ETHNO-GYNECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY RURAL PEOPLE OF VILLAGES OF GURUGRAM DISTRICT, HARYANA INDIA

ETHNO-GYNECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY RURAL PEOPLE OF VILLAGES OF GURUGRAM DISTRICT, HARYANA INDIA

Priya * and Manoj Kumar

Department of Botany, Baba Mastnath University, Rohtak, Haryana, India.

ABSTRACT: Ethnogynaecology is a young field of study that emphasize how indigenous people and local healers manage gynecological conditions in females. The goal of the current study was to record in-depth information about Ethnogynaecology in a previously unexplored region of Haryana. In the year 2022, a floristic and ethnomedicinal survey was conducted in Haryana, India in rural areas of Gurugram district. The present study identified forty plant species with twenty-seven families for treatment of various gynecological disorders. The most frequently used plant parts for herbal preparations were roots followed by leaves, fruit, bark, seed, whole plant, stem, buds, and bulb. The ethno-gynecological significance of medicinal plants in India provides a fertile ground for further scientific investigation to assess their potential, isolate bioactive compounds, and subsequently develop medications for the widespread gynecological health problems experienced by women worldwide.

Keywords: Ethnogynaecology, Gynecological disorders, Bioactive compounds, Haryana

INTRODUCTION: Ethnogynaecology is a new field of ethnobotany that focuses mostly on the use of medicinal plants to treat gynecological conditions such as menstrual issues, abortion, breastfeeding, infertility, gonorrhea, leucorrhea, and delivery disorders ^{1, 2}. The development of novel crude medicines from alleged native medicinal plants depends on ethnomedical studies. Since its inception, ethnobotany has found or provided several important contemporary medications, with a focus on documenting traditional knowledge of plant medicine ^{3, 4}.

The rural society and tribal communities rely on medicinal plants as the foundation of their healthcare systems ⁵. Over 85 percent of the world's primary medicines come from plants ⁶. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2002) estimates that up to 80% of people worldwide relies on traditional medicine for their primary health care ⁷. Increasing rates of female infertility, illness and mortality have been linked to the worldwide epidemic of gynecological problems. Diseases affecting the reproductive system of women are collectively referred to as gynecological disorders. They range from manageable to catastrophic in severity.

They reduce a woman's health, fertility, and lifespan. Some of the most common gynecological conditions that affect women in India and around the world include uterine fibroids, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, hyperprolactinemia, pelvic inflammatory disease, dyspareunia, lactation issues, delivery issues, miscarriages, tubal damage, and gynecological cancers ^{4, 8}. They may originate from physiological, pathological, or pharmaceutical causes. Physical variables, such as age, stress, poor food, lack of exercise, overweight, underweight, and obesity are the causes of reproductive dysfunction in women. Certain gynecological diseases have been linked to pharmaceuticals mainly including reserpine, antipsychotic drugs, risperidone, phenothiazines, metoclopramide, oral contraceptive pills, etc ⁹.

There is virtually little literature on ethno-gynecology, but there are numerous reports on ethnobotanical and ethnomedical expertise ^{10, 11, 12, 13}. Several ethnomedicinal studies have been undertaken to investigate the role of herbal medicine in women's medical and reproductive health conditions.

Similarly, nothing is known about the medicinal herbs utilized by pastoral women for the treatment of gynecological issues. Moreover, due to modernization and the rapidly diminishing interest of newer generations in indigenous knowledge, ethno ecological information may be lost if not properly documented ¹⁴.

Allopathic medications, anti-inflammatory medications, surgery, and non-steroidal analgesics are frequently utilized to treat gynecological diseases in modern society. It's great that conventional medication has been so helpful in treating and managing a wide range of gynecological illnesses, but some of these drugs come with serious risks to the gut, heart, and brain. Furthermore, some medications taken throughout pregnancy can harm the embryo.

In light of this, the present study was designed to explore medicinal plant resources and traditional knowledge of the Gurugram district of Haryana for treating a variety of gynecological disorders. In the present study, a comprehensive record of plant species, parts used, application, and estimated doses in conceivable circumstances, as well as ethnomedicinal values for treating gynecological problems among rural people, has been compiled.

METHODOLOGY:

Data Collection: The present study was carried out during the year 2022. The fieldwork was conducted in various villages of the Gurugram area of Haryana to investigate the potential for ethnomedicine of the local plants.

Semi-structured interviews and household surveys using questionnaires were used to gather the data. Only after explaining the goal of the study and obtaining the interviewee’s prior consent did the interviews with residents start. Cross-referencing the data with other data from nearby villages was also done.

Informants were permitted to speak freely and without interruption, and the questionnaire did not contain any strict questions. All of the details about plant species, biological forms, habitat, regional names, and preparation/administration methods were recorded. With the assistance of taxonomists, plant specimens collected at various times of the year were identified by comparison with known herbarium specimens and published works.

For future use, the voucher samples were placed at the Baba Mastnath University Herbarium (BUH). Plants were also identified with the help of ICAR-National Bureau of plant genetic resources, Pusa campus, New Delhi. Some other means of identification such as taxonomic experts, accessible literature, and internet were used.

Study Site: Gurugram is a district in the southeastern section of Haryana and the northern part of India. It is located between the latitudes of 27° 39' and 28° 32' 25" north and the longitudes of 76° 39' 30" and 77° 20' 45" east.

Gurugram is bounded to the north by Delhi and the district of Jhajjar, to the south by Mewat, to the east by Faridabad, and to the west by the state of Rajasthan and the district of Rewari. This emerging neighborhood in Delhi, close to the National Capital Area, is home to many global corporations and, as a result, has lots of malls, hotels, and eateries that are welcoming to tourists.

