Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants of Tehri Garhwal used for skin problems caused by ultraviolet exposure

Abstract

The present investigation focuses on the use of ethnomedicinal plants found in the district Tehri Garhwal for the treatment of skin ailments caused by prolonged exposure to harmful sun UV radiation. Prolonged exposure to harmful UV rays results in skin reddening, irritation, inflammation, flakiness, hyperpigmentation, photoaging, sunburn, blisters, immunosuppression and may even lead to skin cancer. The extensive and intensive survey was carried out in the district Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. The villages visited were Dharsal Gaon, Sondkoti, Badon Gaon, Dargi, Semalta, Kemwal Gaon, Manogi, Chaamni, Koldar, Kotdwar, Sursingdhar, Guldi, Nakot, Dikhol gaon, Saabli, Jaakh, Jaghdhar, Lamkot, Kathuli, Naagni, Madan Negi, Chhamund, Dang, Dobra, Kandikhal, Koti, Uniyal Gaon and Pathiana. This informative investigation was carried out through personal interviews with the local inhabitants, especially local Vaidyas or medicinal practitioners, old-aged men and women, Gujjars and shepherds. We collected information about 22 plant species belonging to 19 families and 22 different genera, i.e., Aloe indica Royle, Avena sativa L., Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., Calendula officinalis L., Camellia sinensis var. sinensis (L.) Kuntze, Cannabis sativa L., Cassia fistula L., Citrus lemon (L.) Osbeck, Curcuma domestica Valeton., Emblica officinalis Gaertn., Helianthus annus L., Juglans regia L., Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. Roemer, Malus domestica (Suckow) Borkh., Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds., Ocimum basilicum L., Piper nigrum L., Portulaca oleracea L., Prunus armeniaca L., Ricinus communis L., Rubia cordifolia L. and Solanum tuberosum L. The dominant families were Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Rosaceae with 2 species each.