Himalayan Biodiversity 6: 16-26, 2018Prithvi, Vol 6: , July 2013 ISSN :2382-5200 MEDICINAL WEEDS IN THE RICE FIELD OF KATHMANDU VALLEY,

Ram Sharan Dani1 and Achyut Tiwari2* 1Department of Botany, Tri-Chandra College, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 2Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu *Corresponding email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Weed management in the crop field is one of the major challenges of agriculture. It has been reported that new weeds are encroaching crop fields due to anthropogenic activities such as the use of insecticides, pesticides and chemical fertilizer, and also due to climatic changes including warming temperatures, erratic and unseasonal precipitation, flood and landslides. The agricultural history of Kathmandu valley is quite old, which represents one of the highly productive valleys in of Nepal for agricultural crops including rice, indicating the long history of weeds in the region. There are quite a lot number of medicinally important plants found in rice field as weeds. Traditional practitioners are using these weeds in curing diseases as primary health care, and the utilization of weeds is the best method of weed management. The objective of this present study was to enumerate the weeds in and around paddy field and gather their medicinal properties of weeds among the local people of Kathmandu valley in order to assist with the weed management of paddy field. The periodic field survey was conducted in 9 selected sites, 3 from each district (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and ) during summer 2012-2014 (two times: crop matured seasons and just after harvesting). We found 104 weed species belonging to 36 families in the rice field of Kathmandu valley that have medicine values. Key words: Kathmandu valley, medicinal plants; rice; weeds

INTRODUCTION forming the supply of more than fifty percent After the domestication of plants, man has calorie requires for Nepalese people (Basnet, inherited rich traditional knowledge on the 2004). Although the lowland of Nepal (Terai) use of surrounding plants for different daily alone contributes more than 80 percent rice activities of life like food, medicine, tannin, dye, production in Nepal, rice is cultivated in range resin, fodder, fibres, woods, fuel, cosmetics, and of habitats up to the elevation of over 3000 m crafts and for religious ceremonies. Cultivation asl (NAARC, 2000). Due to the wide range of of food plants like rice, wheat, maize is very geographic location of rice, it also includes wide important for the survival of people contributing range of weeds that continuously interact with as the major source of energy. Rice (Oryza rice plantation challenging the production of the sativa) is one of the predominant cereal crops crop. of Nepal with rice-wheat cropping as a major In agriculture ecosystem, weeds compete with farming practice. It is cultivated mainly during crops for soil nutrients, moisture and light, etc. June-July. Paddy covers about 20 percent of Weeds are any unwanted plant of the unwanted the gross domestic agricultural production site and unwanted time, whether native or non- Medicinal weeds in the rice field of ... 17 native species (Aldrich, 1984). Weeds may is designed with an objective of identifying become a source of disease and a host of insects the medicinal weeds and documentation of or parasites. Literally, every weed is considered ethnomedicinal uses of weeds present in the as unwanted plant of farmland at unwanted time. paddy fields of Kathmandu valley. Those plants which usually grow where they MATERIALS AND METHODS are not wanted, and usually, interfere with the production of cultivated crops, are considered Study Area to be weeds (Ranjit and Bhattarai, 1988). Kathmandu Valley lies at 1,300 masl and Hence, the weeds are harmful to the crops as