Documentation of Ethnomedicinal Flora of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

An ethnomedicinal survey was conducted in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) located in the Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh. The present study aimed to document medicinal plant species used by indigenous people for the treatment of various ailments, with particular emphasis on common and chronic diseases. Ethnomedicinal information was collected through structured questionnaires, personal interviews and field interaction with traditional healers and local inhabitants. The survey documented a total of 52 medicinal plant species belonging to 49 genera and 31 families used to treat a wide range of health conditions, including abdominal disorders, skin diseases, malaria, jaundice and other ailments. The results highlight the urgent need for systematic documentation of indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge before it is lost and emphasise the importance of conservation strategies for medicinal plant resources in the region.