SOME ETHNOMEDICINAL TREE SPECIES OF SHEKHAWATI REGION OF RAJASTHAN USED IN FOLK AND HERBAL MEDICINES

The Shekhawati region is spread over the Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts of Rajasthan state. Studies have been done on identification and exploration of the possibilities of exploitation of ethnomedicinal tree species of Shekhawati region. The major tribes are Bhils, Garasia, Saharia, Meena, Damor, Patelia, kanjar, gadolia luhar etc. These tribes still prefer traditional medicines for their household remedies. Ten tree species like Ailanthus excelsa Roxb., Albizia lebbeck (Linn.) Willd., Balanites aegyptiaca (Linn.) Delile., Bauhinia variegata Linn., Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.,Crataeva nurvala Buch-Ham., Dalbergia sissoo Roxb., Maytenus emarginata (willd.) Ding-Hou., Salvadora presica Linn., Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem. have been selected for this research work. It has revealed that these tree species have great potential to be used in drugs and pharmaceutical industries. The present investigation is aimed to create awareness about the ethnomedicinal value of the plants and their uses to draw the attention of pharmacologists, phytochemists and pharmaceuticals.