Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 9 (4), October 2010, pp 713-717

Ethnomedicinal uses of some plants used by Gond tribe of ,

1Rakhi Gupta, 2MG Vairale, 1RR Deshmukh, 1PR Chaudhary & 1SR Wate 1National Environmental Enginneering Research Institute, , Maharashtra; 2School of Studies in Botany, Jiwaji University, , E-mail: [email protected]

Received 21.07.2008; revised 03.09.2009

The ethnobotanical study was carried out among the ethnic group ( Gond tribe) in the Bhandara district of Maharashtra. A field survey of the study area was carried out during January 2007– January 2008 to document the medicinal utility of plants occurring in the area by Gond tribe. Traditional uses of 53 plant species belonging to 31 families are described. The documented ethnomedicinal plants are mostly used to cure skin diseases, diarrhoea, jaundice, cough, wounds, piles, urinary troubles, spermatorrhoea and as an eye drop.

Keywords: Gond tribe, Ethnomedicine, Traditional medicine, Maharashtra IPC Int. Cl. 8: A61K36/00, A61P1/02, A61P1/08, A61P1/10, A61P1/14, A61P9/14, A61P15/00, A61P19/00, A61P29/00, A61P39/02

Ethnobotanical use of plants has been known since plant species found in Bhandara. The current time immemorial and several plants were used to cure deforestation trends, which threaten the existence of diseases and to maintain good health. Biodiversity is medicinally important plants makes it inevitable that the very basis of human survival and economic well this information be made available and encourage being and constitutes the resources upon which preservation of their culture, traditional knowledge, families, communities, nations and future generations conservation and sustainable utilization of the plant depend 1,2. is rich in medicinal plant diversity wealth occurring in the study area. Therefore, the distributed in different geographical and study is an attempt to evaluate the unexplored environmental conditions and associated tribal and traditional medicinal practices of Gond tribe of folk knowledge systems 3. The tribal people mostly Bhandara district. In the paper, some new and less depend on forests for their livelihood. Up to 70% of known ethnomedicinal uses of 53 plants in the the rural population still depends on traditional treatment of different ailments by the Gond tribe of medicine as a primary healthcare source 4. Majority of Bhandara district of Maharashtra, have been reported. the traditional medicines are prepared from plants. The plant based traditional knowledge has become a Methodology recognised tool in search for new sources of drugs and Information on the use of medicinal plants was nutraceuticals 5. Some work on medicinal plants in collected during January 2007- January 2008 through relation to their utilization and conservation have been field surveys in different remote villages of the conducted in many parts 6-11 . Bhandara district situated Bhandara district. The questionnaires were devised to in the Nagpur division (21.09 N latitude and 79.42 E identify the indigenous knowledge of plant-based longitude) is surrounded by district (Madhya remedies from local people. Information was gathered Pradesh) in the North, Gondia in the East, Chandrapur through semi-structured interviews that were held in the South, and Nagpur in the West. Gond , the with selected knowledgeable elders. At the end of each interview, plant specimens were collected, dried, ethnic people of the district are quite aware of the 12 uses of plant species having ethnobotanical values. identified and preserved . Samples of recorded herbs, shrubs and trees were identified with the help of local No work has been reported on ethnobotanical uses of 13-17 —————— floras and previous literature . Plant based *Corresponding author remedies were presented with botanical name of 714 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 9, No. 4, OCTOBER 2010

species followed by local name, parts used, mode of followed by powder and paste form, from freshly preparation and ethnomedical uses. A total of 15 collected plant parts. For few remedies, medicines are knowledgeable traditional medicine practitioners prepared after drying. It is observed that most of the (between 32-70 yrs) were chosen with the assistance tribals cultivate some of the common medicinal plants of local administrators and community leaders served in their home gardens either for medicinal use or for as key informants. use as vegetables. Using a single plant part or a combination of several plant parts usually makes the Results and discussion preparations. Sometimes combination of two or more The ethnobotanical survey lists medicinal uses of different plant species is also used. In some 53 plant species representing 31 families and 46 treatments, animal part/waste is used along with the genus (Table 1). The representing plants are mostly plant material. Medical administration includes used to cure skin disorders, diarrhoea, jaundice, inhalation, oral administration, paste/applying and cough, wounds, piles, urinary troubles, rubbing/massage. Most of the ailments such as spermatorrhoea, as an eye drop and antidote to stomachache, menstrual problems, fertility problems, snakebite & scorpion sting. Leaves are the most urinary problems, piles, jaundice and diarrhoea can be widely (35%) used plant part of the reported cured by oral absorption while most of the skin medicinal plant uses, followed by roots (28%), seed diseases, wounds and body swelling can be cured by (19%), fruit (15%) and bark (13%). Resin, oil, gum external application. Some of the ailments may be and inflorescence are also used occasionally which cured by both the external as well as internal account for 11% of the total uses of the plant parts. A application such as animal bites and muscular majority of remedies are prepared in the form of juice problems.

