Medicinal Plants Used by the Tribal and Rural People of Satna District, Madhya Pradesh for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Disorders

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Medicinal plants used by the tribal and rural people of Satna district, Madhya Pradesh for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders

S N Dwivedi*, Sangeeta Dwivedi and PC Patel Department of Botany, Janata PG College, APSUniversity, Rewa- 486 002, Madhya Pradesh, India *Correspondent author address: 14/473, Near Samiti Office, SanjayNagar, Rewa-486 001, E-mail:[email protected] Received 24 May 2005; Accepted ]9 September 2005

Abstract March 2005 to record of medicinal plants Gastrointestinal ailments are very common among the people of our country and tribals uses by the tribal and rural people for the believe that it is a root cause for the occllrrence of several other diseases. Modern synthetic treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. medicine has so far nof produced any effective curative drug. It only gives temporary relief. Voucher specimens were collected from However, traditional herbal medicines have a better remedy for the diseases of digestive system. In different study site (1 to 24) and preserved the present paper herbal preparations used for gastrointestinal disorders by tribal and rural people as per method suggested by Agrawal9. The of Satna district, Madhya Pradesh has been discussed. An effort is also made to correlate modern usesand activitiesofplantswiththeplantsused bytribalsandrural peopleforthecurativepurpose plants were identified at State Forest

of gastrointestinal disorders. Research Institute, Polipathar, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India and are Keywords : Medicinal plants, Tribal and Rural people, Satna distriCt, Madhya Pradesh, Gastrointestinal diseases. deposited in Lthnobotanical Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, Janata IPC code; Int. cF - A61K 3SnS, 1/00 Post Graduate College, A. P. S. University, Introduction check excess acid formation and enhance Rewa (Madhya Pradesh). Personal bowel movement. discussions were done between the authors Gastrointestinal disorders A number of plants have been and tribal and rural people of various age, include the condition caused by eating used among the tribal and rural sex and profession group as per indigestible, excessive or irregular foods, communities for the treatment of various questionnaire outlined by Varghese 10. imbalanced and spicy diet, adulteration diseases including gastrointestinal Three informants in each of the study in food and contamination of drinking disorders1-4. However, systematic study on sites were interviewed to obtain the water, resulting the symptoms like a particular disease is meagre, except herbal treatments for gastrointestinal abdominal pain, acidity, constipation, some published reports by Dwivedi5-7 and disorders. A cross verification of the dyspepsia, indigestion, flatulence, etc. Dwivedi et al 8. Therefore, 'the present plants were made by relevant Diarrhoea, dysentery, colic and colitis also work was conceived and undertaken by literatures II, 12 and verification of the occur due to digestive complaints. us. herbal remedies were confirmed byJain 13 Tribal and rural people believe and Bakhru 14. Method of preparation and that digestive disorders are interrelated Methodology mode of administration of the drug along and arises from one other. However, the with their dose, duration, etc. were diseases of digestive system occur due to An ethnobotanical survey of 24 also obtained by the inhabitants, poor digestion. Therefore, they prescribe remote places of Satna district in Madhya tribal physicians and rural medicine the drug, which would improve digestion, Pradesh was made from April 2004 to men.

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Preparations and treatments

Following preparations are prepared for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders:

1. Dry part of following herbs is taken as per proportions mentioned and a

powdered mixture is made adding a Boerhaavia diffusa small amount of black salt. The herbs used are: rhizome of Acorus Emblica officinalis calamus Linn. (Bach), 100g; root of Boerhaavia diffusa, Lipn. (Punarnaba), lOOg; flower pedilce of Calonyction muricutum G. Don syn. Ipomoea muricata lac. (Khotalilya), SOg; leaves of Cassia angustifolia Vahl (Senna), IS0g; fruit pulp of Helicteres isora C.fistula Linn. (Amaltas), lOOg; rhizome of Curcuma ionga Linn. (Haldi), SOg; fruits of Helicteres isora Linn. (Marorphali), SOg; Terminalia chebula and leaves of Mentha arvensis Linn. (Pudina), SOg. Two teaspoonful of this herbal powder is to be taken twice daily with lukewarm water. Mentha arvensis

