MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE DAILY DIET OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BHAGABANBASAN VILLAGE: A STUDY IN THE PASCHIM MIDNAPORE DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL

Debarpita Bhattacharya, Partha Sarathi Singha, Syed Benazir Firdaus and Debosree Ghosh*

ABSTRACT

The village of Bhagabanbasan is in the Paschim Midnapore district of West Bengal, India. Indigenous people of this area are observed to consume some plants and herbs with high medicinal values in their daily diet. Those plants and herbs with exclusive medicinal properties have been used in folk medicine from long time. In this mini review, we have provided a brief account of five such edible herbs and plants from Bhagabanbasan village of West Midnapore. A compact knowledge is necessary for conservation of those plants. Our present study also highlights the immense possibility of sustainable folk medicinal practice in heath and diseases. This study also unfurls a world of possibility to develop minimal or nil side effect bearing potential drugs from plants of this particular geographical region.

Keywords: Plants, herbs, medicinal plants, diet, edible.