ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANT DIVERSITY AND THEIR USAGE AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES INNANTA FOREST REGION, KOTA DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN

Kota district is situated in the south-eastern region of Rajasthan and is well known for its floral biodiversity. The present study has been done in the Nanta forest area located in the Sakatpura forest range in forest division Kota. This area is still unexplored in terms of ethnomedicinal plant diversity, which provides a new area for research in human wellbeing and biodiversity conservation. The Present study reveals ethnomedicinal diversity, their identification, and medicinal uses based on the knowledge gathered from rural folk, natives, and local traditional medicine practitioners (vaids). The data collected was validated with secondary sources. Due to high anthropogenic activities, there is a risk of losing the present diversity of ethnomedicinal plants in the study area. It is requisite to preserve the diversity of this region. Based on participatory observation and talk with local inhabitants, 60 species belonging to 26 families were identified, which were used as ethnomedicinal resources by local inhabitants. Stomach-related diseases, skin diseases, rheumatism, and asthma are the most diseases for which therapeutic values of the plants were reported in the study area.