Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants, ISSN 2249 – 4340 RESEARCH ARTICLE Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 228-233, December 2011

Medicinal plants used for primary healthcare by Tharu tribe of Udham Singh Nagar, , Jyotsana SHARMA*, Sumeet GAIROLA, R.D. GAUR, R.M. PAINULI Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar – 246 174, Uttarakhand, India

Article History: Received 10th October 2011, Revised 26th November 2011, Accepted 27th November 2011.

Abstract: The present study highlights the traditional knowledge of Tharu tribe related with the use of plants as ethno- medicine. Extensive field trips were conducted in order to collect the ethnobotanical information. Questionnaire was made to gather data for local name, part used, disease treated, mode of administration and methods of preparation. The present article gives a brief account of 53 plant species belonging to 52 genera and 34 families used as herbal remedies by Tharu tribe of Udham Singh Nagar. Keywords: Ethnomedicine; Traditional Knowledge; Tharu tribe; Uttarakhand.

Introduction ditional knowledge accumulated by them is un- known to most of the scientific communities. India is rich in its tribal population from the Concentrated efforts on such studies will reveal ancient time with traditional knowledge system important information on the indigenous know- which deals with various important aspects and ledge of vegetation, particularly in the field of the health issues of the tribals. The folk people medicines. get their treatment with the help of local practi- tioners and own herbal preparations. The use of The present work is taken in district Udham herbal medicines by the tribal communities is Singh Nagar showing 29° 01' 36" N latitude and influenced by distinct socio-cultural practices, 79° 23' 33" E longitude. The district is located beliefs, support of traditional authority and ser- in the region, and is part of Kumaon Divi- vices of traditional medicinemen. These people sion. It is bounded on the north by Dis- have a close relationship with their ambient en- trict, on the northeast by , vironment and basically depend on it for prima- on the east by , and on the south and west ry healthcare as they live in remote localities far by state. The study area is known away from modern facilities. Tribal people are for its rich biodiversity with varieties of useful the ecosystem people who live in close harmony plant species, many of which are of medicinally with the nature and maintain a close relationship important and used in traditional system of med- between man and environment and indigenous icine. The district is inhabited by two major tri- cultures are closely maintained by the tribal and bal communities viz. Tharus and Bhoxas. The other forest dwellers throughout the world. The present investigation provides a detail idea of documentation of traditional knowledge on me- medicinal plants used by Tharu people for dicinal plants has been considered (Anonymous treatment of different ailments. 1994; Cox 1994) to support the discoveries of The Tharu tribe is the largest primitive tribe new drugs for the benefit of mankind. More of the Uttarakhand, who lives interiorly in the than 90% of raw matter required in the field of forest sustaining a close association with their pharmaceutical is obtained from the wild re- ambient environment. The main occupation of sources (Kehimker 2000). Medicinal plants Tharu people is agriculture. Most of the work in form a base for different healthcare systems agricultural fields is done by women folk. A lo- among various societies. About 80% of tradi- cal doctor or Vaidhya is found in each village tional medicines used for primary healthcare are known as ‘Bharara’ or ‘Bharra’. They perform derived from plants (Fransworth 1988). The tra- magical activities to derive away evil spirits, to *Corresponding author: (E-mail) [email protected] http://www.openaccessscience.com ©2011 Open Access Science Research Publisher [email protected] 229 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Medicinal plants used by Tharu tribe, Uttarakhand treat diseases of children, where they some plant species were identified with the help of perti- species. They have their own dialect, represent nent floras (Gaur 1999; Pant 1986) and matched their own cultural descendency. Although dif- with the Herbarium specimen housed in HNB ferent workers have documented the uses of var- Garhwal University Herbarium (GUH), Srinagar ious medicinal plants from different parts of In- Garhwal. Voucher specimens with whom the dia (Gaur et al. 2010; Sharma et al. 2010; Shar- information are based, deposited in the Herba- ma et al. 2011; Siddhiqui et al. 1995; Pandey rium (GUH), following usual methods of prepa- and Pandey 2010; Rao 1981) but information on ration and preservation (Gaur 2009; Jain and indigenous medicinal practices from this part is Rao 1977; Singh and Subramanium 2008). poorly documented, therefore, efforts were made to gathered information on medicinal uses by the Tharu tribe which are presently under Results and Discussion threat due to less interest of younger generation The present investigates reveals ethnomedi- and modernization. cinal information on 53 plant species covering herbs, shrubs, trees, climbers belonging to 52 genera and 34 families used to treat different Methodology ailments as fever, gastric problems, diarrhoea, The present study was made between July cold & cough, asthma, boils, cuts, jaundice etc. 2010 and June 2011 by visiting different locali- by Tharu tribe. Bridelia retusa and Punica gra- ties of study area in different seasons to get de- natum are reported used to treat abdominal pain, tail information on medicinal plants used by the Mallotus philippensis and Sphaeranthus senega- Tharu tribe. The data was gathered through lensis as anthelmintic, Baliospermum montanum structured questionnaires and consultations with and Terminalia arjuna for asthma, Cissampelos the herbal practitioners and experienced old pareira and Cynodon dactylon for bodyache, folk. Efforts were made for the collection of Aegle marmelos, Alstonia scholaris, Cajanus plants in their flowering and fruiting stage as far cajan and Coccinia grandis as a remedy for as possible from natural habitat. The main ob- cholera, Acalypha indica and Curculigo orc- jective of this study was to made interaction hioides to treat earache etc. Various forms of with local traditional healers and documentation preparations are made as decoction, paste, of their indigenous knowledge on medicinal powder, infusion etc. In majority of cases they plants, their usage pattern, mode of preparation used fresh plant parts for herbal preparations and the types of diseases treated etc. The adjoin- and in some cases they preserved them for fu- ing forested area and agricultural fields of vil- ture consumption. The plants species are enu- lagers were also visited and surveyed with local merated alphabetically with their botanical practitioners for the identification of various names followed by local name, family, voucher ethnomedicinal plants. Group discussions were specimen number, plant part(s) used and herbal also conducted during the period of investiga- preparation with uses (Table 1 and Figures 1 to tion among different age groups. Collected plant 6).

