Plant Archives Vol. 18 No. 2, 2018 pp. 2303-2310 e-ISSN:2581-6063 (online), ISSN:0972-5210

DOCUMENTATION OF ETHNO-MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY GAMIT TRIBALS IN SONGADH TALUKA, , ,

Gamit Sandip B.*, Qureshimatva Umerfaruq M.*, Fr. (Dr.) Lancelot D’cruz1 and Solanki Hitesh A.2 *Research Scholar, Department of Botany, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad-380009. 1Vice-Principal, St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad-380009. 2Professor, Department of Botany, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad-380009.

Abstract The present study deals with ethno-medicinal plants used by the Gamit tribals of Songadh, Taluka, Tapi District, Gujarat. Field work was done through frequent visits to the selected locality during 2013-2014. During the field work, meetings and interviews were held with the ‘Bhagats’ in different areas of the taluka. The information was gathered through the questionnaire method and through discussions with local, tribal healers. About 61 plant species belonging to 57 genera and 33 families used for ethno-medicine to cure various diseases have been documented. The study documents information on the medicinal plants including their botanical names, Gamit names, parts used, and mode of preparation of medicine. Tribals used many different forest plants, weeds, flowers, seeds and barks in their traditional treatments. They know about number a of rare medicinal plants and their application. With the help of new technologies, their data could be scientifically proved, so that the scientific world will accept the traditional systems. Key words: Ethno-medicinal plants, Gamit tribals, Songadh taluka

Introduction An attempt has been made to explore traditional medicinal knowledge of plant materials which are readily Since the beginning of human civilization, humans available in Songadh taluka, Tapi district of Gujarat. The have been using many herbs and herbal extracts as ethno-botanical information was gathered through several medicine. The classical Indian texts, the Rig-Veda, visits, questionnaires and group discussions with local Atherveda, Charak samhita and Sushruta samhita provide peoples and “Bhagats” (Vaids). evidence of the use of plants by our ancestors. It indicates that the herbal medicines have been derived from rich Materials and method traditions of ancient civilization and scientific heritage. Study area Among the ancient civilizations, India has been known to be a rich repository of medicinal plants (Lachure, 2012). Fort Songadh is located at 21.17°N and 73.57°E. It The All India Ethno-botanical Survey estimated that over has an average elevation of 112 meters (367 feet). The 7,000 plant species are used by 4,539 ethnic communities town is located at the foot of a solitary hill. Songadh is for human and veterinary care across the India (Jain, surrounded by hilly and dense forest areas and is bordered 1997). by areas of State, Dangs District and forest areas of Mandvi of district and and Uchhal Traditional medicine is widely used in the homes of talukas of Tapi district. It has water reservoirs like the tribals and forest dwellers. Traditional medicine and ethno- on the Tape river and the Doswada Dam on botanical information play an important role in scientific the Mindola river. Songadh taluka has a dry moist research. Among the medicinal plants used in Ayurvedic deciduous type of forest. It has a bigger geographical medicines for their therapeutic action; some of these have area than other talukas of the district. The average rainfall been thoroughly investigated (Bharti et al., 2013). of the taluka is 2000 mm and the temperature varies from

