R M Kunwar
Biographic Data
| ID | 13353 |
|---|---|
| NAME | R M Kunwar |
| GIVEN NAMES | R M |
| FAMILY NAME | Kunwar |
| SIGNATURE | KUNWAR R M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Mountain Medicine Society of Nepal |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9303-0932 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 77 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 27 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Conservation of Tupistra (Tupistra nutans Wall. ex Lindl and T. wattii (C.B. Clarke) Hook.f.) aids its ecology and ethnobotany in Darla, Chhukha, Bhutan
Background: Tupistra nutans Wall. ex Lindl and T. wattii (C.B. Clarke) Hook.f. are useful species grown wild in Bhutan. Former has now been hailed as a climate-smart species as it grows elsewhere in transition and ruderal areas, needs little effort in cultivation, and has historically been used in rural livelihood. T. nutans have been extensively cultivated, collected, and used to address the current changes, urging timely documentation and conse…
Adaptation in ethnobotanical knowledge of Prunus cerasoides among different ethnic groups, religions and culture in Nepal
Societies, ecosystems and species, including medicinal plants worldwide, are increasingly impacted by the changing context of ecology, land use, socio-economy and climate. All these groups have been adapting to these adversaries. However, conventional adaptation strategies to these changes may not always be effective at helping people or ecosystems to reduce their vulnerabilities. We conducted this study to understand and bolster the ethnobotanic…
Utilization patterns of Diploknema butyracea along the gradient of geography and culture in the Nepal Himalaya
Background: Geographic, cultural, phylogenic, and socio-economic factors influence traditional knowledge. This study evaluates the collection and utilization pattern of the chiuri-Butter tree (Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam) across varying geographic and cultural gradients in Nepal. Methods: We carried out a survey of 270 households from nine districts across lowland Tarai, Siwalik, mid-hills, and mountainous physiography covering all reg…
Ethnomedicinal plants used for immediate care in Nepal: A cross-cultural review
BACKGROUND: Immediate Care (IC) refers to the basic and urgent treatment given to the patient to reduce the health risks and seriousness. Due to the large number of rural populations and limited access to modern health care in Nepal, herbal medicines are extensively used for immediate care and long-term treatments. The present review aims to systematically document and analyze the medicinal plants used by indigenous communities as IC in Nepal. ME…
Upholding Ethical Accountability in Ethnobotany and Ethnobiology Research
Ethnomedicinal plants used for the treatment of snakebites in Nepal
Background: Snakebite envenomation remains a critical public health issue in Nepal, where traditional healers rely on diverse medicinal plants for treatment. Method: A systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature from 1950 to 2025 (June) regarding the indigenous use of plants in Nepal for snake bites was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Science-Direct, as well as grey literature. A total of 115 artic…
Ethnobotanical knowledge of wetlands dependent communities of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal
Background: This study documents the ethnobotanical knowledge of wetlands dependent ethnic communities (Bantar/Sardar, Mallaha, Musahar, Rajput, and Tharu) residing in the buffer zones of the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) which includes sections of the Sapta Koshi River and its floodplains. Despite KTWR’s ecological importance, systematic research on traditional plant use remains limited. This work addresses that gap by capturing community-…
Assessment of five statistical approaches in finding out the over- and under-represented plant species in traditional medicines in Nepal
Background: In quantitative ethnobotany, different statistical tools and approaches have been used to compare medicinal floras with the overall flora of a given area and to investigate over- and under-represented medicinal plant families. Methods: In this study, we analyzed a dataset of medicinal plant species of Nepal to evaluate their usefulness in traditional medicines in Nepal. We compared five different statistical methods (Bayesian, Binomia…
Comparative assessment of ethnobotany and antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera Lam. in Nepal Authors
Background: Moringa oleifera Lam. (Miracle tree) is traditionally used as food, vegetable and medicine in different parts of Nepal, to be precise in lowland Tarai. This study aimed at documenting the ethnobotanical knowledge regarding the use of M. oleifera, screening and testing the phytochemicals obtained from different parts (root, bark, leaves, and seeds) of the species and comparing the traditional and lab-based information for advancement i…
