TRADITIONAL HOME GARDENS AND ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS: INSIGHTS FROM THE VISNAGAR CITY MEHSANA DISTRICT

Abstract

Medicinal plants and the concomitant traditional knowledge systems are increasingly endangered due to habitat alteration, globalization, urban expansion, and modernization. While domestic gardens have been identified as a viable approach for the conservation of medicinal plants, concurrently, there have been minimal initiatives aimed at the documentation of ethnomedicinal species. Empirical research focusing on urban ethnobotany within the confines of Visnagar city is notably scarce, and the study of home gardens remains underexplored to date. Examining the biodiversity within these gardens is imperative for accumulating insights regarding the applications of this specific botanical diversity, particularly in relation to the health of the proprietors. Consequently, this investigation aims to delineate the diversity and knowledge pertaining to medicinal plants among private garden custodians across urban sectors of the Visnagar city. We systematically explored and cataloged the diversity and demographic status of ethnomedicinal plants present in the home gardens of Visnagar city. Methodological approaches included field observations and semi-structured interviews aimed at documenting the medicinal plant species found within these domestic gardens.  A comprehensive inventory of 58 species of medicinal plants was compiled from the Visnagar city locale. Predominantly, the plant species were employed by participants to address respiratory ailments, dermatological issues, and gastrointestinal disorders. Some botanical species were utilized for the treatment of multiple health complaints. The current study contributes novel insights into the diversity of medicinal plants within an urban setting that has been largely overlooked in previous research in Visnagar city.