is located between latitudes 27°32’13” and they decrease crop productivity by altering soil 27°49’10” north and longitudes 85°11’31” and nutrients or by infecting crops directly. It was 85°31’38” east. Its three districts, Kathmandu, mentioned that about 12 percent of crop loss was Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, cover an area of 899 attributed to weeds (Anaya, 1999). Weeds reduce square kilometres, whereas the area of the valley the crop yield either by reducing the amount as a whole is 665 square kilometres. The valley is of harvestable product (grain, forage) or by bowl shaped and surrounded by the Mahabharat reducing the amount of crop actually harvested mountain range on all sides. There are four (Aldrich, 1984). The energy expended for the hills acting as forts of the valley, Phulchowki in weeding of man’s crops is sometimes more than the South East, Chandragiri in the South West, for any other single human task (Holm, 1971). Shivapuri in the North West, and in The weeds cannot harm the crop yield in their the North East. The highest altitudes are 2,166m low density instead they could stimulate crop (in Bhaktapur), 2,732m (in Kathmandu), and growth (Thijssen, 1999). Meanwhile, it is not 2,831m (in Lalitpur). always true that all weeds are unwanted and The climate is good, the soil is fertile, and is harmful plants. Some weeds possess economic endowed with rich forests and scenic beauty. values as medicinal, nutrition, industries and The climate is subtropical, temperate, and cool- fodder forms. Usually, weeds are destroyed temperate, with four distinct seasons: spring from during crops seasons by mechanically or by March to May; summer from June to September; using chemicals or weedicides. It is not always autumn from October to November; and winter beneficial to remove weeds from crops fields from December to February. In general, the because of their role in nutrient cycling. Several annual maximum and minimum temperatures pieces of literature emphasize to establish are between 29°C in June and 1°C in January. nutritional relationship between crops and The annual rainfall records for Kathmandu from weeds. There are quite numbers of available 1995 to 2003 show fluctuations between 1,171 literatures about medicinal application of weeds to 1,868 mm. (Cunningham, 2001); Dhanam and Elayraj, The valley is surrounded by four major hills viz. 2014). Traditional knowledge, practices and Shivpuri, Phulchoki, Naagarjun and Chandragiri. identification of medicinally important weeds This survey was conducted in the village area should be explored to provide medicinal of three districts namely Kathmandu (Dahchok, knowledge of weeds, thereby making their K1; Matathirth, K2 and Sankhu, K3), Lalitpur maximum use which complements with weed (Khokana, L2; Badikhel, L3 and Jharuwarashi, management system in cropland. This work L1), and Bhkatapur (Nagdesh-Madhypur, B1; 18 Dani & Tiwari Nalinchok, B2 and Chitpol, B3) (Fig. 1). Specimens that were not identified in the field were collected, pressed and dried in order to prepare herbarium specimens (Siwakoti and Rajbhandari, 2015). All the collected specimens were reconfirmed with the help of standard literature (Hara et al., 1978, Hara and Williams, 1979; Hara et al., 1982; Stainton, 1972; Polunin and Stainton, 1984; Stainton, 1988, Press et al., 2000) and herbarium study. Nomenclature of the species was followed www.tropicos.org. Ethnomedicinal information of weeds were compiled from local farmers during field visit and additional information with the help of published literatures like Chopra et al. (1956), Kirtikar (1980a), Kirtikar (1980b), Kirtikar (1981a), Kirtikar (1981b), Malla and Shakya (1984), Anonymous (1989), Tiwari and Joshi (1990), AVS (1994), DPR (1997), Rajbhandari and Joshi (1998), Chauhan (1999), Tiwari and Shrestha (2000), Bhattacharjee (2001), DPR (2001), Rajbhandari (2001), Manandhar (2002), Fig. 1: Map showing Kathmandu valley with Anonymous (2004), Watanabe et al. (2005), selected study area Baral and Kurmi (2006). Methodology RESULT AND DISCUSSION The study was conducted periodically. Field studies were conducted in summer season in We found 104 species of weeds in the rice field September - October to collect all the weed of Kathmandu valley belonging to 36 families plants in the flowering stage, due to similar as medicinal plants. Among them, one is a non- phonological changes in rice. While working flowering plant and 104 are flowering plants. on a taxonomic and ethnomedicinal survey of The dominant plant family is Asteraceae (24 Kathmandu valley, we collected weed plants species), followed by Poaceae (8 species), in rice field and collected medicinal values of Polygonaceae (6 species), Fabaceae (6 species), collected weeds from local people as well as Euphorbiaceae (5 species), Cyperaceae (5 from existing literature. Observation on habit, species), Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, habitat, local name and uses were recorded Scrophulariaceae (4 species each), Malvaceae, in the field notebooks with the help of local Lamiaceae (3 species each), Verbenaceae, people. Random quadrat method was adopted Umbeliferae, Solanaceae, Rosaceae, for studying Phyto socioecological attributes Plantaginaceae, Lathyraceae, Commelinaceae of weeds. We laid down 90 quadrats of 1 x 1 and Capparidaceae each having 2 species and sqm in the studied locations. Plant species were Acanthaceae, Boraginaceae, Companulaceae, identified in the field with available literature. Cannabaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cruciferae, Geraniaceae, Medicinal weeds in the rice field of ... 19

Nyctaginaceae, Ophioglossaceae, Oxalidaceae, we have reported from Kathmandu valley is Pedaliaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rubiaceae and very high in comparison to the paddy field of Urticaceae with single species each. Tamil Nadu India, from where out of reported Despite being the major crop throughout 145 species, only 39 of them were medicinally Nepal and Kathmandu valley, the diversity used. The greater number of weeds in the paddy of weeds in paddy fields are less explored in fields of Kathmandu valley was also due to the Nepal with a preoccupied thought that weeds practice of paddy plantation in drier terraces with are useless plants. However, there has been the rain fed during summer monsoon, and these significant progress in study of weeds in Nepal terraces after paddy harvest remain barren with in recent years. The study from Paddy field of full of weeds due to the lack of irrigation. And Kirtipur region () enumerated the higher use value of weeds from Kathmandu 52 weed species with the maximum weed could be due to the rich cultural diversity and density in the month of September (Manandhar rich traditional knowledge of use of plants from et al. 2007). The diversity of medicinal weeds, historical time till today. Table 1- Enumeration of weeds in the rice fields of Kathmandu valley SN Weed species Family Local name Therapeutics applications Abutilon indicum (L.) Used in dyspepsia, cough, leucorrhoea, piles, 1 Malvaceae Sweet. toothache, stomach-ache, tuberculosis. Used in Asthma, bronchitis, bed sores, 2 Acalypha indica L. Euphorbiaceae earache, tape worm, ringworm, pneumonia, rheumatism, scabies, ulcers, headache, Used in bleeding piles, bronchitis, cough, dropsy, diuretic, dysentery, dyspepsia, skin 3 Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae Apamarga diseases, toothache, urinary, concretions, vomiting. Infusion of the herb is extensively used for 4 Ageratum conyzoides L. Asteraceae Gandhe jhar curing fatulence, dysentery, colic and other gastrointestinal ailments. Ageratum houstonianum Nilo gandhe 5 Asteraceae Used to stop bleeding on cut and