Indigenous knowledge and bioactive compounds of Berberis aristata confirm its therapeutic potential: An ethnopharmacological appraisal in Nepal
Background: The prevalence of ethnomedicinal plant usage can be attributed to a combination of factors, primarily driven by local preferences towards traditional herbal remedies. This tendency is exacerbated by a dearth of practicable alternatives and the pervasiveness of economic distress. Additionally, this phenomenon is greatly influenced by a persistent belief in the effectiveness of folkloric herbal cures and the alleged medicinal qualities …
Climate change effects, adaptation and community-based forest management in the mid-hills of Tanahu and Kaski districts, Nepal
In order to appraise climate change effects and adaptation practices in the forestry sector in Nepal, community forests in Tanahu and Kaski districts, representing tropical and temperate bioclimates respectively, were studied through a literature review, field observation, questionnaire survey and key informant interviews. Although it is clear that climate change is resulting in warmer temperatures, more erratic rainfall, deeper and more prolonge…
Ethnomedicinal landscape: Distribution of used medicinal plant species in Nepal
Background The risk of losing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their use and conservation is very high. Documenting knowledge on distribution and use of medicinal plants by different ethnic groups and at spatial scale on a single platform is important from a conservation planning and management perspective. The sustainable use, continuous practice, and safeguarding of traditional knowledge are essential. Communication of such knowled…
Chiuri (Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H.J. Lam): A tree species for improving livelihood of Chepang in Makwanpur, Central Nepal
Background: Chepang, a semi-nomadic minority group, is dependent on common and private forest resources, Chiuri (Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H.J. Lam) to be precise, for livelihood. This study was carried out to understand the household economy of Chepang and evaluate the benefit of Chiuri and its by-products such as Chiuri butter, honey or seeds in Raksirang Rural Municipality (RRM), Makwanpur, Nepal.Methods: Primary data were collected through…
Ecology and Ethnobotany in and around Api Nampa Conservation Area (Anca), Darchula, Nepal
Background: Far-Western mountainous Region of Nepal is a rich source of floral diversity and medicinal plants. The latter is frequently being used in traditional healing systems in the region. In the present study, we aimed to document richness and diversity of flowering plant species including medicinal species and their indigenous uses in Api Nampa Conservation Area (ANCA) of Darchula district, Far Western Nepal. To be precise, we explored the …
Implementation of the Use of Ethnomedicinal Plants for Curing Diseases in the Indian Himalayas and Its Role in Sustainability of Livelihoods and Socioeconomic Development
In recent times, the use of traditional herbal medicines in healthcare has declined, particularly amongst the rural population. This implies a risk of losing vital information from previous generations regarding plants and their use in traditional medicine. The objective of this study is to catalog the ways employed by inhabitants of the Garhwal Himalayas as part of their traditional approaches to healthcare. Information was gathered through snow…
Genus Blepharis (Acanthaceae): A review of ethnomedicinally used species, and their phytochemistry and pharmacological activities
Selection of medicinal plants for traditional medicines in Nepal
BackgroundThere are handful hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical studies in Nepal. In this study, we tested the non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis using national- and community-level datasets through three different types of regression: linear model with raw data, linear model with log-transformed data and negative binomial model.MethodsFor each of these model, we identified over-utilized families as those with highest positive Studentiz…
Ethnomedicinal Values of Weeds in Kanchanpur District, Far-Western Nepal
Background: Far-Western Terai Region of Nepal is a large source of floral diversity. Most of the plants are medicinal and available as wild or weeds. Weeds are unwanted plants and competing with crop plants for common resources (water, mineral nutrients, space, and light) and reduce the yield of wanted plants. However, the weeds and their medicinal properties were scarcely documented. The aim of the present study was to explore the diversity of c…
