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Review Article Ethnobotanical Survey of Markanda Forest Range of District, , Pankaj R. Chavhan*1 and Aparna S. Margonwar2

1Department of Zoology, Shri Sadguru Saibaba Science College, Ashti, Maharashtra, India 2Department of Botany, Shri Sadguru Saibaba Science College, Ashti, Maharashtra, India

*Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]

A B S T R A C T This paper aims to investigate medicinal and other useful plants used traditionally by the Gond and Madiya community. Reports from plant informants were obtained during field studies in January 2013 to January 2014. For each species are given the botanical name, local name(s), medicinal uses, as well as plant part (s) used, and other uses with method of preparation. A total of 50 species of plants were recorded and collected during this surveys. The popularity of plants with traditional uses among the trible peoples is fading due to migration, restriction from religion and dependence on modern medicine for the therapy. Use of forests land for agricultural development and timber harvesting makes the resource scarce which is also contributing to the loss of knowledge. Awareness activities in among tribal peoples on the usefulness of medicinal plants have contributed significantly towards the preservation of old traditional knowledge of medicinal plants. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Markhanda. Ethnobotany.

INTRODUCTION Man has been using plants from human beings from times immemorial14. ancient time and research workers are The present demand to gather knowledge constantly brings to light additional and information of natural resources for information on the relationship between their scientific and economic exploitation plants and man. The theme of ethnobotany for various uses, the need of assessing or folkloric botany reveals interrelation of ethnobotanical information has received plants and man18. Plants have played a key special attention and thus urgent need of role in day-to-day life support system of afresh study to be conducted to know ethno-

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medicinal practices. Plants are an important used as medicine and the method of source of traditional medicine for the preparation. treatment of various diseases3. It has been estimated that herbal medicines are used by STUDY AREA more than 80% of the world’s population in developing countries to meet their primary The present work was carried with healthcare needs22. In Gadchiroli district the tribal community of Gond, Madiaya especially in backward areas the available located in villages of Markanda, Rengewahi, modern healthcare services are either Malera, Bamanpet, Adpalli, Chandankhedi insufficient or inaccessible and unaffordable and Rampur in Markanda forest region. The to the majority of people. In addition, due to Gadchiroli district which covers the total illiteracy and economic status most of the area of about 14412 Sq. Kms. population is dependent on traditional phytomedicine to cure various ailments. As METHODOLOGY the country has diverse socioeconomic, Regular field surveys were carried ethnic and cultural areas, as well as unique out in the Markanda forest range from biodiversity and knowledge of indigenous January 2013 through January 2014 in order medicinal plants and their use in treating to document the habitats and indigenous human ailments might reasonably be uses of ethnomedicinal plants of the forest expected. valley. The surveys were carried out at Gadchiroli district is situated on the different seasons so as to obtain identifiable North-Eastern side of the Maharashtra State plants and multiple information and also to in country India & is well known for dense cross-check the information provided by the forest; having State borders of Andhra local informants during earlier visits. We Pradesh and . The district is interviewed a small group of chiefly elder covered with hills and forests and is people of both Gond and Madiya tribes who considered as a tribal area. The District falls were highly esteemed in their societies due under assured and heavy rainfall zone. The to their sound knowledge of medicinal rains are mainly received from South-West plants. Structured questionnaires, formal and mansoon. The average rainfall is 1562 mm informal interviews and participatory 25. The climatic conditions are extreme with observations were used to inquire about temperature reaching 47.3oC in Summer & vernacular names, used plant parts and the 9.4oC in Winter. The District is blessed with process of remedy preparation. This kind of huge forest and mineral resources. The information about medicinal plants indicates forests are Predominantly in , Aheri, how a given medicine can be therapeutically , , , and efficient in terms of the right ingredients, the Bhamraged blocks. The forests are rich proper dose and right duration of inTeak, Ain, Tendoo, Dhavada, Anjan, etc. medication. According to tribal peoples their Ain and Anjan are suitable for rearing knowledge of folk medicine was acquired Tussar silk worms. Similarly various plants mainly through parents and experience having great medicinal values is available in about medicinal value of plant to heal them. large quantity and the climatic condition The scientific name and species were supports the development of these plants. identified using relevant and standard The present work has been undertaken to 19 literature . identify the medicinal plants and their part

