SACRED PLANTS AND THEIR ETHNO-MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Jayanta Mistry*

ABSTRACT

Sacred groves contain religious or worship plants. Sacred groves found in different regions of India shows rich diversity of medicinal plants and provide suitable habitat for their sustainable growth and natural regeneration. Indigenous communities are conserving valuable biodiversity with these sacred grooves. Drugs obtained from these ethno-medicinal plants are believed to be much safer and exhibit a remarkable efficacy in the treatment of various aliments. The ethno-medicinal traditions play a reflecting and prominent role in human and environment interaction. A total of 30 sacred ethno-medicinal plant species distributed in 24 families were observed in West Bengal.

Keywords: Aliment, ethno-medicinal, indigenous community, religious, sacred grove, worship.