*Author for correspondence : E-mail : [email protected] and [email protected] 2304 Gamit Sandip B. et al. (8) Dosage Table 1 Continued ...... Continued 1 Table Juice is taken a is day Juice taken twice a in taken is juice of cup A day the on applied is paste The cured region until infected A cup of juice is cured until twice a day taken Roots are chewed once a day A cup of juice is twice a day taken the on applied is paste The part infected cured until once taken is juice of cup A a day for two days A paste is applied on the part infected and kept for two days Two to three leaves are is milk butter and eaten after. immediately taken The paste is applied whole on body and changed every until day cured. water this with bath a Take cured. until a twice day , Gujarat , (7) Preparation , Gujarat. , Roots are crushed and mixed with mixed and are crushed Roots milk. Roots are crushed and extracted a as juice. Fleshy leaves are crushed made into a paste and Bark of ‘Sitaphal’ kept and crushed are ‘Calotropis’ + Bark ofpre is juice a and water of cup a in ared. Roots are taken out soil from and well. washed Leaves are crushed and juice is extracted. Bark is rubbed in a order make to paste. Bark is to pound to a powder and and added is sugar water; in mixed prepared. is juice is crushed ‘Moya’ of plant Whole and made into a paste. eaten. are leaves Orally Flowers are crushed and prepared. is mixed paste a and water with Flowers are crushed and mixed water. with (6) Fever (piles) Diarrhea Jaundice Abscess problems Disease Headache Heat Stroke Heat Skin Skin disease Diarrhea and Diarrhea and and Bleeding Kidney Kidney stone Breast Breast feeding Sting (Scorpion) Sting Delivery problem Delivery Urinary problems Urinary (5) Bark Bark Bark roots roots Roots leaves Fleshy Leaves Leaves Flowers Flowers Part Used Part Tuberous Tuberous Whole Whole plant (4) Moya Sitafal Limdo Zurkali Jenjalio Hingalo Khakhro Panphuti Mani Mani bendi Kuvarpatha Gamit Name Gamit (3) Family Liliaceae Aloaceae Fabaceae Meliaceae Malvaceae Malvaceae Asteraceae Family/Sub- Annonaceae Crassulaceae Caesalpinaceae (L.) (Lam.) Willd. L. Lam. A. Juss. List of Plants which have Ethno-medicinal value used by Gamit Tribal in Songadh Taluka, Tap District Tap Taluka, Songadh in Tribal Gamit by used value Ethno-medicinal have which Plants of List (L.) Sweet (L.) (Lam.) Taub. (Lam.) (Burm.f.) DC. (2) (L.) Burm.f. squamosa Oken

Medik. lacera

Scientific Name Scientific Annona Aloe vera Aloe Bauhinia racemosa Abelmoschus manihot Abutilon indicum Azadirachta indica Blumea Asparagus racemosus Bryophyllum pinnatum List of Plants which have Ethno-medicinal value used by Gamit Tribal in Songadh Taluka, Tap District Tap Taluka, Songadh in Tribal Gamit by used value Ethno-medicinal have which Plants of List Butea monosperma 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (1) S. No. S. Table 1: Table Documentation of Ethno-Medicinal plants used by Gamit tribals in Songadh Taluka, Tapti District, Gujrat 2305 (8) Table 1 Continued ...... Continued 1 Table Take one spoon twice a day a twice spoon one Take for two days. This mixture is taken for two to three days. Heated leaves are tied on stomach twice taken is juice of cup A a days for day Two Paste is applied on the in- partjured twice taken is juice of cup A a for 2day days. The paste is applied until cured Paste is applied on the in- fected part ev- juice is A cup taken of twice a day ery day. ev- juice is A cup taken of twice ery a day day a Take cup once a for day two days a cup for twice a day Take 2 days Paste are applied on in- fected part. twice taken is juice of cup A a until cured day B. B. ) are ’ and bark of ‘ of bark and ’ (7) Ziziphus jujuba ’ are both ground to a ’ are crushed and kept in kept and crushed are ’ Medhingi Seeds Seeds are rubbed and the paste is water. of cup a with mixed jaggery. with mixed are Seeds Leaves are heated. leaves fresh Dabhaya+ of Climbers of Bordi some- ( for water in kept and crushed prepared. is juice and times Bark and Leaves are crushed and it. from made is paste Roots are crushed and a juice is extracted. Roots are ground pre- is into paste a a powder, and water with mixed pared. pre- is paste and crushed are Roots pared. Roots and bark are crushed and sometimes. for water in kept Bark is crushed and kept in water is prepared. juice and juice a and crushed is plant Whole extracted is ‘ of Bark racemosa water with mixed and powder Bark are paste. crushed made and Bark of ‘Upkatiya’ ‘Bhoyumbri’+ Bark of + racemosa Bark of a cup of water and ‘ a juice is pre- pared. (6) problem Diarrhea Diarrhea Diarrhea problems Diarrhoea Headache and Fever Menstrual bite Snake Menstrual bite Snake Vomiting and Vomiting Stomach Stomach ache Blood Blood clotting Lung Lung infection Ulcer Fracture, Urinary infection Urinary (5) bark Bark Bark Bark Seeds Seeds Roots Roots Roots Roots leaves Leaves Bark and Bark Roots and Whole Whole plant Whole plant (4) Helti Kandi Vasana Kachka Girmalo Ruvada Dabhaya Upkatiya Jivarakha Medhingi Khatikuhmbi (3) Fabaceae Asteraceae Caesalpinaceae Asclepidaceae Lecythidaceae Apocynaceae Caesalpinaceae Menispermaceae Boraginaceae Convolvulaceae Bignoniaceae (Wall. L. (L.) Roxb. (Aiton) L. G.Forst. Roxb. (L.) Roxb. (L.) Roxb. (Jacq.) DC. (2) Dryand. W.Theob. ex DC.) Seem. DC.) ex Cassia fistula Carissa carandas Cuscuta reflexa Cocculus hirsutus Careya arborea Echinops echinatus Cordia dichotoma Calotropis procera Dolichandrone falcata Caesalpinia bonduc Canavalia gladiata 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 (1) Table 1 Continued ...... Continued 1 Table 2306 Table 1 Continued ......

