BOLL. BOT. SURV. VOI, 18, NOS, 1-4: pp. 161-165, 1976

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS IN 2.1-PARGANAS,

RAI H. N. ~HAUDHURIAND c. N. TR~B~DI

Botanical Suvof Indk,

ABSTRACT The paper deals with thirtynine species of medicinal plants collected from northem and middle parts of the district 24-Bqpnas in West Bengal. The areas covered in the survey were Parrnadan forest near Bongaon, , Bira, , Duttapuhr, , , and . The crude drugs collected from these plants have been exhibited in the Crude Drug Museum of the Pharmacognosy Section, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah after proper drying and identification.

INTRODUCTION name where available and the locality of It has been generally accepted that indi- collection is given. genous and Homeopathic medicines are Information on uses of medicinal herbs Inore economic and often more acceptable is available in details in the works like by large sector of our population. For pro- KirtiLr and Basu (1933). Chopra et al. moting this, the Ministry of Health & (1963 & 1968) etc. Therefore, in the present Family Welfare, Govt, of India some years paper uses are noted only in those cases a.go established the Central Council for Re- where some fresh information have been search in Indigenous Medicine and Homeo- collected from the area of study or from pathy The main difficulty which our some recent pltblished important informa. Ayurvedic Drug dealers and large manufac- tion. In latter case, references have been turing houses have in India is in the ade- cited. quate supply of authentic materials. Often These plants are arranged alphabetically the localities where medicinal herbs are with their respective families under paren- found are hot known to dealers in drugs. thesis followed by the local name in italics. For contributing some infortnation on Abrus preertorius Linn. (Leguminosae) this subject, survey was undertaken to the Loc. name: Kunch. middle and northern parts of the district of Locality : Taki. 24-Parganas in West Bengal, viz., Parmadan Seeds are used for abortion. Pharmaco- forest near Bongaon, Gobardanga, Bira, logical tests have shown that the seeds act Joypul, , Basirhat, Taki, Hasnn- as antifertility agent and can be used to bad and Hingalganj. The exploration was induce abortion. When administered paren- undertaken during March and July in the terally to pregnant animals the ethanolic year 1972 and in January, 1974. extract of the seeds inhibits growth of sta- The following pages deal ~4ththirty- phylococcus aureus, enteric and dysenteric nine species of medicinal plants belonging growth of micro organisms and some patho- to 24 families. For each species, the local genic fungi. (Desai, 1964 & 1966). Acllypha indica Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) ------Loc. name: Muktajhuri. Date of receipt : 1.5. 75. Date of acceptance : 24,4. 78 Locality : Hasnabad. [Vol. 18 I bz BULLETIN OF THE BOTANICALSURVEY OE' INDIA

In Homeopathy the plant has a marked BaIios~ummontnum (Willd.) Muell.- action on the gastrointestinal tract and res- Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) piratory system. It is indicated in incLpient Loc. name: Danti. tuberculosis with hard, racking cough, Locality : Taki. bloody expectoration and bright red hemop- Decoction of the leaves is used in asthma. tysis. The gastrointestinal symptoms are Bidem pilosa Linn. (Asteraceae) burning in the intestine (Anshutz, 1974). Locality : Taki. Acanthus YiciEoliu9 Linn. (Acanthaceae) The plant is reported from Chotanagpur Loc. name: Harkuch Kanta. and North Bengal (Prain, 1903). This was Locality : Hasnabad. also collected from , and The plant is used in asthma. districts of West Bengal and in- Achyranhs nspera Linn. (Amaranthaceae) corporated in the Central National Herbar- Loc. name: Apang. ium. Taki is extreme south of north 24- Locality : asn nab ad. Parganas. Juice of the leaf is used in eczema. The Boerhaavia Muss Linn. (Nyctaginaceae) drug is of value in leprosy. The leaf, seed Loc. name : Punarnava. and twigs of the plant are used for the treat- Locality : Taki. ment of renal dropsy and bronchial affec- Plant extract is taken for increasing tions. (Gopalachari, I 952). memory. Extracts of leaves and roots are Adhatoda va&a Nees (Acanthaceae) used in reducing inflammation. Lot. name: Bakas. Localitv : Taki. Bryophyllum ~~ (Lamk.) Oxen (Cras Leaves are used in cough and cold. The sulaceae) leaves are very efficacious in cough, chronic Loc. name : Patharkuchi. bronchitis, asthma and phthisis. The active Locality : Taki. principle of 'vasaka' lowered the blood Juice pressed out from succulent leaves is sugar of rabbits for a short period of 2 used in sores and burns. hours (at a dose level of 25 mg/kg.). The Callicaqm maecropbyJk Vahl (Verbenaceae) average fall over a period of 4 hours was Loc. name: Mathara. 7.5% which is far less than the fall due to Locality : Duttapukur . a similar dosage of tolbutamide (Modak, Leaves boiled in mustard oil are applied I 966). to rheumatic joints. Apbl~rmmiyciipolystachya (Wall .) Parker Cardiospermurmi helicacabum Linn . (Sapin- (Meliaceae). daceae) Loc. name: Rohin. Loc. name : Shibjhul. Locality : Parmadan Forest. Locality : Duttapukur Oil from the seeds is prescribed in rheu- The alkaloidal fraction has anti-bacterial matic troubles specially of the joints. action against some pathogenic organisms Argemom mexicana Linn. (Papaveraceae) (Sukla, 1973). Loc. name : ,Shialkanta. Cassia mphera Linn. (Leguminosae) Localitv : Parmadan forest (Bongaon). Loc. name : Kalkasunda. ell ow- juice of the stem is used satisfac- Locality : Hasnabad. torily in skin diseases. Leaf juice is applied in ring worm and Amr~gosracernorms Willd . (Liliaceae) other skin diseases. Loc. name : Satamuli. Cissls quadnngdaris Linn. (Vitaceae) Locality : Gobardanga. Loc. name: Harjora. Root extract is given as nerve-sedative, Locality : Duttapukur. ig76] CHAUDHURI AND TRIBEDI: OCCURRENCE OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANlS IN 24-PRCS, 163

