|
Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 1353-61, 2009.
Ethnomedical Knowledge
of Plants used by the Tribal people of Purandhar in Maharashtra, India
Bhosle S. V., Ghule V. P., �Aundhe
D. J.1 and Jagtap S. D.*
Medicinal
Plants Conservation
Center (MPCC), Pune, Maharashtra, India
1Department.
of Botany, Waghire College, Saswad (Purandhar), Maharashtra, India
*Correspondent
author, E- mail: chiritatml@rediffmail.com
Issued
November 01, 2009
Abstract
This study presents the results
of a field survey of the plants used medically by the tribal people of
Purandhar in Maharashtra, India. Tribes like Dhangars
and Gowlis inhabit the dry deciduous forests of the region. This is an
effort to record the valuable ethnomedical knowledge of these Purandhar tribes.
A total of 77 species belonging to 30 families and 56 genera were included.
These plants are used to treat various aliments, discomforts and diseases
like whooping cough, asthma, diabetes, diphtheria, conjunctivitis, snake
bite, scorpion bite, etc.
Keywords:
Ethnobotany, Medicinal plants and Purandhar.
Introduction
������� Nearly 70 percent of the
world population is dependent on the traditional medicines for primary
healthcare. India
is known for its rich diversity of medicinal plants and hence called
botanical garden of the world (Vedavathy et al, 1997). There is
increase in the wage of herbal medicines in recent past and almost 95 percent
consumption of these plants is made through collections from the forests (Gupta,
2003). The traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in the tribal people is
very ideal source for exploring bioactive compounds of therapeutic importance
in phytochemical research. This ethnomedicobotanical study of the tribal
people can open new frontiers for searching more active and efficient herbal
drugs. In an exploratory study of medicinal plants used by tribal communities
of Purandhar viz: Dhangars and Gowlis, 77 plants have been
recorded. In the present paper we give the details of these medicinal plants
that are being used for healing and or curing various discomforts, ailments
and diseases for more than 300 yrs in Purandhar. Although many studies
concerning the use of medicinal plants in several parts of Maharashtra
have been carried out, the ethnobotany of the Purandhar region is poorly
known and is being reported here for the first time.
�Study area
Purandhar in Maharashtra, India, lies between 17�02�.00 E and
18�17�.30 N. The different vegetation types present in this region are scrub,
deciduous and dry deciduous forest (Fig. 1 & 2). The present study was
carried out in selected areas of Purandhar where tribes are known to have
inhabited the land since the 16th Century.
Figure 1. Purandhar
landscape.
Figure 2. Vegetation
on Purandhar fort.
Methodology
Periodic
field trips were conducted in different seasons of the tribal areas for three
consecutive years. The frequent visits made it possible to develop a good rapport
with the elderly people and traditional healers (or Vaidoos), thereby making it possible to acquire the details of
medicinal plants and their uses. The information was collected from 80 people
(54 women, 26 men) whose ages ranged from 45 to 86 years. Most of the
interviewees (65) were more than 50 years old. The plant collections were made
in three seasons (summer, monsoon and winter), as some of the plants are
seasonal. The plants were identified with the help of different floristic
works (Cook, 1967; Santapau, 1958; Sharma et al., 1996; Singh et al.,
2000; Singh et al., 2001, as well as through comparison with specimens
previously authenticated and preserved in the Herbarium of the Botanical
Survey of India, Western Circle,
Pune. Specimens of our plants are preserved in the herbarium of the Medicinal
Plants Conservation Center (MPCC), Pune. The acquired information was cross
checked with available literature about these medicinal plants and their ethnobotany
(Jain, 1991; Chopra et al., 1956; Chopra and Verma, 1968; Agharkar,
1953; Vartak, 1997).
Results AND
Discussion
The results
of this study are given in Table 1, wherein species are arranged alphabetically
by genus.
For each
species are the botanical name with authority and voucher specimen number,
family, local name, parts used, ailments treated, preparations and total
number of reports (n) and relevant percentage (%) of citations.
A total of 77
plants from 30 different families have been documented for their healing
properties. These plants are used to treat 33 types of ailments and / or
discomforts. Of these, 11 plants were reportedly used to treat different type
of stomach and urinary problems; 6 were used in the the treatment of muscle
and joint pains; 5 for treatment of stroke and excessive heat; �4 for relief of asthma while 4 others for the
healing of wounds; and 3 for treatment of skin diseases and infections. With
respect to other ailments or diseases, generally one or two plant species were
said to be used. The use and acceptability of these plants, which are claimed
to be effective remedies, is quite popular and high among the Dhangar
and Gowli tribes that inhabit Purandhar. About 45 of their species are
very well known for their pharmacological, biochemical and clinical
applications (Kirtikar and Basu, 1951; Bhattacharjee, 1998; Kurian, 1999;
Dhiman, 2003), but the remaining plant species will need further confirmation
and study to prove them as efficient healers.
