Ethno-botanical survey of some useful plants of Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Agra District, U.P., India

Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary (SSBS) is situated on the way of Agra to Delhi about 20 Km from Agra. It has been recently recognized as “Ramsar Site” and includes a large lake (7.99 Km2 ) surrounded by dense forest extending up to Yamuna river. This forest area was surveyed during July 2021 to June 2022 to enumerate plant species used by local villages for medicinal use. A total of 60 plant species were recorded which belong to 27 angiospermic families. These plants include 41 herbs, 3 shrubs, 12 trees and 4 climbers. On the basis of interview with hakim, Vaidh and local elderly people (villages), the most common medicinal plant species are Abutilon indicum, Acalypha indica, Achyranthus aspara, Argemone mexicana, Asparagus racemosus, Azadirachta indica, Bauhinia variegate, Boerhavia diffusa, Calotropis procera, Cassia fistula, Cassia tora, Catharanthus roseus, Eclipta alba, Eucalyptus globules, Euphorbia hirta, Evolvulus alsinoides, Ficus carica, Ficus glomerata, Portulaca oleracea, Prosopis juliflora, Rumex dentatus, Solanum nigrum and Vernonia anthelmentica.

Most people especially in rural areas have preserved and used herbal medicines to treat many diseases including inflammation related ailments such as rheumatism, insect bite, pains and burn by fire and hot water. Traditional medicines, variously known as ethno-medicine, folk medicine, native healing or complementary and alternative medicines is the oldest form of health care system that has stood the test of time (Mbah, et al., 2019). The botanical knowledge about indigenous wild vegetables is largely transmitted by oral tradition from generation to generation without any written record. Such practices are still prevalent among rural and tribal communities in many part of the world (Akhilesh Kumar, 2003). The present learning is towards a complete probe on the role of plants in food shelter, medicines, occupations, reaction magic – religion, ceremonies decoration and adornment by the people of Agra (Brajesh Kumar and Neelam 2009). Nearly 80% of the world population has faith in traditional medicines. Use of plants for medicinal purposes and human sustenance has been in practice in India since the vedic age. The use of plant drugs for primary healthcare is common in India (Kala et al., 2006). The earliest mention of medicinal use of the plants is in the Rigveda and Athurveda. The plants were used for medicinal purposes in the ancient world (Chauhan, 1999).

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DOI: 10.46492/IJAI/2022.7.2.4