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Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 391-400. 2008.
Ethnomedicinal and Ethnoveterinary Plants from Boath, Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh, India M. Venkat Ramana
Plant Systematics Laboratory, Department of Botany, University College of Science Osmania University, Hyderabad – 500 007, India Email: [email protected]
Issued 16 June 2008
Abstract The present paper deals with the traditional uses of 57 plant species employed in ethnomedicine and ethnoveterinary practice by tribal and local people of the Boath Revenue Division of Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh, to treat different ailments affecting both human and livestock. For each plant species, details on the scientific name, botanical family, local name and use are provided along with parts harvested for treatment, the manner of processing and the mode of administration. Key words: Ethnomedicine, ethnoveterinary medicine, Boath Revenue Division, Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh. Introduction Boath Revenue Division, located in the southwest of the Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh, with an area of 30,878 ha, is primarily a forested tract (40% of the total land area) north of River Godavari characteristically having a rocky and gently undulating topography that continues in to the adjoining districts of Maharashtra. It enjoys the typical Deccan climate with temperatures ranging between 29 and 41oC maximum and 15 to 28oC minimum. The region receives an average annual rainfall of 995.1 mm. The Mathura, Lambada and Gonds comprise the tribal population of this region and traditional practices of curing ailments using plants and animal resources are practiced by all these communities. In an enquiry to document their traditional knowledge of the medicinal plants, we conducted a year long survey in this region from 2006 to 2007. The data was collected by interviewing local and traditional medical practioners and village heads. Our studies have shown that these people have accumulated a wide knowledge in the usage of plant wealth over the centuries. As there exist no documentation of the traditional knowledge of tribals of Boath1,2, through this paper we attempt to fill the gap.
Methodology The study was carried out from April 2006 to March 2007. The information on plants were collected by interviewing traditional practioners and village heads. Plants were identified in the field by trekking different areas of the forests along with some of the members of the community who already practiced traditional medicine3-5. During the field trips, plant specimens were collected, properly tagged with field numbers, and brought to the Plant Systematics Laboratory, Department of Botany, Osmania University, Hyderabad for identification, where they are deposited.
Results The plant species are arranged in alphabetical order according to scientific names for convenience. For each plant species given in the following enumeration, details on the scientific name, botanical family, local name and use are provided along with the parts harvested for treatment and the manner of processing and mode of administration. We follow recent trends in nomenclature (IT IS, 2007).
Ethnomedicinal Plants
Burning sensation at time of urination Aerva lanata Juss. Family: Amaranthaceae Local name: Pindikura 5-10 gms of root with zeera made into juice mixed with pinch of sugar and administered once a day until relief.
Injuries, cuts and scorpion bites Achyranthus aspera L. Family:Amaranthaceae Local name: Uttereni Handful of leaves made into paste and bandaged over the bites, cuts and injuries for three days.
Stomachache Allium sativum L. Family: Liliaceae Local name: Velli-ulli, garlic 4-5 scale leaves were made into paste mixed with pinch of water and salt taken twice a day till relief.
Backache Aegle marmelos Correa Family: Rutaceae Local name: Maredu Handful of young leaves were made into paste and bandaged over night, on the backbone region for immediate healing.
Cataract Aloe barbadensis Mill. Family: Aloaeceae Local name: Kalabanda Mucilage applied on the eye-lids before going to bed, for seven days till eyes clear.
Dog bites Acacia farnesiana Willd. Family: Fabaceae/Leguminosae Local name: Murikitumma 5-10 gm of leaves ground with water and made into juice mixed with cow milk administered once in fortnight.
Boils Argemone mexicana L. Family: Papavaraceae Local name: Pichikusuma Handful of Leaves were made into paste and applied daily over the boils until cure.
Reduce heat Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Family: Meliaceae Local name: Vepa 5-10 gms of stem bark were made into juice mixed with pinch of sugar and ½ glass of juice administered.
Kidney stones Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. Family: Fabaceae/Leguminosae Local name: Moduga 10-15 gms of stem bark were made into juice mixed with pinch of pepper powder and cow milk administered once in a month to dissolve stones in kidneys.