Table 1
Medicinal plants used in the Purandhar region of Maharashtra, India
|
Botanical name and voucher specimen
|
Family
|
Local name
|
Parts used
|
Uses/Ailments treated
|
Preparations (administration)
|
Citations
|
|
(n)
|
(%)
|
|
Acacia pennata (L.) Willd. (MPCC 1900)
|
Mimosaceae
|
Chilhar
|
Seed
|
Body pain
|
Oil (E)
|
5
|
6.25
|
|
Achyranthes aspera var. aspera L. (MPCC 1459)
|
Amaranthaceae
|
Aghada
|
Leaves
|
Cough
|
Decoction (I)
|
12
|
15.00
|
|
Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. (MPCC 3554)
|
Liliaceae
|
Korpad
|
Leaves
|
Skin diseases, healing
wounds
|
Exudate (E)
|
18
|
22.50
|
|
Argemone mexicana L. (MPCC 3557)
|
Papaveraceae
|
Bilayat
|
Root
|
Scorpion bite
|
Paste (E)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Asparagus racemosus var. javanica (Kunth) Baker (MPCC
3405)
|
Liliaceae
|
Shatavari
|
Tuber
|
Lactation
|
Powder (I)
|
19
|
23.75
|
|
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (MPCC 306)
|
Meliaceae
|
Kadulimb
|
Young branch
|
Brushing teeth
|
Direct
(I)
|
22
|
27.50
|
|
Leaves / Fruit
|
Skin diseases
|
Juice
(I)
|
12
|
15.00
|
|
Leaves
|
Loosing weight
|
Juice
(I)
|
4
|
5.00
|
|
Bacopa monnieri (L.) Penn. (MPCC 959)
|
Scrophulariaceae
|
Bhramhi
|
Leaves
|
Menstrual disorder
|
Juice (I)
|
1
|
1.25
|
|
Bauhinia purpurea L.
(MPCC 3638)
|
Caesalpinaceae
|
Motha apta
|
Leaves
|
Scorpion bite
|
Paste (E)
|
5
|
6.25
|
|
Bauhinia racemosa Lam. (MPCC 903)
|
Caesalpinaceae
|
Apta
|
Root
|
Joint pain
|
Paste (E)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Blainvillea acmella (L.) Philipson�
(MPCC 1885)
|
Asteraceae
|
Singi
|
Leaves
|
Healing wounds
|
Juice (E)
|
4
|
5.00
|
|
Boerhavia repens var. diffusa (L.) Hook. (MPCC 288)
|
Nyctaginaceae
|
Punarnava
|
Root
|
Excessive body heat
|
Powder (I)
|
6
|
7.50
|
|
Boerhavia repens var. repens L. (MPCC 333)
|
Nyctaginaceae
|
Punarnava
|
Leaves
|
Blood purifier
|
Juice (I)
|
7
|
8.75
|
|
Butea monosperma var. monosperma (Lam.) Taub. (MPCC 2904)
|
Fabaceae
|
Palas
|
Flower
|
Reduce excessive heat
|
Infision (I)
|
5
|
6.25
|
|
Calotropis gigantea (L.) Ait. (MPCC 2525)
|
Apocynaceae
|
Rui
|
Leaves
|
Swelling of stomach
|
Paste (E)
|
13
|
16.25
|
|
Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. (MPCC 3564 )
|
Apocynaceae
|
Rui
|
Latex
|
Muscle contraction
|
Direct (E)
|
20
|
25.00
|
|
Carissa congesta var. congesta L. (MPCC 160)
|
Apocynaceae
|
Karwand
|
Root
|
Skin allergy, itches
|
Paste (E)
|
6
|
7.50
|
|
Cassia auriculata L.
(MPCC 2235)
|
Caesalpinaceae
|
Tarwad
|
Leaves
|
Ringworms
|
Paste (E)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Cassia fistula L. (MPCC 212)
|
Caesalpinaceae
|
Bahawa
|
Pod
|
Healing wounds
|
Powder (E)
|
9
|
11.25
|
|
Cassia occidentalis L. (MPCC 3425)
|
Caesalpinaceae
|
Tarota
|
Seed
|
Asthma
|
Powder (I)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Cassia pumila Lam.
