Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Exploration of ethnomedicinal practices of plant species for health care in Amritsar, Punjab, India
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Research Articles | Published: 16 September, 2025
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Keywords: Ethnomedicinal plants, Traditional medicines, Ethnomedicinal survey, Frequency index (FI), Family importance value (FIV), And the factor of informants consensus (FIC)
Abstract
Plants have long been used as a source of traditional medicines due to their therapeutic capabilities. The present study was aimed to document the use of traditional medicinal plants among the local people of Verka Block, Amritsar. The study area is an ideally suited environment for investigating the usage of traditional medicinal plants due to its undiscovered nature. An ethnomedicinal survey was conducted from 2019 to 2022 in the Verka Block of Amritsar. Ethnomedicinal information on plant species used by the local population was collected using the snowball sampling method. Questionnaire-based personal interviews were employed to gather comprehensive data. Quantitative analysis of ethnomedicinal information involved calculating various indices, including the Frequency Index (FI), Family Importance Value (FIV), and the Factor of Informants Consensus (FIC) value. Present study reports a total of 63 medicinal plants (34 families) used to cure various ailments. Leaves and fruits were the most commonly used plant parts. The most common route of administration was direct usage, followed by juice of plant parts. Azadirachta indica exhibited the highest FI value. The Fabaceae family showed the highest FIV score. Notably, eye problems, diabetes, oro-dental, and liver diseases demonstrated the highest FIC value with FIC = 0.79 each. This study documented ethnomedicinal uses of 63 medicinal plant species belonging to 34 families. These plants are being used by local people to treat a variety of health issues, including diabetes, renal and pulmonary diseases, hypertension, skin and hair problems, cancer etc. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between variables and different health issues. Plant species with high FI, FIV and FIC values should be subjected to phytochemical and pharmacological analysis to validate their effectiveness.
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Author Information
Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India