Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 24 No. 7 (2023)

Ethnobotanical study in the underexplored species of Genus Litsea (Lauraceae) in Northern Thailand

NATCHA CHAISOUNG (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University. Chiang Mai 52000, Thailand)
PRATEEP PANYADEE (Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens. Chiang Mai 50180, Thailand)
CHUNLIN LONG (Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China. Beijing 100081, China)
CHATCHAI NGERNSAENGSARUAY (Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University. Bangkok 10900, Thailand)
TANAWAT CHAOWASKU (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University. Chiang Mai 52000, Thailand)
ANGKHANA INTA (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University. Chiang Mai 52000, Thailand)



Article Info

Publish Date
05 Aug 2023

Abstract

Abstract. Chaisoung N, Panyadee P, Long C, Ngernsaengsaruay C, Chaowasku T, Inta A. 2023. Ethnobotanical study in the underexplored species of Genus Litsea (Lauraceae) in Northern Thailand. Biodiversitas 24: 3977-4000. Ethnobotanical studies offer valuable insights into medicinal plant use, but accuracy is limited by the difficulty in identifying similar species during field surveys. This study aims to investigate the Genus Litsea Lam. (Lauraceae) plants in Thailand, specifically focusing on underexplored species with ethnobotanical value for future utilization. The present research aims to comprehensively analyze the ethnobotanical data by comparing the results from previous ethnobotanical documents with those obtained from our field surveys. From a comprehensive review of ethnobotanical documents published from 1996-2022, the study discovered seven species of Litsea report to be used in Thailand. In addition, a subsequent field survey from November 2019 to December 2021 revealed that 13 species were used, with 11 of these used for medicinal purposes. The study identified seven additional species not previously documented for their medicinal uses. Among these species, Litsea mollis Hemsl., Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C.B.Rob. and Litsea martabanica (Kurz) Hook.fil. have the highest use values and hold potential for future development, particularly L. mollis and L. martabanica. We also found that Litsea species were primarily used for treating digestive disorders. This study highlighted the importance of considering taxonomic complexities and conducting field surveys to assess plant uses accurately and can serve as a foundation for future research on these species, including their chemical analysis, biological activities, and pharmacological properties.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

biodiv

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology

Description

The Biodiversitas Journal was first published in 2000 by the Department of Biology, FMNS, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia, then in 2006 it was co-published by the Society for Indonesian Biodiversity and that department; since 2017 it was also hosted by Smujo. From 2003-2012 it was ...