1. Dr. Parashurama T.R. M.Sc.,PGDMP., Ph.D
Karnataka Folklore University
Research Paper entitled on
“DOCUMENTATION OF PHYTO-ETHNO-MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN SHIGGAON TALUK OF HAVERI DISTRICT, KARNATAKA’’
Dr. Parashurama T.R. M.Sc.,PGDMP., Ph.D
Assistant professor
Department of Traditional Science and Technology,
Karnataka Folklore University
Gotogodi, Shiggaon (Tq), Haveri (D), Karnataka

2. Introduction
Ethnobotany - the total natural and traditional relationship and interaction between man and his surrounding plant wealth.
Ethnobotanical surveys are important steps in the identification, selection and development of therapeutic agents from medicinal plants which serves as a base for new active compounds.
Several life saving bioactive compounds extracted from plants are based on the study of ethnomedicine or indigenous system of medicine.
Due to industrialization, expansion of agricultural land and urban areas, forest laws and unemployment, the tribal/ethnic/rural health care knowledge is being neglected.
With the loss of ethnic cultures and customs, some of this information might disappear very soon.

3. There is an urgent need to record and preserve all information on plants used by different ethnic/tribal communities living through out the world for various purposes before it is completely lost.
A perusal of previous reports suggest that documentation of ethnobotanical knowledge in Karnataka is incomplete, and particularly, it is so in Haveri district of Karnataka.
Today the field of ethnobotany requires a variety of skills: botanical training for the identification and preservation of plant specimens; anthropological training to understand the cultural concepts around the perception of plants.
Hence present investigation has been made to documetnt thetraditional human health care knoweldge of local communities in Shiggaon taluk of Haveri district, Karnataka.

4. Aims and objectives
The aim of the present investigation is to document phyto-ethnomedicinal formulations for treating ailments affecting humans
Identify folk or local communities residing in Shiggaon taluk of Haveri district, Karnataka and to document ailments affecting these communities.
Document detailed information on ethnoformulations, their components, plants and their part used, method of drug preparation, mode of application, dosage and duration.
Collect ethnomedicinal plant species, prepare herbaria and photographic documentation.

5. Materials and Methods 1. Study area
The present study was conducted in the Shiggaon taluk Haveri district in Karnataka. Shiggaon taluk is bounded by Dharwad district in North, Savanur taluk in the East, Hanagal taluk in the South and Uttar Kannada district in the West.
The area of the taluk is km. The taluk possesses forest area of 9951 hectare which is about 16.88% of the total geographical area. The taluk has 91 villages. The taluk lies between North latitude14° 28" to 59° 14 " and East longitude 07° 75 " to 38 ° 75 ".
The maximum temperature is 39°c and minimum is 30°c. The Humidity is 55%.The total population of the taluk is persons live in town and live in rural area.
The main occupations of the taluk is agriculture and jower, maize, chilly and ragi are the main crops. Irrigation facility is available. Local residents in the study area belonged to different castes.

6. 2. Selection of study sites
Preliminary field surveys were taken up throughout Shiggaon taluk for selecting study sites.
Finally, certain villages were identified, mainly based on the information from experts or specialists in traditional healing medicine residing in the villages

7. 3. Field survey and data collection
As the selection of informants form an important aspect of ethnobotanical study in the field. A rapport was established with the chief or well-known person(s) of the village.
The ethnomedicinal information of plants was collected from resident communities in the study area through different interview techniques.
Plants were identified taxonomically using the standard flora/manuals (Yoganarasimhan et al., 1981; Gamble, 1995; Ramaswamy et al., 2001).
Voucher specimens were photographed and collected for the preparation of herbarium.

