This study aims to collect and systematically document the traditional knowledge of poisonous plants by interviewing Van Kieu and Pa Ko ethnic communities in Quang Tri province. A total of 56 poisonous plant species (27 herbs, 15 shrubs and 14 woody plants) of flowering plants belonging to 26 families and 50 genera were found in the study site. Based on the Recorded Poisonous Plant Proportion (RPPP) values, 25 commonly recorded poisonous plants were selected for analyzing Fidelity Level (FL) and Informants Consensus Factor (ICF). | ACADEMIA JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY 2023 45 2 89 103 DOI 2615-9023 18142 INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE OF POISONOUS PLANTS FROM VAN KIEU AND PA KO ETHNIC GROUPS IN QUANG TRI PROVINCE VIETNAM Nguyen Chi Mai1 2 Tran My Linh1 2 Vu Huong Giang1 Bui Van Thanh3 Nguyen Thi Van Anh3 Ninh Khac Ban1 2 1 Institute of Marine Biochemistry VAST Vietnam 2 Graduate University of Science and Technology VAST Vietnam 3 Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources VAST Vietnam Received 3 March 2023 accepted 28 June 2023 ABSTRACT Poisonous plants are known for toxicity to humans and animals. They comprise a large group of plants in the world. This study aims to collect and systematically document the traditional knowledge of poisonous plants by interviewing Van Kieu and Pa Ko ethnic communities in Quang Tri province. A total of 56 poisonous plant species 27 herbs 15 shrubs and 14 woody plants of flowering plants belonging to 26 families and 50 genera were found in the study site. Based on the Recorded Poisonous Plant Proportion RPPP values 25 commonly recorded poisonous plants were selected for analyzing Fidelity Level FL and Informants Consensus Factor ICF . The ICF value of eye irritation neurologic category skin irritation gastrointestinal category and respiratory cardiovascular category was and respectively. The most notable species FL 100 in the gastrointestinal category were Ricinus communis L. and Millettia erythrocalyx Gagnep. In the respiratory cardiovascular category the most important species FL 100 were Gelsemium elegans Gardner amp Champ. Benth. and Strychnos vanprukii Craib. The presented results will provide fundamental information for further phytochemical and biological investigation to ascertain the toxic compounds of poisonous plants that may be used for the treatment of appropriate diseases. Keywords poisonous plant indigenous knowledge Van Kieu Pa Ko ethnic groups. Citation Nguyen Chi Mai Tran My Linh Vu Huong Giang Bui Van Thanh Nguyen Thi Van .
