Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources Vol. 1(4), December 2010, pp. 500-506

Studies on ethnomedicinal plants conserved by Garasia tribes of , ,

K L Meena* and B L Yadav Department of Botany M L V Government College, Bhilwara - 311 001, Rajasthan, India Received 29 December 2009; Accepted 20 July 2010

An extensive survey of Garasia tribe dominated area of Sirohi district, Rajasthan has been made to document the information about uses and conservation of ethnomedicinal plants by them. 34 plant species belonging to 34 genera and 27 families have been recorded and enumerated. Species like Anogeissus sericea Brandis var. nummularia King ex Duthie, Ceropegia vincaefolia Hook. and Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand., included in the red data book of India and species like Ensete superba Cheesman, Habenaria marginata Colebr., Viscum articulatum Burm.f., etc. restricted in this region of Rajasthan require conservation. The tradition of conservation of nature by way of dedicating forests to some deities and sprits was observed in the Garasia tribe.

Keywords : Ethnomedicinal plants, Conservation, Garasia tribes, Sirohi district, Rajasthan. IPC code; Int. cl. 8  A61K 36/00

Introduction from Sanskrit word Gras which means a morsel or India is a land of diverse natural resources. It has subsistence. In Rajasthan, the population of these good traditions for conservation of nature. Since time tribes is 2.91%, of the total scheduled tribe immemorial, conservation of natural resources has population. These tribes are more or less illiterate and been the integral part of many indigenous traditionally living in the remote forest areas. They communities all over the world, especially in India. It have commendable knowledge of medicinal is true for Rajasthan which has suffered an almost properties of plants that grow around them. This unabated devastation of its natural biological heritage knowledge has been passing on orally from and much of what remains has been preserved generation to generation. through the ages because of fast conservation-oriented socio-cultural and religious traditions. One such significant tradition for conservation of nature is the dedication of patches of forests to some deities and spirits by Garasia tribes (Plate 1a). The district is situated in the south-west part of Rajasthan in between 24°20 ′N and 25°17 ′N latitude and 72°16 ′E and 73°10 ′E longitude. It has an area of 5136 sq. km. It is bounded on the west by , on the north by , on the east by district, and on the south by Banas Kantha district of (Fig. 1). The area is inhabited by various ethnic groups namely Bhil, , Damriya, Garasia, Kathodi, Kokna, Kolidhor, Meena, Patelia and Seharia . Of these, Garasia is the main dweller of the forests of this area. Garasia derive their name

______*Correspondent author: E-mail: [email protected] Fig. 1  Location Map of District Sirohi 501 MEENA & YADAV: ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIROHI DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN

Plate 1  a: View of Bhakar hill with Bhakar Bavasi-the God of Garasia , the matlok surrounded by trees of Anogeissus latfolia , Ficus benghalensis , Lannea coromandelica , etc.; b: Anogeissus serisea var. mummularia ; c: Ceropegia vincaefolia ; d: Viscum articulatum . INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, DECEMBER 2010 502