2. In another prescription rural people take equal amount of Harra (Terminalia chebula Retz.),

Bahera (T. bellirica Roxb.), Terminalia bellirica Amla (Emblica officinalis 1\., Gaertn.),Ajwain[Trachyspermum 3. Garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) has . ammi (Linn.) Sprague] and a small an antiseptic effect and is an excellent amount of Heeng (Feruia assa• remedy for inflammation of intestine. foetida Linn.) with little salt, grind Likewise, 4-S fruits of Shivalingi together to make a fine powder. About [Diplocyclos paimatus (Linn.) 10 g of thismixtlire is recommended C. Jeffrey] are fried with fresh cows twice a day after each meal with purified butter and given t\\jce daily . Acorus calamus water in various gastric disorders .. for coutis.

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4. The tribal and rural people prescribe considered a household remedy for colic vitamin C, gallic and ellagic acids21• Saunf (Foeniculum vulgare and for increasing appetite. Moreover, Terminaliachebula contains chebulin Mill.) for the treatment of colic. It is essential oil showed spasmolytic activity with large amount of tannins used

one of the safest herb for releasing in animals IS. Boerhaavia diffusa has primarily as purgative and laxative to the gas and relieve tummy. About also found wide acceptance in modern improve the function of stomach and 5 teaspoonful of seeds are boiled in medicine as a good diuretic, stomachic intestine. Likewise, T. bellirica having 50ml of water and are allowed steep and laxative due to presence of an active bellericanin with gallic, ellagic and for 15 minutes. The water is then constituent punarnavinel6. Immature chebulic acids and a large number ofsugar strained cooled and given to cure floral pedicels of Calonyction is used in several such problems. Studies colic. muricatum (Khotaliya) have on the modern line revealed potent remarkable digestivecapacityand used as purgative, laxative, anti-flatulence and

5. Acuteloose motion can be prevented appetizer3. Recent studies indicate that two digestive activity of the drug22. by taking 20ml fresh bark juice of glycosides sennocide A and B present in Furthermore, Trachyspermum ammi Arjun [Terminalia arjuna Cassia angustifolia leaves have a and Ferula assa-foetida have long (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.] with 40 ml strong purgative and laxative action and been used in indigenous medicine for the curd water. About 5 mlleaf extract increase the peristaltic movement of treatment of atonic dyspepsia, flatulence

of Chhoti dudhi (Euphorbia intestine 17. The fruit pulp of C. fistula and spasmodic disorders and are essential microphylla Linn.) is very useful has also similar propertiesl8. The rhiiome ingredient for most of the digestive in infantile diarrhoea. of Curcuma longa has antiseptic, powdersl4. antacid, carminative and anti-oxidant Results and Discussion properties due to phenolic character of Acknowledgements curcumin powder.Drypowder appreciably The herbs used in the treatment increases the mucin content of gastric We are grateful to the tribal and ofvarious gastrointestinal complaints, viz. juice in rabbit thereby confirming it rural people for providing valuable constipation, indigestion, acidity and beneficial effect in gastric disordersl9. information pertaining to the subject. One flatulence are easily available, common Likewise,Helicteres isora is a drug of of us (SND) thankfully acknowledges and cheaper. The method of preparation choice for some stomach complaints and University Grants Commission for and mode of administration are also very useful in the griping of bowels and financial assistance. simple and convenient. The tribal and flatulence. Barik et aPO found the potent other people of below poverty line can efficiency of this herb due to presence of References afford the treatment. The personal faith phytosterol, saponins, diosgenin, lignins, and belief gave encouraging result in the etc. Leaves of Mentha arvensis are 1. Shome Usha, RawatAKSand Mehrotra Shanta, treatment. well-known for its antiseptic, carminaive, Time tested household herbal remedies. In: Ethnobiology in Human Welfare, by SKJain Theplants used bylaymanagainst stomachic and refrigerant characteristics (Ed.), Deep Publications, New Delhi, 1996, abdominal disorders have been found to and itis a nativeremedy in various digestive pp.96-100. possess remarkable digestive properties. troubles. Acorus calamus is a wonderful herb Harra, bahera, amla, 2. Jain SP and Singh SC,Anethnobotanical study of Ambikapur district, Madhya Pradesh. In: ajwain and heeng are used in traditional used by tribal and rural' people for the Contribution to Indian Ethnobotany, by SK treatment ofvarious digestive complaints. system of medicine for various stomach Jain (Ed.), Scientific Publisher, Jodhpur, 3rd The rhizome has a yellow, aromatic, complaints. The fruits of Emblica Edition 1997, 83-91. volatileoil containing calamen, which acts officinalis are an excellent remedy for 3. DwivediSN,Herbal remedies among the tribals as carminative and relieves flatulence and indigestion and flatulence, have an of Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh, J Ecan feeling of powerfulness of stomach alkaloid phyllebin, several tannins, rich Taxon Bot, 2004, 28(3), 675-687. m Natural Product Radiance Explorer: Resear,h Arli,le