Lice eradication Bauhenia purpurea L. Family: Fabaceae/Leguminosae Local name: Devakanchana, Pedda Are Dried seed paste mixed with coconut oil applied once before taking bath will eradicate the lice.Fertility in women Caesalpinia cristata L. Family: Fabaceae/Leguminosae Local name: Gachhkaya 5-10 gms of stem bark ground with pinch of water and made into juice and half tea cup juice administered during menses period.
Hydrocoel Calotropis gigantea (L.) R.Br. Family: Asclepiadaceae Local name: Jilledu 2-3 Leaves mildly heated with castor (Ricinus communis) oil and bandaged over the testicles, changed every day until cured.
Fertility in women & Joint pains Citrus aurantiifolia (Christ.) Swingle Family: Rutaceae Local name: Nimma 15-20 gm of roots dried and made into paste mixed with cow milk, 2 teaspoonful given daily for one month.Juice made from the ripened fruit added with pinch of sesame oil (Sesamum indicum) applied over the joints to cure.
Seminal disorders and Leucorrhea Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. Family: Hyoxidiaceae Local name: Nelathadi Gaddalu Powder made from the root tubers and mixed with cow milk, administered twice a week
Diarrhoea and dysentery Cocos nucifera L. Family: Arecaceae Local name: Kobbari One glass of tender coconut water given twice in a day will cure Diarrhoea and dysentery.
Heart ailments Coccinia indica Wight & Arn. Family: Cucurbitaceae Local name: Dhonda Handful of leaves ground and made into juice mixed with 10 ml of brandy given twice in a week.
Snake bite Dregea volubilis Benth. Family: Asclepiadiaceae Local name: Peddaguriza Aaku 4-5 leaves with 5-10 leaves of Nelagulimidi (Enicostema axillare) were made into juice added with pinch of pepper powder, administered immediately bandaged over the bite and the juice is given orally.
Cataract Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Family: Euphorbiaceae Local name: Usiri Ripened fruit juice is applied on the eyelids externally everyday
Family planning Ficus religiosa L. (Moraceae) Ravi 5-10 gms of stem bark were made into juice is mixed with pinch of sugar, administered, ½ tea cup from the third day on menses.
Anti-cancer & Heel cracks Ficus racemosa L. Family: Moraceae Local name: Medi 5-10 gms of stem were made into paste added with pinch of soil from the termite mounds and brass dust made into tablets, given daily one for one month.Latex applied externally to heel cracks.
Toothache Gossypium herbaceum L. Family: Malvaceae Local name: Patti Seeds burned and ash made into paste with water used to wash the teeth early morning every day till fortnight will cure toothache.
Lice eradication and hair growth & Improves fertility in women Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Family: Malvaceae Local name: Mandara 1 or 2 flowers petals boiled in coconut oil applied to head before going to bed, once in a day.Fragrance of the flowers early morning and late evening times improves fertility in women
Diarrhoea and dysentery in children Ipomoea obscura Ker-Gawl. Family: Convolvulaceae Local name: Gollagiddi Aaku Part of the fresh plant tied over the wrist of children.
Bronchitis Justicia adhatoda L. Family: Acanthaceae Local name: Addasaram 3-4 leaves ground and made into juice added with water and pinch of pepper powder, 1 or 2 tea-spoonful given internally once in a day for a month.
Cuts and injuries Lagascea mollis Cav. Family:Asteraceae Local name: Moddualamu Leaf paste is prepared and applied over the wounds will help to cure.
Toothache Momordica charantia L. Family: Cucurbitaceae Local name: Kakara Handful of leaves ground and made into juice added with pinch of sugar administered, 2-3 tea-spoonful twice in a week.
Headache Mentha arvensis L. Family: Lamiaceae Local name: Pudina 5-10 leaves were made into juice added with donkey milk administered once in a day.