A perusal of literature revealed that significant other (Plate 1 a-d). The size of sacred grove contribution has been made by several workers on (the patch offered to God) varies from village to ethnobotany in India 1-6. Ethnobotanical studies and village. They have dedicated some forests patches to ethnomedicinal aspects of Rajasthan have been deities and spirits to conserve the area as well as have studied by several workers 7-22 . The protection of a imposed ban for a selected plant species that should large number of medicinal plants in different parts not be exploited throughout the year. The decision on of the India are well documented 23-27 . In Rajasthan, the dedication of forest patches to the deities and an account on rare, threatened and endemic spirits for the purpose of conservation are generally angiospermic species has been provided by several taken in their annual general body meeting workers 28-31 . But the conservational aspect about (Panchayat ). the medicinal plants through traditional practices is During the present study of three sacred groves of very rare. Therefore, an attempt has been made to district Sirohi, a total of 34 species belonging to document the knowledge of herbal medicinal as 34 genera and 27 families of ethnomedicinal plants well as the recent information about conservation of covering herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers have been medicinal plants by Garasia tribes in their recorded. Out of these 16 species were found to be traditional mode of life. The study is based on common throughout the district, 7 species were found interviews with these tribal people living in this restricted to the northern part and 7 species were region who are entirely dependent on plants around common in Bhakhar reserve forests, Abu sanctuary their habitation. and Mt. Abu wild life sanctuary and 4 species were found restricted at the Mt. Abu wild life sanctuary. Materials and Methods The plants are enumerated alphabetically with their Extensive ethnobotanical survey was carried out botanical names followed by the name of the family, among the tribal people of different tribal pockets of voucher specimen number, place of collection, local the district. Normally tribal people are very name, plant part(s) used and its medicinal uses in conservative regarding providing information because Table 1. of their common belief that, if they disclose the The forest represents a long tradition of property of the plant to a person outside of their clan environmental conservation by the tribal of this then the property of that plant will be lost forever. region. Therefore, there is an urgent need not only to However, during this field study information gathered protect forest, but also to revive and reinvent such from medicine men and women, from bhopa , elderly traditional practices of nature conservation and birth attendants, wood cutters, shepherds and environmental management. Initially only two species headman of the community. Collected informations namely, Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari and were cross examined at different places through Rosa involucrata Roxb . were included in the lists of different informants in different seasons. threatened species from state by Botanical Survey of Each of the studied plant species has been collected India (BSI) but now this list has been increased due to with the help of informants and photographs were addition of a number of species in this category 28-31 . also taken. The species were identified with the help The species like Anogeissus sericea Brandis var. of different published state flora 32-34. Identification of nummularia King ex Duthie (Plate 1b), Ceropegia species was done on the basis of spot identification vincaefolia Hook. emend. Ansari (Plate 1c) and method and the voucher specimens were deposited in Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand are rare the Herbarium, BSI, and the Department of and have included in red data book of Indian plants 28 . Botany, MLV Government College, Bhilwara. Some species like Citrullus colocynthis (Linn.) Schrad., C. wightii and Tecomella undullata (Sm.) Results and Discussion Seem. are reported as threatened species 31 . The gum The Garasia tribal community of the district Sirohi of C. wightii is of importance in international trade has a tradition of conservation of plants based on and it appears that this species is being extracted at various religious beliefs. In this district Bhakhar unsustainable rates, causing decline, therefore, regions is a protected forests zone, where maximum presently it is included in IUCN Red List of diversity of medicinal plants have been observed at Threatened Species. These plant species are facing one hand and sacred grove, of each village on the various threats in this region of Rajasthan. 503 MEENA & YADAV: ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIROHI DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN

