Ethnopharmacological survey and GC-MS profiling of medicinal plants in Surguja district, Chhattisgarh: Bridging traditional knowledge and bioactive compound discovery

Abstract

Introduction

Surguja District in Chhattisgarh, India, is a repository of rich ethnopharmacological knowledge vital for traditional healthcare and developing novel pharmacological applications. This study sought to document the traditional uses of medicinal plants in the region, assess their cultural and therapeutic significance, and identify bioactive species for further pharmacological investigation.

Methods

Ethnobotanical data were gathered from 289 informants (259 males, 30 females) across 43 villages using semi-structured interviews. Necessary permissions were obtained from the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Surguja. Quantitative indices such as Use Value (UV), Family Use Value (FUV), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and Jaccard Index (JI) were employed for data analysis. Additionally, GC-MS analysis was conducted on Asparagus racemosus Willd. and Mirabilis jalapa L. to identify bioactive compounds.

Results

A total of 183 plant species (180 angiosperms and 3 pteridophytes) representing 157 genera and 63 families were documented, addressing 92 human ailments. Among these, 25 species were used in veterinary medicine, 22 in magico-religious practices, and 56 as food plants. The Fabaceae family (24 taxa) and herbs (40.98 %) were predominant. The most utilized plant part was bark (19.11 %), while paste (55.72 %) was the most common preparation method. Asparagus racemosus Willd. exhibited the highest UV (1.28), followed by Mirabilis jalapa L. (1.22). Trauma-related ailments recorded the highest ICF (0.97). The JI revealed the most significant ethnobotanical similarity with Dindori, Madhya Pradesh. GC-MS analysis identified 30 bioactive compounds in Asparagus racemosus Willd. and 34 in Mirabilis jalapa L.

Conclusions

This study highlights the ethnopharmacological wealth of Surguja District, emphasizing the therapeutic potential of species like Asparagus racemosus Willd. Conservation initiatives and integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches are critical for sustainable biodiversity utilization and innovative drug development.