“Diversity of Medicinal Plants from Melghat Forests” U.R

Vol II, Issue II July 2012 Multilogic in Science ISSN 2277-7601 An International Refreed & Indexed Quarterly Journal “DIVERSITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM MELGHAT FORESTS” U.R. Kokate ,G.D. Muratkar

Dept. of Botany ,Arts , Science & Commerce College , Chikhaldara Dist. Amravati 444807 Dept. of Environmental Science , Arts , Science & Commerce College , Chikhaldara Dist. Amravati 444807

(Received : 27.05.2012; Revised : 06.06.2012; Accepted : 16.06.2012)

Abstract Melghat forest is of dry mixed deciduous type , with Tectona grandis L as a dominant vegetation. The melghat forest has great diversity of medicinal plants , present study includes the study of 151 medicinal plants in which some plants are rare , endangered and common.

Keywords : Medicinal plants , Melghat forest.

Introduction:- from 1300 mm to 1450mm , the temperature range varies from 13 to 41 The forest of Melghat is mostly of the degree celcious and humidity varies from Dry Mixed Deciduous type and one of the 48 % to 100 %. The soil is also of different important forests of Vidarbha region of types like Alluvial , Lateritic , Gritty-loam Maharashtra in India. The flora shows and Clayey . The earlier floristic study of much more diversity with the change in Melghat Forests shows 97 families of topography. The vegetation varies flowering plants , 398 generas and 648 considerably with the change in altitude , species of plants. The general floristic soil , temperature , humidity and rainfall. figures of Melghat forests includes the The topography shows steep scarps and plants like 94 tree species , 798 shrubs , slopes , plateaus of higher hills , slopes of 368 small herbs , 66 climbers , 2 species of higher hills , drier lower hills , inner bamboo , 127 species of grasses. valleys etc. The average rainfall varies

Table Showing the Number of Medicinal Plants Of Melghat Forests

Plants Trees shrubs Herbs climbers others bamboos grasses Total no. of 94 98 368 66 41 02 127 plants No. of 72 64 214 48 32 01 19 Medicinally important plants

The medicinal plants of melghat forests students of Ayueveda et. time to time and are studied by the Botanical experts , explored by them . Agricultural university students and the

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Vol II, Issue II July 2012 Multilogic in Science ISSN 2277-7601 An International Refreed & Indexed Quarterly Journal The important Medicinal Plants of Melghat forest are ……….

Sr. Name of plant Family Medicinal use Current No. Status. 1 Abutulon indicum L. Malvaceae. Snake bite , urinal Common. diseases. 2 Abrus precatorius L. Papilionoideae. Cough ,urinal Rare disease, brain tonic. 3 Abelmoschus manihot Malvaceae Sexual power. Common. L. 4 Acacia leucophloea Mimosoideae Stomach disorders. Common Roxb. 5 Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae Eye diseases . Common. scorpion bite. 6 Acacia arabica Willd. Mimosoideae Dental problems. Common. 7 Adiantum lunulatum Polipodiaceae Hatti-rog (phylleria) Common L. 8 Adhatoda vasica Acanthaceae Cough , cold. Rare Medic. 9 Adina cordifolia Roxb. Rubiaceae Antiwarmicide. Common tree 10 Aegle marmelos L. Rutaceae. Mulvyadh , kawil , Common. pitta. 11 Aerva lanata L. Amaranthaceae. Urinal diseases. Common. 12 Alove vera L. Liliaceae Cosmetics , skin Common. diseases. 13 Actinopteris radiata Polipodiaceae. Urinal diseases. Rare. 14 Amaranthus spinosus Amaranthaceae. gyanic problems. Common. L. 15 Anageissis latifolia DC Combretaceae Gum as tonic Common. 16 Argemone mexicana L. Papaveraceae Skin diseases - root Common. 17 Argyreia nervosa Argyriaceae Brain tonic , gyanic Rare Burm. problems. 18 Asparagus racemosus Liliaceae Lactative , tonic Common Willd. 19 Asterecantha longifolia Acanthaceae. Urine stone , skin Common. L. diseases. 20 Azanza lampas Cav. Malvaceae Skin diseases. Common. 21 Bahunia racemosa Lam. Caesalpinoideae digestive Common. 22 B. purpurea. L. Caesalpinoideae Leaf vegetable Common. 23 B. vahalii.W&A Caesalpinoideae Seeds edible Common. 24 B. varigata L. Caesalpinoideae Mulvyadh. Common. 25 Barleria prionitis L Acanthaceae. Cough Rare 26 Boerhaavia diffusa L. Nyctaginaceae Blood purification. Rare 27 Biophytum senstivum Geraniaceae Heat problems Common. DC. 28 Butea monosperma Papilionoideae Diebities , urinal common Roxb. problems , dye for skin diseases.

