<b style="">Ethno-botanical wealth of Bhadra wild life sanctuary in Karnataka</b>

Abstract

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Ethno-botanical surveys were conducted during 1998 and 99 in villages of Bhadra Wild Life Sanctuary area, situated in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka. Results of the study indicated that 60 plant species belonging to 50 genera and 35 families were used for preparing at least 78 herbal drugs by the medicine men. Among the plant species, the utilization of leaves of <i style="">Centella asiatica, </i>roots of <i style="">Ichnocarpus frutescens </i>and decoction<i style=""> </i>of leaves of <i style="">Bambusa arundinacea</i> in the treatment of jaundice, diabetes and for expulsion of placenta in human’s and animals, respectively, are note worthy. Apart from the above, a few drugs formulated by the local people are not known to literature. According to a CAMP survey, <i style="">Tylophora indica </i>and <i style="">Artocarpus hirsutus </i>are vulnerable while, <i style="">Dipterocarpus indicus </i>and <i style="">Rauwolfia</i> <i style="">serpentina </i>are endangered and <i style="">Spondias pinnata</i> is a lower risk category plant. The information collected from these ‘local specialists’ enriches the countrywide database on the availability of biodiversity resources and gives full credit to the origin of information at different levels.

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