Journal of Environmental Biology

Assessment of the importance of medicinal plants among communities around Khiat Ngong of Southern Laos

Bethany G. Elkington¹*, Phaivanh Phiapalath^2,3, Kongmany Sydara⁴, Vongtakoune Somsamouth⁴,

Nichole I. Goodsmith⁵ and D. Doel Soejarto^1,6

¹Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, USA

²Wildlife Conservation Association (WCA), Vientiane, Lao PDR

³International Union for Conservation of Nature, Vientiane, Lao PDR

⁴Institute of Traditional Medicine, Vientiane, Lao PDR

⁵Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY 10065, USA

⁶Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USA

*Corresponding Author E-mail: bethany.elkington@gmail.com 

Publication Data

Paper received:

01 August 2012

Revised received:

02 May 2013

Accepted:

05 December 2013

Abstract

A field survey was launched to identify medicinal plants growing in the Khiat Ngong wetlands and surrounding forested areas of Pathoumphone District, Champasak Province in southern Laos. In this area, 418 plants representing approximately 250 species, belonging to at least 200 genera in 93 families of vascular plants, are used by traditional healers to treat more than 95 symptoms. A large number of species are used for treating fever. At least 14 plant species have not been previously reported for having medicinal properties. At least 10 have previously been investigated and have shown interesting biological activity by other researchers, signaling promising candidates for income-generating activities. ?

 Key words

Conservation, Lao PDR, Medical Ethnobotany, Wetlands 

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