Change in forest and vegetation cover influencing distribution and uses of plants in the Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal
Distribution pattern and ethnomedicinal uses of plants in Kanchanpur district, Far-Western Nepal
Background: Far Western Region of Nepal boasts a large inventory of floral diversity including medicinal plants. In order to conserve medicinal plants in Nepal, it is necessary to better identify and assess their distribution, population, uses and interactions with culture. Medicinal plant species are main element in traditional system of healing in Nepal, which have been an integral part in history and cultural practices. In the present study, w…
Cross-cultural comparison of plant use knowledge in Baitadi and Darchula districts, Nepal Himalaya
BACKGROUND: This study seeks to better understand the human-nature interface and to measure the variability of plant use knowledge among cultures, through inter- and intracultural analyses. We compared plant collection, use, and management of two culturally distinct groups (Baitadi and Darchula) of the Nepal Himalaya. They inhabit different physiographic regions, yet share the same ecological landscape, environmental resources, and livelihood cha…
Ethnomedicinal plants used by local inhabitants of Jakholi block, Rudraprayag district, western Himalaya, India
The present study provides valuable information about traditional knowledge of medicinal plants of Jakholi Block in the Northwestern Himalaya, India. Local communities still possess large traditional knowledge of plants and their therapeutic uses and that the link of that traditional knowledge to modern research could be of importance for the isolation of new phytotherapeutic compounds leading to the development of novel therapeutic active agents…
Medicinal plant dynamics in indigenous medicines in farwest Nepal
Traditional herbal medicine in Far-west Nepal: A Pharmacological Appraisal
Background Plant species have long been used as principal ingredients of traditional medicine in far-west Nepal. The medicinal plants with ethnomedicinal values are currently being screened for their therapeutic potential but their data and information are inadequately compared and analyzed with the Ayurveda and the phytochemical findings. Methods The present study evaluated ethnomedicinal plants and their uses following literature review, compar…
Indigenous Use and Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants in Far-West Nepal
Ethnopharmacological knowledge is common and import among tribal populations but much of the information is empirical at best lacking scientific validation. Despite widespread use of plant resources in traditional medicines, bioassay analysis of very few plant species have been conducted to investigate their medicinal properties, and to ascertain safety and efficacy of traditional remedies. The present study analyses indigenous uses of medicinal …
Ethnomedicine in Himalaya: A case study from Dolpa, Humla, Jumla and Mustang districts of Nepal
Traditional plant use in Nepal has been documented for millennia. The importance of plants as medicine has not diminished in any way in recent times, and traditional medicines are still the most important health care source for the vast majority of the population. This paper examines the ethnobotany and traditional use of plants extracted from the vulnerable alpine zone in the Dolpa, Humla, Jumla and Mustang districts of Nepal. The results of thi…
Ethnobotany in the Nepal Himalaya
BACKGROUND: Indigenous knowledge has become recognized worldwide not only because of its intrinsic value but also because it has a potential instrumental value to science and conservation. In Nepal, the indigenous knowledge of useful and medicinal plants has roots in the remote past. METHODS: The present study reviews the indigenous knowledge and use of plant resources of the Nepal Himalayas along the altitudinal and longitudinal gradient. A tota…
Cross-cultural comparison of plant use knowledge in Baitadi and Darchula districts, Nepal Himalaya
BACKGROUND: This study seeks to better understand the human-nature interface and to measure the variability of plant use knowledge among cultures, through inter- and intracultural analyses. We compared plant collection, use, and management of two culturally distinct groups (Baitadi and Darchula) of the Nepal Himalaya. They inhabit different physiographic regions, yet share the same ecological landscape, environmental resources, and livelihood cha…
Traditional herbal medicine in Far-west Nepal: A Pharmacological Appraisal
Background Plant species have long been used as principal ingredients of traditional medicine in far-west Nepal. The medicinal plants with ethnomedicinal values are currently being screened for their therapeutic potential but their data and information are inadequately compared and analyzed with the Ayurveda and the phytochemical findings. Methods The present study evaluated ethnomedicinal plants and their uses following literature review, compar…
