Plants used by tribes of Rewa (Madhya Pradesh) in the treatment of liver disorders

Abstract

Ethnomedicinal knowledge held by tribal communities in Rewa district (Vindhya region), Madhya Pradesh, includes a variety of plant remedies for liver-related ailments such as jaundice, hepatitis-like symptoms, abdominal pain associated with hepatic dysfunction, and other “liver troubles.” This review synthesizes published ethnobotanical surveys from Rewa and adjacent tribal areas to summarize commonly used species, modes of preparation, plant parts used, and the evidence base supporting their traditional hepatoprotective use. The review highlights 10 frequently cited taxa (including Ocimum canum, Phyllanthus spp., Boerhavia diffusa and others), summarizes preparation methods (decoctions, pastes, seeds/seed extracts), discusses methodological strengths and limitations of the primary surveys, and identifies priorities for pharmacological validation and conservation. Documentation and scientific validation of tribal remedies from Rewa may inform future hepatoprotective drug discovery and local healthcare support.