Wild Plants used as Cure to Diseases by the People of Tribal Communities in the District of Birbhum, West Bengal, India

Sects of indigenous origin especially tribal population residing at the forest-fringes are the traditional users of the folk-medicines derived from the plants grown in proximity to where they live. Such age-old practices through generations have transformed knowledge into neural wisdom in them. This can open up a new dimension for the commercial synthesis of “Bio-medicines” supportive to eradicate the menace of drug resistance. The pharmaceutical industry can promote researches on bio-medical aspects of the ethno-medicinal plants (many being wild) and plant parts which are best addressed as Non-Timber Forest Products, to cure and prevent human diseases. Present study has dealt with these Non-Timber Forest Products to conceptualize and promote natural preventives and curatives as replacements for chemically synthesized medicines (drugs) having incidence of drug resistance and harmful side effects.