Ethnomedicinal plants used by local inhabitants of Jakholi block, Rudraprayag district, western Himalaya, India
The present study provides valuable information about traditional knowledge of medicinal plants of Jakholi Block in the Northwestern Himalaya, India. Local communities still possess large traditional knowledge of plants and their therapeutic uses and that the link of that traditional knowledge to modern research could be of importance for the isolation of new phytotherapeutic compounds leading to the development of novel therapeutic active agents…
Upholding Ethical Accountability in Ethnobotany and Ethnobiology Research
Selection of medicinal plants for traditional medicines in Nepal
BackgroundThere are handful hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical studies in Nepal. In this study, we tested the non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis using national- and community-level datasets through three different types of regression: linear model with raw data, linear model with log-transformed data and negative binomial model.MethodsFor each of these model, we identified over-utilized families as those with highest positive Studentiz…
Ethnomedicinal landscape: Distribution of used medicinal plant species in Nepal
Background The risk of losing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their use and conservation is very high. Documenting knowledge on distribution and use of medicinal plants by different ethnic groups and at spatial scale on a single platform is important from a conservation planning and management perspective. The sustainable use, continuous practice, and safeguarding of traditional knowledge are essential. Communication of such knowled…
Ethnomedicinal Values of Weeds in Kanchanpur District, Far-Western Nepal
Background: Far-Western Terai Region of Nepal is a large source of floral diversity. Most of the plants are medicinal and available as wild or weeds. Weeds are unwanted plants and competing with crop plants for common resources (water, mineral nutrients, space, and light) and reduce the yield of wanted plants. However, the weeds and their medicinal properties were scarcely documented. The aim of the present study was to explore the diversity of c…
Ethnomedicine in Himalaya: A case study from Dolpa, Humla, Jumla and Mustang districts of Nepal
Traditional plant use in Nepal has been documented for millennia. The importance of plants as medicine has not diminished in any way in recent times, and traditional medicines are still the most important health care source for the vast majority of the population. This paper examines the ethnobotany and traditional use of plants extracted from the vulnerable alpine zone in the Dolpa, Humla, Jumla and Mustang districts of Nepal. The results of thi…
Ethnobotany in the Nepal Himalaya
BACKGROUND: Indigenous knowledge has become recognized worldwide not only because of its intrinsic value but also because it has a potential instrumental value to science and conservation. In Nepal, the indigenous knowledge of useful and medicinal plants has roots in the remote past. METHODS: The present study reviews the indigenous knowledge and use of plant resources of the Nepal Himalayas along the altitudinal and longitudinal gradient. A tota…
Indigenous Use and Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants in Far-West Nepal
Ethnopharmacological knowledge is common and import among tribal populations but much of the information is empirical at best lacking scientific validation. Despite widespread use of plant resources in traditional medicines, bioassay analysis of very few plant species have been conducted to investigate their medicinal properties, and to ascertain safety and efficacy of traditional remedies. The present study analyses indigenous uses of medicinal …
Traditional herbal medicine in Far-west Nepal: A Pharmacological Appraisal
Background Plant species have long been used as principal ingredients of traditional medicine in far-west Nepal. The medicinal plants with ethnomedicinal values are currently being screened for their therapeutic potential but their data and information are inadequately compared and analyzed with the Ayurveda and the phytochemical findings. Methods The present study evaluated ethnomedicinal plants and their uses following literature review, compar…
Medicinal plant dynamics in indigenous medicines in farwest Nepal
Ethnomedicinal plants used by local inhabitants of Jakholi block, Rudraprayag district, western Himalaya, India
The present study provides valuable information about traditional knowledge of medicinal plants of Jakholi Block in the Northwestern Himalaya, India. Local communities still possess large traditional knowledge of plants and their therapeutic uses and that the link of that traditional knowledge to modern research could be of importance for the isolation of new phytotherapeutic compounds leading to the development of novel therapeutic active agents…