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION pharmaceutical screening to cross-check the local information. Our findings of the The following is the list of some frequent use of green leaves and fruit in the important medicinal plants found in the preparation of remedies corroborate the Markhanda forest range along with their results of12,15,4. Liquids part such as water, Local name(s), family, distribution, parts used juices, jaggery, tea, honey, mustard oil, ghee and ethno-medicinal uses. The present study (butter) and milk are mixed with plants or records 50 species of ethno- medicinal plants plant parts during the preparation of the representing 35 families. (See Table 1 & Fig remedies. The prepared remedies are mostly 1). administered orally (77%), less frequently The present study was aimed to investigate dermally (10%) or both orally and dermally the plants used by the local and tribal peoples (12%). Only 1% is administered through ears of villages for their medicinal values. During or eyes. The number of researcher work and the present investigation 50 different plants studied on ethnomedicinal plants in species representing 35 families used for a Maharashtra and other states of India.1,2,5,7,8- medicinal purposes by local and tribal 11,13,16,20-22. peoples. Knowledge regarding the occurrence The ethnomedicinal plants are under and availability of selected species was threat due to deforestation, overgrazing and obtained from the local people through their neckless utilization. It indicates the participation either by interview or workshop. urgent need of their conservation for Semi-structured interviews were carried out. sustainable development6,4. A brief information including botanical name, family, local name, parts used and their CONCLUSIONS medicinal value by the tribal peoples is given in Table No.1. The tribal villagers are using The Forest range in Gadchiroli these plants to cure many diseases like Blood district is very rich in commercially and purifier, Anti-pregnancy, Urinogenital pharmaceutically important ethnomedicinal disorder, Menstrual disorder, Hypertension, plant species. The traditional healers have Cough, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Wound healing, old knowledge regarding the uses of the Diabetes, Jaundice, Sunstroke, Fever, Skin plants, and the locals use these species in a diseases etc. These people use to prepare the traditional way for curing a wide spectrum plant product as decoction, oral treatment, of diseases. Few species were found to be ointment etc. The extracts and the paste are under threat probably due to over collection. the two main source of methods for Especially perennial woodland herbs with treatments of diseases. However, the use of a rhizomes are of conservation concern. The particular plant part depends on the plant local inhabitants depend on plants for the habit and user’s needs. The most frequently treatment of diseases but not all are familiar used plant parts in the preparation of herbal with the proper collection, parts to be used, remedies were leaves (24%), followed by preservation and storage. In contrast, local fruit (28%), roots (9%) rhizomes (1%), and traditional healers are familiar with proper whole plants (7%). Seeds (10%), flowers collection and use of medicinal plants, and (6%), bark (10%), gum (2%), latex, culms they should be involved in efforts of and bulbs (1% each) have also been used. Fig. conservation and sustainable use of (1). The use of specific plant parts for the ethnomedicinal plant resources. treatment suggests that these parts have strongest medicinal properties but it needs confirmation of biochemical analysis and