(MPCC 1572)
|
Caesalpinaceae
|
Harankhuri
|
Leaves
|
Whooping cough
|
Decoction (E)
|
1
|
1.25
|
|
Cassia surattensis Burm. f. ssp. glauca (Lam.) K. & S.
(MPCC 616)
|
Caesalpinaceae
|
-
|
Root
|
Snake bite
|
Juice (I)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Cassia tora L. (MPCC 2934)
|
Caesalpinaceae
|
Takla
|
Seed
|
Stroke
|
Paste (E)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Celastrus paniculatus Willd. (MPCC 958)
|
Celastraceae
|
Malkangni
|
Seed
|
Joint pain
|
Oil (E)
|
6
|
7.50
|
|
Ceropegia oculata Hook. (MPCC 2919)
|
Apocynaceae
|
Dudhani
|
Leaves
|
Conjunctivitis
|
Juice ( I)
|
1
|
1.25
|
|
Curcuma pseudomontana Grah. (MPCC 412)
|
Zingiberaceae
|
Ranhalad
|
Tuber
|
Blood purifier
|
Extract (I)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Datura metel L.
(MPCC 3590)
|
Solanaceae
|
Dhotra
|
Leaves
|
Swelling.
|
Paste (E)
|
8
|
10.00
|
|
Dioscorea bulbifera L. (MPCC 3410)
|
Dioscoreaceae
|
Kand vel
|
Bulbil
|
Stomachache
|
Juice (I)
|
11
|
13.75
|
|
Dioscorea pentaphylla var. pentaphylla L. (MPCC 2011)
|
Dioscoreaceae
|
Fulora
|
Tuber
|
|
Cooked eaten (I)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (MPCC 2714)
|
Asteraceae
|
Maka
|
Root
|
Jaundice
|
Juice (I)
|
5
|
6.25
|
|
Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (MPCC 1112)
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Awla
�
|
Fruit
�
|
Loss of vision
|
Eaten raw (I)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Acidity and pittha.
|
Eaten
raw� with salt (I)
|
30
|
37.50
|
|
Ensete superbum Cheesm. (MPCC 3584)
|
Musaceae
|
Rankel
|
Scape
|
Kidney stone
|
Eaten raw (I)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (MPCC 3587)
|
Myrtaceae
|
Nirgil
|
Bark
|
Strengthening gums
|
Powder (I)
|
6
|
7.50
|
|
Seed
|
Skin diseases
|
Oil (E)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Euphorbia fusiformis Buch.-Ham. (MPCC 3588)
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Chirkandi- cha kanda
|
Latex
|
Conjunctivitis
|
Latex (E)
|
8
|
10.00
|
|
Euphorbia heterophylla L. (MPCC 1507)
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
-
|
Latex
|
Skin allergy, itches
|
Direct (E)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Euphorbia hirta L.
(MPCC 2614)
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Dudhi
|
Leaves
|
Lactation
|
Direct (I)
|
6
|
7.50
|
|
Euphorbia thymifolia L. (MPCC 3604)
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
-
|
Leaves
|
Abortifacient
|
Juice (I)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Ficus benghalensis L.
�(MPCC 3590)
|
Moraceae
|
Wad
|
Leaves
|
Cracks on feet
|
Latex (E)
|
6
|
7.50
|
|
Ficus racemosa L.
(MPCC 1875)
|
Moraceae
|
Umbar
|
Bark
|
Strengthening gums
|
Powder (I)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Ficus religiosa L.
(MPCC 3592)
|
Moraceae
|
Pimpal
|
Bark
|
Asthma
|
Powder (I)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Frerea indica Dalz.
�(MPCC 4953)
|
Apocynaceae
|
Potdukhi
|
Leaves
|
Promoting hair growth
|
Paste (E)
|
1
|
1.25
|
|
Gloriosa superba L.
(MPCC 1523)
|
Liliaceae
|
Kallawi
|
Leaves
|
Easy delivery
|
Paste (E)
|
13
|
16.25
|
|
Gmelina arborea Roxb. (MPCC 789)
|
Verbenaceae
|
Shivan
|
Leaves
|
Urinary disorders
|
Extract (I)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R. Br. (MPCC 641)
|
Apocynaceae
|
Bedki
|
Leaves
|
Diabetes
|
Powder (I)
|
1
|
1.25
|
|
Hemidesmus indicus var. pubescens (Wight & Arn.) Hook. f.