Table 1  Ethnomedicinal plants used by Garasia tribes of Sirohi district, Rajasthan S. No. Species/Family Herbarium Local Part(s) used Ethnomedicinal use Voucher name/Category No./Locality of distribution 1. Alangium salvifolium 650/MLVGCBH Ankol /A Stem bark *Stem bark (100 g) crushed to make 1 (Linn. f.) /Bosa glass of juice and is given as one dose in Wang./Alangiaceae case of snake bite. 2. Amorphophallus 4309/MLVGCB Sitari /D Tuber Tuber (5 g) is taken with 1 glass of milk paeoniifolius (Dennst.) H/ Mt. Abu once a day for seven days to cure piles. Nicolson/Araceae 3. Anogeissus sericea 3927/MLVGCB Dhawara /C Wood, *Wood is useful in making agricultural Brandis var. nummularia H/ Bosa leaves implements. Paste of leaves is applied on King ex wounds for 3 -5 days. Duthie/Combretaceae 4. Arisaema tortuosum 3720/MLVGCB Halira /A Tuber *Fresh tuber (2 g) is crushed to make 100 (Wall.) Schott/Araceae H/Mt. Abu ml of juice it is used to cure laryngitis in children. 5. Bombax ceiba 3782/MLVGCB Sibal /A Stem bark *Half cup of stem bark juice is taken for 7 Linn./Bombacaceae H/Upali Bor days to regenerate the fertility in males. 6. Butea superba 2085/MLVGCB Khankerwel /D Roots *Root extract (25 ml) is used by Garasia Roxb./Fabaceae H/Bhakhar hill men as aphrodisiac. It has no side effects. 7. Capparis grandis 3405/MLVGCB Wathera /B Leaves * Half - one kg leaves are boiled in 1 Linn./Capparaceae H/Jamburi bucket water and bath is taken for 3 days to cure swellings. 8. Centella asiatica (Linn.) 1265/MLVGCB Brahmi /D Leaves *Juice of leaves (1-2 tsp) is given to children Urban/Apiaceae H/Guru shikhar once a day for one month to cure ricketts. 9. Ceropegia vincaefolia 1190/MLVGCB Khadul bati /D Leaves *Fresh leaves (5-10) are eaten once a day Hook./Asclepiadaceae H/ Mt. Abu to cure stomachache. 10. Chlorophytum 4532/MLVGCB Dhori- Roots One tsp powder of dried fasciculated roots borivilianum Sant. et H/Bhakhar hill musali /A is used for 15 days to improve vitality in Fernand/Liliaceae males; fresh ones are eaten by children as tonic and against indigestion. 11. Cissampelos pareira 1445/MLVGCB Padi /A Tuber *Fresh tubers (100 g) are crushed and fried Linn./Menispermaceae H/Revdar with mustard oil and applied on joints pain two times a day for 2 - 3 days. 12. Citrullus colocynthis 1701/MLVGCB Tumbo /B Fruit & *Fruits are used in jaundice. Seed oil is (Linn.) H/Sirohi Seed used in snake bite and scorpion sting. Schrad./Cucurbitaceae 13. Commiphora wightii 2287/MLVGCB Guggal /B Gum Guggul has been used to relieve cough and (Arn.) H/Bhakhar hill (Guggal) lung congestion. Bhandari/Burseraceae 14. Curcuma amada 2634/MLVGCB Shankariya /A Flowers *Fresh inflorescence is smelled as well as Roxb./Zingiberaceae H/Bhakhar hill rubbed on head for 7-8 times to reduce the headache. 15. Dendrophthoe falcata 4403/MLVGCB Dudeli /A Leaves *Fresh leaves (500 g) are tide on fractured (Linn. f.) H/Bosa bones for 7 days. Etting./Loranthaceae 16. Dioscorea pentaphylla 2496/MLVGCB Jatashankari / Tuber *Fresh tubers (25 - 50 g) are boiled in water. Linn./Dioscoreaceae H/Bosa A The boiled tubers are made into curry after removing the skin or roasted and taken two times a day for two weeks to treat piles. 17. Ensete superbum 1710/MLVGCB Jangali kela /A Leaves * Ointment of leaf ash in butter as base is Cheesman/Musaceae H/ Bhakhar hill applied on leucoderma spots three times a day for 45 days. 18. Eriolaena hookeriana 2497/MLVGCB Giyari /C Leaves * Fresh leaves are given to cattle for 15 Wight & H/Upali Bor days once a time, it increases fat in milk. Arn./Sterculiaceae 19. Erythrina stricta 2322/MLVGCB Sinduri /A Flowers * Juice (¼ cup) of fresh or dried flowers is Roxb./Fabaceae H/ Bosa given orally once a time for abortion.

