An Assessment of Ethno-Medicinal Plants used by Sardar and Malaha Communities of KoshiTappu Wildlife Reserve , Province No . 1 , Nepal

Medicinal plants play an important role in the healthcare practices amongst the rural population of Nepal. This knowledge has been passedfrom generation to generation in verbal form only, and is not documented in any form. The objective of this study was to assess ethno-medicinal plants used by Malaha and Sardar communities of Sunsari district of Province No. 1. A total of 40 plant species belonging to 35 genera and 24 family have been recorded as medicinal plants traditionally used by these communities for treatment of various ailments. Different parts of medicinal plants in different forms were reported to be used for the treatment of 27 types of various health system disorders. Traditional healers and elderly people were well experienced in traditional method of using medicinal plants but they were worried about negligence of people towards such traditional use of valuable medicinal plants. It can be concluded from this study that the Malaha and Sardar communities of Sunsari district inherit a rich traditional knowledge and documentation of this knowledge has provided novel information of that area.


Introduction
KoshiTappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) is located in the alluvial flood plain of SaptaKoshi River with an area of 175 sq. km span over Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur districts of Eastern Nepal. The reserve, Nepal's first wetland site of international importance listed in the Ramsar Site, is the prime habitat of the last remaining population of wild water buffalo (Bubalusbubalis)and is well acclaimed for hosting congregation of large number of migratory birds and highest number of globally threatened bird species in Nepal.
Traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal and aromatic plants has remained most affordable as well as easily accessible source of primary healthcare and treatment, especially amongst the poor communities where the local therapy is the only means of medical treatment (Yineger & Yewhalaw, 2007). There is a wider recognition on traditional use of medicinal plants in Nepal. Ethno-botany is the science of documentation and conservation of original knowledge which has been using by ethnic people since ancient history (Manandhar, 1989, Rijal, 2011. Documentation of indigenous knowledge is important for the conservation of species and sustainable resource use (Gamedo-Dalle, Maass, & Isselstein, 2004) and is significant in revealing locally vital plant species which might contribute in the discovery of crude medicine and even contributing towards economic development (Balick & Cox, 1996). KoshiTappu Wildlife Reserve is considered to be a natural storehouse of medicinal plants. Indigenous people living in its buffer zone are heavily dependent on the use of wild plants or a specific part to fulfill their healing needs. They highly depend on the nearby wetland and forest areas to supply their needs of medicine, timber, fuelwood, wood, wild vegetable and many more available resources.
There is a vast repository of traditional knowledge on medicinal and aromatic plants, including the use of animals for medicine in the study area. However, this information is scarce due to lack of research and documentation. Since time immemorial, these communities have been using this knowledge in case of both food and medicinal purposes and have economic, medicinal and cultural values. In fact, the indigenous people of KTWR possess an immense knowledge of their environments, based on centuries of living close to nature. Living in and from the richness and variety of complex ecosystems, they have good understanding of the properties of plants and animals, the functioning of ecosystems and the techniques for using and managing them that is particular and often detailed.

Objectives of the Study
The objective of this study is the documentation of traditional knowledge and indigenous practices of ethnomedicinal plants by two wetland dependent communities of KoshiTappu Wildlife Reserve, namely Sardar and Malaha indigenous communities. Specifically, the study was conducted in order to achieve the following objectives:  The study collected plant species and its taxonomic characters and other necessary information were noted down in the field. In order to obtain detailed information, plant specimens collected from the field were exhibited and semistructured interviews were conducted with 25 respondents in Malaha community and 25 respondents in Sardar community of Kusaha rural municipality, mostly represented traditional healers and knowledgeable persons, both male and female. The information collected included local name of plants, its use, form of use, and parts used.

Materials and Methods
The recorded specimens were arranged in alphabetical order with botanical and vernacular name after their family. The parts used along with their value are also described.

Results and Discussion
A total of 50 respondents (44 male and 6 female) from Madhuwan and Kusaha villages of Sunsaridistrict participated in the study. Participants included household heads, plant collectors and users. All respondents belonged to Tharu ethnic group, a major group (14%) ofSunsari District(CBS, Central Bureau of Statistics, 2001). Majority (56%) of respondents had no formal education, 6% were literate, 28% had primary level education, 6% had secondary education and 4% had higher secondary level education.

Application of medicinal plants
The structure for questionnaire survey was developed to facilitate information collection. Interviews were carried out to collect information on the use of plant resources, parts used and its methods of utilization. A checklist/inventory was developed and used to determine the available plant resources and application in the treatment of disease or disorder. The study identified a total of 40 medicinal plant species that has been used to prepare a wide variety of remedies. The prevailing life form included trees and herbs. Altogether, 40 plant species belonging to 35 genera and 24 family was identified that was used for both human diseases and livestock treatment. The local name, uses, parts used and form of uses were noted down. In all, 20 species from Malaha communities and 20 species from Sardar communities were collected.
The recorded plant species (40)  include making toothpaste, herbal soap and shampoo, toothbrush of stem, etc. Two of the plants were also found to be used for curing animal diseases. Several species were found to be used for more than one purpose. Uses of plants along with its local name, form of use, and parts used are listed in Annex 1.

Ailments treated and remedies formulation
Cuts and wounds, respiratory problems, gastro-intestinal disorders, cough and cold, fever and headache, menstrual disorders, dermatological infections and dental problems were the main ailments treated with medicinal plants. Dysentery, fever and headache, cuts and wounds, cough and cold and abdominal problems were treated with the highest diversity of medicinal plant species. . Local residents have been highly using leaf in several ailments. They have been highly using the plant species in treatment of common cold and cough.

Conclusion
Present study revealed that the local traditional healers of Sunsari district of Province No. 1 are rich in ethno-medicinal knowledge and majority of people rely on plant-based remedies for common health problems like headache, body ache, constipation, indigestion, cold, fever, diarrhea, dysentery, boils, wounds, skin diseases, urinary troubles, fractures, round worms, etc. The survey also revealed that all the traditional healers have strong faith on ethnomedicines although they were less conscious about the documentation and preservation of ethno-medicinal folklore and medicinal plants. The group discussion and personal interviews show that youngsters of both Malaha and Sardar communities and migrants are less aware about the use of ethno-medicine. On the other hand, traditional healers who are the main repository of ethno-medicinal knowledge claim extreme secrecy over their ethnomedicinal knowledge. The traditional healers have strong belief that if they disclose the secrecy about the medicinal properties of particular plant all the medicinal potentialities of the plant will be lost and the remedy will not work properly.