(MPCC 1580)
|
Periplocaceae
|
Anantmul
|
Root
|
Excessive body heat
|
Powder (I)
|
21
|
26.25
|
|
Hibiscus cannabinus L. (MPCC 3540)
|
Malvaceae
|
Ambadi
|
Leaves
|
Laxative
|
Eaten raw (I)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (MPCC 92)
|
Malvaceae
|
Jasvand
|
Root
|
Blood discharge
|
Powder (I)
|
1
|
1.25
|
|
Flower
|
Maintaining dark black
hairs
|
Oil (E)
|
13
|
16.25
|
|
Iphigenia pallida Baker (MPCC 339)
|
Liliaceae
|
Lasun kand
|
Leaves
|
Perforation of eardrum
|
Juice (I)
|
1
|
1.25
|
|
Justicia adhatoda L. �(MPCC
3674)
|
Acanthaceae
|
Adulsa
|
Leaves
|
Cough
|
Powder (I)
|
11
|
13.75
|
|
Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pres. (MPCC 3605)
|
Crassulaceae
|
Panphuti
|
Leaves
|
Muscle pain
|
Paste (E)
|
5
|
6.25
|
|
Lantana camara var. aculeate (L.) Moldenke (MPCC 2034)
|
Verbenaceae
|
Tantani
|
Fruit
|
Menstrual disorders
|
Powder (I)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Lawsonia inermis L.
(MPCC 4955)
|
Lythraceae
|
Mehandi
|
Leaves
|
Excessive body heat
|
Paste (E)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Mangifera indica L.
(MPCC 4952)
|
Anacardiaceae
|
Amba
|
Seed
|
Dysentery
|
Paste (E)
|
23
|
28.75
|
|
Mimosa hamata Willd. (MPCC 2221)
|
Mimosaceae
|
Chapta khair
|
Leaves
|
Leprosy
|
Paste (E)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Mimosa pudica L.
�(MPCC 3678)
|
Mimosaceae
|
Lajalu
|
Leaves
|
Stroke
|
Extract (I)
|
5
|
6.25
|
|
Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (MPCC 2005)
|
Lamiaceae
|
Ran tulas
|
Leaves
|
Fever , cold
|
Juice (I)
|
29
|
36.25
|
|
Opuntia elatior Mill.
(MPCC 4954)
|
Cactaceae
|
Nivdung
|
Stem
|
Muscle pain
|
Juice (E)
|
8
|
10.00
|
|
Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn. (MPCC 3620)
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Bhui awla
|
Leaves
|
Jaundice
|
Decoction (I)
|
9
|
11.25
|
|
Plumbago zeylanica L. (MPCC 2620)
|
Plumbaginaceae
|
Chitrak
|
Root
|
Skin diseases
|
Paste (E)
|
9
|
11.25
|
|
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (MPCC 3621)
|
Fabaceae
|
Karanj
|
Seed oil
|
Whooping cough
|
Oil� (I)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Punica granatum L.
(MPCC 4956)
|
Punicaceae
|
Dalimb
|
Fruit rind
|
Cough, toothache
|
Powder (I)
|
15
|
18.75
|
|
Rubia cordifolia L.
(MPCC 640)
|
Rubiaceae
|
Manjistha
|
Leaves
|
Uterine pain
|
Juice (I)
|
1
|
1.25
|
|
Sida mysorensis Wight and Arn. (MPCC 32)
|
Malvaceae
|
-
|
Leaves
|
Healing wounds
|
Powder (E)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Sida rhombifolia ssp. rhombifolia L. (MPCC 28)
|
Malvaceae
|
Bala
|
Leaves
|
Appetizer
|
Powder (I)
|
5
|
6.25
|
|
Sida spinosa L. (MPCC 2537)
|
Malvaceae
|
-
|
Root
|
Scorpion bite
|
Paste (E)
|
1
|
1.25
|
|
Smithia hirsuta Dalz. (MPCC 3123)
|
Fabaceae
|
-
|
Leaves
|
Laxative
|
Direct (I)
|
12
|
15.00
|
|
Solanum anguivi Lam. (MPCC 2627)
|
Solanaceae
|
Ranwangi
|
Seed
|
Asthma
|
Powder (I)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Solanum nigrum L.
�(MPCC 842)
|
Solanaceae
|
Ranwangi
|
Leaves
|
Laxative
|
Laxative (I)
|
4
|
5.00
|
|
Sphaeranthus indicus L. (MPCC 1034)
|
Asteraceae
|
-
|
Leaves
|
Vermifuge
|
Juice (I)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels. (MPCC 315)
|
Myrtaceae
|
Jambhul
|
Fruit
|
Diabetes
|
Eaten raw (I)
|
24
|
30.00
|
|
Bark
|
Severe toothache
|
Decoction (I)
|
3
|
3.75
|
|
Tamarindus indica L.