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) 22 Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. Poaceae Nagli Seeds Diabetes Seeds are ground to flour Chappati is made out from flour and eaten 23 Euphorbia neriifolia L. Euphorbiaceae Habra Stem Stomach ache Stem is heated Heated stem is tied on the abdominal region 24 Ficus racemosa L. Urticaceae Umro Leaves Diarrhoea Three to five are heated Leaves are tied on the ab- dominal region 25 Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. Asclepidaceae Anantmul Roots and Skin disease Leaves are taken and juice is ex- A cup of juice is taken ex Schult. Leaves tracted twice in a day 26 Hibiscus hirtusL. Malvaceae Mani bendi Tuberous Jaundice Roots are crushed and mixed with A juice is taken twice a day Roots milk 27 Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Malvaceae Khatibhindi Fruits Blood pressure, Fruits are taken and crushed to A cup of juice taken in a cardiac tissue and make a juice day until cured. cholesterol Gamit Sandip B. B. Sandip Gamit 28 Holarrhena pubescens Wall. ex Apocynaceae Kudi Leaves Body pain Leaves of ‘Kuwadi’, bark of ‘Bili’ Take a bath with this water G.Don and ‘Aali’ are heated and boiled in water. 29 Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. Convolvulaceae Nafatia Leaves Appendix Leaves are washed well and The paste is applied on the crushed and made into a paste abdominal region for two

days. al. et 30 Ipomoea carnea Jacq. Convolvulaceae Bahavalia Leaves Appendix Leaves are washed well and The paste is applied on the crushed and made into a paste abdominal region for two days. 31 Justicia adhatoda L. Acanthaceae Arduso Leaves Cough Leaves of ‘Ardusa’ and leaves of A cup of juice is taken three ‘Tulsi’ are crushed and boiled in times in a day for 3-4 days 500ml water and a juice is prepared 32 Roots Fracture Roots are ground into a fine paste The paste is changed ev- and tied limb after setting the bone ery two days for 15 days Verbenaceae Lantana camara L. Khardamala Roots Abscess Roots of ‘Khardamala’ and tuber The paste is applied until of ‘Vaskand’ are ground to a paste cured 33 Mangifera indica L. Anacardiaceae Ambo Flowers Sting of scorpion Flowers are rubbed on the hand - 34 Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Sapotaceae Royana Bark Fractures Bark is crushed and juice is ex- A cup of juice is taken for a Dubard tracted week. 35 Martynia annua L. Martyniaceae Vagbochkia Tuberous Ulcer Tuber is rubbed and paste is ap- The paste is applied on the root plied abdominal region

