Available online at www.pelagiaresearchlibrary.com Pelagia Research Library Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research, 2015, 5(11):8-15 ISSN : 2249-7412 CODEN (USA): AJPSKY 8 Pelagia Research Library Traditional botanical knowledge (TBK) on the use of medicinal plants in Sikles area, Nepal Santosh Kumar Rana* 1 , Pramod Sen Oli 2 and Hum Kala Rana 3 1 Ethnobotanical Society of Nepal (ESON), 107 Guchcha Marg (MJ Mart 6 th floor), Kathmandu, Nepal 2 Oxbridge International College, Mahalaxmisthan, Lagankhel, Kathmandu, Nepal 3 Goldengate International College, Battisputali, Kathmandu, Nepal _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The present study documents the Traditional Botanical Knowledge (TBK) on the use of medicinal plants by the people in Sikles area (Kaski, Nepal), mainly focusing on three wards. Sikles is located to the N-E corner of Pokhara at mountain side perched on hillock and is one of the largest and most beautiful villages inhabited by Gurung along with minority of lower caste communities. The field was carried out using the semi-structured questionnaire with 45 informants (two groups i.e. below and above 40 years). The ethno medicinal TBK was also quantitatively analyzed using Relative Frequency Citation (RFC) and Use Value (UV) along with their Pearson Correlation. Our study documented 42 plants species used by the local people to cure 43 different ailments. Majority of the species are single in their respective families. The plant families with more than one medicinal plant species reported were Compositae, Ericaceae, Labiatae, Rosaceae, Urticaceae and Zingiberaceae (each with 2 species). The dominant life form of these plant species were herbs with 24 species followed by shrub (7 sp.) and trees (7 sp.). Out of total, roots of 11 sp. were dominant with maximum use against the diseases followed by leaf (8 sp.), whole plants (8 sp.) etc. The RFC and UV calculated indicate less correlation particularly with the use value of the plants and number of informants responding the use of plants. Thus to preserve TBK on use of medicinal plants, the forthcoming generations must be acquainted with species knowledge and their medicinal values. Key words: Traditional use, Quantitative ethnobotany, Medicinal plants, Sikles _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Plants have been a source of food and medicine from the beginning of human civilization [12]. The plants used by human to cure illness and to relive the suffering are called the medicinal plants. Medicinal plants are important components in the flora of Nepal. Many of them are exclusively found in the Himalayas. Medicinal plant species are essentially used in two ways: first, major commercial used by prescription or over the counter scale and secondly as traditional medicine which may or may not attract a market price [8]. Traditional use of medicinal plant is widespread in Nepal along with the world. Only 10 % of the plants all over the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region are considered to be medicinal [16]. Still majority of the medicinal plant needs proper documentation [9]. The country supports approximately 7000 species of plants, out of which about 700 are medicinal [5]. Plants of economic importance and medicinal value have been using since time immemorial. People in the rural areas are very much linked to their surrounding vegetation and flora. Majority of the herbal medicine that is being used in Ayurvedic system come from the Himalayan region. The practice of use of medicinal plants in village is based on their experiences. The Nepalese people are more acquainted with large number of medicinal plants called it as “Jadibuti” [3].