(Contd ) INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, DECEMBER 2010 504

Table 1  Ethnomedicinal plants used by Garasia tribes of Sirohi district, Rajasthan  Contd S. No. Species/Family Herbarium Local Part(s) used Ethnomedicinal use Voucher name/Category No./Locality of distribution 20. Feronia limonia 2498/MLVGCB Kaitha /A Fruits * Mature fruits (2-4) are eaten for 15 days Swingle/Rutaceae H/Bosa to keep stomach free from any disease. 21. Grewia asiatica 1279/MLVGCB Phalasa /B Root *Root paste (100 g) is applied on Linn./Tiliaceae H/Mt. Abu backache. 22. Habenaria marginata 2735/MLVGCB Butti /A Tuber Tuber paste is applied externally on Colebr./ Orchidaceae H/Bhakhar hill swelling of scrotum. 23. Lavandula bipinnata 1265/MLVGCB Gond /A Stem *Stem (5 g) is crushed in water and half (Roth) O. Ktze var. H/Jamburi glass of water is given orally to kill rothiana O. stomach germs. Ktze/Lamiaceae 24. Leea indica (Burm. f.) 1265/MLVGCB Plashi /A Flowers *Extract of inflorescence (1-2 tsp) is given Merr./Leeaceae H/Bhakhar hill two time a day for three days to cure chest pain. 25. Madhuca indica J.F. 1401/MLVGCB Mahua /C Laeves, Leaves (5-7) are used as a bandage on Gmel./Sapotaceae H/Jamburi flower, muscular injury for 3 days. Dried corollas seeds are eaten to cure weakness. The seed oil is used to relieve constipation as well as oil is used in itchy skin. 26. Miliusa tomentosa 2598/MLVGCB -/C Fruits *Mature fruits (5-7) are given once a day (Roxb.) H/Bosa for 7 days to cure weakness among J.Sinclair/Annonaceae children. 27. Neuracanthus 2081/MLVGCB Ghiyari A Leaves *Fresh leaves (1 kg) is given to cattle for sphaerostachys (Nees) H/Bhakhar hill 15 days to increase fat in milk. Dalz./Acanthaceae 28. Plumbago zeylanica 2083/MLVGCB Chitrak /A Roots Roots (5 g) are crushed and warm with ½ Linn./Plumbaginaceae H/Mt. Abu cup of mustered oil. 3-4 drops are applied in the earache. 29. Pterocarpus marsupium 2675/MLVGCB Biyalakari /C Stem Stem cavity of 1 glass capacity were bored Roxb./Fabaceae H/Bhakhar hill and fill with water at night, in morning this water is taken for 7 days to reduce sugar level. 30. Sauromatum venosum 3400/MLVGCB Samp ki Tuber Rhizome (5-10 g) is used as stimulating (Ait.) Kunth/Araceae H/Mt. Abu dawa /A poultice in snakebite. 31. Soymida febrifuga 2735/MLVGCB Rohini /B Bark Fresh bark (1 kg) or dried bark (½ kg) is (Roxb.) A. H/Bosa boiled in water to make paste. It is tide on Juss./Meliaceae swelling for 3 days. 32. Tecomella undulata 4512/MLVGCB Rohira /B Bark * Paste of stem bark is used for 5 days as a (Sm.) H/Swaroop ganj remedy for syphilis. Seem./Bignoniaceae 33. Terminalia catappa 1509/ Ubia /B Stem * The juice of fresh bark is extracted by Linn./Combretaceae MLVGCBH/ crushing with stones and ¼ tsp juice is Mean sucked through nostril to cure cough and cold. 34. Viscum articulatum 2735/MLVGCB Va-hakar /C Whole * The whole plant is dried and powdered. Burm. f./Loranthaceae H/Bosa plant 1-2 tsp powder is mixed with ½ cup of water and taken once a day for seven days to cure rheumatism. *: New information recorded for the first time. A: Species widely distributed throughout the district. B: Species restricted to northern part. C: Species common in Bhakhar reserve forests, Abu sanctuary and Mt. Abu wild life sanctuary.