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Vol II, Issue II July 2012 Multilogic in Science ISSN 2277-7601 An International Refreed & Indexed Quarterly Journal

29 Bombax ceiba L. Bombacaceae Antipyretic – bark Common. extract. 30 Boswellia serrata Roxb. Burseraceae Hair tonic , skin Common disease. 31 Calatropies gigantea L. Asclepiadaceae. antiseptic Rare. 32 Calatropies procera R. Asclepiadaceae. Antiseptic , blood Common. Br. impurioties. 33 Cardiospermum Sapindaceae Ear problems. Rare. helicacabum L. 34 Capparis zeylanica L. Capparidaceae. Leaves used as veg. Rare 35 Careya arborea Roxb. Myrtaceae Cough , dental Common. problems. 36 Cassia auriculata L. Caesalpinoideae Blood sugar Common. 37 Cassia fistula L. Caesalpinoideae digestive Common. 38 Cassia occidentalis L. Caesalpinoideae Skin diseases. Rare. 39 Cassia tora L. Caesalpinoideae Esabgol , head achae Common. 40 Caesalpinnia Caesalpinoideae Dibetes , stomach Common. bondecella Roxb. problems , antipyretic 41 Carvia callosa Nees Acanthaceae Ethano veternary Endemic 42 Cassine glauca Rootb. Celastraceae Antiseptic , gyanic Rare problems. 43 Celastrus paniculata Celastraceae Brain tonic , stomach Rare Willd pain , rheumatism. 44 Celosia argentia L. Amaranthaceae Urinal problems Common. sexual power increases. 45 Chlorophytum Liliaceae Sexual problems . Rare , tuberosum Roxb. tonic Endemic. 46 Clerodendron serratum Verbenaceae Malaria , antiubiotic Common. L. 47 Clerodendron viscosum Verbenaceae Cold. Rare. L. 48 Clematis triloba Heyne Ranunculaceae Aromatic oil . skin Common. problems 49 Cleome viscosa L. Cleomaceae. Anti I insects , Common. antiwarmicde. 50 Theriophonum aroids L. Araceae Leaves edible , head Common achae 51 Coccuus hirsutus L. Menispermaceae Stomach pain Common. 52 Chochleospermum Chohleospermace Ladies urinal Rare , religiosum L. ae problems. endemic. 53 Cordia dichotoma Ehretiaceae Cough , skin diseases Rare. Forst. 54 Cordia macloideae Ehretiaceae Brain tonic Rare. Forst. 55 Costus speciosus Zingiberaceae Cough , cold , Rare , Koenig. digestive. endemic 56 Crotalaria juncea L. Papilionoideae Skin diseases. common 57 Curculago. Orchiodes Amaryllidaceae Sex problems. Rare ,

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Vol II, Issue II July 2012 Multilogic in Science ISSN 2277-7601 An International Refreed & Indexed Quarterly Journal

