Life sciences Leaflets(LSIC2011)200-207,2012 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN2277-4297(P) 0976 – 1098(O) PUBLISHED ON 29TH FEB 2012 STUDIES ON CLIMBER RESOURCES USED BY MALDHARIS OF BHANVAD TALUKA OF JAMNAGAR DISTRICT IN SAURASHTRA REGION, GUJARAT, INDIA K.V. KANJARIYA 1, R.S. PATEL 1 AND K.C. PATEL 2 1BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, K.K.SHAH JARODWALA MANINAGAR SCIENCE COLLEGE, AHMEDABAD(GUJARAT, INDIA). 2BOTANY DEPARTMENT, SMT. S.M.PANCHAL SCIENCE COLLEGE,TALOD – 383215. [email protected] ABSTRACT: The present paper deals with 19 climber species belonging to 15 families used by tribal inhabitants of Taluka Bhanvad (Jamnagar) are being used by aborigines and rural folks for the treatment of various health problems. The northern part of Bhanvad taluka covers by Lalpur and Khambhalia talukas and western part cover by Kalyanpur taluka. Bhanvad taluka lies between 220-00’ N latitudes and 690-49’ E longitudes. Bhanvad taluka consists of 81 villages. Total population of Bhanvad taluka is 109545 while rural population is 89827. Total area of taluka is 731.95 Sq. Km. Forest area of the taluka is 8654 hectares. Major rivers of the region is Phulku, Veradi and Vartu river. During the present ethnobotanical investigations, emphasis was made to list out the ethnobotanical useful plant species of this area. Some important ethnobotanical climber species of this area like Abrus precatorius, Asparagus racemosus, Celastrus paniculatas, Ceropegia bulbousa, Cocculus hirsutus, Rivea hypocrateriformis, Tylophora dalzellii etc. are successfully grown in these forest areas are documented here. All the plant species are described here with their botanical names, local names, name of the family and ethnobotanical uses. Ethnobotanical data were collected by questionnaires and personal interviews from the tribes and local people. KEY WORDS: Climber, Bhanvad taluka, Maldharis, Ethnobotanical. INTRODUCTION: Jamnagar district is located between 210-47’ to 220-57’ North latitude and 680-57’ to 700-37’ East longitudes. It is situated in the peninsular region in the Northwest / Saurashtra part of Gujarat. Jamnagar district is bound by the Gulf and Rann of Kutchh on the North, on the East by Rajkot district, on the South by Junagadh district and West by the Arabian Sea. Total area of this district under forest is 45367 hectares and total irrigated area is 12,700 hectares. There are 756 villages and 62 nesses, harboring 1904278 human beings. Out of these, 1068022 human beings are residing in rural areas while 836252 are residing in urban areas. Among the total population of the district, http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 200 Life sciences Leaflets(LSIC2011)200-207,2012 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN2277-4297(P) 0976 – 1098(O) 154819 persons belong to schedule cast and 10459 persons belong to schedule tribe. Tribes and local people are residing in the hilly areas of such study area. Soil found in the Jamnagar district is mostly classified as alluvial, black, light brown and alkaline. The black soil or medium black soil is found in Bhanvad, Jamjodhpur and eastern portion of Jamnagar talukas. Light brown soil also called dharod is found in all talukas but mainly in the western parts of the district viz., Lalpur taluka. The alluvial soil also called ghad, batha or katha is found on the river bank near Bhanvad taluka. Such type of soil locally known as khar is found in the coastal areas. Based on the revised classification of biogeographically zones by Rodgers and Panwar (1988), the diverse natural ecosystems in the Barda Hills and their surroundings (Bhanvad and JamJodhpur talukas) are explained. Herdsmen (Maldharis) are residing in the Barda sanctuary since ancient times. The exact history of their origin is not yet known but probable their ancestors were that of Sak or Hun. However, the origin of Hun can be traced out to a powerful squat, swarthy and savage nomad race of Asia who moved westwards and under Attila (433-453) overran Europe. Earlier to independence, the portion living in the Jamnagar district is known as ‘Jam Barda’ after the Jam Saheb, the ruler of Ex-Jamnagar state. The northern portion of Jam Barda falls in Bhanvad taluka of the Jamnagar district and is notable for the ruins of Ghumli the ancient capital of Jethawa kings, which was destroyed in 1392 A.D. The mean annual rainfall recorded was 820.21 mm and the mean number of annual rainy days was 21 for the period of 2002 to 2008. The monthly maximum rainfall in the last seven years was 644 mm in the month of August 2003 whereas the minimum rainfall was 1.5 mm during March 2006. During the period of 2002 to 2008, the mean monthly maximum temperature varied from 35.2 to 38.3 and the mean monthly minimum temperature from 9.5 to 11.7. The highest temperature 38.3 was recorded in the month of May 2002 In the Gop Hills. Acacia senegal, Acacia nilotica, Manilkara hexandra and Dichrostachys cinerea are dominating tree species whereas the eastern Barda is dominated