Fundamentals of Ethnobotany. Uncover the fascinating world where plants and cultures intertwine with our PowerPoint presentation on the Fundamentals of Ethnobotany. This informative and visually engaging presentation delves into the essential aspects of ethnobotany, offering a comprehensive overview of the intricate relationships between plants and human societies. Key Highlights: Introduction to Ethnobotany: Understand the foundational concepts of ethnobotany, exploring its definition, scope, and significance in the study of plants and cultures. Historical Perspectives: Take a journey through time to explore how different civilizations have utilized plants for medicinal, culinary, and ritualistic purposes. Gain insights into the historical development of ethnobotanical knowledge. Cultural Significance of Plants: Delve into the diverse ways in which various cultures integrate plants into their customs, traditions, and belief systems. Explore the symbolic and practical roles of plants in different societies. The scope of Ethnobotany. History of ethnobotany. Objectives of Etnobotany and rich tapestry of ethnobotany.

1. Fundamentals of
Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany is the study of traditional plant used by
indigenous people. Knowledge of ethnobotany is very
ancient. It provides details on the traditional uses of
plant resources that can be practiced to integrated
tribal development.
Dr. T. Annie Sheron
Associate Professor
Dept. of Botany
GDCW(A) Begumpet, Hyderabad

2. Origin of Ethnobotany
1
Stephen Powers' Coining
Stephen Powers in 1873 first coined the word “Aboriginal
Botany” and explained in the form of simple definition as the
“study of vegetation used by aboriginals for their various
commodities such as food, shelter, medicine, textiles, ornaments,
etc”.
2 John William Harshberger's Term
The term "ethnobotany" was first used in 1895 by John William
Harshberger, a botanist at the University of Pennsylvania, to refer
to the use of plants by indigenous people.
3 The word is derived from the terms "ethno" the study of
people and "botany" for the study of plants. Ethnobotany
deals with the direct relationship of plants with man.
4 Wickens (1990) defined Ethnobotany as the study of
useful plants before they are commercially exploited and
domesticated.
5 Modern Definition
Modern definition by Nancy Turner in1996,
“Ethnobotany is the Science of people’s interactions with
plants”.

3. Origin of Ethnobotany
1 The tribal people are the main repositories of traditional
knowledge regarding the various applications of plants
2 The locals and traditional healers verbally transmitted their
knowledge and beliefs about plants to generation after
generation..
3 · The study of foods, fibres, dyes, tans, other beneficial and
harmful plants, taboos, avoidances, and even magicalo-
religious beliefs about plants are all included in ethnobotany.

4. Multidisciplinary Field
A multidisciplinary field of study, ethnobotany has applications in sociology,
anthropology, taxonomy, photochemistry, archaeology, ecology, agriculture,
medicine, linguistics, and other fields.
Traditional Knowledge
The tribal people are the main
repositories of traditional knowledge
regarding the various applications of
plants.
Man-Plant Relationship
This man-plant relationship can be
broadly classified into two groups, viz.
(a) Abstract and (b) Concrete.

5. Plant-Cultural Context
Abstract Relationship
The abstract relationship between man
and plants includes folklore, taboos,
avoidances, sacred plants, worship, and
belief in the positive or negative
properties of various plants.
Concrete Relationship
The use of plants in fine arts and culture,
such as paintings, carvings, and home
decoration, as well as acts of
domestication, conservation, improvement,
or destruction, constitute the concrete
relationship.

6. History of Ethnobotany
Indian and Chinese civilizations were more developed
during the middle Ages. Plants have been used for
organised health care programmes for over 5000
years in India and China.

7. 1 Tablet from 3,000 B.C.
A tablet listing doctor's prescriptions from about 3,000 B.C. and
copies of ancient Egyptian records from 1550 B.C. are the first
evidence of plants being used for medicinal purposes in the
Western tradition.
2 According to Rigveda, man learned to distinguish food plants from
toxic plants by observing observant animals that track completely
distinct plants. He gradually cultivated various wild plants to satisfy
his fundamental needs.

8. Contributions to Ethnobotany
1 .Dioscorides' Contribution
The first person to make an
effort to organize all of the
plant knowledge that was at
the time known to the Greek
world was Dioscorides. In
AD 77, the Greek surgeon
Dioscorides published "De
Materia Medica", which was
a catalog of about 600 plants
in the Mediterranean.
2 Carl Linnaeus
In 1753 Carl Linnaeus wrote
"Species Plantarum", which
included information on
about 5,900 plants. Linnaeus
is famous for inventing the
binomial method of
nomenclature, in which all
species get a two part name
(genus, species)

9. Contributions to Ethnobotany
Richard Evans Schultes
Richard Evans
Schultes, often
referred to as the
"Father of
Ethnobotany”.
Sir Villium John’s
Sir Villium John’s
first wrote a book
“Botanical
observation on
select plant”.
The first book on
Indian ethnobotany
was “A Glimpse of
Indian
Ethnobotany” (Jain
1981).

10. Indian Ethnobotany
Vedic Period
In India, a brief
relevance
documented
knowledge on
the healing
assets of 99
plants can be
dated back to
the Vedic
period, which
lasted from
3500 to 1800
BC.
Indian Treatment
System
Most important
works of the
Indian treatment
system: Charak
and Susurk's work,
Charak Vedic
literature and
Sushurta Vedic
literature. There
are 400-450
medicinal plants
mentioned in
Charak Vedic
literature.
Dr. Sudhanshu
Kumar Jain
Dr. Sudhanshu
Kumar Jain [Dr.
S. K. Jain] in
1986 from
NBRI Lucknow
is known as
“Father of
Indian
Ethnobotany”
for his
pioneering work
in India.
Kartika and Basu
Kartika and
Basu (1935)
popularised
Indian
medicinal herbs.

