Ethnobotanical Leaflets 14: 361-65, 2010.

Phytotherapeutical Methods Used by Traditional Healers of Eturnagaram Mandal, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India

*K. Rajendar, D. Raju, M. Tirupathi and K. Jaganmohan Reddy

Department of Botany, Kakatiya University,

Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India – 506 009

*Corresponding author : korrarajender@rediffmail.com

Issued: March 01, 2010

Abstract

The indigenous traditional practices of Koyas (Dorasattamu) of Tupakulagudem, Bhupathipuram and Devadula villages which are on the south of Godavari river, Eturnagaram mandal warangal District, Andhrapradesh, India are being here reported. They use different parts of medicinal plants for curing common ailments. The ethnomedicinal information includes 32 plant species, useful parts of plants and mode of administration.

Keywords: Phytocure, Ethnomedicine, Koyas, Warangal District, Andhrapradesh.

Introduction

Now a days, a trend in study of medicinal plants and their use in traditional medicine has been drawing the attention of different medical practitioners throughout world. People have become health cautious, the phytotherapy is more safe and effective in curing ailments without any side effects. It is for this reason the study of ethnomedicine and its restoration have been taking place.

Ethnic groups of various regions of the world are the real custodians of natures¹ wealth and experts in herbal medicine. The traditional indigenous knowledge transferred orally for centuries is fast disappearing because of the technological developments and changing culture of ethnic groups ( Ganesan, et al 2004 ). Inspite of all these disturbances, the indigenous phytocure methods are restored amongst tribes, as it is a part of their culture. Moreever, the people in ethnic tribes are averse to change the mode of their life and traditions. But this traditional medical knowledge is slowly diminishing, so it is to be procured and preserved in variours forms for future generations ( Burmol & Naidu, 2007 ).

Materials and Methods

The ethnobotanical study on Koyas living in Tupakulagudem, Bhupathipuram and Devadula villages have been surveyed. The information on ethnomedicine was collected during April—November 2009. The Koyas are the only tribal community residing in these villages which are in the tropical forest region of Eturnagaram forest division. This ethnic group of people are the settled agriculturists, besides herds-keepers, hunters and also depend upon non- timbers products of forest.

The ethnomedical information was collected from knowledgeable local aged people, herdsmen and local healers. These people are reluctant to reveal secrecy of phytotherapy for various diseases. The repeated visits to the villages helped in developing intimacy with the local people. The phytocure information was collected from Koyas through interviews and discussions. The collected information includes useful plant species with local names, parts of the plant used for curing different diseases. The plant specimens collected with the help of the inhabitants of surveyed villages. The scientific names of plant species their families were identified with the help of forest flora of Hyderabad state (Sharfuddin Khan, M. 1959) and floras (Gamble & Fischer 1915 ─ 1935). The data collected from different sources of ethnic community consists of 32 plant species whose different parts are used for curing different diseases.

Results and Discussion

The present study includes 32 number of plant species of Angiosperms belonging to 24 families are reported. The alphabetical order of scientific name of the plants, their families local names, diseases, parts used, mode of administration with duration and doses are furnished in (Table 1). The information provided in the table is collected from local healers through interviews and discussions. They have good knowledge about the use of plants for curing various ailments and also believe in supernatural powers which is also a part of their healing methods. The diagnosis of different pathologies is the first step in phytocure treatment which can be known by ones¹ nose, ear, hands, eyes and is interesting. The tribal healers preparations are either based on single plant part or combination of several plant species parts. The mode of ethnomedicine usage for different diseases is in various forms, such as aqueous extract, paste and oil. In addition, milk, ginger, pepper, oil, turmeric and jaggery etc are used as ingredients in administration of ethnomedicine (Sdhakar Reddy et al, 2008 ). The ethnic tribe ( Koya ) of these villages are healthy and not suffering from common problems like depression, blood pressure and diabetes which are common in urban people ( Ishwari Prasad et al, 2009 ).

Table 1: List of medicinal plants used by Koyas of Eturnagaram mandal, Warangal District, Andhrapradesh, India.

