Ethnobotanical exploration of medicinal plants for the treatment of migraine in Dakshina Kannada district of Western Ghats, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Migraine is a recurrent neurological disorder of humans affecting approximately 15% of the population globally. It frequently appears in childhood, particularly around puberty and affects women more than men. Traditional medicine has a key role in primary health care system of people residing in remote and rural regions. This study has been carried out in Western Ghats of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka state, India during 2018 - 2021 to document ethno-medicinal plants used by traditional practitioners to treat migraine. Most people prefer herbal folk therapies against this chronic disorder. Ethnobotanical study was carried out by repeated field visits. Information pertaining to the migraine was gathered by open-ended discussions with local traditional healers through a semi-structured questionnaire. All together 67 key informants shared their unique method of treatment against migraine. A total of 53 plant species belonging to 29 families are being used by local folk practitioners. Data was analyzed by quantitative tools like Relative frequency of citation (RFC) and Family importance value (FIV) to compare the importance of reported plants. Leaves are the mostly used plant parts in the preparation of herbal formulation. Internal mode of application was more prevalent to treat migraine. Documentation of traditional knowledge of using plants in primary health care systems will be necessary in order to face new challenges by the modern medical world.

Ethno-dermatological practices among Ao (Naga) tribe in Mokokchung district, Nagaland, India

“…Older age groups, those over 70, have the most traditional knowledge (37.5%), followed by those between 61 and 70 (28.12%), 51 to 60 (21.88%), and 41 to 50 (12.5%). This illustration indicates that older generations still rely on traditional medicine while younger generations show less interest on traditional healing practices [12,13]. Among the 32 identi ed healers, 19 (59.38%) are males and 13 (40.62%) are females.…”

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in the treatment of neurological disorders in the Western Ghats region of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India

“…The predominance of life forms of medicinal plants and the parts used for the preparation of formulation, in the present finding agrees with earlier reports (Mohanty et al 2015, Halim et al 2007. A traditional belief on the use of leaves in ethnomedicine is very much logical and acceptable since leaves are the site of accumulation of minerals through different physiological processes like ascent of sap and synthesis of secondary metabolites through biochemical processes including photosynthesis (Chaachouay et al 2019, Mohanty et al 2015, Yogeesha & Krishnakumar 2022a, Zheng & Xing 2009, Giday et al 2003.…”

“…Previous investigations have explored the ethnomedicinal information for the treatment of herpes in Coastal Karnataka (Bhandary & Chandrashekar 2011), wounds, bone fracture and arthritis in Uttara Kannada district (Bhat et al 2012, Upadhya et al 2012, Bhat et al 2019, psychological disorders in Vijayapur district (Laddimath & Rao 2016), migraine and sprains in the Western Ghats of Dakshina Kannada district (Yogeesha & Krishnakumar 2022a, Yogeesha & Krishnakumar 2022b. However, ethno-medico-botanical investigations in Dakshina Kannada district are still incomplete.…”

Phytochemical fingerprinting and evaluation of in silico anti-thrombotic properties of Justicia adhatoda L. and Cordia dichotoma Frost.

“…India accounts for 4500 species of flora and over a thousand of them possess both pharmaceutical and pharmacological relevance. Secondary metabolites of plants contribute to its therapeutic properties (Kabera et al, 2004;Yogeesha and Krishnakumar, 2022). Some of the major groups of the secondary metabolites include flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, terpenoids and glycosides that are used as bioactive metabolites for treating ailments as well as a to serve as nutraceuticals with modern medicines (Chiocchio et al, 2021;Leicach and 2 Chludil, 2014).…”