(MPCC 2012)
|
Caesalpinaceae
|
Chinch
|
Leaves
|
Menstrual disorders
|
Juice (I)
|
4
|
5.00
|
|
Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (MPCC 231)
|
Combretaceae
|
Behada
|
Bark
|
Diphtheria
|
Powder (I)
|
18
|
22.50
|
|
Terminalia chebula Retz. (MPCC 3212)
|
Combretaceae
|
Hirda
|
Fruit
|
Strengthening gums
|
Powder (I)
|
4
|
5.00
|
|
Terminalia elliptica Willd. (MPCC 731)
|
Combretaceae
|
Ain
|
Bark
|
Anaphylatic reaction
|
Powder (I)
|
2
|
2.50
|
|
Tridax procumbens L. (MPCC 1884)
|
Asteraceae
|
Kurmudi
|
Leaves
|
Healing wounds
|
Juice (E)
|
27
|
33.75
|
|
Tylophora dalzellii Hook. f. (MPCC 3130)
|
Apocynaceae
|
-
|
Leaves & Stem
|
Asthma
|
Powder (I)
|
1
|
1.25
|
|
Vitex negundo var. negundo L. (MPCC 2624)
|
Verbenaceae
|
Nirgudi
|
Leaves
|
Muscular pain
|
Oil (E)
|
6
|
7.50
|
|
Wrightia tinctoria ssp. tinctoria R. Br. (MPCC 251)
|
Apocynaceae
|
Lamb kuda
|
Seed
|
Stomachache
|
Powder (I)
|
16
|
20.00
|
Way
of administration: (E) external use; (I) internal use.
Conclusion
This study
indicates the importance of large number of plants in tribal medicine, which
could be of paramount interest for research and drug development and
identification of new bioactive compounds that deserve further study.
Acknowledgements
We are thankful to the Director, Medicinal Plants Conservation Center,
Pune; Director, Botanical Survey of India, Western Circle, Pune; Dr.Milind
Sardesai (Taxonomist) Abasaheb Garware College, Pune.
�
References
Agharkar, S.P. 1953. Medicinal
Plants of Bombay Presidency, Jodhpur, Scientific
Publishers.
Bhattacharjee, S.K. 1998. Hand Book of Medicinal Plants, Jaipur,
Pointer Publishers.
Chopra, I.C. and Verma, B.S. 1968. Supplement
to the glossary of Indian medicinal plants, New Delhi, Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research.
Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L. and Chopra, I.C. 1956. Glossary
of Indian Medicinal Plants, New
Delhi, Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research.
Cooke, T. 1967. The Flora of Presidency of Bombay, vol 1-3, Botanical survey of India, Calcutta.
Dhiman, A.K. 2003. Sacred plants and their
medicinal uses, Delhi,
Daya Publishing House.
Gupta, V. 2003. Seed germination and dormancy breaking techniques for
indigenous medicine and aromatic plans. Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science, 25:402-407.
Jain, S.K. 1991. Dictionary of Indian folk
medicine and ethnobotany, New
Delhi, Deep publications.
Kirtikar,
K.R. and Basu, B.D. 19551. Indian Medicinal Plants, Allahabad, India, Lalti Mohan Basu
Publication.
Kurian, J.C. 1999. Plants that heal, Pune,
Oriental Watchman Publishing House.
Santapau, H. 1958. The Flora of Purandhar, Oxford Book and Stationary Co., New Delhi.
Sharma B.D., Karthikeyan S. and Singh N.P. 1996. The
Flora of Maharashtra State (Monocotyledones), Botanical Survey of India.
Singh, N.P. and Karthikeyan, S. 2000. The Flora of Maharashtra State
(Dicotyledones) Vol. 1, Botanical Survey of India.
Singh, N.P., Lakshiminarasimhan, P., Karthikeyan, S.
and Prasanna, P.V. 2001. The Flora of Maharashtra State
(Dicotyledones) Vol. 2. Botanical Survey of India.
Vartak, V.D. 1997. Contribution to Indian
Ethnobotany, 3rd Ed. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur.
Vedavathy, S., Mrudula V. and
Sudhakar A. 1997. Tribal medicine in Chitoor district, Andhra Pradesh,
India, Vedams e Books (P) Ltd.
|