Ethnobotanical Survey of Markanda Forest Range of Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra, India Pankaj R
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
British Journal of Research www.britishjr.org Review Article Ethnobotanical Survey of Markanda Forest Range of Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra, India 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 Gadchiroli district 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- British Journal of Research www.britishjr.org Chavhan et al_________________________________________________ ISSN: 2394-3718 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 Chhattisgarh. 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 Etapalli, Aheri, how a given medicine can be therapeutically Dhanora, Korchi, Kurkheda, Sironcha 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 BJR[2][1][2015] 055-062 Chavhan et al_________________________________________________ ISSN: 2394-3718 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 BJR[2][1][2015] 055-062 Chavhan et al_________________________________________________ ISSN: 2394-3718 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 8. Dhore. M.M, Dabhadkar. D.D, Zade. V.S, Dhore.