MEDICAL ETHNOBIOLOGY AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM FOUND IN DARAI ETHNIC GROUP OF CHITWAN , NEPAL

The present study focuses on traditional usages of animals and plants species for medicinal purpose and indigenous knowledge system existent in Darai ethnic group of Mangalpur VDC, Chitwan, Nepal. A total of 28 animal species and 76 plant species were found to be used by Darai people to treat 22 and 36 different ailments, respectively. Darai people have their own indigenous knowledge for making various bamboo products and fishing equipments and local drink (moat/muna). The existence of knowledge associated with animals and plants and their medicinal utility is currently threatened mainly due to modernization, easy access to health services, lack of interest of youngsters, few local healers and fading of ethnic characters of Darai ethnic group. Thus, documentation of such knowledge has become an urgent need.


INTRODUCTION
Human beings are directly tied to nature.They use various aspects of nature including animals and plants.The survival of human directly depends on utilization of such resources.Ethnic groups around the globe are found to be close to nature and possess indigenous knowledge regarding sustainable utilization of animals and plants found in their surrounding areas (Maiti & Maiti 2011).According to the World Health Organization (1993), about 80% of the world people rely primarily on animal and plant-based medicines.Ingredients sourced from wild plants and animals are used in traditional medicines, herbal preparations as well as in the preparation of modern medicines (Kang 2003).Thus documentation of such knowledge has become very vital.Nepal is a small country with immense cultural and natural richness.Dramatic differences in elevation and varied ecological belts running from east to west, vertically intersected by major north to south flowing river system along with different culture support diverse form of livelihood of people (Bhattarai 1992).There are 125 indigenous nationalities in Nepal (CBS 2012).Darai is one of the marginalized ethnic tribes of Nepal.They are mainly found in Chitwan, Tanahu, Gorkha, Palpa, Nawalparasi, Dhading and Makwanpur districts of Nepal.The population of Darai Ethnic group is 16,789 and occupies 0.07 % of inner Terai (CBS 2012).They are honest docile and hardworking people.Bista (1972) mentioned in his book "People of Nepal" that Darai people who live in hot wet and malarial area are reported to have grown immune to malaria.Well known for display of great health, Darai people have traditional way of life and have a close relationship with their local plants and animals.They utilize local plants, wild fruits and vegetables from ancient time for domestic purposes ranging from timber, fiber, medicine, ritual object, etc.These people traditionally acquired diversity of knowledge regarding the utilization of animal resources of the surrounding area.In the context of Nepal, the ethnobiological study or research is more or less in the stage of void, whereas more ethnobotanical research has been accounted.The first study of a particular community was conducted by Toba (1975) on ethnobotany and village economy, followed by Coburn (1984) and Manandhar (1990).However, Singh (1995) initiated ethnobiological research in Nepal followed by other researches like Upahadaya (1991), Dhakal (1997), Pokhrel (2005) (Mahawar & Jaroli 2008), Dangol (2010) and (Lohani 2011).Few works have been done in Darai group on the medicinal animal and plant products and documented by Dangol and Gurung (1999), Dangol (2010) etc but there is a definite scarcity of such knowledge when it comes to animal products and indigenous knowledge of Darai ethnic group which is the main objective of this research.

Study Area
Mangalpur VDC lies in Chitwan district 7 km west from headquarter Bharatpur with Narayani river flowing on northern part.Chitwan district lies in Narayani zone and is located in southwestern corner of Central Development region.It lies in between 27 0 21'45" & 27 0 52'30" N and 83 0 54'45" & 84 0 48' 15" E at an elevation of 244-1945 m.The total area of Chitwan district is 2218 sq km which makes 1.5 % of the total area of Nepal.District boundary is marked by Nawalaparasi district along with Narayani river in west, Makawanpur district in east, Parsa district and Bihar, India in south, Tanahu, Gorkha and Dhading district in north.Headquater of the district is Bharatpur which is 5th largest city of Nepal.Most part lies in Siwalik region (86.5%)followed by Mid-Mountain (12.7%) and Terai (0.8%).Chitwan is one of the richest districts in terms of flora and fauna.Among total land of Chitwan 59.7% of land is occupied by forest and 34.7% land is used for agriculture and grassland.Similarly, only 2.8% of land is shrub land, 17% of total land is barren and 1.1% water bodies (Environment statistic 2008).Predominant vegetation is Sal (Shorea robusta) forest, a moist deciduous climax vegetation type of the Terai region.Chitwan district is renowned for onehorned rhinoceros, tiger, gharial crocodile, gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard, python, etc.Among birds are Bengal florican, giant hornbill, lesser florican, black stork, white stork etc.

Data collection and analysis
Ethnobiological data were gathered from March 15-26, 2014 and August 10-18, 2015 using individual interviews conducted with Key informants (elder people and local healers), group discussion and jungle walk.A sample of 28 resource persons that included local healers (Dhami/Jhankri), knowledgeable elder people, community leader, medicinal plant collectors, school teacher as well as youth and local people from the study area were selected in order to fulfill the intended objectives of the present research.Plant and animal species seen during field visit were photographed.Identification of specimens was made with the help of herbarium materials, experts, taxonomic keys and literatures.Data analysis was carried out with the help of MS excel spreadsheet by making simple calculations.The proportions were determined and pie-charts were drawn.

