An ethnoveterinary study on medicinal plants used by the Buyi people in Southwest Guizhou, China

Abstract

Background: The Buyi (Bouyei) people in Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest Guizhou, China, have used medicinal plants and traditional remedies for ethnoveterinary practices, such as treating domestic animals during livestock breeding, since ancient times. However, the unique ethnoveterinary practices of the Buyi have rarely been recorded. This study aimed to identify the plants used in their traditional ethnoveterinary practices, and to propose suggestions for future conservation and sustainable use of this knowledge. Methods: Ethnobotanical fieldwork was conducted in 19 villages/townships in Qianxinan Prefecture between 2017 and 2018. Data were collected from the local Buyi people through semi-structured interviews and participatory observations. The informant consensus factor (FIC) and use reports (URs) were utilized to evaluate the consent of the current ethnoveterinary practices among the local communities, and 83 informants were interviewed during the field investigations. Plant samples and voucher specimens were collected for taxonomic identification. Results: A total of 122 plant species, belonging to 60 families and 114 genera, were recorded as being used in ethnoveterinary practices by the Buyi people. The most used ethnoveterinary medicinal plant (EMP) parts included the roots, whole plant, and bulb, and the most common preparation methods included decoction, crushing, and boiling. Some EMPs, such as Quisqualis indica and Paris polyphylla, have special preparation methods. The informant consensus factor (FIC) and use reports (URs) of the EMP species were analyzed. Twenty EMP species with the highest URs were noted as having particular importance in the daily lives of Buyi people in Qianxinan Prefecture. Conclusion: In this study, we identified traditional ethnoveterinary knowledge of the medicinal plants among the Buyi communities in Qianxinan Prefecture. This knowledge has previously been limited to local vets, herders, and aged community members. Plants with important medicinal uses need to be validated phytochemically and pharmacologically in the future, to develop new alternative drugs for veterinary purposes.

A survey of traditional medicinal plants used to treat common human and livestock ailments from Diguna Fango district, Wolaita, southern Ethiopia

“…The medicinal plants in the study area had diverse growth forms; in this case, herbs were the dominant growth form. Similar findings (Hailemariam et al 2009, Giday et al 2010, Lulekal et al 2013, Chama 2017, Xiong and Long 2020 were reported herbs from Konta, Sheko, Ankober, Damot Gale, Southwest Guizhou, respectively. In contrast, the majority of medicinal plants were shrubs in the south Omo and Mana Angetu (Lulekal et al 2008, Tolossa et al 2013.…”

“…This may be due to the influence of modernization and a lack of interest among younger generations in botanical medicines that would contribute to the conventional knowledge of older people. Similar conclusions also show that there are substantial gaps between different age groups in traditional knowledge (Yirga 2017, Xiong and Long 2020). Unlike the study now underway, the literary young people have a higher level of knowledge in the use of medicinal plants than analphabets and old people (Tefera and Kim 2019).…”

“…The second dominant families in human health treatment in the study area were Asteraceae and Poaceae. However, some other ethnobotanical investigators (Yineger et al 2016, Getaneh and Girma 2014, Xiong and Long 2020) observed Asteraceae was dominant in their study area. This may be related to geographical location, socioeconomic status of the local communities and other cultural reasons.…”

Ethno Veterinary Therapeutic Practices of Medicinal Flora in Livestock Health Care by Attappadi Tribal farmers of Kerala

“…This was followed by gastro -intestinal disorders, respiratory disorders, mastitis, fever and cold with values ranged from 0.93 to 0.91. The least agreement (low F IC value) between informants was observed for plants used to cure in ammatory conditions (0.50) with 5 use reports for three plant species which could be due to the fact that those conditions were remained unnoticed by the farmers as they had no direct in uence on animal's production [15]. Similar results were reported among the tribal farmers of Malda district of Bengal [16].…”

Exploring Traditional Veterinary Practices from Gujjar and Bakarwal Tribes of District Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir: A Boon for Animals from Our Ancestors

“…Ethnoveterinary knowledge is a holistic body of folk beliefs, skills, knowledge, experience, and practices employed by indigenous communities in curing various ailments of livestock This knowledge varies across countries, regions, and communities. Ethnoveterinary medicine deals with the plants or plant parts used to treat a spectrum of livestock diseases [1,2]. These traditional knowledge and practices have been practiced since time immemorial in animal husbandry and animal healthcare facilities to keep livestock healthy [3,4].…”