wounds Miller jhar Alternanthera sessilis (L.) Useful in body pain, eye disorders, nutritional 6 Amaranthaceae Bhiringi jhar R. Br. ex DC. disorders, piles, stomach-ache. Used in colic, eczema, gonorrhoea, 7 Amaranthus spinosus L. Amaranthaceae Ban lunde menorrhagia. Used as a blood purifier, digesting agent, 8 Amaranthus viridis L. Amaranthaceae Lunde piles. Used as anti-typhoid, anti-tubercular 9 Ammannia baccifera L. Lathyraceae properties, toxic prevention, ringworm, sore, Stomachic, purgative, deobstruent, 10 Artemisia indica Willd. Asteraceae Titepati anthelmintic, Insecticidal, skin diseases, rheumatism, bronchitis, fever, headache Used in Anthelmintic, emmengagoue, Artemisia verlortorum leucoderma, appetizer, disease of itching, 11 Asteraceae Titepati Lamotte sweating, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, cures tumours, antiseptic An antidote to food poison, contagious fever, 12 Aster stracheyi Hook f. Asteraceae headache, cures wounds 20 Dani & Tiwari

Useful in infammations, fevers, bronchitis, 13 Berleria cristata L. Acanthaceae Bhedekuro blood diseases, biliousness, pains and asthma The extract of the plant is applied in Leprosy, 14 Bidens pilosa L. Asteraceae Kuro tumour, fistulae diarrhea, and other skin disorder by rural peoples Astringent, anthelmintic, deobstruant, Blumea lacera (Blume f.) abdominal disorders, liver disorders, 15 Asteraceae Kukur ghans DC. hematemesis, cough, bronchitis, cholera, hypertension, tranquiliser Blumeopsis flava (DC) 16 Asteraceae Used in cuts and wounds Gagnep. Used as Anaemia, asthma, blood purifier, Boehmeria clidemioides Miq fever, hastens delivery, infammation of 17 Nyctaginaceae [ = Boehmeria diffusa L. urinary tract, jaundice, muscular pains, ophthalmic, swelling. Breea arvensis (L.) Less. 18 Asteraceae Thaakal Used in indigestion [= Cirsium arvense L.] Cannabis sativa var. indica 19 Cannabaceae Gaanja The leaf part is used in resolving tumours L. Capsella bursa-pastoris Astringent, bleeding, most reliable medicine 20 Cruciferae Chasure jhaar (L.) Medik. for staying fuxes of blood 21 Cassia mimosoides L. Fabaceae Tapre Used in Jaundice, scabies, worm control. The leaf juice is specifically used for 22 Cassia tora L. Fabaceae Tapre ringworm and also useful in curing other skin trouble in the rural area Used in brain tonic, elephantiasis, leprosy, 23 Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Umbeliferae Godtapre weakness. Used in Asthma, boils, bronchitis, cough, 24 Euphorbia hirta L. Euphorbiaceae Dudhe jhaar colic troubles, enriches the blood, laxative, piles, swellings, vomiting Used as digestive, aphrodisiac, dyspepsia, 25 Chenopodium album L. Chenopodiaceae Bethe Saag decoction, bronchitis, stomach-ache, spleen enlargement Cirsium verutum (D. Don) Sungure 26 Asteraceae Root paste is given to fever Spreng. kanda Used in earache, infammation, rheumatic, 27 Cleome gynandra L. Capparidaceae Junge phul stomach-ache. 28 Cleome viscosa L. Capparidaceae Ban tori Used in cough, dyspepsia, fever. Used as expectorant, antispasmodic, epilepsy, Clerodendrum serratum Chuva, cough, increase appetite, stimulant, antileech, 29 Verbenaceae (L.) Moon Andekhi febrifuge, dyspnoea, cough, catarrhal affections, cephalgia, ophthalmia, dropsy Used for Eye diseases, headache, indigestion, 30 Clitoria ternatea L. Fabaceae Aparajeeta itching, pox, snake bite, warts, worm control. Used in menstrual, disorder, intestinal worms, 31 Coix lachryma-jobi L. Poaceae Bhirkaulo Diuretics, Pneumonia, Pectoral disease Commelina benghalensis Used in burns, boils, laxative, leprosy, 32 Commelinaceae Kaane jhar Blume nervous disorders, swellings. 33 Commelina paludosa Bl Commelinaceae Kane saag Used in vertigo, Fever, Bilious 34 Convolvulus arvensis L. Convolvulaceae Cathartic properties 35 Conyza stricta Wild. Asteraceae Cures dysentery and diarrhoea Medicinal weeds in the rice field of ... 21

