Potential Medicinal Plants Used by the Tribal of Deogarh District, Orissa, India

Plants have been used as a source of medicine since ancient times. These medicines are safe and environmentally friendly. According to WHO about 80% of the world's population depends on traditional medicine for their primary health care. Currently the Government of India, realising the value of the country's vast range of medicinal plants, has embarked on a mission of documenting the traditional knowledge. Out of thirty districts of Orissa, Deogarh lying between 21 degrees 31' 53 '' N latitude and 84 '' 43' 2 '' E longitude with a total area of 6702 sq.kms is located in the northern part of the state, suffers from non-utilization of its forest resources though it has vast potentialities. While exploring the various forest pockets of Deogarh district, the authors interacted with different tribes like Gonda, Munda, Kondhs, Kharias and Bhumiji etc. and collected the unexplored bio-resources. The present paper highlights a rich and unique profile of un-utilized resources of the area surveyed, with 40 families belongs to 49 genera and 50 species with correct botanical identification, vernacular names, locality, parts used, doses and mode of administration in respect to different diseases.