• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1-23
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to document the use of medicinal plants in traditional practices and to analyze and evaluate medicinal traditional knowledge of indigenous people in Wolchulsan National Park. Methods : Data were collected through interviews, informal meetings, open and group discussions, and observations guided by semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed via quantitative analysis of use value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL), and network analysis. Results : A total of 580 methods of usage recorded in this study were classified into 55 families, 95 genera, and 104 species. Plants with the highest recorded UVs were Glycine max (L.) Merr., Leonurus japonicus Houtt., and Artemisia princeps Pamp.. The informant consensus factor about using medicinal plants ranged from 0.55 to 0.92, which showed a high level of agreement among the informants on respiratory system disorders and pains. There were 22 species of plants with a fidelity level of 100 %, after eliminating the plants that were mentioned only once from the analysis. Finally, using network analysis, Glycine max (L.) Merr. and Artemisia princeps Pamp. were defined as species with meaningful medicinal use, while lumbago and leg pain were defined as significant ailments in the study area. Conclusions : This study highlights the diversity and importance of medicinal traditional knowledge for communities of Wolchulsan National Park, Korea. The results of this study will provide basic data for phytochemical and pharmaceutical studies, such as new medicines and therapies.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.33-44
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• 2019

Objectives : This study aims to record and conserve oral traditional knowledge of medicinal animals from the indigenous people living in the local communities of Songnisan National Park, Korea. Methods : Data was collected by participatory observations and in-depth interviews with semi-structured questionnaires. Quantitative comparative analyses were accomplished through data received from the following three methods: informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), and network analysis. Results : The investigation reveals that the indigenous people have used 49 species of medicinal animals distributed within 45 genera, belonging to 39 families with 336 different usages. According to the distribution of recorded families, the most representative families were Scolpendridae and Phasianidae, which were utilized 36 times each (10.71 % each). The category with the highest degree of consensus from informants was disorders related to the nervous system (0.97). 16 species were classified with a fidelity level of 100 %. The network analysis revealed that a lack of vigor was related to 23 species, including Agkistrodon blomhoffii, Gallus domesticus, and Canis familiaris, among the total 49 species investigated. Conclusions : This documentation can help preserve the traditional knowledge and local health traditions of Korea that are disappearing due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and death of the elderly with traditional knowledge. Additionally, the animals investigated in this study can be developed into medicinal food and drug for treating specific health conditions through further research.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.217-227
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• 2021

This study is a record of ethnomedicinal knowledge in Begumganj province focussed on medicinal plants and their local uses for primary health care. The aim was to document and preserve the ethnomedicinal knowledge used by traditional healers of Begumganj upazila, Bangladesh, to treat human diseases and evaluate the relative efficacy of the medicinal plants. The uses of medicinal plants were documented as an ethnomedicinal data sheet using direct observation, field interview, plant interview and group interview techniques from December 2012 to January 2014 in the study area. Data were collected from 98 traditional healers through a questionnaire survey and analyzed through informant consensus factor and fidelity level. This study revealed comprehensive relationship among various diseases and families, forms and parts of plants and modes of preparation. Overall, 75 plant species under 71 genera of 47 families were documented, which are used to treat 41 diseases. Data analysis revealed that 41.33%, 14.67%, 36% and 8% of the medicinal plant species were herbs, shrubs, trees, and climbers, respectively. Leaves were the most used parts, followed by stem, root, fruit, bark, latex and rhizome. The most frequently treated diseases were dysentery, rheumatism and skin diseases. This is the first ethnobotanical survey, which recorded the importance of medicinal plants in Begumganj upazila, Bangladesh. This study can contribute to preserving the indigenous knowledge on the traditional use of medicinal plants in this region and new drug development with attracting future generations towards traditional healing practice.