Crotalaria accicularis 36 Fabaceae Used in cure scabies, detoxicant. Buch.-Ham ex Benth. Croton bonplandianus 37 Euphorbiaceae Used in Arthritis, polio. Baill. Used as anti-typhoid, anti-tubercular 38 Cuphea procumbens L. Lathyraceae Sulpa phul properties, toxic prevention, ringworm, sore, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Used in dysentery, insanity, leucorrhoea, 39 Poaceae Dubo Pers. piles, urinary troubles. Cynoglossum zeylanicum Healing agent for cuts, and wounds, treat 40 (Vahl ex Hornem.) Thunb. Boraginaceae Kanike phul ringworm, conjunctivitis, fractures bones, ex Lehm. uterine tumours, boils, Used as diuretic, Astringent, Diarrhoea, 41 Cyperus difformis L. Cyperaceae Mothe Jhar Gonorrhoea, Syphilis Thulo mothe 42 Cyperus iria L. Cyperaceae Used as stimulant, Stomach-ache, Astringent Jhar Tumour is used in Abscesses, cholera, 43 Cyperus rotundus L. Cyperaceae cough, diarrhoea, epilepsy, fever, wounds, erysipelas, Desmodium gangeticum 44 Fabaceae Used in Asthma, diuretic, eczema, itching, (L.) DC Dichrocephala benthamii 45 Asteraceae Chhiuke jhar For nasal infection CB Clarke Used in headache, antipyretic, cold, throat 46 Drymaria cordata L. Caryophyllaceae Abhijalo problem, diarrhoea, dysentery Used as a laxative, peptic ulcer, cough and 47 Drymaria diandra Blume Caryophyllaceae Abhijalo cold Echinochloa colona (L.) Useful in biliousness and constipation and 48 Poaceae Sama Link fatulence Echinochloa crus-galli 49 Poaceae Sama Check haemorrhage, disease of the spleen (L.) P. Beauv. Antiseptic for ulcers, emetic, jaundice, 50 Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. Asteraceae Bhringraaj nerves problems, purgative, tonic, snakebite. Gomukhi, Used as cardiac tonic, diuretics, febrifuge, 51 Elephantopus scaber L. Asteraceae Buti jhar dysuria, diarrhoea, toothache, rheumatism Astringent, opthalmia, gastropathy, Emilia sonchifolia (L.f.) Chaulaane 52 Asteraceae diarrhoea, intermittent fever, asthma, DC. jhar antiasthmatic, cuts and wounds Fimbristylis dichotoma 53 Cyperaceae Used in headache (L.) Vahl 54 Galinsoga parvifloraCav. Asteraceae Chitlange jhar Used in a wound to check bleeding Used as Analgesic, anti-infammatory, 55 Geranium pratense L. Geraniaceae infuenza, cough, cold, joint pain backache, eyes, biles, swelling of limbs 56 Gnaphalium affineD.Don Asteraceae Buki phool Used in cut and wounds Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Sano Used as a brain tonic, elephantiasis, leprosy, 57 Umbeliferae Lam. ghodtapre weakness. Imperata cylindrica (L.) Used as antipyretic, diuretic, hypertension, 58 Poaceae Siru Beauv jaundice, wounds Indigofera linifolia (L.f.) 59 Fabaceae Used for febrile eruption, amenorrhoea Retz. 22 Dani & Tiwari

Useful in convulsion, syphilis, neuralgia, 60 Jatropha gossypifolia L. Euphorbiaceae Sajiwan dropsy, pleurisy, pneumonia 61 Lantana camara L. Pedaliaceae Banmara Used in cuts, wounds Leucas plukenetii (Roth) Used in digestion, fever, head ache, jaundice, 62 Lamiaceae Ban tulasi Spreng [=Leucas aspera L]. stomach disease, snakebite Lindernia oppositifolia Chronic bronchitis, mixed with coriander 63 Scrophulariaceae Kankare jhaar (L.) Mukerje and applied to skin disease, cut and wounds Used in Asthma, anthelmintic, bronchitis, blood and eye disorders, bowels, burning sensation, fevers, colds, diseases of the heart, 64 Lippia nodifloraL. Verbenaceae stomachic, thirst and loss of consciousness, ulcers, urinary concretions, wounds, vulnerary. Snake bites, boils, ascites from cirrhosis, 65 Lobelia chinensis Lour. Campanulaceae Eklebir schistomiasis, nephritis, oedema, enteritis, diarrhoea Mazus pumilus (Burm. f.) Baghmukhe 66 Scrophulariaceae Used cure typhoid Steen jhar 67 Mazus surculosus D.Don Scrophulariaceae Used in hyperacidity, cut and wounds Antiseptic, anthelmintic, cardiotonic, febrifuge, Sudorific, Contraceptive, asthma, Pudina, 68 Mentha arvensis