Medicinal and economic values of Cissampelos pareira (Menispermaceae)

Tribal communities play a vital role in the conservation of traditional knowledge as they have immense knowledge of economically important medicinal plants and how to consume them. Traditional healers use many medicinal plants to treat various ailments. Cissampelos pareira is one of the medicinal plants used by the tribals to cure many diseases and disorders. It has a wide range of medicinal uses, but apart from therapeutic uses, it is extensively used for economic purposes. In the local market, the root of C. pareira is sold in the forms of raw and pills. Keeping the importance of C. pareira, an attempt has been made to do a field and literature survey on medicinal and economic values of C. pareira. Results revealed that tribal communities used its plant parts to cure a various health problems and as a source of livelihood. The chapter highlights the importance of local flora and the need for value addition to provide livelihood opportunities to the local populace.