Ethnomedicinal importance of Fabaceae family (Angiosperms) among the tribes of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Among angiosperms, the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family is well known for providing traditional or ethnic food and medicine. This family has three subfamilies with approximately 665 genera and 17500 species worldwide, with approximately 1100 species and 100 genera represented in India. <i>Astragalus</i> (>3000 species), <i>Acacia</i> (>1000 species), and <i>Indigofera</i> (>700 species) are the largest genera in this family. Many species in these genera have been identified as producing a variety of phytochemicals, including 3-nitropropanoic acid, a powerful mycotoxin. Almost every tribal community in India is aware of the medicinal uses of leguminous plants. In this regard, India's arid state can be regarded as an extremely rich territory; thus, a review of the scientific literature on their phytochemical characteristics and ethnomedicinal uses is expected to contribute to the further exploration and utilization of members of this large plant family.