Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources Vol. 2(1), March 2011, pp. 97-101 Folkloric medicinal plants of Hingoli district, Maharashtra Jayshri U Patil and S D Biradar* Research and Post Graduate Studies, Department of Botany, Dnyanopasak College, Parbhani-431401, Maharashtra, India Received 17June 2009; Accepted 26 November 2010 The present paper deals with the study of plants used for ethnomedicinal purposes. Ethnomedicinal data of 30 species belonging to 29 genera of 25 families were collected from rustic people as well as tribes residing and practicing in various areas of Hingoli forest in Maharashtra. The study has brought to light lesser known potential ethno-medicinal plants of therapeutic value to cure various diseases. Keywords: Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine, Hingoli district, Maharashtra, Medicinal plants, Tribals. IPC code; Int. cl. (2011.01) A61K 36/00 Introduction rural areas of Hingoli district. Authors collected data Hingoli lies at the northern part of Marathwada in on folk medicinal plants used by tribal and rural the state of Maharashtra. The district is located people for curing diseases (Plate 1). These between 77°11 ′ East longitude and 19 °43 ′ North observations are based on interviews with elderly latitude and surrounded by Akola and Yeotmal in the tribal men, women and knowledgeable persons, who North, Parbhani in the West and Nanded in the South- are practicing herbal therapy and are much familiar east. Hingoli came into existence as a separate district with forest areas. Such information was verified in of Maharashtra from the division of Parbhani district different seasons and areas of the taluka in subsequent on 1st May 1999. It comprises of 710 villages with visits. Identification of the collected plants was done geographical area consisting of 4526 sq km out of by using renowned floras 6-8. The voucher specimens which 249.39 sq km covered with forest. It is were deposited in Department of Botany, predominantly a tribal region. The rustics and Dnyanopasak College, Parbhani, Maharashtra. Plant aborigines such as Andha and Bhils are forest dwellers. species have been enumerated alphabetically with They practice agriculture, but agricultural products are their scientific name, vernacular name, family name, not sufficient for their sustenance therefore, they have herbarium specimen number along with their to be dependent on forest resources. The Hingoli forest etnomedicinal uses, dosage, duration and formulation. is rich in vegetation of medicinal plants. The tribal folk Enumeration and rustics of the area have been using some selected 1. Achyranthes aspera Linn. ( Aghada ), Family- plants for curing diseases. The knowledge of the use of Amaranthaceae, JUP - 5 the plants has been followed traditionally. Parts used: Leaf and root. Information regarding medicinal uses of plants of 1 Medicinal uses: Hingoli district is less and it is still ethnobotanically i) Leaf juice is given in headache. under exploration. The present study is a contribution ii) The local people believe that by keeping a twig to the knowledge of traditional uses of medicinal of this plant in hairs of women increases labour plants of this region. The study has also been 2-5 pains for safe delivery. compared with important published literature . iii) Root paste is given in kidney stone. 2. Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Del. (Babul ), Family - Methodology Mimosaceae, JUP - 98 Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted during Parts used: Bark, flower and pod. June 2007 to March 2009 in tribal dominated and Medicinal uses: ______________ i) 5 flowers are consumed twice a day for two days *Correspondant author: E-mail: [email protected] in measles. 98 INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, MARCH 2011 Plate 1 Some of the medicinal plants used by tribals of Hingoli district ii) A spoonful pod powder is given once a day for 3. Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Corr. ex Roxb. ( Bael ), two days with curd and on third day with rice Family - Rutaceae, JUP - 65 cookhed in milk against dog bite. Parts used: Leaf and fruit. iii) A paste of middle layer of bark is applied on Medicinal uses: skin diseases to cure rickets. i) Leaf juice is given in diabetes to control blood sugar. PATIL & BIRADAR: FOLKLORIC MEDICINAL PLANTS OF HINGOLI DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA 99 ii) Leaf juice mixed with powder of Pimpinella 10. Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub. ( Palas ), anisum Linn. and lump of sugar is given for regular Family - Fabaceae, JUP - 8 menses. Parts used: Seed, leaf and flower. iii) Fruit juice is given against dysentery. Medicinal uses: 4. Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. (Maharuki ), Family - i) The extract of seed is given daily early in the Simaroubaceae, JUP - 78 morning to remove intestinal worms in children. Parts used: Leaf. ii) 20 g flower paste is mixed in a glass of water Medicinal uses: and kept over night, consumed daily to stop white i) Leaf juice is dropped in ear to cure migraine. discharge (leucorrhoea) and excessive menses ii) Leaf juice is used as an antidote against honey (menstaxis). bee sting. iii) Seed paste is applied over head against 5. Amaranthus viridis Linn. ( Matha ), Family - sunstroke. Amaranthaceae, JUP - 38 11. Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. ( Ruchki ), Parts used: Whole plant, stem, leaf and root. Family- Asclepiadaceae, JUP - 56 Medicinal uses: Plant extract is used in fever and Parts used: Latex, seed and leaf. fits. Medicinal uses: 6. Argemone mexicana Linn. ( Bilayati ), Family - i) Seed extract is used in cough and fever. Papaveraceae, JUP - 86 ii) Latex with cow ghee poured in nose to cure Parts used: Leaf and root. migraine. Medicinal uses: 12. Cassia fistula Linn. ( Bahava ), Family- i) Leaves are smelled in tetanus. Caesalpiniaceae, JUP - 152 ii) Leaf juice is used an antidote for scorpion sting. Parts used: Bark and pods. iii) Root paste is given in malarial fever. Medicinal uses- Bark paste is used against skin iv) Root paste is applied on chest to cure pain in diseases especially against ringworm. chest. 13. Cassia sophera Linn. (Devtarota ), Family- 7. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. ( Neem ), Family - Caesalpiniaceae, JUP - 29 Meliaceae, JUP - 21 Parts used: Seed and flower. Parts used: Leaf and bark. Medicinal uses: Medicinal uses: i) The powder of seed is used for making i) The leaf extract is given orally against jaundice. refreshing drink like coffee. ii) Leaf juice is given in fever. ii) Decoction of flower is given once early in the iii) Leaf and bark extract is given to control morning for purification of blood. irregular menses. 14. Cocculus hirsutus (Linn.) Diels ( Vasmi ), iv) Bark paste is used externally in skin diseases. Family- Menispermaceae, JUP - 39 8. Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd. ( Bamboo ), Parts used: Whole plant. Family - Poaceae, JUP - 22 Medicinal uses: The plant extract is given to Parts used: Stem. remove intestinal worms in children. Medicinal uses: Paste prepared from nodal region 15. Cuscuta chinensis Lamk. ( Adharwel ), Family- of the stem is applied on inflammed finger joints. Convolvulaceae, JUP - 30 9) Bombax ceiba Linn. ( Katesawar ), Family - Parts used: Stem Bombacaceae, JUP - 13 Medicinal uses: The stem extract or decoction of Parts used: Stem bark and flower. this plant especially which is grown on Ziziphus Medicinal uses: (Bor) given daily to increase lactation. i) Bark paste or extract is applied over forehead to 16. Cyperus rotundus Linn. ( Nagarmotha ), Family- get relief from headache. Cyperaceae, JUP - 58 ii) The flowers are boiled in ghee, 2-3 drops of this Parts used: Root. extract is poured in nostrils to control headache and Medicinal uses: nasal bleeding. i) Root powder is used in cosmetics to reduce acne. iii) The same recipe is also used to stop the growth ii) Root powder used for washing hairs and to of nose bone. remove dandruff. 100 INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, MARCH 2011 17. Erythrina variegata Linn. ( Pangra ), Family- 23. Punica granatum Linn. ( Dalimb ), Family- Fabaceae, JUP - 68 Punicaceae, JUP - 7 Parts used: Bark and flower. Parts used: Leaf and fruit. Medicinal uses: Medicinal uses: i) Bark paste is mixed in cow milk and given twice i) The juice of young leaves is given daily to stop a day to control Minya disease (Rural terminology leucorrhoea. i.e. a disease in which hands and legs become ii) Fruit extract is given daily to control asthma. tough and hard like wood). iii) About two spoonful fruit extract is given early ii) Flowers are used to prepare dye. in the morning for seven days to conceive 18. Ficus religiosa Linn. ( Pipal ), Family- pregnancy. Moraceae, JUP - 61 24. Psidium guajava Linn. ( Jamb ), Family- Parts used: Stem bark. Myrtaceae, JUP - 76 Medicinal uses: Parts used: Leaf. i) Bark paste is applied to control rheumatism. Medicinal uses: The juice of young leaves is mixed ii) Bark powder is applied on joints to control with water or butter milk and given daily to stop rheumatic pains. leucorrhoea. iii) Bark paste is used in tetanus internally. 25. Ricinus communis Linn. ( Erandi ), Family- 19. Mangifera indica Linn. ( Amba ), Family- Euphorbiaceae, JUP - 11 Anacardiaceae, JUP - 16 Parts used: Leaf. Parts used: Leaf. Medicinal uses: Leaf juice is mixed with cow milk Medicinal uses: Leaves are kept in a glass of water and hot quartz is put in it and then drunk it without for whole night and then this water is consumed once water and salt to treat jaundice. early in the morning for five days to control body fat. 26. Solanum virginianum Linn. ( Bhuiringani ), 20. Ocimum basilicum Linn. ( Subja ), Family- Family- Solanaceae, JUP - 72 Lamiaceae, JUP - 85 Parts used: Fruit, root and leaf. Parts used: Seed, leaf and root. Medicinal uses: Medicinal uses: i) Ash of fruit is mixed with mustard oil and i) Leaf juice is applied on infected part of skin to applied over affected part of the skin. control skin disease. It is also applied on open ii) Fruit paste is applied over gums against toothache.