4. Tirkey Amia, Some ethnobotanical species of 13. Jain SK,Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine Chhatishgarh state, Ethnobotany, 2004, 16 and Ethnobotany, Deep Publications, New (1&2), 118-124. Delhi, 1991.

5. Dwivedi SN, Traditional health care among 14. Bakhru HK,Herbs that Heal. Natural Remedies tribals of Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh for Good Health, Orient Paper Backs, New with special reference to conservation of Delhi, 1998. endangered and vulnerable species, J Econ Taxon Bot, 1999, 23(2), 315-320. 15. Rastogi RP and Mehrotra BN, Compendium of Indian Medicinal Plants Vol. I, CDRI, 6. Dwivedi SN, Ethnobotanical studies and Lucknow and NISCAIR, New Delhi,

conservational strategies on wild and natural 3rd Reprint Edition, 2004. resources of Rewadistrict ofMadhya Pradesh, J Econ Taxon Bot, 2003, 27(1), 233-244. 16. Hussain A, Virmani OP,Popli SP,Mishra SN, Gupta MN, Srivastava GN, Abraham Z and Singh AK, Dictionary of Indian Medicinal 7. Dwivedi SN,Status survey on ethnobotanical Plants, CIMAP,Lucknow, 1992. resources of Satna district, Madhya Pradesh. UGCResearch Project on Ethnobotany, 2005. 17. Abraham Z, Bhakuni DS, Garg HS, Goel AK, Mehrotra BN and Patnaik GK,Screening of 8. Dwivedi SN, Dwivedi Sangeeta and Patel Indian plants for biological activity,Indian PC, Herbal remedies used by the rural J Exp BioI, 1986, 24, 48-68. people in the treatment of joint diseases, Ethnobotany, 2005, 17 (1&2), 193-196 (Sliver Jubilee Volume). 18. Chopra RN,Nayar SLand Chopra IC, Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, NISCAIR,CSIR, New Delhi, 1956, Sixth Reprint Edition, 9. AgrawalVS,Perspective in Botanical Museum 2002. with reference to India, Today & Tomorrow, New Delhi, 1983. 19. Mukherji B, Effect of Curcuma longa on gastric secretion of rabbit, J Sci Ind Res, 10. Varghese E SVD,Questionnaire on Medicinal 1961, 20C, 25-28. Plants used by the Kharias. In: Applied Ethnobotany: Acase study among the Kharias ofCentralIndia, Deep Publications, NewDelhi, 20. Barik BR, Dey AKand Das PC, Helicteres 1996, 221-222. isora Linn. A new source of Diosgenin, Indian J Chern, 1991, 20B, 938.

11. Verma DM, Pant PC and Hanfi MI, Flora of Raipur, Durg and Rajnandgaon, 21. Pillay PP and Iyer KM, Chemical extract of Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 1985. Emblica officinalis Gaertn.,Curr Sci, 1958, 27(7), 266-267.

12. Oommachan M and Shrivastava JL, Flora of Jabalpur, Scientific Publishers, 22. Anonymous, Phytochemical investigation of Jodhpur, 1996. certain medicinal plants used in Ayurveda. CCRAS,New Delhi, 1986.

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