Medicinal ethnobiology
Darai people used various animals and plant species to treat different ailments/diseases which are given in Table 1 and Table 2; respectively (see appendix).The result revealed the use of 28 animal species for treatment of 22 different ailments as shown in Table 1.Among 28 animal species 11 species belonged to class Mammalia, eight to Aves, four to Insecta, two to Reptilia and Mollusca each, and one to Pisces.Sixteen species were wild whereas remaining were domesticated.The study revealed that highest number of animals were used for the treatment of musculo-skeletal diseases (five); followed by integumentary (four); gastrointestinal and otorhino-laryngo (three each); respiratory and reproductive (two each); cardio-vascular, hematological and nervous (one each).Remaining ailments couldn't be classified in medical terms.Likewise various parts/products of animal species were used for medicinal purpose.Meat(flesh) was mostly used (25.64%)followed by egg, fat , bone, body fluid and whole organism (7.72% each); brain and milk (5.13% each).Wax, shelter, carapace, blood, skin and antlers were least used (2.56%).

Fig. 3. Life forms of Medicinal plants.
Indigenous knowledge system prevalent in Darai community was also unveiled in the present study which is given below:  Darai people were found to be rich in knowledge regarding the use of bamboo to make various products like baskets (Doko), craddle (Kokro), fishing basket (Dhadiya) and hat (Topi).Fishing nets and fish poisons were found to be made using plants like Aconitum spp. Ashes of firewood and compost manure prepared by using cattle urine and leaves of various plants were used to increase fertility of agricultural land and latter being used to treat aphids as well.Dangol and Gurung (1999), Dangol (2010) carried out studies on Darai people of Chitwan but only documented the medicinal plants used by Darai people.However, in present study medicinal animals and indigenous knowledge system prevalent in Darai community were explored.

DISCUSSION
Findings of this research are supported by previous studies.For example, alcohol of meat of Canis aurens for treatment of rheumatism was supported by Dhakal (2004) and Thapa (2008).Similarly, use of honey of Apis cerana for curing cough was supported by the research works of Tamang (2003), Koirala (2004) and Thapa (2008).In present study Anadenus species was found to treat ringworm and heal fracture which was proven by Thapa (2008).Darai people used honey bee larva as source of protein and testicles of male goat for sexual power.Chalise (2010) has observed similar use as well.
The antlers of Axis axis were found to be used as traditional bone strengthening in present study which was also reported by Kawtikwar et al. (2010).
Terminalia bellirica and T. chebula found to be used for treatment of gastritis and abdominal disorder was also supported by Ghimire (1999).
Calotropis gigantean is used for treating sprain and the similar use has been observed by Ale et al. (2009), Dangol (2010) and Rai (2004).Viscum album, as in present study was also documented for its use in healing fractures by Coburn (1984).
Similarly, Cuscuta reflexa and Saccharum officinarum were found to be used by Darai community in treatment of jaundice which was also mentioned in various previous researches like IUCN (2004), Thapa (2008), Malla and Chhetri (2009).Cannabis sativa, reported to be used to stop bleeding of cuts and wound in present study was also documented by Devkota and Karmacharya (2003) and Watanabe et al. (2005).Mimosa pudica reported for treatment of gastritis in present study was observed to be used in cuts and wounds by Panthi and Chaudary (2003).Urtica dioca used to heal fractures by Darai community was also reported by Rajbhandari (2001).Euphorbia hirta used for curing cuts and wounds was also observed by Manandhar (1993), Joshi and Joshi (2007).
Acorus calamus was reported for treatment of sorethroat in present study.On the contrary its usage for curing tonsilitis was documented by Bhattrai et al. (2009) and Hasan et al. (2013) while Tamang (2003) reported its use in bronchitis.Likewise plants like Clerodendrum viscosum (Bhanti) and Vernonea cinera (Marchahar) were reported to be used in making local liquor which was also observed by Dangol (2008).
Medical ethnobiology and indigenous knowledge system found in Darai ethnic group of Chitwan, Nepal fed to livestock to treat cold and abdominal disorder.Paste of Urtica dioca (Sisnoo) was applied to the broken legs of cattle and supported by rigid woods for fast recovery.Bixa orellana (Simrik) was given orally for speedy recovery.Tubers of Colocasia spp (Pidalu) were given to cattle to enhance lactation.Leaves of Euphorbia hirta (Pati) were spread in the cage of chicken and duck to treat body lice and mites.
 Plants like Myrica esculenta (Kafal) Eclipta prostata (Bhringijhar) and Pogostemon benghalensis (Rudhilo) were used to extract natural dyes and colours. Alcohol being important parts of lives was made locally.A number of plants used for making Marcha, a starter used to prepare local beverages, were Clerodendrum viscosum (Bhanti), Natural medicines were made to treat various ailments in domesticated animals Dried leaves of Cannabis sativa (Ganja) were fried in Ghee and