Abstract

ETHNOMEDICINAL STATUS OF SOME WEED SPECIES: A REVIEW ARTICLE

Rai Singh*

ABSTRACT

Total, 63 weed species belonging to 54 genera and 27 families are analyzed from literature which are grown as a weeds in different crops or in wild habitat. Poaceae is dominant family represents 10 species followed by Asteraceae with 6 species and Solanaceae and Fabaceae with 5 species each. Out of 27 families, 14 families represents only one genera and one species each. Leaves of 26 species used for management of different diseases followed by whole plant (19), Root (16), Seed (12), Fruit (5), Stem (4) and Latex (3). Bark, Flower and tuber of only one species each used for management of different diseases. This study will be helpful to the society for management of different diseases, because plant based medicines are cost effective and have no any side effects. Therefore, it is need of hour for documentation of traditional plant based medicines from rural peoples. This information will also be helpful for pharmacological departments for production of new drugs.

Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Ethnobotany, Weed.