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Ethnobotanical Leaflets 14: 126-35, 2010. Study of Parasite Hosts of the Genus
Cuscuta and its Traditional Uses in Palanpur Taluka, Gujarat, India J.N. Patel and N.K. Patel* R.R. Mehta college of science, Palanpur 385001 *Biology Department, Sheth M. N. Science college, Patan- 385 120 E-mail: taxonomy.naren@gmail.com
http://plantethnobotany.nong.com Issued: February 01, 2010 Abstract Cuscuta is
a parasitic plant belonging to family Cuscutaceae. The present paper is an
investigation of its various host plant species and its traditional uses in
Palanpur Taluka of Key words: Host, Cuscuta,
Traditional uses. Introduction Palanpur
Taluka is situated in the Banaskantha district. The Banaskantha district is
situated between the parallels of latitude 23° 49' and 24° 42' and the
meridians of longitude 71°.1 'and 73°.0' (Fig.1). The area covered by the
district is 10,757 sq. km. The rank of the district is 4th in area
of the state. It is in the north western part of the
Fig.1. Map of Palanpur Taluka. Plants
have always played
a major role
in the treatment
of human traumas
and diseases worldwide. They have been used as sources of modern
drugs, either by providing pure compounds, starting materials for partial
synthesis of useful compounds or models for synthesis of new drugs.
Ethnomedicinal information is an important tool in drug discovery. Information about medicinal plants
is still passing from one generation
to another by oral communication, posing the danger of
loosing some knowledge. There is, therefore, a need to document medicinal
plants in Palanpur before both the provider of information disappear.
Meanwhile most of these plants was already endangered by the arid/semi arid
climatic conditions and man-made activities. Materials and Methods Regular visits almost parts of
Palanpur Taluka were made to collect all host plant specimens which were
affected by the two species of Cuscuta.
The information was gathered from urban and rural inhabitants knowledgeable
on indigenous herbal medicine by personal interviews. Questions about the use
of medicinal plants were asked using classical means of ethnobotanical
analysis. The interviews were in the form of group discussions, in groups of
three or four people, except for the traditional healers who preferred
confidentiality. Plant materials of all the taxa
reported were collected either
by author and shown to the informants, or by the informants and
shown to us or by the informants, or by us together. During fieldwork plant
materials were collected for preparation of herbarium specimens and for
biological and chemical testing. The plants were identified using the Flora
and also by comparison with herbarium specimens. Voucher specimens
were deposited in
the Botany Department, R.R.Mehta College of Science, Palanpur. All the data obtained have been integrated
and analysed. The results have been structured according to these categories:
number of plants mentioned (with scientific Latin name, botanical families
and vernacular(popular) names; part used;
uses/ailments treated; preparations/administrations; host species and
parts of host species. To assess the degree of originality and novelty of the
uses claimed by the informants, these were compared with those reported in
several works on ethnobotany, medicinal plants and phytotherapy. Result and Discussion Of the 289 angiospermic plant
species found in Palanpur Taluka, only seven species are partial / total
parasites. Among the seven species only the two species of Cuscuta
e.g C. chinensis Roxb. and
C. reflexa Roxb. are total
parasites. The frequency of total parasite plants is only 2.8 %. The effect
of parasite on vegetation was found at 27 locations in study area. The
collected data are summarized in tables I and II.
Vernacular Name: AMARVEL Family: Cuscutaceae Habit: A perennial, parasitic. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). Properties: Alterative; Anthelmintic; Carminative; Purgative. Traditional uses: The seeds are used in the treatment of bilious disorders. The stems are used in the treatment of bilious disorders. The whole plant is purgative. It is used internally in treating protracted fevers and externally in the treatment of itchy skin. The plant is employed in Ayurvedic medicine to treat difficulty in urinating, jaundice, muscle pain and coughs.
Vernacular Name: AMARVEL Family: Cuscutaceae Habit: A perennial, parasitic. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). Properties: Aphrodisiac; Demulcent; Diaphoretic; Hepatic; Kidney; Ophthalmic; Tonic. Traditional uses: A lotion made from the stems is used in the treatment of sore heads and inflamed eyes. In particular, it is used in the treatment of impotence, nocturnal emissions, vertigo, lumbago, leucorrhoea, frequent micturation, decreased eyesight, threatened abortion and chronic diarrhoea. Table 1: Various hosts of Cuscuta chinensis Roxb.
Table 2: Various hosts of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.
Cuscuta chinensis Roxb. is parasitic on 49 host
plants whereas C. reflexa Roxb is parasitic on 20 plant species. Cuscuta chinensis attacks herbs and shrub
while C. reflexa affect only
shrubs. It is a most common parasite on host Salvadora persica in almost all
locations of study area. Various
parts of host plants viz. stem,
leaf and flower are severely affected by both the species. Fig.2
reveals that of the total 49 host plants affected by , C. chinensis, their habits are; 32.6% herbs, 34.6% shrubs ,
26.5% climbers and 6.12% small trees. of the 20 hosts affected by C. reflexa, 55% are shrubs, 5%
climbers and 40% trees. Both parasitic species were observed on the following
host plant species: Holopetelea
integrifolia, Cassia occidentalis, Acasia nilotica, Ipomoea fistulosa,
Capparis spinosa. Fig.3 reveals that of the C. chinensis found on stem of 45 plant species , leaves of 42, flower of 15 plant
species and C. reflexa found on
stem of 20 plant species and,
leaves of 10 plant species. Acknowledgement We are very much thankful to M. K
.Makawana, I/C Principal, R.R .Mehta College of Science Palanpur, North
Gujarat for providing laboratory facility during the work. References Bharthi,
S.G. 1959. A brief account of the flora
of Visnagar, Champion,
H. G. and S.K.Seth,1968. A revised Survey of the forest types of India
Press, Chopra. R.
N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. 1986. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants
(Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research, Narula,S.B.1971.
Record of angiospermic plants of Visnagar, Seminar and workshop in Botany, Souvenir: 1-8. Patel,
R.I.1970. Forest flora of Sexton,
W.T. and L.J.Sedgwick,1918. Plants of Shah,
G.L.1978. Flora of Gujarat state Vols.I&II, Sutaria,R.N.1941-42.
The Vegetationo of Vireshver, Prakruti, J.Gujarat nat.Hist. Soci.8:36-42. Yogi,
D.V.1970. Acontribution to the flora of
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