Format: ORAL

Valukattil P. Thomas*, Thundiathu T. Binoy

Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India

India has a rich diversity of Zingiberaceae and constitutes one of the ten largest families in the country. The family is considered one of the important families in monocotyledons because of their economic, medicinal and ornamental values.Ethnobotanical studies on Zingiberaceae of Kerala identified 26 taxa with ethnobotanical significance and were used by various tribal communities in Kerala, India. The study covered 34 tribal communities distributed over 14 districts of Kerala and informants were interviewed during house-to-house surveys. The information from tribal practitioners was compared with results obtained during earlier visits. Taxonomic studies were carried out and voucher specimens were deposited at CATH. The specimens are conserved in the Ginger House of Catholicate College Botanical Garden (CCBG). The collected data were analyzed using the informant consensus factor (Fic), fidelity level and use value (UV). The plants were utilized in traditional medicine, food, fodder, religious purposesetc. The Fic values of various species were analyzed and calculated for 22 categories. The highest values of Fic for Zingiberaceae were calculated in the case of the ENT category (1.0) and the lowest value was estimated for gynaecological ailments (0.28). The highest use value was determined forCurcuma longa(0.056). The highest fidelity level was reported forCurcuma longa(92.4%)followed byC. amada(87.1%)andZingiber officinale(86.3%).The documentation of traditional knowledge and conservation of the valuable plants are very important and the information collected will serve as baseline data for future phytochemical and pharmacological research to develop new drugs and services.