ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS OF GHORAHI SUB METROPOLITAN CITY AND THEIR ADJOINING AREA, DANG, DISTRICT

the with specific Ayurveda, in which the art of surgery therapeutics and medicines 1997). In Nepal database maintained by a group of botanists and ABSTRACT Ghorahi is situated in the Lumbini Province Mid-Western part of Nepal. The present study was under taken Ghorahi sub-metropolitan city of Dang district indigenous knowledge on plant utilization as natural remedy and documentation of ethnomedical plant. The traditional healers, elder men and teachers were consulted as key information for the documentation of indigenous knowledge on the medicinal plants. The study was accompanied by field visits during this season. The information was taken based on local people’s knowledge. The present study has documented 34 species belongs to 23 families and 31 genera of highly utilized medicinal plants from that area used by local communities. The documentation is based on primary data collected in the field applying PRA, RRA techniques and informal interview followed by collection of plant specimen. These plants were used for the treatment of various ailments. It has been evident from the study most of the tribal group depends upon forest for firewood, fodder, holy applicants (making plates, tapari etc.). It is observed that forest is under heavy interference and its ecosystem have been change rapidly due to forest fire, lopping, grazing, fuel-wood collection etc. Therefore, indicating urgent need for conservation of these resources and indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants.


INTRODUCTION
The wealth of medicinal plants in Nepal may be considered as one of the important natural resources for the economy of this Himalayan kingdom. The use of plants and plant products as medicines could be traced as far as the beginning of human civilization. The World Health Organization (WHO) mentioned that about 25% of modern medicines are developed from plants sources used traditionally; and research on traditional medicinal herbal plants lead to discovery of 75% of herbal drugs (Mian-Ying et al., 2002). In Ayurveda, the foundation of medicinal science deals with specific properties of drugs and various aspects of science of life and art of healing. Susruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita were followed after Ayurveda, in having medicinal use also includes many exotic plants. Besides about 700 medicinal plants have been found in common traditional medicinal uses (Singh 2006). Joshi and Joshi (2001) enumerated about 268 medicinal and aromatic plants are common ethnic society of Nepal.
Due to changing life style, extreme secrecy of traditional healers and negligence of youngsters, the practice and dependence of ethnic societies in folk medicines is in rapid decline globally, therefore, ethnobotanical exploitation and documentation of indigenous knowledge about the usefulness of such a vast pool of genetic resources is deliberately needed (Bussmann et al. 2006). On the basis of phytogeography, climate, vegetation, ecology altitudinal and distribution of plant species the biogeography of Nepal has been describe by various botanist and eminent workers.

OBJECTIVES:
• Floristic composition, description and documentation of ethnomedical plants.
• Local use of plant species as far as possible.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was conducted with the cooperative and interviewed of local user groups and tribal healers, especially old people of Tharu community leaders (Gaowerya). At least two times field visit in different seasons (September -October and March -April) of the investigation period. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect the ethnobotanical information and traditional healer's attitude about ethnobotanical knowledge and medicinal plant resources. Traditional healers and migrated society were asked about the medicinal properties of plants, local name, part used.

STUDY AREA
Ghorahi is the main town of the Rapti Zone and also the headquarters of the Dang district. Ghorahi sub-metropolitan city which lies Lumbini province mid-western part of Nepal is located at an elevation of 293 m to 344 m in the Mahabharat-Chure hill region. It lies between longitudes 82°2'E to 82°5" east and latitudes 27°36" to 28°1" north. The district covers 2955 sq. km and has a population of 548151(2011 census). Ghorahi is the district headquarters of Dang. It measures about 90 km east-west length and average width of 72 km North-south. The district consist of 2 sub metropolitan cities, 1 urban municipality and 7 rural municipalities (District Coordination Committee Office Dang, Nepal 2022).

