Diversity of Medicinal Plants and Their Therapeutic Usages of Kachin Ethnic Group in the Central Part of Kachin State, Myanmar

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The traditional medical system plays a major role in healthcare in Kachin state of Myanmar, where long-term political instability persists and healthcare facility is inadequate. The traditional knowledge of medicinal plants benefits Kachin ethnic groups, yet its documentation and record are rare. In this study, we attempt to answer the questions on what medicinal plants and how they are used by the Kachin ethnic group.<br><br>Materials and methods: Eighty-two informants from eight villages belonging to three townships were interviewed and their knowledge of medicinal plants was recorded. The reported ailments were classified to the standard categories of the International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2) system. Use report (UR) was employed for the evaluation of the knowledge consensus of the informants.<br><br>Results: We recorded 117 species, of which 22 are newly recorded medicinal plant species for Myanmar, belonging to 103 genera of 52 families with 72 ailments from 17 disease categories of ICPC-2. Fabaceae and Lamiaceae showed the most medicinally represented families with eleven and eight species. The most cited species based on URs were Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. &amp; Thomson (URs = 39), Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz (URs = 28), Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. (URs = 26), Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King &amp; H.Rob. (URs =24), and Chloranthus elatior Link. (URs = 22). Digestive system disorder was the most prevalent disease category treated by 47 medicinal plants with 142 URs. Leaves were the most used plant part; decoction was the dominant method of preparation; and oral consumption is the most frequent administration method.<br><br>Conclusion: The living knowledge of the diverse medicinal plant species for treating a wide range of health problems suggests its important role and value in the basic health provision for Kachin people, which deserve further exploration and application with the assistance of modern methods and technology. Newly contributions and newly recorded medicinal plants reflect the facts of lacking ethnobotanical studies in both wider coverage and in-depth survey. This study also suggested further considerations of the phytomedicines development, pressure on natural resources, dose-effect and pharmacological activities of medicinal plants from traditional medical practices of Kachin people.