S.No	Botanical name with Family	Local name	Useful part	Medicinal use and mode of Administration
1	Acacia intsia W. & A. (Mimoseae).	Korinta	Root	The aqueous extract of root is used for curing cough.
2	Aeschynomene aspera L. (Papilionaceae).	Jilugu	Root	Roots are boiled in less quantity of water and made into paste applied on mumps.
3	Aegle marmelos corr. (Rutaceae).	Maredu	Leaf	Leaf extract is poured in nostrils for curing cold.
4	Anogeissus latifolia Wall.; (Combretaceae).	Chiriman	Gum	The gum is eaten for improve Potency.
5	Bassia latifolia Roxb. Cor. Pl. (Sapotaceae).	Ippa	Seed & Bark	The oil from seeds is applied on head as refrigirent and also for bark extract is applied for vipers bite.
6	Borassus flabellifer Linn.; (palmaceae).	Tadi	Root	The extract of roots are orally given for krite bite.
7	Calycopteris floribunda Lamk. ( Combretaceae).	Bandi murududu	Young leaf	The paste of leaves are applied for healing wounds of soaked legs.
8	Celastrus paniculata Willd.; (Celastraceae).	Maner tiga	Seed	The oil of seed is rubbed on part of nambness.
9	Cissus quadrangularis Linn. (Vitaceae).	Nalleru	Stem with Leaves	The paste of stem with leaves is applied for healing fractures.
10	Cleistanthus collinus Banth.; (Euphorbiaceae).	Wodesha	Bark	The bark extract is used for Suicide.
11	Cassia occidentalis Linn. (caesalpinaceae).	Chennangi, Cashanda	Young leaf	The paste of young leaves Applied for curing glictocal abesis.
12	Clerodendron phlomoides Willd. ( Verbenaceae).	Takali	Leaf	Boiled leaf paste is applied on head for headache relief.
13	Careya arborea Roxb. Cor. Pl. (Lecythidaceae).	Buda dhermi, Gadava	Bark	The extract of bark is applied for soothing of cracked heals.
14	Coldenia procumbence Linn.; (Boraginaceae).	Cheppattu	Leaf	Leaf paste is applied on wounds for twice or trice.
15	Chloroxylon swetenia DC.; ( Rutaceae).	Billu	Bark	The extract of bark in combination with pepper and cloves are orally administered for asthma with a doses of 1to 2 teaspoons per once.
16	Dichrostachys cinerea W. & A (Mimoseae).	Velturu	Bark	A teaspoonful of aqueous extract of bark given as doses for cough.
17	Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.; (Convolvulaceae).	Vishnu krantha	Root	The root extract is taken orally for impotency.
18	Euphorbia hirta Linn.; (Euphorbiaceae).	Pacha botlu	Whole Plant	Plant decoction said to be used for branchial infection and asthma.
19	Feronia elephantum Corr.; ( Rutaceae).	Velaga	Bark	The aqueous extract of bark pepper,cordomom is taken orally with a doses of 1 or 2 teaspoonful per a day for 3 days for curing fever.
20	Ficus glomerata Roxb. Cor.Pl. (Moraceae).	Medi, Atti	Bark	The aqueous extract of bark, pepper and cardmom with a doses of a teaspoonful per day is given orally for 3 to 4 times for consuption.
21	Hiptage madablota Gaertn.; ( Malpighiaceae).	Peddadara	Root	Roots are boiled and made into paste is applied on mumps.
22	Holoptelea integrifolia Planch.; ( Ulmaceae).	Nauli, Thapasi	Leaf	The extract of leaf and garlic is poured in ear to cure teeth decay.
23	Ixora parviflora Vahl.; (Rubiaceae).	Korivi, Kori & Ponna	Root	The roots paste with groundnut oil is applied for scabis.
24	Lagenaria vulgaris Ser.in. men ( Cucurbitaceae).	Sorakaya	Leaf	For earache leaf extract in combination with coconut oil is poured in ear.
25	Momordica charantia Linn.; (Cucurbitaceae).	Kakara chettu	Leaf	The leaf extract is poured into nostril for curing migraine.
26	Semecarpus anacadium Linn.f.; ( Anacardiaceae).	Jiri	Seed	The burnt seed coat is made into paste and applied on little fingure of a leg for hydrocoel.
27	Sphaeranthus indicus Linn.; (Asteraceae).	Bodasaram	Leaf	The leaves are grinded with pepper and a dose of spoon extract is orally taken for sexual stimulation.
28	Soymida febrifuga A. Juss. ( Meliaceae).	Somi	Bark	The bark soaked water is used for head bath to cure diarrhea.
29	Solanum xanthocarpus Schard. & Wendl. ( Solanaceae).	Nelamulaka	Root	The aqueous extract of root with a doses of 1 spoon per day is orally taken for curing fever for 2 to 3 days.
30	Streblus asper Lour.; ( Moraceae).	Barinka, Pakki	Latex	The latex in combination with turmeric applied on head for cold relief.
31	Tectona grandis Linn.f.; (Varbanaceae).	Teak	Bark	A piece of bark is kept in mouth for cough relief.
32	Zizyphus xylopyrus Willd. (Rhamnaceae).	Enukapariki, Got	Bark	The bark is boiled in water and the water is used for bathing in curing skin rashes.

Acknowledgements

We are highly greatful to Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) UGC for Financial Assistance. We thank the Tribal people of Tupakulagudem, Devadula and Bhupathipuram villages for providing ethnomedical information.

References

Ganesan S, Suresh N and Kesavan L. 2004. Ethnomedicinal survey of Lower palani Hills of Tamilanadu. 1. J. Trad. knowledge. 3 ( 3 ): 299- 304.

Burmol, K.S and Naidu, T. S. 2007. National seminar on “ Tribal medicinal system and its contemporary relevance”—Alluri Seetharama Raju centre for tribal studies and Research.

Sharfuddin Khan, M. 1959 . Forest flora of Hyderabad state.

Gamble, J.S and C.E.C. Fischer. 1915 – 1935. Flora of the Presidency of Madras, Landon.

Sudhakar Reddy, C, Gopala Krishna. P and Raju, V. S. 2008. Phytotherapy at Rural communities: A case study from the Gonds of Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Ishwari Prasad Gupta, H.B. Sahu and Sharma, H.P. 2009. Studies on ethnomedicinal uses of plant resources in Ormanjhi block of Jharkhand state, India, Internal. J. pl. sci. 4(2).