Cross-cultural comparison of plant use knowledge in Baitadi and Darchula districts, Nepal Himalaya
BACKGROUND: This study seeks to better understand the human-nature interface and to measure the variability of plant use knowledge among cultures, through inter- and intracultural analyses. We compared plant collection, use, and management of two culturally distinct groups (Baitadi and Darchula) of the Nepal Himalaya. They inhabit different physiographic regions, yet share the same ecological landscape, environmental resources, and livelihood cha…
Change in forest and vegetation cover influencing distribution and uses of plants in the Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal
Distribution pattern and ethnomedicinal uses of plants in Kanchanpur district, Far-Western Nepal
Background: Far Western Region of Nepal boasts a large inventory of floral diversity including medicinal plants. In order to conserve medicinal plants in Nepal, it is necessary to better identify and assess their distribution, population, uses and interactions with culture. Medicinal plant species are main element in traditional system of healing in Nepal, which have been an integral part in history and cultural practices. In the present study, w…
Chiuri (Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H.J. Lam): A tree species for improving livelihood of Chepang in Makwanpur, Central Nepal
Background: Chepang, a semi-nomadic minority group, is dependent on common and private forest resources, Chiuri (Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H.J. Lam) to be precise, for livelihood. This study was carried out to understand the household economy of Chepang and evaluate the benefit of Chiuri and its by-products such as Chiuri butter, honey or seeds in Raksirang Rural Municipality (RRM), Makwanpur, Nepal.Methods: Primary data were collected through…
Ecology and Ethnobotany in and around Api Nampa Conservation Area (Anca), Darchula, Nepal
Background: Far-Western mountainous Region of Nepal is a rich source of floral diversity and medicinal plants. The latter is frequently being used in traditional healing systems in the region. In the present study, we aimed to document richness and diversity of flowering plant species including medicinal species and their indigenous uses in Api Nampa Conservation Area (ANCA) of Darchula district, Far Western Nepal. To be precise, we explored the …
Implementation of the Use of Ethnomedicinal Plants for Curing Diseases in the Indian Himalayas and Its Role in Sustainability of Livelihoods and Socioeconomic Development
In recent times, the use of traditional herbal medicines in healthcare has declined, particularly amongst the rural population. This implies a risk of losing vital information from previous generations regarding plants and their use in traditional medicine. The objective of this study is to catalog the ways employed by inhabitants of the Garhwal Himalayas as part of their traditional approaches to healthcare. Information was gathered through snow…
Genus Blepharis (Acanthaceae): A review of ethnomedicinally used species, and their phytochemistry and pharmacological activities
Selection of medicinal plants for traditional medicines in Nepal
BackgroundThere are handful hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical studies in Nepal. In this study, we tested the non-random medicinal plant selection hypothesis using national- and community-level datasets through three different types of regression: linear model with raw data, linear model with log-transformed data and negative binomial model.MethodsFor each of these model, we identified over-utilized families as those with highest positive Studentiz…
Ethnomedicinal Values of Weeds in Kanchanpur District, Far-Western Nepal
Background: Far-Western Terai Region of Nepal is a large source of floral diversity. Most of the plants are medicinal and available as wild or weeds. Weeds are unwanted plants and competing with crop plants for common resources (water, mineral nutrients, space, and light) and reduce the yield of wanted plants. However, the weeds and their medicinal properties were scarcely documented. The aim of the present study was to explore the diversity of c…
Climate change effects, adaptation and community-based forest management in the mid-hills of Tanahu and Kaski districts, Nepal
In order to appraise climate change effects and adaptation practices in the forestry sector in Nepal, community forests in Tanahu and Kaski districts, representing tropical and temperate bioclimates respectively, were studied through a literature review, field observation, questionnaire survey and key informant interviews. Although it is clear that climate change is resulting in warmer temperatures, more erratic rainfall, deeper and more prolonge…