8. Mr.J.B. Kothe
Mr.Jinnappa B. Khote
Mr. G.P. Badiger
Mr. Parasappa vaalmiki
Mr.C.V.Hirematha
Mr. Shivayogiswami C

9. Results and Discussion
In this work on ethnobotanical uses of plant belonging to Shiggaon taluk been documented for their interesting therapeutic properties for various ailments. Various plants have dual significance.
Various results show that gender and age class differ in their traditional knowledge with regard to medicinal plants reporter. Males above 50 year of age had more traditional knowledge about medicinal plants and their uses than females.
This may be attributed to their involvement in trade related activities. In most of the cases the older peoples were noted as been better informants and the vivid regions for this may be their personal experience of using these plants since old times.

10. We learned through the survey that local people are still dependent on plant resource for treatments for various ailments, but this type of dependences decreasing.
This is likely due to multiple regions. One such region is lack of belief of the young generation in the traditional medicine system and increasing use of allopathic medicines due to their availability and efficacy.
The study revealed 154 ethno-medicinal plant species distributed in 148 genera belonging to 57 different families that are frequently used for the treatment of various ailments in Shiggaon taluk. The medicinal value of each plant was enumerated.

11. Fig 1. Dominant families – Rutaceae , is the most preffered family followed by Apiaceae, Zingiberaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Areaceae, Fabaceae.

12. Fig 2. Habitat of medicinal plants.

13. Fig 3. Different plant parts used for herbal formulation.

14. Fig 4. Method of prepration.

15. Fig 5. Mode of usage.

16. Fig 6.Ingredients added

17. Gymnema sylverster (Retz.)
Ricinus communis L.
Tribulus terrestris L.
Oxalis corniculata L.
Mimosa pudica L.
Aegel marmelos (L.)
Gymnema sylverster (Retz.)
Withania somnifera
(L.) Dunal
Andrographis paniculata
(N.Burman)
Caesalpinia bonduc
(L.) Roxb.

18. It is observed that the dosages and duration of medicine generally depend on the intensity of the disease and age of patient.
It is observed that traditional healers harvest that plant part used for medicinal purpose at perticular growth period or season e.g. before flowering and fruiting peiod etc., presumabiy to obtain maximum concentration of the active principle.
As tuberous plants remain in dormant phase and have a limited period for completing their life cycle, healers preserve the tuber for various remedies, which is harvested in their particular period. Hence, the healers have a specified way of collecting the herbs, preparing and applying the medicine.

19. Ethnobotanical research can provide a wealth of information regarding both past and present relationships between plants and the traditional societies. In addition to its traditional roles in economic botany and exploration of human cognition, ethnobotanical research has been applied to current areas of study such as biodiversity prospecting and vegetation management.
It is hoped that, in the future, ethnobotany may play an increasingly important role in sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. In interaction with traditional areas of science, ethnobotany gives out several interrelated and interdisciplinary subjects link ethnomedicine, ethnoarchaeology, ethnobryology, ethnoecology, ethnoagricultue, ethnopharmacology etc.

20. CONCLUSION
A large number of ethnoformulations for different ailments were used by herbal healers of different communities in shiggon taluk which are new and note-worthy.
The use value demonstrated the overall usefulness of the reported plant species in the study area.
13 plant species are highly popular and used frequently in the study area. Hence, higher priority should be given to these plants for the scientific evaluation of the claimed medicinal uses.

21. Outcome of Research
Baseline data has been generated with respect to ailments occurring in people living in shiggon taluk and their domestic animals.
Medicinal plants used in ethnomedicinal formulation for treating human ailments have been documented. Some unexplored medicinal plants were also documented.
The data were subjected to different determinative indices so that the validity of the plants in traditional medicine was confirmed.

22. Recommendations
Certain plant species growing in Shiggon have been shown to have profound medicinal values in ethnic communities and hence these potential medicinal plants could be taken up for cultivation. This will also provide employment opportunities to people cultivating these plant species.
These medicinal plant species are being exploited by local communities who are unaware of their importance. Hence, in vitro and in vivo conservation strategies have to be taken up.
Plant species with traditional medicinal values require documentation and an in-depth scientific evaluation.

23. Thank You