Some Plant species of Tarai region of Kumaun, Uttarakhand, used in tuberculosis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most difficult ailments to control in the world today. The emergence of drug resistant strains has made previously effective and affordable remedies less effective (There are more than twenty drugs that are currently used for the treatment of TB and almost all of them were developed some years ago. The drugs are used in differing combinations in different circumstances, so that for example some TB drugs are only used for the treatment of new patients who are very unlikely to have resistance to any of the TB drugs). This has made the search for new medicines from local traditional medicines. The specific objectives of this study were to identify plant species used in the treatment of TB, parts used, their methods of preparation and administration. The present study was conducted in the central tarai region of Kumaun, Uttarakhand in the year 2008-2011. Total fifteen plant species were found to be used to cure tuberculosis. The different use of Adhatoda vasica was reported first time from the study area. Species Albizia lebbeck, Bauhinia variegata, Baliospermum montanum, Sida rhombifolia, Withania somnifera, Asclepias curassavica, Echinops echinatus, and Saccharum spontaneum were reported first time of the study area.