Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources Vol. 1 (1), March 2010, pp. 85-88

Indigenous healthcare practices in district ()

Y A Ahirrao and D A Patil* P G Department of Botany S. S. V. P. Sanstha’s L. K. Dr. P. R. Ghogrey Science College, Dhule-424 005, Maharashtra, Received 23 March 2007; Accepted 4 January 2010

The authors surveyed , Sindkhed Raja and Dewulgaon Raja tehsils of (Maharashtra) from viewpoint of plant-based healthcare practices amongst the rural and tribal people. This paper includes information on 30 species belonging to 29 genera and 22 families of angiosperms. This study comprises information on traditional formulations, mode of administration and the ailments for which they are effective, apart from botanical and local plant names. The medicines consist of a sole drug or a principal drug in the form of decoction, extract, oil, powder and pellets. These are prepared from leaves, petiole, bark, stem, roots, flowers, seeds, latex or entire plants. In few cases, application of latex or fresh parts like flowers or simply contact of plant parts are noted. They are used for as many as 26 human diseases. Out of 30 species, 17 have been recorded for additional information from this region. The plant species are desired for further modern scientific screening.

Keywords : Ethnomedicine, Indigenous healthcare, Medicinal plants, Buldhana district, Maharashtra. IPC code; Int. cl. 8  A61K 36/00

Introduction Methodology Man cannot avoid death but have always tried to Buldhana district is situated between 19°15 ′ and reduce the pain and misery due to diseases by 20°17 ′ North latitude and 75°57 ′ and 76°59 ′ East designing novel drugs. He has been engaged since longitude. It is divided into 13 tehsils. Of these, only ancient times in search of remedies for certain remote villages and hamlets of Lonar, Sindkhed Raja ailments that affected him. In modern times, we are and Dewulgaon Raja tehsils of Buldhana district were well convinced that plant-based remedies are safer surveyed and native medicinal practices were gathered than that of modern/synthetic medicine. Efforts are during 2005-2007 through interviewing local experienced informants, medicine men and women, being made worldwide and in our country to tap heads of aboriginal communities, farmers and ethnomedicinal knowledge from local informants. labourers. Repeated inquiries from 5 to 10 informants The forces of acculturation and bio-deterioration are were made. The information accrued was verified in putting long strides in this region. Most of the different parts of the region. The data was jotted down population of the area largely depends on plant in the field diary prepared specially for this resources in their vicinity for healthcare and other investigation. Apart from actual interviews, actual necessities of life. However, indigenous medicolore applications of some cases were observed during field of the three tehsils, viz. Lonar, Sindkhed Raja and visits. Plants and their useful parts were collected Dewulgaon Raja of Buldhana district (Maharashtra) (Figs 1&2). Voucher specimens are prepared as have remained uninvestigated. The results of the suggested by Jain and Rao 1 housed in the Herbarium, investigation from this area are being communicated P.G. Department of Botany of L.K. Dr. P.R. Ghogrey in the present paper. Our study is aimed at resolving Science College, Dhule. They have been identified by using different district, regional and state floras of problem of database in this part of the state, which 2-8 will be in turn useful to develop new or alternative Maharashtra . The data was collected with reference drug sources in the country. to plant part/s or product used, local plant and disease name, recipe, doses, etc. It has been critically compared with the Indian classical literature 9-13 to point out little

______known or additional reports marked*. The plant species *Correspondent author, E-mail: [email protected] have been arranged alphabetically in Table 1. 86 INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, MARCH 2010

