Local markets are vital for economic activity and preserving cultural heritage, especially through vegetables central to community diets and traditions. Despite their importance, the ethnobotanical potential of these vegetables remains underexplored, particularly regarding sustainability and food security. This study examines the role of local vegetables in markets, highlighting their ecological, economic, and cultural significance. Conducted at the Chai Chumphol Temple community market in Kantarawichai District, Thailand, this research assessed the economic, cultural, and medicinal values of local vegetables. Various indices, including the economic value of vegetables (EVV), use value (UV), cultural importance (CI), informant agreement ratio (IAR), and fidelity level (%FL), were used to analyze the role of vegetables in the community. The findings underscore the importance of these vegetables in supporting local economies, preserving cultural traditions, and contributing to sustainable horticultural practices. These results highlight the potential of local vegetables to enhance horticultural biodiversity, promote food security, and support sustainable farming practices in the region.

This study investigates the species diversity of the Convolvulaceae family in Udon Thani Province, Thailand, and was conducted from January to December 2022. A total of 52 species across fifteen genera were identified. Ipomoea was the most diverse genus in the region. The Ipomoea family was found in five ecological areas: deciduous dipterocarp forests, mixed deciduous forests, aquatic areas, open areas and roadsides, and cultivated areas like home gardens. Most species flower during the rainy season, especially from June to August, while some bloom in the winter, around January to March. Out of the total number of species, 29 were evaluated as rare and 23 as common. Meanwhile, 44 species were proposed for conservation as Not Evaluated and six species as Least Concern. Traditional uses of these species include food, animal fodder, horticultural cultivation, medicinal plants, and ornamental plants. The whole plant is the most used part followed by leaves, stems, roots or storage roots, and inflorescence, respectively. This research contributes valuable data on the biodiversity, conservation status, and cultural significance of Convolvulaceae species in Udon Thani Province, offering a foundation for future studies and potential sustainable resource management.

Edible underground storage organ (EUO) plants, including tubers, rhizomes, corms, and root tubers, play a crucial role in food security, nutrition, traditional medicine, and local livelihoods, yet many regions of northeastern Thailand, including Maha Sarakham Province, remain underexplored in ethnobotanical research. This study aimed to document the diversity, traditional uses, and economic importance of EUO plants in the province. Field surveys, local market assessments, and ethnobotanical interviews were conducted, and voucher specimens were collected. Quantitative indices, including the Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI), Fidelity Level (%FL), and economic value (EV), were applied to evaluate the cultural, medicinal, and economic significance of each species. A total of 53 EUO taxa from 22 families were recorded, representing both wild-harvested and cultivated resources. Dioscoreaceae and Zingiberaceae were among the most species-rich families. Among the EUO plants, Allium ascalonicum L. stood out for its cultural significance, Gloriosa superba L. for its medicinal importance, and Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H.Rob. for its economic value. Several other EUO plants exhibited high cultural consensus and consistent use patterns, underscoring their integration into local diets, traditional healthcare, and rural economies. The study demonstrates that EUO plants contribute not only to dietary diversity and cultural identity but also to rural economies. These findings highlight the importance of conserving biological and traditional knowledge and promote sustainable cultivation and horticultural development of priority EUO species to strengthen local food system resilience.

Kaempferia larsenii Sirirugsa, a rare species in Thailand belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, is known for its effective pharmaceutical properties. However, its slow natural growth and threats from overharvesting and habitat encroachment pose significant challenges. This study investigated the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on the plant regeneration, transplantation success, phytochemical profiling, and antioxidant properties of wild and in vitro-cultured plants. Plantlets (~1 cm long) were cultivated for 8 weeks in different types of MS media (solid, liquid, and liquid-over-solid) combined with various PGRs (BA, kinetin, TDZ, NAA, and IAA). Solid MS medium enriched with 2 mg/L BA, 3 mg/L TDZ, and 0.2 mg/L NAA produced the highest number of shoots (13.10 shoots/explant). By comparison, liquid MS medium containing 1 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L IAA also promoted high shoot production (4.70 shoots/explant). The strongest root induction (16.90 roots/explant) was achieved using a liquid MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L BA, 2 mg/L kinetin, and 1 mg/L NAA. Sandy soil as a planting material yielded the highest survival rate (100%) during transplantation. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were higher in mother plants than in in vitro-cultured plants. The addition of PGRs significantly enhanced the production of secondary metabolites. The leaves of K. larsenii exhibited superior antioxidant properties compared to other organs under both growing conditions. Cinnamic acid was identified as abundant in in vitro-cultured plants via HPLC analysis. FTIR analysis revealed functional groups associated with phenolic acids and flavonoids, which are useful for phytochemical screening and antioxidant evaluation. This research highlighted the potential of biotechnology as a crucial strategy for conserving K. larsenii and demonstrated its sustainable application in the medical and cosmetics industries.

Local vegetables and spices are essential components of traditional food and health systems in northeastern Thailand, yet quantitative ethnobotanical evidence remains limited. This study documents the diversity, utilization, and cultural significance of vegetables and spices used in Sang Kho Sub-district, Phu Phan District, Sakon Nakhon Province. Ethnobotanical data were collected in 2025 through field surveys, voucher-based plant identification, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation involving 92 informants across 23 villages. Cultural significance and medicinal knowledge were evaluated using the Cultural Importance Index (CI), Informant Consensus Factor (FIC), and Fidelity Level (FL). A total of 113 taxa belonging to 94 genera and 49 plant families were recorded. Poaceae and Zingiberaceae were the most species-rich families. Native species slightly predominated (51.33%), and herbaceous taxa were most common. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part. Most taxa were used as vegetables (92 species), followed by traditional medicines (20 species), spices or seasonings (18 species), and food ingredients or culinary additives (18 species). The highest CI values were recorded for Allium ascalonicum L. (1.152), Capsicum annuum L. (1.098), and Coriandrum sativum L. (1.043). FIC values ranged from 0.60 to 1.00, with complete consensus for circulatory and neurological disorders. Cymbopogon citratus showed the highest FL (75%) for gastrointestinal uses. These findings demonstrate the close integration of food and medicine in local plant-use systems and provide baseline data for food system resilience and cultural knowledge conservation.

Ornamental plants in rural household gardens provide esthetic, cultural, and practical value, yet their ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological roles remain understudied. This study aimed to identify culturally significant ornamental species in Kham Toei Sub-district, Northeastern Thailand, document their multifunctional uses—including esthetic, ritual, edible, and medicinal roles—and examine how availability, perceived utility, and cultural context influence local valuations. Field surveys were conducted between June 2024 to May 2025 using purposive sampling to select 30 households, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with one primary informant per household. A total of 81 species from 36 families and 66 genera were recorded, dominated by herbaceous plants (53%), with introduced species (74%) exceeding natives (24%). Quantitative indices—Cultural Ornamental Significance Index (COSI), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informant Consensus Factor (FIC)—identified Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Cassia fistula L., Curcuma longa L., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe as culturally important species. High FL values, such as 80.00% for Jatropha podagrica Hook. (musculoskeletal use) and Tradescantia spathacea Sw. (gastrointestinal use), along with FIC of 0.83 for eye disorders, indicate strong community agreement on therapeutic applications. These findings demonstrate that ornamental plants support household healthcare, rituals, and ecological functions, reinforcing biocultural resilience and sustaining the integration of cultural, ecological, and medicinal values in community life.