~ 326 ~ Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2017; 5(1): 326-330 ISSN 2320-3862 JMPS 2017; 5(1): 326-330 © 2017 JMPS Received: 09-11-2016 Accepted: 10-12-2016 Holmukhe SS Assit. Professor, Department of Extension Education, College of Agriculture, Kanchanwadi, Aurangabad, M.S., India Antwal PN HOD, Department of Extension Education VNMKV, Parbhani, M. S., India Correspondence Holmukhe SS Assit. Professor, Department of Extension Education, College of Agriculture, Kanchanwadi, Aurangabad, M.S., India Use of indigenous medicinal plants by tribal women for treatment of digestive disorder Holmukhe SS and Antwal PN Abstract Nanded district of Maharashtra state has the major forest area in the district is in Kinwat taluka (i.e.) about 57,800 hectares. This taluka is also a part of area popularly known as Gondwan. Approximately more than three out of every ten persons in taluka are tribals (32 per cent). Among tribals, Rajgond (47 per cent), Andh (36 per cent), Pardhan (9 per cent) and Bhil (5 per cent) are the main tribals. The tribal area is spread over 1146 square kilometers (Census, 1991). Most of the tribal women working in the farming activities and they take care of health of all family members. They are most of the time used medicinal plants and parts to cure health problems. From kinwat taluka six villages were selected and twenty villagers from each village were randomly selected for the study. Thus, from each village 20 respondents making the total sample size 120 were selected. For this study statistical tools were used as frequency, percentage, correlational analysis, multiple regressions. To collect data regarding use of indigenous medicinal plants for digestive disorder by them interview schedule was prepared with help of information regarding diseases name, plant name, medicinal plants used in the form of seed, root stem, bark, leaves, flowers, rhizome, bulb. Plants are one of the most important sources of medicine. The application of plants as medicines dates back to prehistoric period. Keywords: Digestive disorder, medicinal plants, sources of medicine etc. 1. Introduction The Kinwat region of Nanded district is a rich source of medicinal plants. The region is not only outwardly beautiful, but also encompasses numerous species of medicinal plants having great importance. The trees viz. Harda (Terminalia chebula), Behda (Terminalia bellerica), Awala (Emblica officinalis), Jamun (Syzygium cumini), Satwin (Alstonia scholaris), the herbs and shrubs viz. Adulsa (Adhatoda vasica), Pangara (Erythrina indica), Nirgudi (Vitex negundo), Tulas (Ocimum tenuiflorum) are commonly observed everywhere in the region. However, these valuable plants have remained neglected by the common rural people and a handful of knowledgeable people have exploited these species for their own benefits. At present, due to increasing industrialization, mining, and the charcoal making etc. the tree species having medicinal value are disappearing at faster rate. In country like India, where 65 per cent of the total population has access to only local medicinal plant knowledge systems and 70 per cent of the population lives in villages struggling to access and afford modern allopathic medicines, both traditional systems of medicine (TSM) and folk knowledge system of medicine are of significance. TSM exists in the form of well-known classical traditions of Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha, which are characterized by a large number of practitioners trained through formal institutions, a well codified body of text either in the form of scriptures or other written forms and an official recognition as “Indian Systems of Medicine.” Both Ayurvedic and Siddha systems of medicine originated more than 3000 years ago and were prevalent in North and South India, respectively. The Unani systems of medicine originated in Greece (460-377 BC) and became more popular in India after the establishment of the Central Council for Research in Indian Medicine and Homeopathy in 1969. Complementary to these codified systems, the folk knowledge systems are largely transmitted through oral means and flourish at the village level with little or negligible support from official channels at the state or the national level. (Shukla and Gardner, 2006) [5] 2. Materials & Methodology Ex-post-facto research design was used for the present study as it is worthy to apply when the