Exploration of ethnomedical knowledge of ‘Gowda community’ of Sullia Taluk, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: An ethnobotanical investigation of the Gowda community in the Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India reveals the diversity of ethnomedicinal plants as well as the wealth of traditional medical knowledge. The Gowda community is one of the indigenous communities.Locals in the remote regions of Sullia taluk still lack access to modern medicine, so they rely on traditional medicine for their healthcare.The aim of the present study was to examine traditional medical knowledge, record the significant knowledge and raise awareness of knowledge erosion. Materials and Methods: Ethnomedicinal information gathered from traditional healers during semi-structured open-ended interviews. Various qualitative and quantitative indices were used for data analysis, including Cultural Importance Index (CI), Family Use Value (FUV), Family Importance Value (FIV), percentage of habit used, percentage of plant species used, and consensus value for Plant Part (CPP), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informants Consensus Factor (ICF). Results: A total of 214 plant species from 113 genera and 51 families were recorded and assigned to 13 use categories for diseases. Skin disease has a high ICF value and 61 species extensively used to treat. High FL value plants of Breynia vitis-idaea, Indigofera tinctoria, Plectranthus amboinicus, Sida alnifolia, Cynodon dactylon, Citrus limon, and Oryza sativa are widely used for the treatment of various skin ailments. Conclusion: Ethnobotanical data showed that the Gowda community has a rich knowledge of traditional therapies for many diseases whose skin problems are mainly treated by healers. The numerous ethnomedicinal plant species showed effective treatment of multiple skin diseases.