Ethnomedicinal and Phytochemical Studies on Sacred Plants of Eastern and Northern India
Jaydeep Kumar Sahu
Department of Dravyaguna, Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Science and Research Hospital, Sri Sri University, Cuttack, Odisha, India.
Anuradha Das
Department of Botany, Sindri College, Sindri, B.B.M.K. University, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India.
Kadambini Das
University Department of Botany, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India.
Banshidhar Behera
Department of Dravyaguna, Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College and Hospital, Karolbagh, New Delhi, India.
Sandhya Sharma
Department of Botany, M.R.S Govt College Patharia, Damoh, M.P, India.
Shweta Kukreti *
Dr. P. D. Barthwal Govt. P. G. College, Kotdwar, Pauri Garhwal, India.
Sanjeet Kumar
Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Odisha, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Sacred groves in India represent a unique convergence of cultural heritage, ecological sustainability, and traditional healthcare practices. These community-managed forest patches safeguard plant species that hold both religious and therapeutic significance. However, these are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures. The study highlights the ethnomedicinal values of these sacred groves through documentation, phytochemical profiling, and quantitative estimation of total phenols and flavonoids. Sacred groves from Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar were surveyed between 2023-2024, documenting 12 sacred medicinal plants from 11 different families. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of various bioactive secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids. Quantitative assays showed that Emblica officinalis exhibited the highest total phenolic content at 4.86 mg/100 g, while Ocimum sanctum had the highest flavonoid concentration at 2.18 mg/100 g. These findings emphasise the dual ecological and pharmacological importance of sacred plants, underscoring the need for sustainable conservation efforts and the integration of traditional knowledge with modern healthcare systems.
Keywords: Sacred groves, ethnomedicine, biodiversity, cultural heritage, therapeutic uses, conservation