Table 1Ethnomedicinal plants of Buldhana district

S. No. Botanical Name/Family/Voucher No. Vernacular Part/s used Ailments Recipe and Administration Name 1. Abrus precatorius Linn./ Fabaceae/AYA 297, 413 Lal-gunj Leaves Voice quality 8-10 fresh leaves consumed twice a day till cure. 2. Allium sativum Linn./Liliaceae/AYA 208, 353 Lasun Bulblets Pus in ear Decoction in oil. 3-4 drops per day for 4-5 days. *3. Aloe vera Linn./ Liliaceae/ AYA 128, 301 Korphad Stem bark Piles Bark pieces (about 10 g) and 2-3 betel leaves made into paste applied 2-3 times a day for 5 days. *4. Amaranthus spinosus Linn./ Amaranthaceae Katya-math Leaves Pneumonia Extract, spoonful twice a day till cure. AYA 325, 428 *5. Annona squamosa Linn./ Annonaceae/AYA 79 Sitaphal Roots Delivery Roots tied around loin before delivery. 6. Azadirachta indica A.Juss./ Meliaceae Nimb Leaves Diarrhoea Decoction, one cup twice a day for three AYA 110, 355 days. *7. Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub. / Fabaceae Palas Leaf, Acidity Extract, 2-3 spoonful a day till cure, tea to AYA 148,248 petiole be avoided. *8. Caesalpinia bonduc (Linn.) Roxb. / Sagargoti Seeds Cholera, Seeds roasted, powdered and pellets Caesalpiniaceae/ AYA 84 Gastro prepared, one pellet (about 8-10 g) per day till cure. *9. Capsicum annuum Linn./ Solanaceae/AYA 11 Mirchi Leaves Migraine Extract, 3-4 drops into nose for 3-4 days. *10. Cassia obtusifolia Linn./ Caesalpiniaceae Tarota Leaves Rheumatism Extract, 2 spoonfuls at morning applied AYA 327, 182 till cure, no food before dose. 11. Celastrus paniculatus Willd. / Celastraceae Malkangani Seeds Paralysis Oil, applied on joints till cure. AYA 62 *12. Cleome viscosa Linn./ Capparidaceae/AYA 106 Piwali-til Leaves Headache Extract, 2-3 drops in nose for two days. 13. Cullen corylifolia (Linn.) Medik. /Fabaceae Bawachi Seeds Worms in Oil applied on wounds. AYA 109, 93 wounds 14. Diplocyclos palmatus (Linn.) Jeffery/ Shivlingi Seeds Conception Pellets prepared in wheat flour, one pellet Cucurbitaceae / AYA 28 per day for 7 days. 15. Hygrophila schulli (Buch.-Ham.) M.R. & S.M. Talimkhana Seeds Sexual Extract, one spoonful at night for 15 days Almeida/ Acanthaceae/AYA 65 weakness or more. *16. Jatropha gossypifolia Linn./ Euphorbiaceae Chandrajyoti Stem Gum strength Stem used as tooth-brush. AYA 376 *17. Luffa acutangula (Linn.) Roxb. var. amara (Roxb.) Kadu-dodka Dry fruits Antidote for Powder, consumed with jaggery 1:1 Clarke/ Cucurbitaceae/AYA 90 bite of mad- (20 g) 3-4 times a day till cure. dog *18. Mangifera indica Linn./ Anacardiaceae Amba Latex Scorpion sting Latex, applied after sting. AYA 165, 356 19. Morinda pubescens J.E.Sm./Rubiaceae/AYA 111 Bar-doi Seeds Rheumatism Oil, applied on joints. *20. Opuntia dillenii Haw./Cactaceae/AYA 247 Niwdung Fruits Rheumatism Powder, one spoonful per day till cure. *21. Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Chiov. /Asclepiadaceae Utarand Leaves Pus in ear Extract, few drops in ear per day till cure. 22. Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Bhui-awala Entire Jaundice Extract, one spoonful per day for 3 days. Thonn./Euphorbiaceae/AYA 50 plant *23. Sphaeranthus senegalensis DC./ Asteraceae Gorakhmundi Flowers Appetite Flowers (4-5 flowering heads), consumed AYA 64 raw. *24. Tectona grandis Linn./ Verbenaceae/AYA 112, 168 Sag Seeds Kidney-stone Extract, about 15 ml per day for a week. 25. Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. Arjun-satoda Stem bark Injury Powder applied in coconut oil on injury. Combretaceae/ AYA 100, 228 26. Terminalia chebula Retz./ Combretaceae/AYA 125 Hirda Seeds Toothache Powder, applied on gums daily till cure. 27. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Gulwel Leaves Fever Decoction, 15-20 ml at morning for 3-5 Miers./Menispermaceae/AYA 233, 388 days, tea to be avoided. 28. Vitex negundo Linn./ Verbenaceae/AYA 15, 358 Nirgudi All parts Ulcer of Powder, one spoonful twice a day for diabetic patient about 40 days. *29. Woodfordia fruticosa (Linn.) Kurz/Lythraceae/ Dhayati Flowers Asthma Powder of 5 flowers at morning for 2 AYA 147 days. *30. Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk. / Rhamnaceae Bor Leaves Piles Extract, 4 spoonfuls with equal cow-ghee AYA 304 for 4 days.

