International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
ijpbs.net
editorijpbs@rediffmail.com (or) editorofijpbs@yahoo.com (or) prasmol@rediffmail.com
10.22376/ijpbs.2019.10.1.p1-12
Volume 11 Issue 2
2020 (April-June)
Documentation of Traditional Knowledge of Poisonous Plants of Veterinary and Human Importance in Jammu and Kashmir, India
Poisonous plants find a special status in flora of Jamm and Kashmir. Besides influencing people directly, these also pose a serious threat to the livestock rearing sector in terms of economic loss. So in order to protect themselves from animals and others they have developed various means of self defense. Some plants have physical defense such as thorns, spines and prickles but the most common type of protection is chemical. These plants comprise of third largest category around the world. Other than affecting the humans directly, they are the major cause in affecting adversely the livestock since the advent of civilization. The study of poisonous plants in Jammu and Kashmir aims at systematic documentation of traditional knowledge for the benefit of humanity, modern forensic and medical researchers before it is entombed forever. For last ten years during various visits in different areas of Jammu and Kashmir, attempts have been made to conduct interviews with healers, old people engaged in animal rearing, Hakims, other veterinary and medical officers, para-vet/para-med staff. Over 75 plant species of 40 families having toxic principles were collected from study area which were finally got confirmed from available literature, publications and the experts who have been engaged in identification of poisonous plant species in flora. The so collected so collected was analyzed which shows that most dominant toxic families were Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Solanaceae, Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Convolvulaceae. Most of poisonous plants were herbs (57%) and whole plant toxicity was reported highest (32.4%) followed by leaves (23%). The information gathered from members of tribals, choppaans, Gaddi and other communities reveals that clinical symptoms mostly observed in animals and humans poisoning were gastro intestinal, diarrhoea, dysentery, dullness, weakness, diarrhoea with traces of blood, staggering gait, nervous problem, respiratory problem, anorexia, pyrexia cardiovascular diseases and skin diseases. Death mostly occur due to poisonous plants such as lessThan i greaterThan Datura lessThan /i greaterThan , lessThan i greaterThan Calotropis lessThan /i greaterThan , lessThan i greaterThan Nerium lessThan /i greaterThan , lessThan i greaterThan Ricinus lessThan /i greaterThan , lessThan i greaterThan Plumeria lessThan /i greaterThan , lessThan i greaterThan Thevetia lessThan /i greaterThan , etc. Hence, there is an urgent need of phytochemical and pharmacological studies to ascertain the toxic components of poisonous plants, so that they may be utilized for the betterment of future generations.
R.L. Bhellum and B L. Bhellum
Poisonous Plants, Toxicity, Gastrointestinal, Dermatological
64-70