Fading but still existing: some new observations on Santals’ Ethnoveterinary medicinal practices from the Purba and Paschim Bardhaman districts of West Bengal (India)

Background: The Santals have innate expertise in managing their livestock’s health and it is still actively practiced the districts of rural West Bengal, India. Perusal literature indicates that no research work exclusively on ethnoveterinary medicine has been carried out till date from Purba Paschim Bardhaman Bengal. In this regard, indigenous therapeutic knowledge (ITK) for livestock care being studied among Santal ethnic group inhabited various corners these districts. Materials Methods: current study, data were gathered using both situ ex techniques after taking prior informed consent (PIC) each 57 participants. Group discussion semi-structured open-ended questionnaire was used to conduct interviews. To identify important folk-medicinal species, three quantitative indices like factor informant consensus (Fic), use-mentions (UM) relative frequency citation (RFC) employed here. Results: Altogether 62 plant species documented here 12 types disease categories. most cases, roots underground parts (30%) used. 69.49% remedies applied orally. Fic value ranges 0.6 0.94, RFC 0.79 8.7 Achyranthes aspera L. identified as mostly exploited species. Impact plants Aristolochia indica L., Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.) DC. Strychnos nux-vomica also found deep people’s culture area. Conclusion: collected medicinal datasets statistically analyzed information can contribute a lot build up bioprospecting objectives, conservation strategies, socioeconomic agendas. Keywords: ITK, phytomedicine, ethnobotany, Santals, Bardhaman, Bengal