Table 1 Continued ...... Table 1 Continued ...... (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

36 Mirabilis jalapa L. Nyctaginaceae Gulbas Stem Abscess Stem is rubbed and made into paste A paste is applied on the Guj Taluka,TaptiDistrict, Songadh in tribalsGamit by used plants Ethno-Medicinal of Documentation infected part until cured. 37 Momordica dioica Roxb. Cucurbitaceae Kantla Tuberous Rabies and A tuber of the male plant is taken This food is given every root Diabetes and washed well. Tuber of ‘Kantla’ day for one and a half and the entire plant of ‘Gamliya’ are month crushed and mixed with wheat flour. This is made into a chapatti and given to the patient. 38 Fresh leaves Headache Fresh leaves are ground into a fine Paste is applied on the fore- paste. head and tied with a cloth. Moringa concanensis Nimmo. Moringaceae Mano Hegvo Fresh leaves Toothache Leaves are crushed and the juice 2-3 drops in the morning is squeezed into the ear for two days. Gum Scorpion bite Gum is rubbed and a paste is pre- Paste is applied until cured pared 39 Morus alba L. Urticaceae Setur Fruit Urinary infection Fruit is eaten

Leaves Asthma and Leaves of ‘tulsi’+ ‘Kali mari’ are A cup of juice is taken twice 40 Ocimum sanctum L. Lamiaceae Diabetes crushed and juice is extracted from for two days. Tulsi it. Leaves of ‘Tulsi’ and ‘Chanoti’ are Leaves Cancer Leaves are chewed every washed well day for 10 to 12 days.

41 Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Convolvulaceae Huvana Leaves Chronic skin A cup full of leaves are crushed The paste is applied in the Manso disease and ground into a fine paste. morning and evening until cured. 42 Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz Bignonaceae Tetu Bark Vomiting and Bark of ‘Tetu’ + Seed of ‘Ambo’ A cup of juice is taken twice diarrhea are crushed and a juice is made a day until cured. 43 Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Mimosaceae Hargia-ambli Bark Menstrual Bark is crushed well and juice is A cup of juice is taken for Benth. problem extracted. two days. 44 Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre Fabaceae Karanj Leaves Diarrhea, Cough Leaves are heated. Heated leaves are tied on and Cold the fracture. 45 Psidium guajava L. Myrtaceae Jamrukh Fresh leaves Cough Fresh leaves are washed well Leaves are chewed until cured. rat 46 Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. Fabaceae Biyo Bark Menstrual A piece of bark is taken, crushed A cup of juice is taken until

problem and the juice is extracted. cured. 2307 Table 1 Continued ...... Table 1 Continued ...... 2308

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) 47 Punica granatum L. Lythraceae Dadam Roots Diarrhea Roots are crushed and juice is ex- A cup of juice is taken twice tracted. a day. 48 Pureraria tuberosa(Roxb.) DC. Fabaceae Bhoikhuvli Roots Abdominal pain Roots are crushed and a juice is Take a cup once a day for extracted. two days. 49 Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae Diwale Leaves Stomach ache Leaves are heated Heated leaves are bound on the abdominal region 50 Cassia occidentalis Linn. Caesalpinaceae Motho- Roots Vomiting and Roots are taken and washed well Take a cup twice a day for dindaryo Diarrhea and then crushed and put into a two days cup of water. The Juice is extracted. 51 Cassia tora Linn. Ceasalpinaceae Dinderiyo Leaves Sting Scorpion Leaves are crushed and made into A paste is applied on the a paste. sting for two days. 52 Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels. Myrtaceae Haro Seeds Diabetes Seeds are ground into a powder One spoon of powder is

