ASSESSMENT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE USING MEDICINAL PLANTS OF LOCAL PEOPLE AND FOOD CHOICE OF THE TONKIN SNUB-NOSED MONKEY (Rhinopithecus avunculus) AT KHAU CA AREA, HA GIANG PROVINCE

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the experience of using medicinal plant resources of local people in the diet of the Tonkin Snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus) and food choice of this rare endemic species at Khau Ca area, Ha Giang province. The participatory rural rapid assessment (PRA) method was used to interview local people in Minh Son and Yen Dinh communes of Bac Me district and Tung Ba commune of Vi Xuyen district who live around Khau Ca. The results of the study determined that there are 27 plant species of a total number of 32 plant species in the diet of the monkey are used as medicine by local people, in which leaves accounted for 62.5%. Those medicines are mainly for the treatment of surgical diseases, is about 71.88%. The similarity between the plant parts used as medicine by indigenous knowledge and the plant parts in the diet of the monkey is 11/32 species (34.38%). The use of medicinal plant parts according to indigenous knowledge depends on the disease group with plant parts which the monkey eats is 12.5%. It includes the fruit of Garcinia fagraeoides and Aglaia elaeagnoides, the leaves of Debregeasia squamata and Antidesma montanum. Their main effect is to heal wounds, inflammation, and pain relief on humans here. These similarities will provide the scientific basis to screen plant species that have potential bioactive compounds for humans.