Bone fractures Mucuna pruriens Bak. Family: Fabaceae/Leguminosae Local name: Dulakaya 10-15 seeds were soaked overnight, in water and the water is given in empty stomach twice a week until cure.Abdominal pain and male reproductive disorders Madhuca indica Wight Family:Sapotaceae Local name: Ippa 5-10 gm of stem paste is mixed with water and sugar given once in a day.
Joint pains and Foot pains Opuntia elatior Mill. Family: Cactaceae Local name: Brammajemudu Burned stem ash is applied on joints to cure pain.
Stomachache Plumeria rubra L. Family: Apocynaceae Local name: Adavi Ganneru 5-10 gm of fresh root made into paste is mixed with ghee administered once in a day.
Boils and Joint pains & Sore throat Plumbago zelanica L. Family: Plumbaginaceae Local name: Chitramulamu Tender portion of the roots made into juice added with pinch of water given 2-3 tea spoonful twice a day.5-6 gm of roots made into paste bandaged over the boils and joints.
Joint pains Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae) Amudamu Two teaspoonful seed oil mixed with equal quantity of cow urine, given orally once in a day.
Anti-cancer Sesamum indicum L. Family: Pedaliaceae Local name: Nuvuulu Gargling with oil extracted from the seed, every day early morning after mouth wash in empty stomach for six months.
Neck and joint pains Semecarpus anacardium L. f. Family: Anacardiaceae Local name: Nalla Jidi Exudations from the ripened seed is directly applied on the affected area.
Kidney stones Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels Family: Myrtaceae Lsocal name: Allaneredu Handful of stem bark is made into juice added with a pinch of pepper powder, along with cow milk, administered twice in a month to dissolve stones in kidneys.
Reduce heat Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers Family: Menispermaceae Local names: Tippa Tega 10-15 cm of the fresh plant powder is mixed with cumin (zeera) and sugar is administered.
Dysentery in children & Snakebite Tamarindus indica L. Family: Fabaceae / Leguminosae Local name: Chinta Five gms of leaf juice is added with sugar and given twice in a day.Ruptured seed is applied on the snake bite.
Stomachache Zizyphus xylopyrous (Retz.) Willd. Family: Rhamnaceae Local name: Gotti 5-10 gm of stem bark were made into juice administered once a day.
Obesity & hair growth (not diseases) Trigonella foenum-graceum L. Family: Fabaceae / Leguminosae Local name: Menthi Fresh stems and leaves eaten directly and made into curry and taken with rice reduce the obesity
Ethnoveterinary PlantsInternal bleeding in the digestive system or digestive hemorrhage [For cattle] Argemone mexicana L. Family: Papavaraceae Local name: Pichikusuma, Udugu 100 gm leaves crushed and pounded with 15 gm pepper, mixed with butter milk, given orally twice in a week.
Digestive disorders [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep] Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Family: Meliaceae Local name: Vepa 50 gm leaves crushed and mixed with water, given orally once in a day.
Foot and mouth diseases [For cattle] Aegle marmelos Correa Family: Rutaceae Local name: Maredu Pulp of the fruit is mixed with pulp of the tamarind along with pinch of calcium is applied externally.
Bone fractures [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep] & Grinding of teeth [For cattle]:
Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. Family: Fabaceae / Leguminosae Local name: Modugu 250 gms stem bark crushed well and applied externally on the fractured areaMixing of bark powdered with 15 gms pepper is given orally twice a week.
Rheumatism [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep]: Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Family: Poaceae Local name: Garika 100 gms of plant with 10 gms of pepper mixed with toddy and given orally twice a day for one week will cure rheumatism.
Bronchitis and asthma [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep]: Cissus quadrangularis L. Family: Vitaceae Local name: Nalleda Mixing of 100 gms of aerial plant parts along with 50 gm of leaves of Justicia adhatoda (Addasaramu) mixed with water, given orally once a day to cure asthma.
Staggering [For cattle] Dreagea volubilis Benth. Family: Asclepiadecaceae Local name: Peddagurizaku 50 gm leaves and 50 gm of root pounded with Cuminum ciminum (Jeera) and sugar is given orally once in a week. Swellings [For cattle] Erythrina suberosa Roxb. Family: Fabaceae / Leguminosae Local name: Munumoduga 100 gm of stem without bark, crushed and extract is applied on the swollen region.
