Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 1434-42, 2009.

 

 

Ethnobotanical Studies on Dental Hygiene in District Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh (H.P.), India

 

 

Dhiraj S. Rawat* ,  Anjna D. Kharwal** and  Suman Rawat***

 

*Assistant Professor, Deparment of Botany, Shoolini Institute of Life Sciences and  

          Business  Management, Solan (H.P.)

  ** Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Govt. P. G. College, Solan (H.P.) 

    *** Reseach Scholar, Dept. of Botany, H.P.U. Shimla 

    Corresponding author : E mail: rawatdhirajhpu@ gmail.com

 

Issued  01 December 2009

 

 

Abstract

 

The present study was carried out to assess and document ethnobotanical knowledge of plants of District Hamirpur (H.P.) used for dental care, as the area has diverse flora and high ethnobotanical potential.  It was found that 32 different plant species belonging to 24 families were used for dental hygiene. The studies reveal the use of 18 trees, 9 shrubs, 2 under-shrubs and 5 herbs for dental hygiene.

 

Key words:  Dental hygiene, ethnobotanical explorations, dental caries, gum  inflammation, toothache.

 

Introduction

            Hamirpur district is situated between 76˚18΄- 76˚44’ East longitudes and 31˚52΄30” North latitudes. The track is hilly covered by Shivalik range and the elevation varies from 450-1,100 metres (3). This region is rich in diverse flora and suitable for ethnobotanical explorations. Various plants are used for many diseases and for dental hygiene.

            The mouth is a mirror that can reflect the health of the rest of your body i.e. there is a connection between oral health and general health. A survey conducted by Synovate India, sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive (India) limited revealed that dental problems in India are due to low awareness levels and poor oral hygiene habits in people (EHM News Bureau, Mumbai (2009). According to the survey over 50% were unconcerned about curing dental problems. Due to the increasing demand for herbal remedies as these have no side effects and are eco-friendly, the present study has been undertaken in relation to dental hygiene.

            So far little and scattered information is available on plants used for dental hygiene (1-2), (4-7) and (9); so an attempt has been made to compile these plants in one format.

 

Materials and Methods

          Ethnobotanical explorations were carried out in the study area several times to ensure correct information about plants used in dental problems. For a better understanding of local beliefs, habits and uses of plant, different categories of people like family heads, healers, old experienced and knowledgeable informants were repeatedly interviewed. Specific questions based upon Proforma designed by Jain and Goel (1995) were asked and the resultant informations were recorded in the ethnobotanical field notebook (8). The plants were collected, pressed and later on identified.

 

Results

 

       The ethnobotanical investigations revealed the use of 32 species of plants for dental hygiene.

 

Botanical Name:         Achyranthes aspera Linn.

Family:                        Amaranthaceae

Local Name:                Puthkanda

Habit:                          Herb

Part Used:                   Root

Folk use:                      Root used as a toothbrush, good for dental caries.

 

Botanical Name:         Argemone mexicana Linn.

Family:                        Papaveraceae

Local Name:                Kandayi

Habit:                          Herb

Part Used:                   Seeds

Folk use:                      Pulverized seeds good for gum troubles.

 

Botanical Name:         Azadirachta indica A. Juss.

Family:                        Meliaceae

Local Name:                Neem

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Stem

Folk use:                      Twigs used to clean teeth; considered good for dental caries and gum infection.

 

Botanical Name:         Berberis lycium Royle

Family:                        Berberidaceae

Local Name:                Kashmal

Habit:                          Shrub

Part Used:                   Stem

Folk use:                      Peeled stem considered good for scouring teeth.

 

Botanical Name:         Boehmeria platyphylla Don

Family:                        Urticaceae

Local Name:                Handa

Habit:                          Shrub

Part Used:                   Leaves

Folk use:                      Leaves used for scouring teeth.

 

Botanical Name:         Calotropis procera R. Br.

Family:                        Asclepiadaceae

Local Name:                Ak

Habit:                          Shrub

Part Used:                   Latex

Folk use:                      Latex used for toothache due to dental caries.

 

Botanical Name:         Capsicum annum Linn.

Family:                        Solanaceae

Local Name:                Mirch

Habit:                          Shrub

Part Used:                   Fruits

Folk use:                      Fruits boiled in ‘sarson’ oil and oil is poured in ear; good for toothache.

