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ETHNOBOTANY History & scope Dr. Shiburaj S Professor Department of Botany University of Kerala

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Presentation on theme: "ETHNOBOTANY History & scope Dr. Shiburaj S Professor Department of Botany University of Kerala"— Presentation transcript:

1 ETHNOBOTANY History & scope Dr. Shiburaj S Professor Department of Botany University of Kerala drshiburaj@gmail.com

2 Chromolaena odorata Ocimum sanctum 1 2 3 Curcuma longa

3 Ethnobotany Ethnobotany is the study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous (native) plants. Plants provide food, medicine, shelter, dyes, fibers, oils, resins, gums, soaps, waxes, latex, tannins, and even contribute to the air we breathe. Many native peoples also use plants in ceremonial or spiritual rituals. The traditional knowledge of plants is an extremely old discipline, which probably goes back to the first humans in existence. Ethno (as in ‘ethnic’) refers to people, culture (culture: collective body of beliefs, aesthetic, language, knowledge, and practice). Botany is the study of plants—from the tiniest fern or blade of grass to the tallest or oldest tree.... investigating plants used by societies in various parts of the world

4 Why Ethnobotany….? An ethnobotanist tries to document the local customs involving the practical uses of local flora for many aspects of life, such as plants as medicines, foods, intoxicants and clothing.

5 ABORIGINAL ABORIGINAL : A member of a race of people who were the first people to live in a country, before any colonists arrived. TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE : Refers to the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities around the world. Developed from experience gained over the centuries and adapted to the local culture and environment, traditional knowledge is transmitted orally from generation to generation. ETHNIC GROUP: An ethnic group is a human population whose members identify with each other, usually on the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestry. Ethnic groups are also usually united by common cultural, behavioural, linguistic, or religious practices. BIODIVERSITY : Refers to the variety of living species on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. It is the variety and variability of life on Earth.

6 Ethnobiology is the study of the relationships between people, the lifeforms surrounding them, and the environment in which they live, in the past or present. Ethnomycology is the study of folk knowledge of mushrooms and other fungi. Ethnomedicine is the study of traditional medicines, whether written (as in Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine), or remembered and transmitted via oral tradition. Ethnopharmacology is the study of the uses, effects and modes of actions of naturally- occurring drug compounds. Ethnomusicology is the study of the music of different cultures, and musical instruments they make and use, which are often made of plant materials. Ethnoecology refers understanding and documenting how peoples perceive and manage the ecosystems they inhabit.

7 Significance of Ethnobotany 1.Integrated tribal development. It provides information regarding traditional uses of plant wealth which can be utilized in integrated tribal development. 2.New Products development. The ethno botanical studies throw light on certain unknown useful plants and new uses many known plants which can be exploited for developing new sources for some plant products and agro-based industries. 3.New Drug Development. The medicinal plants are almost the exclusive source of drugs for the majority of world population even today. Plant products constitute approximately 25% of the total prescribed medicines. 4.As a source of Information. The ethno medicinal data will serve as a useful source of information for the chemists, pharmacologists and practitioners of herbal medicines for detection and isolation of bioactive compounds used in modern medicine. 5.Prevent loss of traditional knowledge due to impact of modernization. 6.Reduces time taken for the development of new medicines. 7.Domestication of new food plants. 8.Natural treatment of various diseases. 9.Conservation and sustainable utilization of Biodiversity.

8 Goals of Ethnobotany Document facts about plant use and plant management. The ethnobotanist may employ methods such as: note taking, tape and video recordings, photography, statistics, and the collection and preparation of plant specimens. Elucidate the ethnobotanical roles and processes by defining, describing, and investigating ethnobotanical roles and processes.

9 History & Origin of Ethnobotany In the early nineteenth century the isolation of alkaloids such as morphine, quinine etc. as effective drugs from the herbs heralded new era in the use of plant products in modem medicines. Prior to coining of the term Ethnobotany usage of plants by human are there in the ancient Sanskrit, Greek, Arabic literatures etc.

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12 The term ‘ethnobotany’ was first proposed by the early 20 th century botanist John William Harshberger (1869 - 1929), who performed ethnobotanical research extensively in North Africa & South America.

13 Origin of Ethnobotany Ethnobotany become a more well known science with the contributions of Richard Evans Schultes (1915 - 2001) is considered the father of modern ethnobotany. An American biologist worked on hallucinogenic aboriginal plants, particularly in Mexico and the Amazon, involving lifelong collaborations with chemists. Schultes' botanical field-work among American communities led him to be one of the first to alert the world about destruction of the Amazon rain-forest and the disappearance of its native people. Curare (Chondrodendron tomentosum), yields an alkaloid, tubocurarine, which is now used as a muscle relaxant before surgery. One of Schulters’ discoveries was the source of dart (arrow) poison, Curare, used by South American Hunters.

14 (including 300 new species) Richard Evans Schultes (1915 - 2001)

15 His book The Plants of the Gods: Their Sacred, Healing, and Hallucinogenic Powers (1979), co-authored with chemist Albert Hofmann (discoverer of LSD), is considered his greatest popular work.

16 The Ethnobotanical approach to Drug discovery

17 Flow diagram summarizing the potential of natural products in the discovery of new antimicrobial agents

18 Catheranthus roseus ‘Chichirica’ Catharanthus roseus Scientific classification Kingdom:Plantae Clade:Tracheophytes Clade:Angiosperms Clade:Eudicots Clade:Asterids Order:Gentianales Family:Apocynaceae Genus:Catharanthus Species:C. roseus Synonyms Vinca rosea L. Pervinca rosea (L.) Gaterau Lochnera rosea (L.) Rchb. ex Spach Ammocallis rosea (L.) Small Commonly known as bright eyes, Cape periwinkle, graveyard plant, Madagascar periwinkle, old maid, pink periwinkle, rose periwinkle

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20 Phytochemistry and Medicinal Uses

21 Karen people in northern Thailand

22 Thank You all…


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