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT 8. Dhore. M.M, Dabhadkar. D.D, Zade. V.S, Dhore. M, Documentation of Authors are thankful to the Forest fertility regulatory ethnomedicinal plants officials of Markanda forest range and the used by tribals of , local people of the village for the information. Maharashtra, India. Int. J. Sci. & Res. Pub., 2012, 2(3): 1-6. REFERENCES 9. Gond, Gopal. Ethnobotanical study of plants by the traditional users of 1. Ahir. R, Pokale. S, Wagh. S. Studies on Ballarpur and Gondpipari area of biodiversity of certain medicinal plants district with reference to of Ahmadnagar region, M.S., India. their conservation. J. Sci. Infor., 2013, 6: Indian Stream Research Journal., 2011, 186-188. 1(6), 1-4. 10. Pocchi. V. Ethno-veterinary medicinal 2. Bakare. S. Ethnomedicinal Plants plants and its conservation status in the Diversity Around Nawargaon Village Of . J. Sci. Infor., 2013, , Maharashtra, India, 6:44-47. Weakly Science Research Journal., 11. Harney.N.V. Ethnomedicinal Plants 2014,Vol 1(24). Diversity of Bhadrawati Tahsil of 3. Bako. S, Bakfur. M. J, John. I, Bala. EI. Chandrapur District, Maharashtra, India. Ethnomedicinal and phytochemical IJSRP., 2013, Vol.3 (8): 1-6.Iqbal et profile of some savanna plant species in al.,(2010). Nigeria. Int. J. Bot., 2005, 1:147–150. 12. Kala. C.P. Ethnomedicinal botany of the 4. Bhat. J. A, Kumar. M, Bussmann. R.W. Apatani in the eastern Himalayan region Ecological status and traditional of India. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed., 2005, knowledge of medicinal plants in 1:11–18. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary of 13. Khonde. V.S, Kale. M.C, Badere. R.S. Garhwal Himalaya India. J Ethnobiol Ethnomedicinal plants used by Ethnomed, 2013, 9:1. Gond/Madia tribes of Aheri tahsil, 5. Borkar. Lekhram, Borkar. Laxmikant, District Gadchiroli. J. Sci. Infor., 2012, Mate. D.M. Ethno botanical importance 3: 174-177. of some plants of Euphorbiaceae in 14. Kumari. P, Joshi. G. C, L. M. Tewari. Gadarwara Tehsil (M.P.). J. Sci. Infor. Diversity and status of ethno-medicinal Special., 2013 Vol. (6): 24-27. plants of Almora district in Uttarakhand, 6. Burlakoti. C,Kunwar. R.M. Folk herbal India. International Journal of medicine of Mahakali watershed area, Biodiversity and Conservation. 2011, Nepal. In: Medicinal plant in Nepal: An Vol. 3(7), pp. 298-326. anthology of contemporary research. 15. Kunwar. R. M, Dawadee. N.P. (eds.) P.K. Jha, S.B. Karmacharya, M.K. Ethnobotanical notes on flora of Chhetri, C.B. Thapa and B.B. Shrestha. Khaptaed National Park, Far-Western Ecological Society, Kathmandu., 2008, Nepal. Him. J. Sci.,2003, 1: 25-30 Nepal, pp. 187-193. 16. Muthu. C, Ayyanar. M, Raja. N, 7. Chavhan.P. R. Diversity of Medicinal Ignacimuthu. S. Medicinal plants used Plants in and Around Etapalli Forest by traditional healers in Kancheepuram Range in Gadchiroli District. The District of Tamil Nadu, India. J Journal of Agriculture and Natural Ethnobiol Ethnomed., 2006, 2:43–53. Resources Sciences., 2014, 1(2):114- 117.

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17. Shrirame. A.M, Hiwale. S.R. 21. Watile. V.J. Diversity of medicinal Ethnomedicinal Survey for Important plants use by tribes in Kelapur tahsil of Plants of Kalmeshwar taluks, District Yavatmal district, - A case study. ISRJ., . ISRJ., 2013, pp. 29-31. 2013, pp. 94-96. 18. Singh. R, Singh. S. Documentation of 22. WHO: Traditional medicine, growing Medicinal Plants from SV Govt. Degree needs and potential. WHO Policy & PG College Campus Palem, Perspectives on Medicines 2002, 2:1–6. Mahabubnagar Dist. , India. 23. 23] Zingare. A. K, Borkar. K. M, Jagiya. American Journal of Ethnomedicine, A.A. Ethnoveterinary Use of Medicinal 2014, Vol. 1, No. 6 Plants from Sakoli Taluka of Bhandara 19. Ugemuge. N.R. Flora of , District, M. S. ISRJ., 2013, pp. 22-24. Shree Prakashan Nagpur, 1985. 24. Zingare. A.K. Ethnomedicinal plant 20. Wadekar. M.B, Tondare. M.J,Rangari. diversity of Sakoli taluka of Bhandara N.U. Ethnomedicinal plant wealth used district (M.S.). J. Sci. Infor., 2012, 3:58- for the treatment of the Jaundice by the 69. tribal communities of Chandrapur, 25. Web http://nagpur.nic.in/ divisional District (MS). J. Sci. Infor., 2013, 6:159- commissioner/Dist_info/GAD. 164.