Table 1—Ethnomedicinal uses of plants by Gond tribe Plant name/ family/ local name Uses Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd. Roots are tide on waist and legs to cure diarrhoea in children. Mimosaceae Hiwar Achyranthes aspera L. Roots are used as a toothbrush. Leaf juice as lithotriptic & relieving burning Amaranthaceae Kutra micturition. Root/leaf powder are given to cure dog bite. Adhatoda zeylanica Medik. Leaf juice with honey is given to cure cough. Acanthaceae Adulasa Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. Fruit pulp is used to cure diarrhoea. Rutaceae Bel Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. Bark powder is given to cure jaundice. Simaroubiaceae Maharukh Alangium salvifolium (L.f.)Wang. Leaves are edible; stem is used as a toothbrush. Alangiaceae Ankol Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. Leaf pulp mixed with water is given in case of spermatorrhoea. Liliaceae Karankuwari Allium sativum L. Fruit is soaked in water overnight; oil is extracted which is used as massage oil for Alliaceae Lasun headache. The raw material after extraction of oil is dried in sunlight and taken orally. Oil is applied on scorpion sting. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall ex Nees Decoction of dried plant is given to cure diarrhoea, cough & fever. Leaf juice is used Acanthaceae Bhuineem to cure malaria & fever. Annona squamosa L. Powder of Annona squamosa roots and Tamarindus indica leaves is given for Annonaceae Sitaphal reducing weight. Seed powder of Annona squamosa, Mucuna pruriens and Abrus precatorius (white) is given to men for strength. Asparagus racemosus Willd. Tuberous root powder is given to pregnant lady to control the body heat. Liliaceae Shatawari Calotropis gigantea (L.) R.Br. Leaves are used as a poultice for joints pain. Asclepiadaceae Rui Contd .— GUPTA et al .: ETHNOMEDICINAL USES OF PLANTS BY GOND TRIBES OF MAHARASHTRA 715

Table 1—Ethnomedicinal uses of plants by Gond tribe — Contd. Plant name/ family/ local name Uses Cardiospermum helicacabum L. Seeds of Cardiospermum & white material present at the node of bamboo are used Sapindaceae Ghanphol for relieving burning urination. Cassia fistula L. Paste of pods grind with tamarind is given to cattle to get relief from enlarge ment of Caesalpiniaceae Bahawa/Amaltash stomach. Cassia tora L. Tea prepared from the seed powder is used as antidiabetic. Powder of Cassia tora Caesalpiniaceae seeds with inflorescence & leaves of Sphaeranthus indicus , seeds & roots of Tarota Abelmoschus ficulneous mixed with water and jaggery is given to cure indigestion. Cassia occidentalis L. Leaves are chewed to cure dog and fox bite. Leaf juice is given for regular Caesalpiniaceae menstruation. Dewangini tarota Celastrus paniculata Willd. Dried bark grind with sheep waste is vulnerary. Celastraceae Malkamini Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. Leaves are used as an insecticide in rice field. Euphorbiaceae Garadi Colocasia esculenta (L.)Schott Pakodi of the Colocasia leaves prepared in castor oil is usef ul in relieving joints Araceae Bramh rakshus pain. Datura metel Sims. Fruit & leaf ash with coconut oil is applied over acne and wounds. Solanaceae Kala dhotara Diplocyclos palmatus (L.) C. Jeffry Powder of seeds and roots is given twice a day in empty stomach to induce fertility. Cucurbitaceae Shivlingi Echinops echinatus Roxb. Filtered juice of roots and seeds are used to cure piles and jaundice. Asteraceae Katazendu L. Powder of aerial roots is used to cure jaundice. Moraceae Wad Ficus hispida L.f. Roots are used in case of itching, black spots and ringworm. Moraceae Khartembhur Ficus religiosa L. Bark decoction of Achyranthus aspera, Acacia nilotica Solanum verginianum, Moraceae Pipal Ocimum sanctum, and Ficus religiosa is used to cure jaundice Gardenia latifolia Ait. One seed is given with leaf of Piper for regular menstruation. Rubiaceae Motha mogara Gardenia resinifera Roth. Resin warmed in coconut oil is applied on forehead, throat & taken orally acts as Rubiaceae Dicamali antihelminthic. Helicteres isora L. Filtered fruit juice is used to cure stomachache. Sterculiaceae Muralsheng Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Leaf juice and root powder is given for spermatorrhoea. Fresh leaves of Hibiscus Malvaceae Jaswand rosa-sinensis, Catheranthus rosea and Aegle marmelos are taken orally in case of weakness and blood deficiency. Holarrhena pubescens (Buch. Ham.) Wall. Ex G. Seeds are eaten in snakebite. Don Apocynaceae Pandhara kula Kydia calycina Roxb. Paste of roots in butter, linseed oi l & hen’s egg is applied on fracture or small tablets Malvaceae Warang are taken orally. Mangifera indica L. Bark paste with lime is used to cure dysentery. Raw fruit paste with fruits of Anacardiaceae Aamba Terminalia bellerica & T. chebula in 1:1:1 ratio mixed with hone y is used to cure cough in children. Martynia annua L. Oil is used to cure acne. Martyniaceae Waghanakhi Mimosa hamata Willd. Paste of roots with linum oil & gugul is unguent. Mimosaceae Chilati Mimosa pudica L. Roots are used as aphrodisiac and strength promoter. Mimosaceae Lajurli Oroxylum indicum (L.) Venten. A peace of pod is alexeritic to snakebite. Bignoniaceae Motha nagdawna Contd. — 716 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 9, No. 4, OCTOBER 2010

