Ethnobotany and Traditional Knowledge of Bamboos (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) in Asia and Their Applications in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Review

Plants are considered a great source of various herbal medicines in the treatment of certain diseases and ailments. There is a growing interest in the utilization of indigenous medicinal plants as the source for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) due to the significant contribution of plant-based materials to the pharmaceutical field. Bambusoideae is a large grass family of Poaceae, comprising approximately 119 genera and 1482 described species. About 70% of the bamboo forests are covered throughout Asia. This study aims to provide an informative review of the ethnobotanical significance and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants belonging to the Bambusoideae. This review comprises informative data on medicinal plants, their uses, and parts used by indigenous people and native communities in Asian regions. In line with this review, bamboo has made significant contributions to the ethnobotanical field, specifically as therapeutics for specific diseases. Ethnobotanical data has also made a successful contribution to the CAM. Therefore, the present review on ethnobotany and traditional knowledge of bamboo is expected to have many benefits and could be a good starting point for future work in the pharmaceutical field, both locally and internationally.