Documentation of Medicinal flora of Govt Science College Campus, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

This study documents the medicinal plant diversity recorded during July 2025–July 2026 on the campus of Government Science College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The college campus harbours considerable biological diversity and supports a large population of students and researchers who utilise its diverse plant resources for academic, teaching, and research purposes. A total of 106 medicinal plant species belonging to 99 genera and 55 families were documented and evaluated for their therapeutic significance. Among the recorded medicinal plants, herbs constituted the largest proportion (36%), followed by trees (34%), climbers (16%), and shrubs (14%). These medicinal plants are traditionally utilised for the management of a wide range of ailments, including fever, diarrhoea, bone fractures, parasitic worm infections, enhancement of milk production, and snake bites. Leaves were found to be the most frequently utilised plant part, while paste was the most common form of medicinal preparation. Several plant species are collected from natural or wild habitats for medicinal purposes. In addition, new plant species are regularly introduced and cultivated on the campus through annual tree plantation and greening programmes. The conservation and maintenance of these plant resources are supported by the Department of Botany and the Botanical Garden Committee, with active participation by college staff. The campus also contains several aromatic and medicinal plant species of educational and research importance. Considering the increasing demand for medicinal plants and the need for conservation of plant diversity, a systematic survey of the entire college campus was undertaken to document its medicinal plant resources. Plant specimens were collected, identified using standard taxonomic literature and relevant scientific references, and subsequently evaluated for their diversity, medicinal uses, and conservation significance. The findings provide valuable baseline information for promoting biodiversity conservation, sustainable utilisation of medicinal plants, and future academic and research activities on the college campus.