A Review on Herbal Remedies for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) from Melghat Region of Maharashtra State, India
Nitin M. Atre
Bioinformatics and Data Management, ICMR - National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra, 411021, India.
Dinesh D. Khedkar *
Department of Botany, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati, Maharashtra, 444 605, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Melghat means "meeting of ghats" region well known for "Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR)" located in the north-western compact block of Amravati district in Maharashtra state, India. This literature review aimed to compile and document the herbal remedies for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) as Gonorrhoea, anti-HIV Leucorrhoea, Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs), and Syphilis in Melghat region. A total of 167 medicinal plant species from Melghat distributed among 137 genera, and 66 families have complied for Gonorrhea (103), Syphilis (85), Leucorrhoea (84), anti-HIV (10), and STD (01). Plant families like Lythraceae (17 species), Malvaceae (11 species), Moraceae (8 species), Euphorbiaceae (8 species), Acanthaceae (6 species), Amaranthaceae (6 species), Verbenaceae (6 species), were most frequently occurred in the study. Trees represented 34.13% of species, followed by Herbs (32.33%), Shrubs (20.95%), Climbers (10.17%), Grasses (1.19%), Orchids (0.59%) and Aquatic (0.59%). Leaves were the most commonly used plant parts; it accounts 19% followed by roots (18%), whole plant (13%), bark (13%), seeds (7%), fruits (6%), stem (5%), flowers (5%), etc. Curated data presented as botanical names, families, local names, habitat, floristic area (in Melghat), ailments, part used with relevant ethnobotanical citations were documented and thus offers scope for researchers engaged in herbal drug discovery and development.
Keywords: Medicinal plants, Melghat Flora, Gonorrhoea, Leucorrhoeaq, Syphilis, HIV, STIs.