 

Botanical Name:         Cassia occidentalis Linn.

Family:                        Fabaceae

Local Name:                Relu

Habit:                          Under-shrub

Part Used:                   Leaves

Folk use:                      Leaves used for scouring teeth

 

Botanical Name:         Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Eberm

Family:                        Lauraceae

Local Name:                Tej-patta

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Leaves

Folk use:                      Leaves used for scouring teeth; good for gum inflammation.

 

Botanical Name:         Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.

Family:                        Rutaceae

Local Name:                Galgal

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Leaves

Folk use:                      Leaves used for scouring teeth and good as a mouth freshener.

 

Botanical Name:         Citrus medica Linn.

Family:                        Rutaceae

Local Name:                Nimbu

Habit:                          A small tree

Part Used:                   Leaves, fruits

Folk use:                      Leaves and rind of fruits recommended for scouring teeth along with a pinch of rock salt.

 

Botanical Name:         Curcuma angustifolia Roxb.

Family:                        Zingiberaceae

Local Name:                Haldi

Habit:                          Herb

Part Used:                   Rhizome

Folk use:                      Powdered rhizome mixed with potash alum and mustard oil is applied on gums for pyorrhea.

 

Botanical Name:         Engelhardtia colebrookiana Lindl.

Family:                        Juglandaceae

Local Name:                Samma

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Leaves

Folk use:                      Scouring teeth with leaves considered good for dental caries.

 

Botanical Name:         Ficus hispida Linn.

Family:                        Moraceae

Local Name:                Daagrein

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Latex

Folk use:                      Latex used for toothache.

 

Botanical Name:         Ipomoea carnea Facq.

Family:                        Convolvulaceae

Local Name:                Ghodan

Habit:                          Shrub

Part Used:                   Leaves

Folk use:                      Leaf juice recommended for toothache.

 

Botanical Name:         Jatropha curcas Linn.

Family:                        Euphorbiaceae

Local Name:                Japhrota

Habit:                          A small tree

Part Used:                   Stem

Folk use:                      Twigs used as a toothbrush; good against dental caries.

 

Botanical Name:         Juglans regia Linn. 

Family:                        Juglandaceae

Local Name:                Khod

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Bark, leaves

Folk use:                      Bark and leaves used for scouring teeth.

 

Botanical Name:         Mangifera indica Linn.

Family:                        Anacardiaceae

Local Name:                Aam

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Leaves

Folk use:                      Leaves used for scouring teeth.

 

Botanical Name:         Murraya koenigii Spreng.

Family:                        Rutaceae

Local Name:                Gandhela

Habit:                          Shrub

Part Used:                   Stem

Folk use:                      Stem used for scouring teeth and for healthy gums.

 

Botanical Name:         Murraya paniculata (Linn.) Jack.

Family:                        Rutaceae

Local Name:                Gandhela

Habit:                          Shrub

Part Used:                   Stem

Folk use:                      Stem used for scouring teeth and for healthy gums.

 

Botanical Name:         Carya illenoesis (Wang.) Koch.

Family:                        Juglandaceae

Local Name:                Kagji-khod

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Leaves

Folk use:                      Leaves used for scouring teeth; good for gums.

 

Botanical Name:         Pistacia integrimma J. L. Stewart ex Brand.

Family:                        Anacardiaceae

Local Name:                Kakarsingi

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Leaves

Folk use:                      Leaves chewed to check toothache

 

Botanical Name:         Plumbago zeylanica Linn.

Family:                        Plumbaginaceae

Local Name:                Chitra

Habit:                          Under-shrub

Part Used:                   Stem, root

Folk use:                      Stem recommended for scouring teeth and root paste to check toothache.

 

 

Botanical Name:         Prunus cerasoides D. Don

Family:                        Rosaceae

Local Name:                Paza

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Stem

Folk use:                      Twigs used for scouring teeth.

 

Botanical Name:         Psidium guajava Linn.

Family:                        Myrtaceae

Local Name:                Amrood

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Leaves, stem

Folk use:                      Leaves and stem used for scouring teeth

 

Botanical Name:         Robinia pseudo-acacia Linn.