Table 1: List of plants used by as herbal remedies by the Tharu tribe. S.No. Botanical name Local name Family H.No. Disease Cured PU Prep. Adm. 1. Acalypha indica L. Kuphi Euphorbiaceae GUH-JS 18853 Ear Problem LF JU EX 2. Achyranthes aspera L. Chattisa/ Chircita Amaranthaceae GUH-JS 18893 Boils LF, RT PAS EX 3. Aegle marmelos (L.) Cor- Bel Rutaeae GUH-JS 18837 Cholera FR JU IN rea 4. Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. Siris Mimosaceae GUH-JS 19740 Boils LF JU EX 5. Allium sativum L. Lehsun Lilaceae GUH-JS 18889 Diarrhoea BU PW IN 6. Alstonia scholaris (L.) Chitwan Apocynaceae GUH-JS 20321 Cholera BRK DE IN R.Br. 7. Anisomeles indica (L.) Basinga Lamiaceae GUH-JS 18814 Gastric complaints LF INF IN Kuntze 8. Annona squamosa L. Sitaphal Annonaceae GUH-JS 20297 Boils LF PAS EX 9. Argemone maxicana L. Pili kantiya Papaveraceae GUH-JS 18838 Digestive disorder SD PW IN http://www.openaccessscience.com Sharma et al. [email protected] 230 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Medicinal plants used by Tharu tribe, Uttarakhand 10. Baliospermum montanum Danti/Vanchura Euphorbiaceae GUH-JS 19732 Asthama LF DE IN (Willd.) Muell.-Arg. 11. Barleria prionitis L. Pila bansa Acanthaceae GUH-JS 18839 Skin ailment LF PAS EX 12. Basella rubra L. Poy Basellaceae GUH-JS 20130 Cold and Cough LF JU IN 13. Bombax ceiba L. Semal Bombacaceae GUH-JS 18900 Burns RT PAS EX 14. Bridelia retusa (L.) Spren- Khaja Euphorbiaceae GUH-JS 20338 Abdominal pain RT DE IN gel 15. Bryophyllum pinna- Patharchut Euphorbiaceae GUH-JS 18882 Headache LF JU IN tum(Lam.) Oken 16. Caesulia axillaris Roxb. Gorghanta Asteraceae GUH-JS 20210 Cuts FLW PAS EX 17. Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth Arhar Fabaceae GUH-JS 20309 Cholera LF JU IN 18. Calotropis procera(L.) Aankha Asclepidiaceae GUH-JS 20351 Boils LF, PAS EX Dryander FLW 19. Cannabis sativa L. Bhang Cannabinaceae GUH-JS 20224 Dysentery LF DE IN 20. Cassia tora L. Kasonji Caesalpiniaceae GUH-JS 20146 Cold and Cough LF DE IN 21. Cissampelos pareira L. Madrachi Menispermaceae GUH-JS 18827 Bodyache LF INF IN 22. Clerodendrum viscosum Bhatar Verbenaceae GUH-JS 18892 Cuts LF JU EX Ventenat 23. Coccinia grandis (L.) Kanduri Cucurbitaceae GUH-JS 18899 Cholera LF JU IN Voigt 24. Cucumis sativus L. Kheera Cucurbitaceae GUH-JS 20325 Fever LF JU IN 25. Curculigo orchioides Musli Hypoxidaceae GUH-JS 18861 Ear Problem LF JU EX Gaertner 26. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Dhoob Poaceae GUH-JS 20293 Bodyache WP DE IN Persoon 27. Euphorbia hirta L. Dudhli Euphorbiaceae GUH-JS 18829 Digestive disorder LF JU IN 28. Ficus benghalensis L. Bargad Moraceae GUH-JS 18878 Boils WP LTX EX 29. Holarrhena pubescens Kurchi Apocynaceae GUH-JS 18830 Boils LF PAS EX (Buch.-Ham.) Wallich ex D.Don 30. Jatropha curcus L. Bakrendi Euphorbiaceae GUH-JS 19746 Burns WP LTX EX 31. Lannea coromandelica Jingan Anacardiaceae GUH-JS 18876 Diarrhoea BRK DE IN (Houttuyn) Merrill 32. Mallotus philippensis Rohini Euphorbiaceae GUH-JS 20148 Anthelmintic FRT PWD IN (Lam.) Muell.-Arg. 33. Mimosa pudica L. Sharmili Mimosaceae GUH-JS 18822 Cough RT DE IN 34. Moringa oleifera Lam. Sehjan/Soanjna Moringaceae GUH-JS 20140 Cold and Cough LF EXTR IN 35. Murraya koenigii (L.) Katneem Rutaceae GUH-JS 18888 Burns LF PAS EX Sprengel 36. Peristrophe paniculata Harjodi Acantthaceae GUH-JS 20154 Eye problems FRT JU EX (Forsk.) Brumitt 37. Phyllanthus emblica L. Amla Euphorbiaceae GUH-JS 20222 Diarrhoea FRT PWD IN 38. Physalis divaricata D.Don Ghungri Solanaceae GUH-JS 19756 Digestive disorder RT DE IN