METHODOLOGY
Relevant biophysical and ethnomedicinal information was collected using both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was collected through field observation, group discussion and questionnaire survey. During the field observation unidentified species were collected properly pressed and dried to make herbarium. The collected plants were identified using standard literatures (Hooker 1872-1897, Polunin and Stainton 1984. Unidentified plant specimens were identified by comparing with authentic specimens housed at TUCH, KATH Kathmandu. Nepal. Key information taken as group discussion Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) to document on local name and medicinally Importance. The taxa are arranged in alphabetical order with botanical name followed by family in parenthesis, local name (Nepali, if any) and Medicinally Importance.

Data analysis
The information collected from local people of study area was compiled and a single set of ethnomedicinal information had been prepared.

DISCUSSION
A large number of plants were utilized by local people as herbal medicine for primary health care as well as food and fodder. Altogether 35 medicinally plant species belonging to 23 families and 31 genera were recorded from the study sites. A wide variety of plants are utilized for the treatment of various diseases like fever, tonic, cough, cold , diarrhea, dysentery, headache, blood pressure , diabetes, stomach , asthma, abdominal pain, cut and wounds. Some others are used as food like pickle, vegetables. These plant parts like rhizome, root, stem, bark, leaf, flowers and fruits applied as raw, decoction, paste, leaf juice. The The local people as well as healers did not work on conservation of medicinal plants and traditional knowledge, which showed that the training and other awareness program on conversation of biodiversity and ethnomedicinal for the deteriorating biodiversity and attenuating ethnomedicinal knowledge.
In view of these, present study has a potential to be used as a model for future development and source of indigenous knowledge. Leaves, flowers and fruits used as cold, cough and menstrual disorder.

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Justicia adathoda L. Acanthaceae Ashuro Leaves contains alkaloid Vaseline used cough, chronic bronchitis, asthma, fresh leaves juice used in diarrhea and dysentery.

Euphorbiaceae
Powder with milk, curd and honey is used in children to kill intestinal worms. After two or three days dead worms expel out with stool. External use of relieve excessive irritation, scabies, eczema and it is good for easy healing of wounds and ulcers.

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Mentha spicata L. Labiatae Pudina Leaf past is used to treatment of cold, cough, asthma, fever, jaundice and digestive problems. Pickles taken to improve appetite. Flower aromatics, rhizome and edible, seeds used skin diseases and diarrhea, rhizome in piles.

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Phyllanthus emblica L. Euphorbiaceae Amala Fruit making testy pickled, leaf decoction taken diarrhea and dysentery, fruit juice as hair tonic.

Plantaginaceae Eshopgo
Treatment of various diseases such as constipation, coughs, wounds, infection, fever, bleeding and inflammation.

Rubiaceae
Root is given children's cold and cough also diarrhea and dysentery 31 Sapium insigne (Royal) Benth.ook.f.

Euphorbiaceae Khirro
Used for the treatment of skin-related diseases such as eczema also be used for overstrain, lumbago, constipation and hernia.

Kaligadhi
Leaf paste applied strongly the forehead to treat fever.

Myrtaceae Jamun
Bark and leaves is taken diarrhea an d dysentery, ripe fruit is astringent and effective remedy for diabetes.

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Urtica dioica L. Urticaceae Shisnoo Young tinder used as vegetable, decoction from root to cure fever and stomach disorder.

CONCLUSION
Altogether 34 plant species are enumerated belongs to 23 families and 31 genera. The people of Ghorahi has been utilizing plant resources for food, fodder, and primary health care. The medicinal and aromatic plants have played an important role not only as an indispensable in treatment of various diseases but also in case of commodity. It has been evident from the present study most of the ethnic group specially Tharu community like primary treatment used medicinal and aromatic plants. The plant parts used as medicine were roots, rhizomes, leaves, barks, flowers, fruits and seeds. The most popular form of medicinal preparation are juice, decoction, paste and powder. The most frequent human disorders treated medicinal plants were cuts and wounds, skin diseases, abdominal pain, diarrhea , dysentery , rheumatisms and anthelminthic.