Impaction [For cattle] Holarrhena pubescence (Buch. Ham.) Wall. Family: Apocynaceae Local name: Palakodisa 10 gms of leaves with a pinch of calcium and jaggery is given direct.
For ability to take food [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep] Jatropha curcas L. Family: Euphorbiaceae Local name: Adaviamudamu 50 gems of leaves are crushed well and mixed with water which is given orally twice a week.
Bronchitis and Asthma [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep]: Justicia adhatoda L. Family: Acanthaceae Local name: Addasaram 100 gms leaves pounded with Allium sativum (garlic) and Carum coptium (voma) mixed with water, given orally twice a day.
Ruminating and digestive disorders [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep] Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley Family: Cucurbitaceae Local name: Chedu Burrakaya Unripe fruit pounded with 10 gm of pepper and mixed with butter milk, given orally once a day.
Bone fractures and rheumatism [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep] Opuntia elatior Mill. Family: Cactaceae Local name: Brammajemudu Burned ash of the plant is applied externally.
Muscle disorders [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep] Pergularia daemia (Forsskal) Chiov. Family: Asclepiadaceae Local name: Dustaputeega Latex or leaf extract applied locally.
Ruminating and digestive disorders [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep] Solanum nigrum L. Family: Solanaceae Local name; Kasipandlu 100 gms of ripened fruits pounded with 15 gm of pepper mixed with butter milk, given orally once a day for 15 days.
Psychic disorders [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep] Sterculia urens Roxb. Family: Sterculiaceae Local name: Tapasi 100 gms of stem bark pounded with 10 gm of pepper mixed with toddy, given orally twice a week.
Bone fractures [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep] Terminalia arjuna Wight & Arn. (Combretaceae) Tella Maddi 250 gms of stem bark crushed and applied over the fractures.
Kill the lice and insects [For cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep]: Vitex negundo L. Family: Verbenaceae Local name: Vavili Spray leaf extract over the animalsto erradicate lice.
Conclusion The present paper documents the ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinarian uses of 57 plant species from Boath area of Adilabad district in Andhra Pradesh. Forty species of plants belonging to 39 genera and 27 families were recorded being used to treat 27 different ailments and diseases affecting tribals of this area. Most of the plant species are in local distribution and few species are in cultivation in home gardens. Different parts of medicinal plants are used in preparation of medicinal pastes or concoctions, the leaves and stem were the most frequently used parts followed by whole plant, fruits, roots and latex or exudes. Most of the species are used to treat only one disease. Only few diseases treated with more than one species. The present observation is match with the earlier reports with respect to ethnomedicine6-7 and ethnoveterinary medicine8-10. Some major ailments and diseases such as cancer, heart diseases, kidney-stones and obesity were being effectively treated using traditional knowledge and locally available plant resources. Ficus raemosa and Sesamum indicum are used to treat cancer, Coccinia indica is used to treat heart ailments, Butea monosperma and Syzygium cumini are used to treat kidney-stones problem and Trigonella foenum-graceum is used as anti-obesity. Keeping in view the traditional knowledge and beliefs, we propose phytochemical and pharmacological studies of these plants in conjunction with treatments of these diseases.
As many as 17 species of plants belonging to 18 genera and 17 families are used in ethnoveterinary medicine to treat 15 diseases of livestock in general. Different parts of medicinal plants are used in veterinary practices, but the most used part are the leaves. These traditional knowledge help the local and tribals of this area immensely as there are no functional veterinary hospital in the Boath Revenue Division. Scientific studies on these plants too would yield interesting results and help us in understanding the pharmacological actions of the active compounds found in these plants that the local and tribals of the region had been using for so long.
Acknowledgements I am thankful to Prof. P. Satyanarayana Reddy for his guidance and encouragement at every level. And also acknowledge the help provided by the tribals and local medicinal practioners of Boath Revenue Division, Adilabad District for sharing information and traditional knowledge.
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