taken with one glass water B. Sandip Gamit twice a day until cured. 53 Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem. Bignonaceae Ragatroana Bark Bleeding during Bark is crushed and kept in water A cup of juice is taken twice delivery for sometimes and a juice is pre- a day for two days. pared. 54 Tectona grandis L.f. Verbenaceae Sag Fresh leaves Wound Fresh leaves are crushed and a A paste is applied on the paste is prepared. wound and it is kept bound al. et to it for 3 days. 55 Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex Combretaceae Arjunsaddo Bark Heart diseases A piece of bark is taken, crushed A cup of juice is taken until DC.) Wight & Arn. and the juice is extracted. cured. 56 Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Combretaceae Baheda Bark Paralysis Bark of ‘Baheda’ + Bark of A cup of juice is taken twice Roxb. ‘Gamliavelo’ are crushed in water a day for a week. and a juice is prepared. The plant is tied around the hand. A cup of juice is taken until The whole plant is also crushed cured. Whole plant Skin infection and mixed with jaggery and water. The mixture is boiled and then 57 Tinospora glabra (Burm.f.) Menispermaceae Gamliavelo used. Merr. Bark of Tinospora + Bark of The paste is applied on the Bark Snake bite Azadiracta are crushed and made infected part. nto a paste. 58 Tridax procumbens (L.) L. Asteraceae Dingalia-khod Whole plant Digestion Whole plant of Tridax and whole The paste is applied on the Table 1 Continued ...... Table 1 Continued ......