39. Piper longum L. Pipri Piperaceae GUH-JS 20342 Cold and Cough FRT PWD IN 40. Plumbago zeylanica L. Chitrak Plumbaginaceae GUH-JS 18801 Diarrhoea RT DE IN 41. Psidium guajava L. Bihi Myrtaceae GUH-JS 20306 Diarrhoea BRK DE IN 42. Punica granatum L. Aanar Punicaceae GUH-JS 20298 Abdominal pain SD PWD IN 43. Scoparia dulcis L. Bichu Scrophulariaceae GUH-JS 20229 Fever RT INF IN 44. Sida cordata (Burm. f.) Bareyara Malvaceae GUH-JS 19753 Boils LF PAS EX Borss. Waalk. 45. Solanum nigrum L. Futkaiya Solanaceae GUH-JS 19716 Jaundice WP DE IN 46. Sphaeranthus senegalensis Ghundi Asteraceae GUH-JS 20344 Anthelmintic LF DE IN DC. 47. Syzygium cumini (L.) Jamun Myrtaceae GUH-JS 20370 Digestive disorder FRT - IN Skeels 48. Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. Kawa Combretaceae GUH-JS 20334 Asthama BRK PWD IN ex DC.) Wight & Arn. 49. Terminalia chebula Retz. Heda Combretaceae GUH-JS 19754 Dysentery FRT INF IN 50. Tridex procumbens L. Mundi Asteraceae GUH-JS 18817 Boils LF JU EX 51. Vanda tesselata (Roxb.) Harjori Orchidaceae GUH-JS 20349 Boils RT PAS EX Hook. f. ex G. don. 52. Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Seenk Poaceae GUH-JS 19729 Boils RT PAS EX Nash 53. Vitex negundo L. Nirgndi Verbenaceae GUH-JS 18836 Eczema FLW PAS EX Abbreviations: LF-leaf; JU-juice; EX-external; IN-internal; RT-root; PAS-paste; FRT-fruit; BU-bulb; PW-powder; BRK-bark; DE-decoction; INF-infusion; SD-seed; FLW-flower; WP-whole plant; LTX-latex; EXTR-extract; H.No.- Herbarium Number; Adm.- Administration; PU- Part Used; Prep.- Preparation. http://www.openaccessscience.com Sharma et al. [email protected] 231 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Medicinal plants used by Tharu tribe, Uttarakhand