Conclusion tribal and rural people is now fast disappearing due The Garasia tribe of Rajasthan is having to modernization and the tendency among younger commendable knowledge of medicinal properties of generation to discard their traditional life and plants that grow around them. This knowledge of gradual migration to the mainstream. There is an 505 MEENA & YADAV: ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIROHI DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN

urgent need to study and document this precious 6 Hedge R, Suryaprakash S, Achoth L and Bawa KS, knowledge for future generations. Extraction of non-timber forest products in the forests of Biligiri Rangan Hills India, Contribution to rural income, The traditional uses of plants as herbal remedies Econ Bot , 1996, 50 , 243-251. has further declined due to scarcity of such plants 7 Sebastian MK and Bhandari MM, Medicoethnobotany of which is caused by multifarious human activities Mt Abu Rajasthan, J Ethnopharmacol , 1984, 12 (2), 223- coupled with natural calamities like drought and 230. overgrazing by livestock, thus threatening the 8 Sebastian MK and Bhandari MM, Medicinal plant lore of Rajasthan, Bull Medico-Ethno-Bot Res, diversity of herbal medicines. 1988, 5 (3-4), 133-134. The danger of extinction of species is ahead; 9 Katewa SS and Arora A, Some plants of folk medicine of therefore, it is necessary to ensure the survival of Udaipur district, Rajasthan. Ethnobotany , 1997, 9, 48-51. germplasm by their protection, conservation, 10 Singh G, A contribution of ethnomedicine of district multiplication and maximum aforestation of such of Rajasthan, Ethnobotany , 1999, 11 , 97- 99. 11 Katewa SS, Chaudhary BL, Jain A and Galav PK, medicinal and economically important plant species. Traditional uses of plant biodiversity from Aravalli hills of Because of limited resources of this tribe it is essential Rajasthan, Indian J Trad Knowledge , 2003, 2 (1), 27-39. for biotechnologist to come forward for ex-situ 12 Sharma NK, Ethno-medico-religious plants of Hadoti Plateau conservation through tissue culture, establishment of (S E Rajasthan) - A Preliminary Survey, In : Ethnobotany, by botanical gardens or in-situ conservation by way of PC Trivedi (Ed), Aavishkar Publishers Distributors, , 2002, pp. 394-411. protection the forest region of the state. The political 13 Jain A, Katewa, SS and Galav PK, Some Phytotherapeutic as well as involvement of NGOs may play an claims by tribals of southern Rajasthan, Indian J Trad important role for the protection of this valuable area Knowledge, 2005, 4 (3), 291-297. of the state. 14 Meena KL and Yadav BL, Some important medicinal plants of Rajasthan, India, In : Proceedings National Conference on Biodiversity Conservation, by BL Acknowledgements Yadav (Ed), MLV Govt College, Bhilwara, 2006, pp. 84-89. Authors are highly thankful to all the tribal 15 Meena KL and Yadav BL, Some ethnomedicinal plants of informants for their cooperation and help during Rajasthan, In : Ethnomedicinal Plants of India, by PC Trivedi ethnobotanical study. Help rendered by Shri Jetha (Ed), Aavishkar Publishers Distributors, Jaipur, 2007, pp. 33- Ram Ji, Laxman Ram Ji, Limba Ram Ji, Modan Ji, 44. 16 Meena KL and Yadav BL, Floral resources of Rajasthan with Nana Ram Ji, Ram Chandra Ji, Salira Ram Ji and special referance to Sitamata wildlife sanctuary, In : Vikram Ji by way of providing traditional knowledge Geographical aspects, Proceedings of the 35 th National is thankfully acknowledged. Thanks are also due to conference of Rajasthan geography Association, by SS Bhatt Shri Bhanwar Singh Ji Meena, Additional (Ed), MLV Government College, Bhilwara, 2008, IX , pp. Superintendent of Police, Sirohi district for his 56-65. 17 Shekhawat GS and Anand S, An ethnobotanical profile of cooperation during these studies. Thanks to Indian desert, J Econ Toxon Bot , 1984, 5 (3), 591-598. Dr. S. L. Meena scientist BSI Jodhpur, for 18 Joshi P, A note on the bamboo ‘Shankh’ of the Garasia tribe identification of specimens. Authors are thankful to in Rajasthan, Vanyajati , 1986, 34 (1), 27-28. Dr. V. K. Vaidya, Principal, Dr. V. K. Dosi 19 Joshi P, Fish stupefying plants employed by tribals of Vice Principal for providing the facilities. Financial southern Rajasthan-A probe, Curr Sci , 1986, 55 (14), 647- 650. assistance provided by UGC Bhopal is gratefully 20 Joshi P, Ethnobotany of the Primitive Tribes in Rajasthan, acknowledged. Printwell, Jaipur, 1995. 21 Shekhawat MS, Sharma MK and Trivedi PC, Native References resources used as famine food in , Rajasthan, 1 Jain SK, Medicinal plants, 2nd Edn, National Book Trust of In : Ethnomedicinal Plants of India, by PC Trivedi (Ed), India, New Delhi, 1975. Aavishkar Publishers Distributors, Jaipur, 2007, pp. 358-365. 2 Rao RR, Ethnobotany of Meghalaya: Medicinal plants used 22 Choudhary BL, Katewa SS and Galav PK, Plants in material by Khasi and Garo tribes, Econ Bot , 1981, 35 (1), 4-9. culture of tribals and rural communities of Rajasamand 3 Gangwar AK and Ramakrishnan PS, Ethnobiological notes district of Rajasthan, Indian J Trad Knowledge , 2008, 7 (1), on some tribes of Arunachal Pradesh north-east India, Econ 11-22. Bot, 1990, 44 , 94-105. 23 Vartak VD, Kumbhojkar MS and Nipuge DS, Sacred groves 4 Abbas JA, El-Oqlash AA and Mahasneh AM, Herbal plants in tribal areas of Western Ghats: treasure trove of medicinal in the traditional medicine of Bahrain, Econ Bot , 1992, 46 , plants, Bull Medico-Ethno-Bot Res, 1987, 8, 77-78. 158-163. 24 Bhakat RK and Pandit PK, Role of a sacred grove in 5 Mannandher NP, An inventory of some herbal drugs of conservation of medicinal plants, Indian For , 2003, 129 , Myagdi district Nepal, Econ Bot , 1995, 49 (4), 371-397. 224-232. INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, DECEMBER 2010 506

