AN ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY THE TRIBAL AND NON-TRIBAL PEOPLES OF MALDA DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA FOR THE TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES

Swapan Kumar Chowdhury*

The present study was aimed at exploring the traditional Ethno medicine knowledge of native tribes on the utilization of wild plant species for local healthcare management in Malda district of West Bengal, India and its present status. With this objective in view, this ethno botanical study among the local tribal and non-tribal people of this district has been carried out during January 2012 to January 2013 in search of traditional healers or practitioners who ceaselessly use their worthy knowledge to treat several skin ailments for human purposes. The information was collected by means of open-ended conversations, semi-structured questionnaire, group discussion, etc. Information obtained from the informants was also cross verified to check the authenticity. This study revealed that a total of 75 medicinal plants under 65 genera of 42 families are frequently used to treat various types of ailments with 10 herbal preparations. of 75 plants, herbs possess the highest growth forms (40%) that were used in making traditional preparation, followed by shrubs (26%), trees (24%) and climbers (9.34%). Leaves comprised the major plant parts used (49.34%), followed by stem (1.34%), Root (8%), seeds (2.6%), bark (5.34%), whole plant (10.67%), fruits (4%), Rhizome (2.67%), Latex (6.67%), Throne (1.34%) ,Resin (1.34%) and oil (1.34) to prepare in the medicinal formulations for skin problems.