Ethnomedicinal plants of Bhaba Nagar Valley of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh (India)
*1Dhiraj S. Rawat, 1Gayatri Deryan and 2Anjna D. Kharwal
1Deparment of Biosciences, H.P. University-Shimla-171005 (India) 2Deparment of Botany, P.G. College-Dharamshala-171207 (India) *(Corrosponding author) rawatdhirajhpu@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Ethnobotany deals with the study of plants used by aboriginal people and has a great contribution in drug development and management of natural resources. Herbal traditions in developing countries are considered as an important part of the cultural heritage. India is enriched with a broad range of plant diversity and has about 18386 angiosperms, 79 gymnosperms and 1289 pteridophytes. Ethnobotanical studies that help to conserve and investigate traditional knowledge are therefore vital before this classical mythology is vanished forever. The traditional ayurvedic preparations from medicinal plants have been becoming more popular in the present era because of their lesser side effects. Bhaba Nagar is one of the most beautiful valley of Kinnaur with a diversity of vegetation and nutritious food items. The present research article deals with 51 medicinal plant species of valley belonging to 32 families and 46 genera along with quantitative indices such as Use Value (UV), Importance Value (IV) and Total Importance Value (TIV) to have a better idea of effective use of these plants. Herbs are used predominantly followed by trees, shrubs, climbers and one fungus.