Figure1: Achyranthes aspera Figure 2: Anona sqamosa

Figure 3: Cassia tora Figure 4: Moringa oleifera

Figure 5: Peristrophe paniculata Figure 6: Terminalia chebula

http://www.openaccessscience.com Sharma et al. [email protected] 232 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Medicinal plants used by Tharu tribe, Uttarakhand References Anonymous, 1994. Ethnobotany and the search for new drugs John Wiley and Sons, Eng- land. Cox, P.A., Ballick, M.J. 1994. The ethnobotani- cal approach to drug discovery. Scientific American, 82-87. Fransworth, N.R. 1988. Screening Plants for New Medicines. In: Biodiversity, Wilson, E.O. (Ed.) National Academy Press, Wash- ington DC, pp. 83-97. Gaur, R.D., Sharma, Jyotsana. 2011. Indigenous knowledge on the utilization of medicinal plants diversity in Siwalik region of Garh- wal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. Journal of Forest Science, 27(1): 23-31. Gaur, R.D. 1999. Flora of District Garhwal NorthWest Himalaya (with Ethnobotanical notes), Transmedia, Srinagar Garhwal. Gaur, R.D. 2009. Herbarium: An Important As- set for Economic and Ethnobotanical Stu- Figure 7: A local medicinemen showing medi- dies. In: Y. Vimla (Ed.) Flower: Retrospect cinal plants. and Prospect. S R Scientific Publication, Delhi, pp. 108-123.

This study showed that Tharu folk of district Gaur, R.D., Sharma, Jyotsana, Painuli, R.M. Udham Singh Nagar still continue to depend on 2010. Plants used in traditional healthcare medicinal plants for the treatment of primary of livestock by Gujjar community of Sub- healthcare (Figure 7). They also realized the Himalayan tracts, Uttarakhand, India. In- need of conservation and cultivation of medi- dian Journal of Natural Products and Re- cinal plants because of their effectiveness. The sources, 1(2): 243-248. traditional practitioners are dwindling in number Jain, S.K., Rao, R.R. 1977. A Handbook of and there is a threat of traditional knowledge Field & Herbarium Methods, Today and system disappearing soon as the younger gener- Tomorrow’s Publishers, New Delhi. ation is not interested to learn their tradition. Sharma, Jyotsana, Gaur, R.D., Painuli, R.M. Documentation of indigenous knowledge 2011. Conservation status and diversity of through ethnobotanical studies is important for some important plants in the Shiwalik Hi- the conservation and utilization of biological malaya of Uttarakhand, India. International resources. It is suggested that there is a need to Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, pay attention for Conservation of commercially 1 (2): 75-82 important species by local Forest Department and NGOs. The over exploitation of natural re- Kehimkar, I. 2000. In: Common Indian Wild sources, fast changing tribal culture has caused Flowers. Bombay Natural Historical Socie- the loss of such valuable knowledge. So there is ty. Oxford University Press. a great need of ethnobotanical operations for the Pandey, K., Pandey, S. 2010. Indigenous medi- documentation of this knowledge as soon as cine of Raji tribes of Uttarakhand. Indian possible. Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 9(1): 131-133. http://www.openaccessscience.com Sharma et al. [email protected] 233 Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants Medicinal plants used by Tharu tribe, Uttarakhand Pant, P.C. 1986. Flora of Corbett National tarakhand. Journal of Economic and Tax- Park. Botanical Survey of India, Howarh. onomic Botany, 35(1): 224-230. Rao, R.R. 1981. Ethnobotany of Meghalaya; Sharma Jyotsana, Painuli, R.M., Gaur, R.D. Medicinal plants used by Khasi and Garo 2010. Ethnomedicinal Plants Used By the Tribes. Economic Botany, 35: 4-9. Rural Communities of District Shahjahan- Sharma, Jyotsana, Painuli, R.M. 2011. Plants pur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Indian Journal of used for the treatment of Rheumatism by Traditional Knowledge 9(4): 798-803. the Bhoxa tribe of District , Utta- Siddhiqui, M.A.A., John, A.Q., Paul, T.M. rakhand. International Journal of Medicin- 1995. Status of some important medicinal al and Aromatic Plants, 1(1): 28-32. and aromatic plants of Kashmir Himalaya. Sharma Jyotsana, Gaur, R.D., Painuli, R.M. Advances in Plant Sciences, 8: 134-139. 2011. Folk Herbal Medicines Used by the Singh, H.B., Subramanium, B. 2008. Field Ma- Gujjar Tribe of Sub-Himalayan Tracts, Ut- nual of Herbarium Techniques. NISCAIR, New Delhi.

http://www.openaccessscience.com Sharma et al. [email protected]