Gaertn endemic. 58 Curcuma Zingiberaceae. Asthama , cough , Common. pseudomontana Grah. cold. 59 Curcuma aromatica Zingiberaceae. Cough , cold rare. Grah. 60 Curcuma caesia Grah. Zingiberaceae. antiseptic Endemic , rare. 61 Curcuma longa Grah. Zingiberaceae. Antiseptic , biotic. common. 62 Cymbopogon martinae Poaceae. Oil - antibiotic Common. Roxb. 63 Cyanadon dactilifera L Poaceae Antibiotic , Common. mulvyadh. 64 Cyperus rotundus L. Cyperaceae Stomach problems. Common. 65 Citrullus collicynthis L. Cucurbitaceae antiwarmicide Common. 66 Datura metel L. Solanaceae Galfugi , antibiotic Common. 67 Datura alba L. Solanaceae antibiotic Rare. 68 Datura stramonium L. Solanaceae antibiotic Rare. 69 Daemia excelsa Nees. Asclepiadaceae. Cough , julab. Rare. 70 Dendrocalamus strctus Poaceae Cough , culms young Common. Nees edible. 71 Desmodium laxiflorum Papilionoideae antipyretic Rare. DC 72 Dendropthoe falcate Loranthaceae Stomach problems Common Nees 73 Dioscoria pentaphylla L Dioscoriaceae. .tonic , stomach pain Common. 74 Dioscoria bulbifera L Dioscoriaceae. Mulvyadh . Common. 75 Dioscoria tuberosa L Dioscoriaceae. Tonic- root tuber. Common. 76 Dioscoria alternifolia L Dioscoriaceae. Tonic -tuber Common. 77 Diospyrus melanoxylon Ebenaceae Dysentery problems Common. Roxb. ,fruits edible. 78 Dolichondrone falcate Bignoniaceae Delivery problems. Endemic , Cooke rare 79 Echinops echinatus L. Asteraceae. Urinal diseases Common. 80 Eclipta alba L. Asteraceae Hair tonic ,skin Endemic , diseases. rare 81 Ficus bengalensis R.Br. Moraceae Blood sugar reduces , Common. hair tonic. 82 Ficus racemosa R.Br. Moraceae Mulvyadh. Common. 83 Ficus religiosa R.Br. Moraceae Asthama. Common. 84 Flacourtia ramontchi L. Flacourtiaceae Anta-acid Rare. 85 Fumaria parviflora W& Fumariaceae. Eye probems Rare. A 86 Gardenia gummifera Rubiaceae. Digestive , antibiotic Rare , , skin diseases. endemic 87 Girardiana zeylanica Urticaceae. Skin diseases Common. Dene 88 Gloriosa superba L. Liliaceae. Anti venome Rare , endemic 89 Gmelina arborea Roxb. Verbenaceae Head, stomach Common.

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Gymnema sylvestre problems Reduces blood sugar Endemic. Asclepiadaceae. 90 Helecteris isora L. Sterculiaceae antibiotic Endemic. 91 Hemidesmus indicus L. Asclepiadaceae tonic Common. 92 Holarrhena Apocynaceae Antibiotic. Rare. antidysentrica L. Wall. Endemic. 93 Hymenodictyon Rubiaceae Antipyretic Rare. excelsum Roxb. ,digestive. 94 Hibiscus subdariffa L. Malvaceae. Anta-acid Common. 95 Indigofera tinctoria L. Papilionaceae. Eye problems. Common. 96 Launia procumbense Asteraceae. Urine stone Common. Roxb. 97 Leptadenia reticulatum Asclepiadaceae Lactative. Rare , Retz. endemic. 98 Litsea glutinosa Lour Lauraceae Antiseptic aantibiotc Rare , endemic. 99 Loranthus scurulla Ders Loranthaceae. digestive Rare., endemic. 100 Lepidagathis crestata Acanthaceae. Skin diseases . tonic Rare , Roxb. endemic. 101 Madhuca longifolia Sapotaceae Tonic ,digestive Common. ,sexual problems. 102 Mallotus philipinensis Euphorbiaceae. Antibiotic ,urinal Endemic. Lam. diseases. 103 Mucuna pruria Hook. Papilionoideae. Skin diseases , Endemic. antibiotoic. 104 Martinia annua L. Martiuniaceae Antibiotic. Endemic. 105 Maytenus emarginata Celastraceae. Dental problems , Rare Willd. antibiotic , warms. ,endemic. 106 Mimosa hamata Willd. Mimosaceae. Skin diseases. common 107 Ocimum canum Sims. Lamiaceae. antibiotic Common. 108 Oroxylum indcum L. Bigoniaceae. Ear problems Rare. Endemic. 109 Oxalis corniculata L. Oxalidaceae antibiotic Common. 110 Phasiolus radiatus L. Papilionaceae Skin diseases , seeds Common. edible 111 Phyllanthus amarus L. Euphorbiaceaeae Antibiotic , Common. antipyretic 112 Phyllanthus virgatus L. Euphorbiaceaeae Antibiotic , liver Rare , tonic endemic. 113 Plumbago zeylanica L. Plumbaginaceae Skin diseases . lvs Endemic. edible , vegetable. 114 Plumbago rosea L. Plumbaginaceae Skin diseases. Rare ,Endemic. 115 Psoralia corylifolia L. Papilionaceae Skin diseases. Endemic. 116 Pterocarpus Marsupium Papilionaceae Blood sugar reduces Endemic, Roxb. rare. 117 Pureria tuberose Roxb. Papilionaceae Antibiotic , tuber Endemic,

