Abstract
An ethnobotanical study was conducted from January 2006 to October 2008 to investigate the uses of medicinal plants for oral health care by different aborigines, such as Bhills, Gavits, Kokanis, Mavachis, Valvis, Pawras, Koknas and Vasaves, in the Nandurbar district of Maharashtra, India. Data were collected by interviewing native people, mainly elderly – engaged in farming and stock rising activities, housewives and local traditional medicinemen of different villages. The investigation revealed that a total 20 claims were obtained as distributed in 18 genera belonging to 14 families to treat various diseases and disorders of oral cavity, particularly in tooth decay. Information about local names, plant parts and different form of preparation used were recorded and are focused in given issue. In this study most commonly used family was Euphorbiaceae followed by Moraceae, Anacardiaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Acanthaceae, Meliaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Poaceae, Lythraceae, Sapotaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Rutaceae and Solanaceae. Present study indicated many tribal communities of visited villages of Nandurbar district still continue to depend on plant resources to meet their day-to-day needs and use plant based formulations from generation to generation for treatment of health related problems. Now, the tribal societies are progressing towards modernization; their knowledge of traditional use of plants might be lost. Therefore conservation of such heritage is warranted.
Recommended Citation
Badgujar, S. B.; Mahajan, R. T.; and Kosalge, S. B.
(2008)
"Traditional Practice for Oral Health Care in Nandurbar District of Maharashtra, India,"
Ethnobotanical Leaflets: Vol. 2008:
Iss.
1, Article 150.
Available at:
https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/ebl/vol2008/iss1/150