A Study on Folk Medicine and Medicinal Plant Diversity in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary

Abstract

The present study documents the ethnobotanical knowledge and traditional use of medicinal plants by tribal communities inhabiting the Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary in Adilabad District, Telangana. Extensive field surveys were conducted during 2018–2021 to collect first-hand information from local herbal healers, village elders, and indigenous people such as Gonds, Kolams, and Thotis. The collected data were validated with standard ethnobotanical literature. A total of 26 plant species belonging to different families were recorded and analyzed for their therapeutic uses. The study revealed that various plant parts, including roots, leaves, stem bark, fruits, and seeds, are widely utilized in the preparation of crude drugs. These herbal remedies are used to treat a range of ailments such as leucorrhoea, jaundice, snake bites, scorpion stings, skin diseases, rheumatism, and digestive disorders. The methods of preparation include decoctions, pastes, infusions, and juices, administered both orally and externally. Among the plant parts, roots and leaves were found to be the most frequently used. The findings highlight the rich traditional knowledge of tribal communities and their dependence on forest resources for primary healthcare. However, this valuable indigenous knowledge is gradually declining due to environmental degradation and socio-cultural changes.