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edible. rare. 118 Rodermichera Bignoniaceae. Skin diseases -oil Rare. cxylocarpa Roxb. 119 Randia dumetorum Ribiaceae. antipyretic Rare. Lam. 120 Rawalphia serpentina L. Apocynaceae Hypertension , heart Rare. problems. 121 Rawalphia quadrifolia Apocynaceae Antibiotic. Rare. L. 122 Ruta graveolense L. Rutaceae. Warmicide , Endemic. antipyretic. 123 Saccharum spontaneum Gramineae Urine stone , Endemic L. antibiotic. 124 Santalum album L. Santalaceae cough Rare. 125 Scilla indica Baker Liliaceae. Digestive , cough. Rare. 126 Semecarpus Anacardiaceae Antibiotic , Common. anacardium L. antiseptic. 127 Sida cordata Bor. Malvaceae Tonic , digestive Common. 128 Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae. Digestive , antibiotic Rare. 129 Soymida febrifuga Meliaceae Gyanic problems Rare. Roxb. 130 Sphaeranthus indicus L. Asteraceae Warmicide , hair Endemic. tonic. 131 Steripspermum Papilionaceae. Digestive , sexual Rare. personatum Hassk. problems. 132 Sterculia urens Roxb. Sterculiaceae. Gum -tonic Common. 133 Syzigium cuminum L. Myrtaceae. Blood sugar reduces , Common. tonic. 134 Terminalia arjuna Combretaceae. Heart tonic Endemic. Roxb. 135 Terminalia bellerica Combretaceae. digestive Endemic. Roxb. 136 Terminalia chebula Combretaceae. digestive Endemic. Roxb. 137 Terminalia tomentosa Combretaceae. antibiotic Endemic. Roxb. 138 Tinosporia cordifolia Menispermaceae. Antibiotic , anti Endemic. Willd pyretic. 139 Trianthema Zygophyllaceae Urinal diseases Endemic. portulacatsrum L. 140 Tridax procumbense Asteraceae. antiseptic Common. 141 Tricosanthus palmate Cucurbitaceae Hair tonic , stomach Common. Roxb. problems. 142 Ureria picta Desv. Papilionaceae. Cough , cold, Rare. antibiotic , dashmula. 143 Vanda roxburghii R. Br. Orchidaceae. rheumatism Common . endemic. 144 Vernonia cineria L. Asteraceae Eye problems Common. 145 Vitex negundo L. Verbenaceae Rheumatism. ,skin Common.

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Vol II, Issue II July 2012 Multilogic in Science ISSN 2277-7601 An International Refreed & Indexed Quarterly Journal

diseases. 146 Vitis auriculata Wall. Vitaceae. Antibiotic for Common. swellings. 147 Viscum articulatum Loranthaceae. digestive Rare , endemic 148 Wrightia tomentosa Apocynaceae. Warmicide , Rare. Roem. mulvyadh. 149 Wrightia tinctoria Apocynaceae. Warmicide , kadu Common. Roem. indrajav 150 Woodfordia floribunda Lythraceae. antibiotic Common. 151 Zizyjuphus xylocarpa Rahamnaceae. Stomach problems. Common.

Conservation strategy of medicinal conserved by the forest department and by plants : the science college by developing the The melghat forest has important medicinal plants garden on large scale. medicinal plants , these plants are over The medicinal plants of melghat forest are exploited by the tribes of melghat for the conserved by the botanist by propagation medicinal uses and by the ayurvedic practices in the botanical garden. practiceners of the urban areas of Maharashtra State of India. The medicinal References : plants are to be conserved by the laws and Dhore M. A. ( 1984 ) The flora of legislations of the forest department and melghat tiger reserve. by the active peoples participation. The Kartikeyan S. ( 2001) Flora of declaration of reserve forest areas in Maharashtra State Vol. I , II, B.S.I. melghat forest.The medicinal plants are Publication .