AKSHAY J. WAJAGE , MAYURI S. DAGALE
Abstract:
The ethnomedicinal knowledge of indigenous communities represents a valuable
biological and cultural resource with significant implications for primary healthcare and drug
discovery. The present study reports an original quantitative ethnobotanical analysis based on
consolidated ethnomedicinal datasets generated from forest ecosystems and sacred groves of
Junnar Tehsil, Maharashtra, located in the northern Western Ghats. Ethnomedicinal data
reported in four independent field-based investigations were systematically pooled,
standardized, and re-analyzed to generate novel interpretations. A total of more than 120
medicinal plant species belonging to over 55 angiosperm families were quantitatively
evaluated. Family-wise richness, life-form distribution, plant-part utilization patterns, and
disease-wise therapeutic applications were analyzed. Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae,
and Apocynaceae emerged as the most dominant families. Herbs constituted the predominant
life form, while leaves were the most frequently used plant part. The majority of
ethnomedicinal applications were associated with gastrointestinal, dermatological, and
respiratory disorders. Although the data sources were previously published, the present study
generates new analytical outputs and interpretations that were not reported earlier. The findings
highlight the ethnomedicinal significance of forest landscapes and sacred groves of Junnar
Tehsil and emphasize the need for conservation, systematic validation, and sustainable
utilization of traditional medicinal knowledge.