The stem is applied externally on the Hygropbila auricubta (Schum .) Hein e (Ac- fractured part in human as well as animal. an thaceae) The plant can be exploited for steroidal Loc. name : Kulakhara. principles (Sen, I 966). Loca1,ity : Hasnabad. Clcrodendron indicum (Linn.) K tze. (Ver- Juice of the plant is used in anaemia. benaceae) RZallo4m phirippineasis Muell .-Arg. (Eu- Loc, name : Bamonhati. phorbiaceae) Locality : Hingalganj. Loc. name: Kamala. Root is used in asthma and cough. Locality : Hingalganj. Coccinia indica W. & A. (Cucurbitaceae) Five constituents of 'Kamala' viz. rottle Loc. name : Telakucha. rin, iso-rottlerin, resin of low map., resin of Locality : Parmadan Forest. high m.p. and a wax have been isolated and Roots and leaves are reputed to be effec- their anthelmintic activity was compared tive in the treatment of diabetes (Bisht, with other anthelmintics. Given as powder 1957). in dose 2-3 drachms (Khorana, 19~9). CoIdenia procumbens Litin. (Boraginaceae) Md.nthm rhamooides (Retz.) ~1.(Euphor- Loc. name : Tripankhi. biaceae) Locality : Gobardanga. Loc. name : Kali-chitki. Leaves are used in rheumatic swellings. Locality : Hingalganj Curcu!igo orchioides Gaertn . (Amaryllida- . ceae). Dried leaves are smoked like tobacco in Loc. name: Talmuli. swelled uvula and 'tonsils. LocaIty : Gobardanga. Meliiotus dba Larnk. (Leguminosae) It is employed in indigenous medicine for Loc. nanze: Sada bon methi. the treatment of asthma, jaundice, piles, Locality : Hingalganj . diarrhoea, colic and skin diseases (Bisht, A tincture or rx dilution is a remedy for those headaches or neuralgias that drive the I 960)- E~liptaprostrata (Linn .) Linn. (Asteraceae) patient wild which is close to delirium (An- Loc. name: Kesud. shutz, 1974). LocczEity : Duttapukur. M~rmacedosa Griff. (Urticaceae) Plant is boiled in coconut oil and after Loc. nanze: Tut. screening, the oil is applied to head to stop Locality : Parmadan Forest. falling of hairs. It also acts as a hair tonic. Decoction .of the leaves is used as gargle Euphwbia hirta Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) in inflammation of vocal cord. Loc. name : Bara-kerui. Ocimum sarrcttm Idnn. (Lamiaceae) Locality : Parmadan Forest. Loc. name: Tulshi. Blood pressure and respiration studies in Locality : Taki. dogs showed that Euphorbia administered Leaf-juice is used in catarrh. Oil from intravenously resulted in a marked but flcet- the plant contains an anti-bacterial subs- ing vasodepression with little effect on respi- tance which is active against mycobacte- ration. Alcoholic extract shows an ti-bac- rium tuberculosis and staphylococc~s au- terial activity against E. coli 6. V choler~e reus (Gupta, 1955). s (Hazleton, r 948). Qxalis corniculata Linn. (Qxalidaceae) Glycods pentaphylla Corr . (Rutaceae) Loc. name : Amrul. Loc. name : Ashshoura. Locality : Parmadan Forest. Locality : Parmadan Forest. Plant-juice is used for curing skin di- Root is used in fever, seases

MODAK,A. T. ETAL. Hypoglycaemic activity of a non- ability of some fractions of Rauvolfia serpentina Benth. nitrogenous principle from the leaves of Adhatoda vasica J. Am. Pharm. Assoc. (Sn'. ED) 43 : 505. 1954. Nees Ind. J. Pharm. 28 : 105. 1966. SEN, S. P. Studies on the active constituents of Ci.sms PATEL,R. P. ET AL. Antibacterial activity of Daemia wadrangulark-r-II.cu,.r. fii. 35 : 317. 1966. extensa R. Br. Znd. J. Phram. 20 : 328. 1958. SUKLA,S. D. ET AL. Some pharmacological actions of an PRIIN,D. Bengal Plants (1-2). Calcutta. 1903. alkaloidal fraction from Carrdio~bermum helicacaburn. SCHLAOEL,C. A. ET AL. The blood pressure lowering Ind. J. Pharm. 35 (1) : 40. 1973.-