L. Lamiaceae splenopathy, cough, jaundice, general baabari weakness, rheumatism, fever, bronchitis, skin diseases, wounds and cuts Ophioglossum petiolatum Used to treat wounds, cuts, nasal bleeding 69 Ophioglossaceae Jibre sag Hook. and check vomiting Used as cooling effect, dysentery, diarrhoea, 70 Oxalis corniculata L. Oxalidaceae Chari amili Stomach troubles. Persicaria barbata Astringent, stimulating wash for ulcers, 71 (L.) Hara [Polygonum Polygonaceae Pire, bikha swollen parts of body, scabies, also used as barbatum L.] a fish poison Persicaria chinensis (L.) 72 Polygonaceae Seto pire Used and antiscorbutic and tonic H. Gross Persicaria hydropiper Used as a fish poison, applied in skin disease, 73 (L.) Spach [=Polygonum Polygonaceae Pire stomach-ache hydropiper L.] Persicaria perfoliata (L.) 74 H. Gross [Polygonum Polygonaceae Amilo pire Juice is used in backache perfolium L.] Phragmites karka (Retz.) 75 Cyperaceae Narkat Used as cooling, diuretic and diaphoretic Trin ex Steud. Phyllanthus amarus Used in Jaundice, diabetes, urinary infections, 76 Euphorbiaceae Amala jhar Schumach. & Thonn intermittent fever. 77 Plantago erosa Wall. Plantaginaceae Isabgol In the case of indigestion and boils Used as diuretics, antidysentric, expectorant, aphrodisiac, habitual constipation, chronic 78 Plantago major L. Plantaginaceae Isabgol dysentery, colonalgia, gonorrhoea, nephropathy, duodenal ulcers, general debility, gout, diarrhoea, Medicinal weeds in the rice field of ... 23

Bethe, balune Used in pneumonia, sore throat, blood 79 Polygonum plebeium R. Br. Polygonaceae saag dysentery Used in burns, cardio vascular diseases, 80 Portulaca oleracea L. Portulacaceae cholesterol reducer, fever, diarrhoea, diabetes, headache, ulcers, urinary disorders, wounds. Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Relief in profuse menstruation, fever, 81 Focke. [=Fragaria indica Rosaceae Bhui kaphal blemishes on the tongue Andrew.] Used in stomach-ache, rheumatism, dysuria, Ranunculus laetus Wall. ex 82 Ranunculaceae Naak kore asthma, skin trouble, pneumonia, kidney D. Don. trouble Used in Jaundice, used to wash the eye, Jungali 83 Rosa sericea Lindl Rosaceae ant treat opthalmia, control menstruation, Gulaph headache, applied joint pain Used as antidysentric, astringent, anthelmintic, rejuvenating, leprosy, skin diseases, jaundice, Rubia manjith Roxb. ex Diarrhoea, Wounds, and cuts, urinary diseases, 84 Rubiaceae Majitho Fleming leucorrhoea, otopathy, febrifuge, efficient blood purifier, ear and eye diseases, snake bite, leucooderma, rheumatic arthritis Used in sprain, cut and wounds, syphilis, 85 Rumex nepalensis Spreng. Polygonaceae Hal-Hale ulcers Saccharum Used as laxative, expectorant, cardiotonic, 86 Poaceae Ukhu officinarum Lindl. aphrodisiac, bronchitis, anaemia, seminal weakness Used as laxative, emollient, diuretics, 87 Saccharum spontaneum L. Poaceae Kans lithotroptic, haemostatics, aphrodisiac Used as antiemetics, cardiotonic, dentrifuge, contraceptive, wounds, cuts, cough, peptic 88 Salvia plebeia R. Br. Lamiaceae ulcers, splenopathy, dental caries, jaundice, fever and general weakness Setaria viridis (L.) P. 89 Poaceae Kukur ghans Widely used in Bruises Beauv Astringent, anti-rheumatic, gonorrhoea, Sida cordifolia L.(Burn. f) 90 Malvaceae Balu leucorrhoea, heal cuts, nervous disorders, Borss snake bite, scorpion sting, and wounds. 91 Sida rhombifolia L. Malvaceae Balu Demulcent, diuretic, haemorrhoids, stomach-ache 92 Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae Kali gedi Used in Jaundice, cough, piles, skin diseases, ulcer Solanum surattense Burm. f Used as an anti-infammatory and in asthma, 93 [= Solanum xanthocarpum Solanaceae Bhaise kanda constipation, diuretic, fever, laxative, sore Schard & Wendl.] throat, stimulant, cough, stomach-ache, Used in earache, eye diseases, fever, scars, 94 Sonchus oleraceus L. Asteraceae Dudhe jhaar stomach upset. 95 Spergula arvensis L. Caryophyllaceae Jhyaau jhaar Used as a fermenting agent Spilanthes paniculata 96 Asteraceae Bhuin timur Used in snake bite, toothache, stomach-ache, Wall. ex. DC. 97 Stellaria media (L.) Vill. Caryophyllaceae Armale jhaar As plaster for broken bones and swelling Used as antibacterial, chronic hepatitis, Taraxacum officinale 98 Asteraceae intermittent fever, insomnia, jaundice, biliary Wigg. calculi and other hepatitis, heart trouble 24 Dani & Tiwari

