Investigating Traditional Therapeutics: A Documentation and Analysis of Ethno-gynaecological (Medicinal) Flora among Tribal Communities of Dharampur Forest, South Gujarat, India

This dataset originates from a comprehensive ethno-gynaecological study and subsequent phytochemical screening of 12 specific therapeutic plants. These plants hold significant traditional value, having been utilized for generations by tribal communities in Dharampur Taluka, South Gujarat, India, particularly for women's health conditions. During fieldwork, researchers meticulously identified these 12 crucial herbal medications, which are commonly employed by tribal women to address various medical ailments. The core objective of this study was to scientifically validate the traditional knowledge surrounding these plants through a thorough assessment of their phytochemical properties. For the phytochemical analysis, crude extraction of the plant materials was performed using the Soxhlet extraction method with solvents of varying polarities: Methanol, Ethyl acetate, Chloroform, and Petroleum ether. Notably, the highest phytochemical extractive yield was observed in the methanolic extract of the stem bark of Prosopis cineraria (L.), reaching an impressive 30%. Conversely, the lowest crude phytochemical yield was noted in the Petroleum ether extract. Preliminary phytochemical tests were conducted to detect the presence of key compounds, including Alkaloids, Cardiac glycosides, Flavonoids, Phenols, Phloba Tannins, Tannins, and Sterols. To further assess the quality and purity of the plant materials, the ash values of all 12 medicinal plants were investigated invloving total ash and acid-insoluble ash. A primary focus of the phytochemical screening was to quantify the Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) in these therapeutic plants. Regarding TPC, the methanolic extract of the stem bark of Prosopis cineraria (L.) exhibited the highest content, at 131.53 mg/gm, while the lowest TPC in methanolic extracts was found in the stem bark of Pterocarpus marsupium (Roxb.) (12.21 mg/gm). For ethyl acetate extracts, the stem bark of Prosopis cineraria (L.) again showed the highest TPC (13.94 mg/gm), with the lowest in Pterocarpus marsupium (Roxb.) (2.14 mg/gm). In terms of TFC, the methanolic extract of the stem bark of Boerhavia verticillate Poir. recorded the highest value (14.58 mg/gm), whereas the lowest TFC in methanolic extracts was observed in the stem bark of Pterocarpus marsupium (Roxb.) (1.65 mg/gm). For ethyl acetate extracts, the stem bark of Helicteres isora (Linn.) displayed a remarkably high TFC of 211.41 mg/gm, with the lowest in Pterocarpus marsupium (Roxb.) (15.75 mg/gm). Crucially, all 12 selected medicinal plants demonstrated significant antioxidant activity through analytical methods. This highlights their considerable potential in preventing oxidative stress-related disorders and scientifically supports their long-standing traditional use in herbal medicine by the tribal communities of Dharampur Forest, South Gujarat, India. This approach bridges the traditional indigenous knowledge with scientific methods.

本数据集源自一项综合性民族妇科学研究，以及针对12种特定药用植物的后续植物化学筛选。这些植物拥有极高的传统应用价值，印度古吉拉特邦南部达兰普尔塔卢克的部落社群已世代使用它们，尤其用于改善女性健康状况。实地调研期间，研究人员严谨甄别出这12种关键药用草本植物——它们常被部落女性用于应对各类病症。
本研究的核心目标为：通过全面评估这些植物的植物化学特性，科学验证其背后的传统应用知识。植物化学分析环节中，研究人员采用索氏提取法（Soxhlet extraction），以不同极性的溶剂——甲醇、乙酸乙酯、三氯甲烷（氯仿）及石油醚——对植物原料进行粗提。值得注意的是，灰牧豆（Prosopis cineraria (L.)）茎皮的甲醇提取物植物化学粗提得率最高，可达令人瞩目的30%；与之相对，石油醚提取物的粗植物化学得率最低。
研究人员开展了初步植物化学检测，以甄别多种关键成分的存在，包括生物碱、强心苷、黄酮类、酚类、花簇鞣质（Phloba Tannins）、鞣质及甾醇。为进一步评估植物原料的质量与纯度，研究人员对全部12种药用植物的灰分值展开了测定，涵盖总灰分及酸不溶性灰分。
本次植物化学筛选的核心重点为：定量测定这些药用植物中的总酚含量（Total Phenolic Content, TPC）与总黄酮含量（Total Flavonoid Content, TFC）。就总酚含量（TPC）而言，灰牧豆茎皮的甲醇提取物含量最高，达131.53 mg/gm；而甲醇提取物中总酚含量最低的为紫檀（Pterocarpus marsupium (Roxb.)）茎皮，仅为12.21 mg/gm。对于乙酸乙酯提取物而言，灰牧豆茎皮的总酚含量仍为最高（13.94 mg/gm），最低值同样出自紫檀茎皮（2.14 mg/gm）。
就总黄酮含量（TFC）而言，轮叶黄细心（Boerhavia verticillate Poir.）茎皮的甲醇提取物含量最高，达14.58 mg/gm；而甲醇提取物中总黄酮含量最低的为紫檀茎皮（1.65 mg/gm）。对于乙酸乙酯提取物而言，火索麻（Helicteres isora (Linn.)）茎皮的总黄酮含量极高，达211.41 mg/gm；最低值仍为紫檀茎皮（15.75 mg/gm）。
至关重要的是，经分析方法检测，全部12种入选药用植物均表现出显著的抗氧化活性。这不仅凸显了它们在预防氧化应激相关疾病方面的巨大潜力，也为印度古吉拉特邦南部达兰普尔森林部落社群长期以来使用这些草本药物的传统实践提供了科学依据。本研究方案实现了传统本土知识与科学研究方法的有机结合。