Table 1. Some important medicinal plants found in the Markhanda forest

S. No. Family Botanical name Local name Part used Uses/Diseases

Heart disease, Tiliacae cough, wounds 1 Grewia hirsute Ghoturli Root and dyspnoea (root) Aphrodisiac and adaptogen, 2 Hypoxitaceae Curculigo orchiodes Kali-musli Root hepatoprotectiv e Cassia tora Tarota Leaves Diabetes

Fruits Antioxidant Pithocellobium dulce Chich bilai

Barks, leaves, Diabetes Butea monosperma Palas fruits, seeds and gums 3 Fabaceae Acacia nilotica Pods, leaves, Dental use Babul bark Leav es, Pongamia pinnata Karanj flowers, seeds Wound healing and bark

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Scorpion bite, Abrus precatorius Gunja Roots swelling

Ficus racemosa Umbar Fruit Anthelmentic Leaves and Feronia limonia Kawath Shwet prader fruit 4 Moraceae Bark, leaves, Anti-diabetic, Ficus bengalensis Wad fruits, seeds wound and latex Leaves, fruits Vitamin Phyllanthus emblica Awala and seeds deficiency

5 Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia geniculata Bada dudhi Aerial parts Jaundice

Leaves and Ricinus communis Yerandi Anti swelling seeds Semicarpus Biba Fruit Piles, worm anacardium

Leaves, barks, Diarrhea, Mangifera indica Amba fruits and 6 Anacardiaceae Dysentery seeds

Cough,Skin Buchnania lanzan Char Fruit diseases,Bronchi tis Leaves and 7 Malvaceae Hibiscus cannabinus Aambadi Sunstroke fruits Leaves, root Aegel marmelos Bel Anti-dysentery 8 Rutaceae and fruits Murraya koienigii Godnimb Leaves Stimulant, Digestive Leaves, roots, Cough and cold 9 Acanthaceae Adathoa vasica Adulsa flowers

Flowers and Anti- 10 Verbanaceae Vitex nigunda Nirgudi roots inflammatory Bone fracture 11 Rhamnaceae Zizyphus sp. Bor Fruit For vit-B Leaves and Leukemia 12 Vinca rosea Sadafuli flowers Apocynaceae Diabetics, Jaganthi Leaves and Catharanthus roseus menstrual roots disorder, Vhoympeitritnegn,s siokinn 13 Combretaceae Terminalia bellirica Behada Bark and fruits diseases

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Diuretic, Cardio Terminalia arjuna Arjun Bark tonic Kraking foot, 14 Asteraceae Tridax procumbems Kambarmodi Leaves Swelling Diospyros 15 Ebenaceae Tendu Fruit Antipreganancy melanoxylon Bark, leaves, 16 Myrataceae Syzigium cumini Jambul seeds and Diabetes, Acidity fruits, 17 Poaceae Cymbopogon citrates Gawti chaha Whole plant Cough

Pods, leaves, Urinogenital Acacia catechu Khair 18 Mimosaceae bark and gum disorder, diarrhea, Mimosa pudica Lajadu Whole plant Stimulant

19 Fabaceae Pithocellobium dulce Chich bilai Fruit Antioxidant Digestive, 20 Punicaceae Punica granatum Darimb Fruit jaundice and diarrhoea Antibacterial, 21 Zinziberaceae Curcuma longa Haldi Rhizome Wound healing

Fruits, seeds Scorpion bites 22 Caesalpiniaceae Tamarandus indica Chinch and roots Gamineae Dendrocalamus T.B., Cough 23 Bambu Culms Strictus Diabetes, blood Cucurbitaceae 24 Momordica charantia Karella Fruit and seeds purifier and

antihelminthic Aloe barbadensis sunburn s, cold 25 Xanthorrhoeaceae Korphad Whole plant sores 26 Papaveraceae Argemone Mexicana Dhatura Leaves Body heat

27 Menispermaceae Tinospora cordifolia Gulvel Arial plant Flue

Bark, heart- Wounds 28 Sapotaceae Madhuca indica Moha wood, fruits and seeds 29 Leguminosae Bahunia reacemosa Apta Leaves Wound healer

30 Liliaceae Allium sativum Lasun Bulbs Cough

Piles, Arthritis, Headache, 31 Arecaceae Phoenix sylvestris Sindhi Fruit Fever, Tonic, Cold flu Tulasi 32 Lamiaceae Ocimum sanctum Whole plant Fever, Cough

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Leaves and Expectorant, 33 Magnoliaceae Michelia champaca Chamapa flowers Purgative

Arthritis, Blood purifier, Heat 34 Rubiaceae Manilkara hexandra Khirani Fruits burning, Wormicide, Jaundice.

35 Asclepiadaceae Calatrophis procera Rui Whole plant Cough

Figure 1. Pie graph showing the percentage of plant part used as medicine by tribal peoples

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