by thorny species such as Acacia Senegal, Euphorbia nerrifolia and Zizyphus nummularia. Traditional occupation of majority of rural and tribal people are farming and animal husbandry. Crops that are cultivated here during the Kharif season, are Arachis hypogea, Gossypium herbaceum, Pennisetum typhoides and Sorghum bicolor. The Triticum aestivum and Brassica juncea are the main crops of the Rabi season. Maldharis are living in Alech, Gop Hills and Barda Sanctuary. Tribal and local people use herbal drug therapy for the treatment of various diseases is reported during ethnobotanical explorations from the area. The objectives of present study were to find out new herbal drugs and the possibilities of effective utilization of wild medicinal plants by the tribes and local people of Jamnagar District. We noticed that all these herbal drugs are safe and no side effects were found in patients. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 201 Life sciences Leaflets(LSIC2011)200-207,2012 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN2277-4297(P) 0976 – 1098(O) MATERIALS & METHODS: Taxo-ethnobotanical information of plant species was extracted by frequent field trips during September 2006 to March 2009 at the Gop, Alech and Barda Hills. Ethnobotanical explorations were undertaken in various villages and nesses under three talukas of Jamnagar district. Plants have been collected in the flowering and fruiting stages. They were identified on the spot with the help of Gujarat flora by Shah 1978 and those plants that could not be identified were brought to the department of M. D. Science College, Porbandar. Floral parts of these specimens were dissected and identified. The identification was finally confirmed by matching with the help of authentic herbarium specimens available at S. P. University Herbarium, Vallabh Vidyanagar and Saxton & Sedgwick Herbaria, Gujarat College, Ahmedabad. DISCUSSION: During our floristic and ethnobotanical explorations, we surveyed for find out plants that are used as herbal drug for several diseases by the local tribes. Ethnomedicinal uses of forest plant species are noted during ethnobotanical explorations. From which we found some plant species are used as various diseases. We questionnaire aged and experienced people – rural medicine men (local vaidya), elder men and women. All the herbarium specimens were preserved in the Katcchh University, Bhuj. All the plant species are enumerated here are wild and grown successfully in these forest areas. Plant extract, decoction, powder, obtained from plant parts like root, stem, bark, flowers, fruits and seeds (fresh or dried) are used for various diseases. Some ethnobotanical workers like (Bhatt et al., 2001, 2002), (Jain, 1991), (Kanjariya, 2009), (Pade, 1966), (Patel, 2002), (Roy & Das, 2004) and (Silori & Rana, 2000) are referred for this research paper. We can evidently say that allopathic treatment has many side effects but indigenous phytotherapy have good source of medicament. It is suggested that phytotherapy are most popular, time tested and effective (Roy & Das, 2004). Further confirmative and scientific as well as clinical and pharmacological evaluation is desired for authorization, verification and increase the efficacy of such tasted herbal drugs. ETHNOMEDICINAL ENUMERATION: 1. Abrus precatorius L. Family : Fabaceae Vern : Chanothi Parts Used : Leaves, Roots Folk Uses : 1. 2-3 g powdered leaves giving to cure chest affections and pains, twice a day for a week. 2. Leaves are chewed, four times a day three days, to cure mouth- ulcer. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 202 Life sciences Leaflets(LSIC2011)200-207,2012 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN2277-4297(P) 0976 – 1098(O) 3. Root extract, 2 teaspoons, once a day for 3-4 days is given for the treatment of syphilis. 4. Paste of seeds given twice a day for stomach disorders in children. 2. Argyreia nervosa (Brum.f.) Boj. Family : Convolvulaceae Vern : Samudrashos Parts Used : Leaves Folk Uses : 1. For early remedy of boils, dorsal surface of leaf is tied before ripening and ventral surface after ripening. 3. Aristolochia bracteolata L. Family : Aristolochiaceae Vern : Kidamari Parts Used : Leaves Folk Uses : 1. Leaf paste applied on the head while taking bath relieves dandruff and other infections. 2. Paste of green leaves is applied to kill ticks and maggots. This can also used locally to cure foot disease. 4. Asparagus racemosus Willd. Med. Family : Liliaceae Vern : Satavari Parts Used : Leaves, Roots. Folk Uses : 1. Leaf paste applied 2 to 3 times for scabies. 2. The extract of the tubers, 1 teaspoon thrice a day, is given for 15 days for the treatment of excess menstrual flow. 3. Dried root powder, crushed with turmeric and the filtrate taken orally, 2 spoonfuls twice a day for 3 days for the treatment of fever. 4. The raw root is eaten daily in the morning to cure kidney stones. 5. About 300 gm root is crushed in milk or buttermilk and given for a week in the treatment of arthritis in cattle.