The Sheetla Mata temple, a well-known pilgrimage destination named for the Indian goddess who had the power to ward against smallpox, is the area's main draw. Gurugram district is divided into five tehsils: Gurugram, Sohna, Pataudi, Farrukh Nagar, and Manesar.

FIG. 1: MAP OF THE STUDY SITE

RESULT AND DISCUSSION: The current survey provides details on the medicinal effects of crude extract used to treat common female diseases. Interviews were conducted with 106 women, and 21 traditional healers overall. The majority of the informants were between the ages of 40 to 50. The present study reported that herbal knowledge is passed down through parents to the younger generation. Due to the high rate of consultation, the respondents, in particular the herb dealers and herbalists indicated that most study area women with gynecological diseases chose traditional medicine over orthodox medicine. Table 1 lists the names of the plant species, their names in the local language, the method of administration, and the methods used to make herbal remedies. An additional benefit in reaching the goal of this study was the informants' openness to sharing information on the regional herbs used for various gynecological problems in the study area. The study demonstrates that indigenous healers learned about the usage of various ethnomedicinal plants, their parts, dosages, and applications through trial and error. This information is only transmitted from one generation to the next orally.

Forty plant species with twenty-seven families were identified for the treatment of various gynecological disorders Table 1. The most dominant plant families were Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Apocynaceae, and Solanaceae with three species each followed by Nyctaginaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Euphorbiaceae with two species each. There were nineteen families with one species only. The most frequently used plant parts for herbal preparation were roots followed by leaves, fruit, bark, seed, whole plant, stem, buds, and bulb Fig. 4. Balamurugan et al. ¹⁵; Aziz et al. ¹⁶ and Surenderan et al.⁵ also documented leaves and roots as the dominant plant parts used for herbal medicine preparation. The plants documented during the study were mostly herbs followed by trees, shrubs, and climbers Fig. 3. Mir et al. ¹⁷ also reported herb as the dominant vegetation for traditional use. The most common methods of drug preparation were paste (26%) and powder (24%) followed by Juice (20%), decoction (13%), extract (11%), and latex (4%) Fig. 5. Balamurgan et al.¹⁵ also reported paste and powder as the most common methods of herbal drug preparation.

Overall, the Ethno-gynecological study of plants is a relatively new subject of study, and if it is explored extensively and methodically, it will provide valuable information for ethnologists, archaeologists, anthropologists, plant geographers, and other academics. The social and cultural demands of the populace are also met by herbal medicine, which also affects the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional states. The natural components of herbal medicines created using conventional procedures are preserved in their "naturally balanced form," without any vital component being lost, and the drugs activity and purity are maintained. Herbal medicines probably have extremely few side effects because of their naturally balanced form, which includes many essential components. They have been tested for a long time and have been shown to have side effects that are beneficial in place of the negative effects typically caused by dangerous synthetic and chemical-based items. Various plants might also be used in the production of cosmetics, which are highly valuable both in India and abroad. You can find knowledge on Ethno-gynecological plants in our ancient literature. The tribal and destitute people in India are thought to use close to one-third of the country's 15,000 higher plant species ¹⁸. Therefore, Indian folk life has seen the image of God in trees, plants, and flowers since the very beginning and has included them in their family as well. However, increased activity brought on by urbanization and industrialization poses a threat not only to the indigenous flora but also to species that the locals employ as medicines. To encourage the sustainable use of medicinal plants, it is vital to raise knowledge among the local population by encouraging methods like regulated grazing, reforestation, and correct land management.

The information provided in this paper on the therapeutic applications of plant pharmaceuticals may offer new sources of herbal medicines and raise public awareness of their potential value as a complement to conventional medicine. These studies may also provide opportunities for putative herbal medicines to undergo thorough photochemical and pharmacological testing in order to comprehend the molecular underpinnings of their actions.

TABLE 1: ETHNO-GYNECOLOGICAL USES OF SOME IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANTS

FIG. 2: SOME COMMON PLANTS REPORT FOR ETHNO-GYNECOLOGICAL PURPOSE

FIG. 3: HABIT OF THE PLANTS USED TO TREAT VARIOUS DISEASES               

FIG. 4: MOST COMMON METHODS OF HERBAL DRUG PREPARATION

FIG. 5: PARTS OF THE PLANTS MOST COMMONLY USED TO MAKE HERBAL MEDICINES

CONCLUSION: The health and medical care of rural women was the primary focus of the current investigation. In places where conventional medical care is either unavailable or inadequate, herbal remedies can be very helpful to cure diseases. The diversity and effectiveness of medicinal plants in the research area, as well as the openness of locals to the use of herbal remedies for the treatment of gynecological issues, lent support to the goals of this study documenting this treasure. Historically, older women have had more contact with local flora and may know more about the plants medical properties. Newer generation closer ties to allopathic medicine have contributed to the erosion of traditional healing practices. Other future applications of this study include the protection of medicinal plants.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The authors would like to thank the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi for providing financial assistance. Villagers in the Gurugram district provided invaluable assistance by sharing their expertise and the writers are grateful to them. The authors also wish to thank BMU, Rohtak, Haryana for providing logistical support for the research.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors state that they do not have any conflicts of interest.

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    How to cite this article:

    Priya and Kumar M: Ethno-gynecological knowledge of medicinal plants used by rural people of villages of Gurugram District, Haryana India. Int J Pharm Sci & Res 2024; 15(7): 2153-60. doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.15(7).2153-60.

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