Medicinal plants from Gangetic plains of West Bengal for the management of gastrointestinal diseases

AbstractIn present scenario, lifestyle has been changed, and causing several diseases which are, spreading rapidly in the world. Regular intake of synthetic drugs, cause the side effects and are initiating from the digestive system, hence, it creates the search of locally available herbs which are useful in the management of health hazards. To achieve this goal, the present work of the documentation of herbal wealth useful in the management of gastrointestinal diseases affecting the system from mouth to anus in West Bengal in the Gangetic areas have been made. The main such disorders are the constipation, diarrhoea, dysentery, gastritis, intestinal worm, irregular bowel and colorectal cancer. To fulfil the need, authors have made exploration of vegetation related to gastrointestinal disorders, in the specific areas and prepared voucher specimens of the documented plants. Under this study, the exploration of medicinal plants useful in the management of gastrointestinal diseases between Shivalik hills to Gangasagar has been completed by collecting the plant samples, identifying them with the consultation of available literature, and preparing herbarium vouchers for records, as well as documenting the results under consultation with the local people and the available literature. During exploration, in the study areas of West Bengal, 113 medicinal plants belonging to 47 families with a maximum number from the Family Fabaceae were recorded related to the management of gastrointestinal disorders from the categories of herbs, shrubs and trees.