An investigation of medicinal plants in ethnoveterinary practices in district Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India

Abstract

This study explores the medicinal plants being used to address medical issues of domestic animals in district Yamuna Nagar, Haryana. A survey regarding their ethnoveterinary use was conducted on 55 well versed informants who were rearing these animals. A total of 65 species from 36 families were being used including 28 herbs, 9 shrubs, 19 trees, 6 climbers and 3 grasses. Amongst different disease categories, 28 plant species were found to be used to treat digestive disorders. The family Fabaceae has the highest number of plants used and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. has been used across all the disease categories. The value of informants consensus factor in four major disorders varied from 0.74 to 0.60, with the highest in reproductive disorders. Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague and Azadirachta indica A. Juss. have the highest use value of 0.44 and 0.38, respectively. Phytochemical properties of these plants in ethnoveterinary practices must be explored for future medication systems.