Ethnomedicinal landscape: Distribution of used medicinal plant species in Nepal
Background The risk of losing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their use and conservation is very high. Documenting knowledge on distribution and use of medicinal plants by different ethnic groups and at spatial scale on a single platform is important from a conservation planning and management perspective. The sustainable use, continuous practice, and safeguarding of traditional knowledge are essential. Communication of such knowled…
Comparative assessment of ethnobotany and antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera Lam. in Nepal Authors
Background: Moringa oleifera Lam. (Miracle tree) is traditionally used as food, vegetable and medicine in different parts of Nepal, to be precise in lowland Tarai. This study aimed at documenting the ethnobotanical knowledge regarding the use of M. oleifera, screening and testing the phytochemicals obtained from different parts (root, bark, leaves, and seeds) of the species and comparing the traditional and lab-based information for advancement i…
Indigenous knowledge and bioactive compounds of Berberis aristata confirm its therapeutic potential: An ethnopharmacological appraisal in Nepal
Background: The prevalence of ethnomedicinal plant usage can be attributed to a combination of factors, primarily driven by local preferences towards traditional herbal remedies. This tendency is exacerbated by a dearth of practicable alternatives and the pervasiveness of economic distress. Additionally, this phenomenon is greatly influenced by a persistent belief in the effectiveness of folkloric herbal cures and the alleged medicinal qualities …
Assessment of five statistical approaches in finding out the over- and under-represented plant species in traditional medicines in Nepal
Background: In quantitative ethnobotany, different statistical tools and approaches have been used to compare medicinal floras with the overall flora of a given area and to investigate over- and under-represented medicinal plant families. Methods: In this study, we analyzed a dataset of medicinal plant species of Nepal to evaluate their usefulness in traditional medicines in Nepal. We compared five different statistical methods (Bayesian, Binomia…
Adaptation in ethnobotanical knowledge of Prunus cerasoides among different ethnic groups, religions and culture in Nepal
Societies, ecosystems and species, including medicinal plants worldwide, are increasingly impacted by the changing context of ecology, land use, socio-economy and climate. All these groups have been adapting to these adversaries. However, conventional adaptation strategies to these changes may not always be effective at helping people or ecosystems to reduce their vulnerabilities. We conducted this study to understand and bolster the ethnobotanic…
Utilization patterns of Diploknema butyracea along the gradient of geography and culture in the Nepal Himalaya
Background: Geographic, cultural, phylogenic, and socio-economic factors influence traditional knowledge. This study evaluates the collection and utilization pattern of the chiuri-Butter tree (Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam) across varying geographic and cultural gradients in Nepal. Methods: We carried out a survey of 270 households from nine districts across lowland Tarai, Siwalik, mid-hills, and mountainous physiography covering all reg…
Ethnomedicinal plants used for immediate care in Nepal: A cross-cultural review
BACKGROUND: Immediate Care (IC) refers to the basic and urgent treatment given to the patient to reduce the health risks and seriousness. Due to the large number of rural populations and limited access to modern health care in Nepal, herbal medicines are extensively used for immediate care and long-term treatments. The present review aims to systematically document and analyze the medicinal plants used by indigenous communities as IC in Nepal. ME…
Upholding Ethical Accountability in Ethnobotany and Ethnobiology Research
Ethnomedicinal plants used for the treatment of snakebites in Nepal
Background: Snakebite envenomation remains a critical public health issue in Nepal, where traditional healers rely on diverse medicinal plants for treatment. Method: A systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature from 1950 to 2025 (June) regarding the indigenous use of plants in Nepal for snake bites was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Science-Direct, as well as grey literature. A total of 115 artic…
Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies (21 works) · Biology (20 works) · Geography (19 works) · Medicinal plants (19 works) · Ethnobotany (17 works) · Ecology (16 works) · Medicine (13 works) · Traditional medicine (12 works) · Agroforestry (11 works) · Traditional knowledge (11 works)