Family:                        Fabaceae

Local Name:                Rasinia

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Bark

Folk use:                      Powdered bark recommended for toothache

 

Botanical Name:         Salix oxycarpa  Anderss

Family:                        Salicaceae

Local Name:                Beunce

Habit:                          Tree

Part Used:                   Root

Folk use:                      Root bark chewed for toothache; good for pyorrhea and dental caries.

 

Botanical Name:         Spilanthus oleracea Linn.

Family:                        Asteraceae

Local Name:                Karkara

Habit:                          Herb

Part Used:                   Inflorescence

Folk use:                      Inflorescence used for gum inflammation

 

Botanical Name:         Thalictrum reniforme Wall.

Family:                        Ranunculaceae

Local Name:                Garvin

Habit:                          Herb

Part Used:                   Root

Folk use:                      Root chewed to check gum inflammation.

 

Botanical Name:         Vitex negundo Linn.

Family:                        Verbenaceae

Local Name:                Bana

Habit:                          A small tree

Part Used:                   Stem

Folk use:                      Twigs recommended to clean teeth; considered good for pyorrhea, gum inflammation, dental caries and other problems.

 

Botanical Name:         Wendlandia heynei Sant. & Merch.

Family:                        Rubiaceae

Local Name:                Panseera

Habit:                          A small tree

Part Used:                   Stem

Folk use:                      Twigs used as a tooth-brush.

 

Botanical Name:         Zanthoxylum armatum DC

Family:                        Rutaceae

Local Name:                Tirmir

Habit:                          A small tree

Part Used:                   Stem

Folk use:                      Twigs considered as a best source for scouring teeth and considered good for any dental problem.

 

 

The different parts used for dental hygiene are represented by the histogram (Fig. 1).

 

 


 


FIGURE 1:     The number of different parts used for dental hygiene.

 

 

Discussion

 

           The present study revealed information of plants used for dental hygiene. These plants are arranged in alphabetical order; with their family, local name, habit, part / parts used and folk use.

Present study includes 32 plants (Table 1) used for dental hygiene belonging to 24 families. The predominant families are Rutaceae with 5 plant spp,  Juglandaceae with 3 plants spp,  Anacardiaceae and Fabaceae with 2 plant spp each. Among various plants, 18 trees, 9 shrubs, 2 under-shrubs and 5 herbs are used for dental hygiene.  Out of 32 plant spp leaves of 12, stem of 11, root of 4 are predominantly used for the purpose while latex, fruits, and stem bark of 2 plant spp each are used (Figure 1).  Rhizome, seeds and inflorescence of 1 plant each are used for dental hygiene.

 

Acknowledgement

 

          Authors are thankful to Dr. (Col.) Sunit Rana, for his valuable guidance and help at each stage of the work.

 

References

1. Ahluwalia, K.S. 1952. Medicinal plants of Kangra valley. Indian Forester 78(4): 181-   194.

2. Ambasta, S.P. (ed.)1986. The Useful Plants of India. C.S.I.R., New Delhi.

3. Balokhra, J. M. 2002.  The  Wonderland Himachal Pradesh. H.G. Publication, New  

            Delhi.

4. Chauhan, N.S. 1999. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publ. Co., New Delhi.

5.  Dhiman, D.R. 1976. Himachal Pradesh Ki Vanoshdhiya Sampada. Imperial Printing 

            Press. Dharamsala, H.P.

6. Ganai, K.A. & Nawachoo, I.A. 2003. Traditional Treatment of Toothache By The Gujjar And Bakerwal Tribes of Kashmir in India. 105-107. In: Singh, V. & Jain, A,P. (eds.) Ethnobotany and Medicinal Plants of India and Nepal.Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur.

7. Jain, S.K. 1991. Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and Ethnobotany. Deep Publications, New Delhi.

8. Jain, S.K. & Goel, A.K. 1995. Workshop Exercise-1. Proforma for Field Work, 142-147. In: Jain, S.K. (ed.). A Manual of Ethnobotany. Scientific Publ., Jodhpur.

9. Rao, N.S. Balaji, Rajasekhar, D., Raju, D. Chengal & Nagaraju, J. 1996. Ethnomedicinal notes on some plants of Tirumala Hills for dental disorders. Ethnobotany 8: 88-91.