99 Torenia asiatica L. Scrophulariaceae Pidhaa maari The juice is used in cuts and wounds Used in boils, cuts, eye diseases, dysentery, 100 Tridax procumbens L. Asteraceae Kurkure jhaar diarrhoea, wounds. Used in diuretics, astringent, anthelmintic, 101 Urtica dioica L. Urticaceae Sinsnu nephritis, haematuria, menorrhagia, jaundice, toothache, emmenagogue Used in Anthelmintic, cough, fever, 102 Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. Asteraceae Phule jhaar diarrhoea, headache, insomnia, malaria, leucoderma, skin diseases, stomach ache Used for fever, boils, lung trouble, a blood 103 Viola pilosa Blume. Violaceae Ghatte ghans disorder, emetic, emollient and laxative, diaphoretic, antispasmodic and stomachic 104 Youngia japonica (L.) DC. Asteraceae Used in indigestion

CONCLUSIONS and potentiality of medicinally important plants. The rich diversity of weeds in paddy fields of The maximum use of locally available weeds Kathmandu valley indicated that the region is from paddy fields is not only environmentally one of the potential areas for paddy plantation in sustained but also highly cheaper against Nepal. The higher weed diversity could also be ever-increasing costly antibiotic and other attributed to rich variation in microtopography synthetic medicine. Our findings could serve as well as the farming system of paddy including as baseline information for long term study of weeding technique, irrigation system, use of weed dynamics and be useful for farmers both insecticides and pesticides in soil. The entire in terms of weed management in paddy field plant diversity including medicinal plant is and use of available weeds for primary health threatened due to overexploitation, deforestation care, and also for people who are working on and land use changes, more particularly in big phytochemistry of medicinal weeds and drug cities like Kathmandu. Despite heavy shrinkage formulation. Further exploration of ecological in paddy field area in Kathmandu, the weeds are attributes, traditional knowledge documentation still highly diverse, but their survival could be and phytochemical properties of medicinally critically challenged due to rapidly changing important weeds are very important to scale up climate, emergence of invasive plant species our understanding of weeds and their use as a and mainly due to the abandonment of paddy part of their management technique. fields from Kathmandu valley. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Since many plants species and their products are The authors are grateful to anonymous used in pharmaceuticals, traditional, indigenous reviewers for their constructive comments. and ethnobotanical knowledge is very important We would like to acknowledge National to enhance our capacity to promote the use of Herbarium and Plant Laboratory (KATH, weeds plant in primary health care as well as Godabari) and Tribhuvan University for drug formulation. Widely applied and easy Central Herbarium (TUCH, Kirtipur) for the allopathic practices in urban areas are sharply valuable contribution during identification declining, which is highly critical in forming a of weed species. We are grateful to Mr. huge gap in knowledge transfer regarding uses Medicinal weeds in the rice field of ... 25 Basu Dev Paudel of Central Department Dhanam, S., and B. 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