25 Bhakat RK and Pandit PK, An inventory of medicinal plants 30 Pandey RP, Shetty BV and Malhotra SK, A preliminary of some sacred groves of Purulia district, West Bengal. census of rare and threatened plants of Rajasthan, In : Indian For , 2004, 130 , 37-43. Proceedings Seminar an assessment of threatened plants of 26 Bhandary MJ and Chandrasekhar KR, Sacred groves of India, Dehra Dun, 14-17 September, 1981, by SK Jain and Dakhina Kanada and Udupi districts of Karnataka, Curr Sci , RR Rao (Eds), BSI, Calcutta, 1983, pp. 55-62. 2003, 85 , 1655-1656. 31 Meena KL and Yadav BL, Some rare and threatened plants 27 Pandit PK and Bhakat RK, Conservation of biodiversity and of Rajasthan, India, In : Proceedings National Conference on ethnic culture through sacred groves in Midnapore district, Biodiversity Conservation, by BL Yadav (Ed), MLV Govt West Bengal, India, Indian For , 2007, 133 , 323-344. College, Bhilwara, 2006, pp. 70-74. 28 Nayar MP and Sastry ARK, Red data book of Indian plants, 32 Sharma S and Tiagi B, Flora of North-East Rajasthan, BSI, Calcutta, 2000. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, 1979. 29 Sharma S, A census of rare and endemic flora of south-east 33 Shetty BV and Singh V, Flora of Rajasthan, Botanical Rajasthan, In : Proceedings Seminar an assessment of Survey of India, Calcutta, Vol. I, 1987; Vol. II, 1991; Vol. threatened plants of India, Dehra Dun, 14-17 September, III, 1993. 1981, by SK Jain and RR Rao (Eds), BSI, Calcutta, 1983, pp. 34 Bhandari MM, Flora of Indian Desert, Scientific Publishers, 71 -77. Jodhpur, 1978.