Abstract

EXPLORATION OF ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS WITH REFERENCE TO ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM

Purushottam G. Dhawale* and Manoj R. Kakpure

ABSTRACT

Ethnomedicinal plants are widely used for the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism. Around 80% of world are depends on traditional medicine. Rheumatism is a chronic, autoimmune diseases, that affects own immune system and healthy tissue which are caused inflammation. Rheumatism risk factors include hormonal, genetic, environmental, and nutritional, and socio-economic factors, ethnicity, infections, smoking, and so on. A field study was carried out during 2023-2024. It was aimed at documentation, analysis and assessment of ethnomedicinal knowledge in the study area. We performed structural interviews as well as open discussions with about 5-8 informants (with age between 50-65). It is compared with literature available to date. 32 plant species belonging to 24 families have been reported as employed by the rural folks and tribals. A list of a plant species along with their family, local name, plant parts used, medicinal recipe and mode of administration for the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.

Keywords: Rheumatism, Ethnomedicinal plants, Arthritis, Antirheumatic activity.