Table 1—Ethnomedicinal uses of plants by Gond tribe — Contd. Plant name/ family/ local name Uses Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Leaf juice is given to the patient affected by witchcraft. Choiv. Res. Sc. Miss. Stefan Asclepiadaceae Utaranacha wel Physalis minima L. Leaf juice is used to treat hepatitis B & fever. Dried leaf powder is used in case of Solanaceae Phophunda rheumatism. Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre Bark powder of Pongamia pinnata, Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, and Fabaceae Karanj Jatropha gossypifolia is used for relieving toothache, swellin g and also act as antidiabetic. Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC. Fruit powder mixed with one cup of milk is given to drink as an appetiser. Fabaceae Bhui kohala Ricinus communis L. Leaf juice mixed with a cup of milk is used to cure jaundice. Root powder is given Euphorbiaceae Arandi to ladies as strength promoter. Semecarpus anacardium L.f. Fruit oil is applied on wound and cuts. Fruit of S. anacardium, Allium sativum & Anacardiaceae Bhilawa/Biba resin of Gardenia resinifera warmed in castor oil is applied on wound and cuts. Sansevieria sp Agavaceae Leaf powder is alexeritic to snakebite. Solanum verginianum L. Steam of seed mixed in boiled water is taken to remove the germs in teeth. Solanaceae Dorali Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.) A. Juss. Decoction of roots is used as an eye drop for eye cleaning & redness of eye. Gum is Meliaceae Rohan used as kajal for eye cleaning. Sphaeranthus indicus Auct. Inflorescence soaked in water for whole night; juice is used as an eye drop for eye Asteraceae Godari infection or eye cleaning. Inflorescence juice is given ora lly for purification of blood & itching. Spilanthus acmella Auct.Plur. Leaf is given to cure typhoid; leaves and flowers are used to cure asthma and cough. Asteraceae Akkalkadha Flower is chewed to get relief from toothache. Tephrosia hamiltonii Drum. Leaf paste is put on eye lid to get relief from eye pain. Fabaceae Diwali Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.)Wt. & Arn. Inner bark paste is applied on wound. Combretaceae Pandhara yen Terminalia chebula Retz. Powder of roasted fruit mixed with honey is given for cough. Combretaceae Hirda Tridax procumbens L. Leaf juice is applied on wound. Asteraceae Kambermodi Vitex negundo L. Leaves of Vitex negundo, Butea monosperma, Delonix regia, Dendrocalamus Verbenaceae Nirgudi strictus and roots of Vanda is equally mixed an d boiled; filtrate is used as bath to get relief from rheumatism. Leaves of Annona squamosa, Vitex negundo, Tectona grandis, Tinospora cordifolia and Vanda plant is equally mixed and boiled; filtrate is used for bath in case of swelling and rheumatism. Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Mill Root powder is given for spermatorrhoea. Root juice is given to cure piles. Rhamnaceae Kolati

The most extensively used plant part in the resources. Unfortunately, due to the lack of written preparation of medicine for various ailments is the documents, most of the traditional knowledge about leaf, followed by roots. The collection of medicinal plants and their uses survived only by underground plant parts and whole plant is of grave words of mouth from generation to generation are consequences from both ecological as well as being slowly lost. The study revealed that traditional survival point of view of the species 18 . The medicinal plants still play a vital role in primary traditional knowledge available with the ethnic healthcare need of Gonds in Bhandara and the people plays an important role in quick and proper knowledge received from them will be very useful identification of natural resources. The traditional for researchers in ethnobotany and pharmacology. knowledge systems of the folk, oral tradition, and The observations from the study need to be sustained also published and unpublished literature are the with pharmaco-chemical studies in order to evaluate important sources of locating potential of bio their effectiveness. GUPTA et al .: ETHNOMEDICINAL USES OF PLANTS BY GOND TRIBES OF MAHARASHTRA 717

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