepal; Rural population; Traditional healers