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

plant of ‘Maka’ are ground to a abdominal region for 2 Guj Taluka,TaptiDistrict, Songadh in tribalsGamit by used plants Ethno-Medicinal of Documentation fine paste. days. Leaves Fresh wounds Leaves ground to a fine paste. The paste is applied on the abdominal region for 2-3 days. Whole plant of Tridax + Leaves The paste is applied on the Whole plant Scorpion bite of Dinderiyo are crushed and sting for two days mixed with salt water and made into a paste. Asthma Gaar is pounded into a powder Take a cup once a day until and then boiled with water. cured 59 Vachellia catechuoides Roxb. Mimosaceae Kati Wood, bark Bark is dried and finely powdered The powder is sprinkled on Wound the wound in the morning and evening till cured 60 Ventilago denticulata Willd. Rhamnaceae Aasi Bark Abscess Bark is rubbed on a stone and a The paste is applied on the paste is prepared. abscess until cured. 61 Ziziphus jujuba Mill. Rhamnaceae Boin Bark Cough Bark is peeled Bark is chewed once a day were collected by the suggested methodology. The methodology. suggested the by collected were the standard literaturethrough done (Shah, 1978). was Ethno-medicinal were identification data sheets and prepared herbarium The healers. local tribal, with discussions through and method questionnaire and Amalgundidocument to Shirishpada theinformation. Kashimda, Kakadkuva, Hindla, Vadirupgadh, Umarda, Zarali, Nishana, like 2014 2013- duringlocality selected the to visits frequent through done was work Field Taluka. Songadh of tribals Gamit the by ethno-medicinalused practices of the traditional knowledge, the medicinal plants and work Field andanimalhusbandry. and Kotvaliyas. Their main livelihoods are agriculture taluka are the Gamit, Chaudhary, Vasava, Kokni, Valvi11 document the indigenous knowledge about medicinal to needurgent an also is Thereeconomic potential. medicinal on a largeplants scale for optimizing their tribal population should be encouraged to grow these the and generations future for conserved be should tribal people. It needs to be emphasized that the flora benefitted be maypeople tribal the that so context, present the in cultivation and protection need plants useful These stomach. and fever,skin diabetes,jaundice,of stone, diseases kidney problem, urinary cholera, pain, joint cough, used by local inhabitants for various aliments includingcatechuoides tuberosa Pureraria Ipomoea carnea are Cordia dichotoma people tribal the by Abelmoschus manihot used are which plants 4 speciesand 2 Asteraceae species3 are used.Important Malvaceae species, Minosaceae 4 and Convolvulaceae species), species 5 Fabaceae species, 5 (Ceaselpinaceaespecies Leguminaceae12 family from plants of number Maximum 1. table in given evidencedfamilies is genera as and33 fromthedata 57 to belonging species 61 revealed tribals Gamit interviewpractitioners.questionnaireswiththeand using collectedwere used parts preparation, and uses of medicinal mode name, local including data 0 C to 40 to C h ifrain a gtee truh the through gathered was information The Thestudypresentwascarried collect to out data The plant diversity of Tapi district is a boon to the by used plants medicinal of investigation The Results and discussion and Results 0 C. The main tribal communities of the of communities tribal main The C. Rx. n tes Teepat are plants These others. and Roxb. Jacq., G. Forst., Forst., G. (Roxb.) DC., DC., (Roxb.) oodc dioica Momordica (. Medik., (L.) iics hirtus Hibiscus rat Vachellia Roxb., 2309 L., 2310 Gamit Sandip B. et al. plants which are existing in Songadh taluka, Tapi district, Mumbai. Gujarat. Bharti, R.P., A. Shrivastava, J.R. Choudhary, A. Tiwari and N.K. Soni (2013). Ethno Medicinal Plants used by Tribal Conclusion Communities in Vindhya region of Rewa and Sidhi District The Gamit tribe has a well-developed system of of Madhya Pradesh, India. Journal of Pharmacy and traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases Biological Sciences; 8(6):23-28. and disorders among the tribe. But this knowledge is being Cooke, T.H. (1906). The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay, lost. Tribals used many different forest plants, weeds, Volume I, II and III, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. flower, seeds and barks in their traditional treatments. D Cruz, Lancelot (2002). Phytochemical and Bio-chemicsl Beside these documented plants, these tribal community studies on some eheno-medicinal plants of Dediapada used several other plants for non-medicinal purpose. The forests (Ph. D. Thesis, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, collected information not only shows that many Gujarat). preparations are made from single plants but in some Gamit, S.B., R.R. Maurya, U.M. Qureshimatva and H.A. Solanki case mixtures of several plants are used. With the help (2015). Check list of flowering plants in Tapi District, of new technologies, their data could be scientifically Gujarat, India. International Journal of Advanced proved, so that the scientific world will accept the Research, 3(10): 1104 – 1123. traditional systems. Nature is providing what we need Jain, S.K. (1997). Contributions to Indian Ethnobotany, and our task is to save nature for posterity. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur; 157-165. Lachure, P.S. (2012). Exploration of some Medicinal Plants used Acknowledgment by tribals from Digras region of District – Yavatmal, Gamit Sandip B. acknowledge financial assistance Maharashtra, India. International Journal of Scientific from University Grants Commission (UGC), Govt. of and Research Publications; 2(3): 1-4. India as Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship. Qureshimatva Pandey, C.N., B.R. Raval, S. Mali and H. Salvi (2005). Medicinal Umerfaruq M. acknowledges Plants of Gujarat, Gujarat Ecological and Research Foundation, Gandhinagar. support from University Grants Commission (UGC), Patel, R.I. (1971). Forest flora of Gujarat State, Published by Govt. of India as Maulana Azad National Fellowship and Forest Department, Baroda, Gujarat. we also thankful to local traditional healers from the Gamit tribal who share the knowledge of medicinal plants. Shah, G.L. (1978). The flora of Gujarat State, Vol-I and II, Sardar Patel University Press, Vidhyanagar, Anand, India. References Almeida, M.R. (1996-2005). Flora of Maharashtra, Volume I- IV, Published by Blatter Herbarium, St. Xavier’s College,