AHIRRAO & PATIL : INDIGENOUS HEALTHCARE PRACTICES IN BULDHANA DISTRICT 87

Fig. 2 Cleome viscosa

local people of various ethnic communities prefer native medicine for primary healthcare because of low cost and as a part of their social life and culture. Moreover, they are time-tested remedies.

Conclusion Biological and pharmacological screening of these Fig. 1 Abrus precatorius ethnomedicinal plants using the modern tools may lead to some new interesting drugs. This will also help Results and Discussion understand the molecular basis of their activities. Of late, Use of traditional medicine in healthcare has been serious, threats of bio-piracy and IPRs have compelled recognized by WHO over the last decade. Many us for early bio-prospecting of the potential medicinal developing countries have taken up researches to plant employed in indigenous phytomedicines. explore the possibility of employing them in their Moreover, such investigations will help revive our 14 primary healthcare . The present authors also indigenous knowledge system in service of mankind. recognized the status of indigenous healthcare practices The area under study is also witnessing the forces of bio- and hence extended studies on this line in Buldhana deterioration and acculturation. district of Maharashtra. This paper deals with different prescriptions of ethnomedicinal uses of 30 species Acknowledgement belonging to 29 genera and 22 angiospermic families. Authors are thankful to the authorities of the These remedies score many ailments such as institution for laboratory and library facilities. rheumatism, fever, headache, piles, diabetes, mouth ulcer, cholera, leucorrhoea, pneumonia, injuries, References rheumatism, jaundice, acidity, kidney stone, asthma, 1 Jain SK and Rao RR, Handbook of field and Herbarium toothache, pus formation, dog bite, scorpion sting, etc. Methods, Today & Tomorrow publishers, New Delhi, 1977. Most of the recipes are prepared from wild plants. 2 Cooke T, The Flora of The Presidency of Bombay, Vols. I- However, few species e.g. Aloe vera Linn. are found III, Botanical Survey of India, Reprint Edn, Calcutta, 1958. 3 Patil DA, Flora of Dhule and Nandurbar Districts under cultivation particularly used for cosmetic (Maharashtra), Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, purpose. Applications from 17 species (asterisked in 2003. Table 1) appeared not documented in Indian classical 4 Kshirsagar SR and Patil DA, Flora of District literature 9-13 . The common recipes applied externally or (Maharashtra), Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, internally are in the form of oil, decoction, pellet, paste 2008. and powder. Sometimes, milk, oil, cow-ghee are added. 5 Diwakar PG and Sharma BD, Flora of Buldhana District (Maharashtra) Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 2000. Generally, sole drug is used to prepare recipes. Rarely, 6 Naik VN, Flora of Marathwada, Vols. I-II, Amrut Prakashan, it is supplemented by other species e.g. Piper betle Aurangabad, 1998. Linn. Our survey indicated that economically backward 7 Singh NP and Karthikeyan S, Flora of Maharashtra State: 88 INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, MARCH 2010

Dicotyledons, Vols. I-II, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 11 Bhattacharjee SK, Hand Book of Medicinal Plants. Pointer 2000. Publishers, Jaipur, India, 1998. 8 Sharma BD, Karthikeyan S and Singh NP, Flora of 12 Jain SK, Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and Maharashtra State: Monocotyledons, Botanical Survey of Ethnobotany, Deep Publication, New Delhi, India, 1991. India, Calcutta, India, 1996. 13 Watt George, A Dictionary of Economic Products of India. 9 The Useful Plants of India, Publication and Information Vols. 1-6. Periodical Expert, Shahadera, Delhi, India, 1889- Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi, India, 1986. 1893. 10 The Wealth of India : A Dictionary of Raw Materials and 14 WHO, Guidelines on the conservation of medicinal plants. Industrial Products  Raw Materials Series, Publication and IUCN, Gland, Switzerland in Partnership with WHO, Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi, India, Vols. I to Geneva, Switzerland, and World Wide Fund for Nature, XI, 1948-1976. Gland, Switzerland, 1993.