Ethnomedicinal knowledge and antimicrobial applications of medicinal plants in Sehore district of central India

Traditional plant-based healthcare systems remain an essential source of primary medicine for rural and tribal populations across central India. This study was conducted during 2024-2025 in the Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh to document the medicinal, socio-cultural and economic importance of local plant species utilized by the Bhil, Gond, Korku and Pardhi communities, while exploring the natural antimicrobial mechanisms that validate their usage. Through extensive field surveys, personal interviews and guided walks with traditional healers (Vaidyas) and village elders, key species such as Azadirachta indica (neem), Ocimum spp (Tulsi), Phyllanthus emblica (amla) and Aegle marmelos (Bael) were catalogued. These plants are heavily relied upon to manage skin infections, digestive disorders, fevers and respiratory illnesses. Scientifically, their therapeutic efficacy is driven by multitargeted mechanisms including microbial cell membrane disruption, viral replication inhibition and immune modulation. Furthermore, local cultural practices, religious rituals and traditional clan restrictions function as highly effective, community-led in situ conservation systems. Ultimately, these findings reveal that indigenous health practices, rural livelihoods and biodiversity conservation are deeply interconnected, demonstrating that documenting this traditional knowledge is crucial to prevent cultural erosion and provide a validated baseline for future pharmaceutical research.