11. Indian Medicinal Herbs
1 Manuscripts on Palm Leaves
Manuscripts written on palm
leaves contain information about
additional plant-based medical
traditions with roots in
Buddhism.
2 Indian Pharmacological Medication
Indian pharmacological
medication accounts of around
3500 species of endemic and
exotic crude medicine.

12. Objectives of Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany aims to achieve several important objectives
to ensure the preservation, documentation, and utilization
of indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants. The
objectives range from conservation efforts to creating
awareness and providing job opportunities.

13. Proper Documentation
1 Thorough Record-keeping 2
Proper documentation involves
meticulous record-keeping of
indigenous knowledge related to
medicinal plants. It includes
detailed descriptions of plant uses,
traditional remedies, and cultural
significance.
Respect for Traditional Knowledge
The documentation process
respects the unwritten traditional
knowledge about herbal plants. It
acknowledges the importance of
preserving and honoring cultural
wisdom passed down through
generations.

14. Conservation and Preservation
National Heritage Protection
One of the primary objectives
is the conservation of our
national heritage before the
potential extinction of valuable
medicinal plants due to various
environmental and human-
related factors.
Biodiversity Preservation
Ethnobotany aims to contribute
to the preservation of
biodiversity by protecting and
maintaining the population of
medicinal plants in their natural
habitat.

15. Cultural and Social Impact
1 Community Awareness
The objective is to create awareness about the cultural, social, and
health-related significance of medicinal plants within the community.
This involves education and engagement with local traditions and
practices.
2 Health and Well-being
Ethnobotany seeks to highlight the role of medicinal plants in
promoting health and well-being within cultural contexts, emphasizing
their historical and contemporary significance.

16. Training and Utilization
Skill Development
The objective includes training people for the utilization and conservation of medicinal plants,
focusing on developing practical skills related to identifying, processing, and using herbal remedies.
Research and Opportunities
1 Scientific Endeavors
One of the key objectives is to
encourage research in the field of
ethnobotany, creating new
opportunities for scientific
exploration and discoveries related
to traditional medicinal plants.
2 Job Opportunities
Ethnobotany offers diverse career
prospects in botanical research,
conservation, and education,
providing individuals with
opportunities to contribute to the
preservation of traditional herbal
knowledge.

17. Herbal Drug Development
Increased Production
Ethnobotany aims to contribute to the increase in the manufacture of
herbal drugs through rigorous scientific research and collaboration
between traditional knowledge and modern pharmaceutical practices.

18. Preservation and Progress
Cultural Preservation
The objective is to preserve the knowledge of medicinal plants
for future generations, ensuring the continuation of traditional
practices and wisdom.
Promoting Progress
Simultaneously, ethnobotany endeavors to promote progress
by integrating traditional knowledge with contemporary
research and practices, fostering a harmonious balance
between heritage and innovation.

19. Scope of Ethnobotany
The scope of ethnobotany has significantly expanded with
the development of new great views, both in terms of its
theoretical contribution to the understanding of plant-
human relationships and tribal people's practical knowledge
of industry, agriculture, and medicine.

20. Traditional Uses of Plant Wealth
1 Integrated Tribal Development
It provides information on traditional uses of plant wealth that can be used
in integrated tribal development. Ethnobotany provides information on
how plants have been used traditionally; this information can help
societies progress.
2 Valuable Lesser-Known Plants
The study of ethnobotany introduces us to lesser-known but valuable
plants and guides in understanding numerous plants that are already
familiar to us in different ways.
3 Medicinal Plant Importance
Even today, medicinal plants are almost the primary source of drugs for
the majority of the world's population. Plant products account for
approximately 25% of all prescribed medicines.

21. Medicinal Knowledge Preservation
1 Preservation of Traditional
Knowledge
Prevent the loss of traditional
knowledge as a result of
modernization's impact.
2 New Medicine Development
Reduces the time required for
the development of new
medicines.
3 Natural Disease Treatment
Treatment of various diseases using natural methods.

22. Importance of Ethnomedical Data
Chemical Research
The ethnomedical data
will be a valuable source
of knowledge for
chemists, pharmacologists,
and herbal medicine
practitioners for the
isolation and detection of
bioactive compounds used
in contemporary medicine.
Drug Source
For the vast majority of
the world's population,
medicinal plants serve as a
source of medications.
This is known as medico-
ethnobotany. This feature
shows the importance of
ethnobotany.
Drug Discoveries
Over the past few decades,
several drugs, including
quinine, cocaine, digoxin,
and taxol, have been
found to be derived from
plants in recent years.

23. Conservation and Sustainable Use
Biodiversity Preservation
Biodiversity preservation and
sustainable use.
Adaptation to Environments
Adaptation to habitats and
ecosystems.
Economic Growth
Ethnobotany study helps to provide information to administrators and
scientists to help them initiate plans for the development and economic
growth of tribal areas.

24. Impact on Society and Culture
Medicine Discovery
The understanding of the relationship between plants and
society has also led to the recent discovery of some bioactive
substances, including artemisinin, gossypol, hypericin, etc.
Cultural Diversity
The study of ethnobotany also promotes understanding of the
relationship between human and plant interactions, cultural
diversity, and biodiversity.
Community Interaction
Studying ethnobotany to make important contributions. For
example, the study of indigenous food production and local
medicinal knowledge offers the promise of practical
implications for developing sustainable agriculture and
discovering new medicines.