Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources Vol. 1(2), June 2010, pp. 254-257

Ethnomedicinal wisdom of tribals of forest of district ()

SD Biradar and DP Ghorband* Post Graduate and Research, Department of Botany, Dnyanopasak College -431 401, Maharashtra,

Received 22 April 2009; Accepted 8 January 2010

Ethnomedicinal applications of plants by tribals of Kinwat forest range of of Maharashtra were assessed through a survey during 2006-2008. First hand information on ethnomedicinal preparations, dosage and their mode of administration was gathered from herbal practitioners of Gond, Kolam, Andh and Pradhan tribes. Hitherto unreported applications of 25 plant species belonging to 22 families and 25 genera are presented in this paper. The study has brought to light some interesting data on plants which may form a potential source of information for new bio- dynamic compounds of therapeutic value in phytochemical researches.

Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Gond, Kolam, Andh, Pradhan, Tribes, Kinwat, Nanded District, Maharashtra IPC code; Int. cl. 8—A61K 36/00,

Introduction Methodology Kinwat taluka is located in the North East of The observations are based on surveys conducted Nanded district of Maharashtra. It is bounded on in tribal dominated and rural areas of Kinwat taluka. East and South by the State of and Information was obtained through interviews with on the West and North by Yeotamal district of medicinemen, tribals (Gond, Pradhan, Kolam and Maharashtra state. Geographically Kinwat taluka is Andh) and Vaidyas. The information was verified in situated between 19º25 ′ to 19º55 ′ North latitude different seasons and areas of the taluka and plants and 77º51 ′ to 78º19 ′ East longitude. The total were identified with the help of floras 15-19 and voucher geographical area of the taluka is 2012 sq. km and specimens were housed in Department of Botany, the population is 2, 42,650 of which about 29.68% Dnyanopasak College, Parbhani. The plants are is inhabited by different tribes. Gond, Pradhan, Kolam enumerated alphabetically with their botanical name and Andh are some of the major tribal communities followed by family, local name, collection number living in this area 1. and uses (Plate 1).

The tribal and rural populace depends upon plants Enumeration for treating various diseases but in Maharashtra, 1. Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. (Simaroubaceae), ethnobotanical studies on medicinal plants were Maharukh (DPG27) mostly conducted in Amaravati, , Nasik, About a cup of extract of stem bark is Nandurbar and . Kinwat tahsil of Nanded district administered orally twice daily for three days is still underexplored ethnobotanically, no detailed to cure colic while decoction of bark is given study on ethnobotany of medicinal plants has been two times daily for eight days to cure arthritis. published 2-7. Therefore, present study was conducted 2. Argemone mexicana Linn. (Papaveraceae), to document the ethnobotanical wisdom of this Bilayati (DPG58) region. Comparison of documented information Spoonful extract of root is given two times was done with the available literature to identify new for two days against indigestion. Leaf juice is and unreported uses 8-14 . poured in eye to cure cataract diseases of eye. 3. Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Liliaceae), Shatawari (DPG35) —————— *Correspondent author Spoonful extract of root is given thrice a day E-mail: [email protected] for three days to stop white discharge. BIRADAR & GHORBAND: ETHNOMEDICINAL WISDOM OF TRIBALS OF KINWAT FOREST, MAHARASHTRA 255

4. Balanites aegyptiaca (Linn.) Del. 13. Enicostema axillare (Lam.) Raynal (Balanitaceae), Hinganbet (DPG40) (Gentianaceae), Nai, Nayta (DPG12) Water extract of fruit is poured into eyes twice About 20g of plant powder is mixed with a day for three days to cure cataract disease. A 20 gm seed powder of Sag ( Tectona grandis small piece of seed is chewed along with betel Linn.f.) along with water and given twice a leaf daily for three days cures cough . day for four days to treat kidney stone. About 5. Buchanania lanzan Spreng (Anacardiaceae), 100 ml extract of root is given at the interval of Charoli (DPG55) two hours against snake bite. About 10g seed powder is mixed with water 14 . Ficus benghalensis Linn. (Moraceae), Wad and given daily early in the morning as a tonic. (DPG47) Decoction of bark is drunk twice a day for Ground nut oil is applied on yellow leaves, three days to control typhoid. warmed and tied on head overnight to stop 6. Butea monosperma (Lamk) Taub. (Fabaceae), sneezing. Palas (DPG153) 15 Glossocardia bosvallia (Linn .f.) DC. Flower powder along with sugar is given two (Asteraceae), Khadakshepu (DPG38) times in a day for seven days to stop white Spoonful extract of plant is given along with discharge and also to increase sperm count. cow milk twice a day to cure typhoid. 7. Calotropis gigantea (Linn.) R.Br. 16 Helicteres isora Linn. (Sterculiaceae), Murad (Asclepiadaceae), Ruchki (DPG98) sheng (DPG86) About half cup of extract of pod is given once in Few drops of extract of leaves is poured in the a day for three days to cure fits. nose to get relief from head ache. 17 Jatropha gossypifolia Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) 8. Cardiospermum helicacabum Linn. Chandra jyot, (DPG60) (Sapindaceae), Kapalphuti (DPG73) About twelve drops of latex mixed with 100g A small piece of root bark is chewed along of jaggery is given thrice daily for three days with betel leaf thrice in a day for one week to to cure typhoid. cure asthma. 18 Launaea procumbens (Roxb.) Ramayya & Cleome gynandra 9. Linn. (Capparidaceae), Rajagopal (Asteraceae), Pather (DPG96) Tilwan (DPG112) Spoonful decoction of leaf is given twice daily About half cup of plant extract is given orally for three days to cure hepatitis while its extract once in a day for two days to lessen the vomiting. is applied externally twice a day for six days to Spoonful decoction of leaf is given orally twice a cure eczema. day for two days to cure diarrhoea. 19 Madhuca indica J.F. Gmel. (Sapotaceae), 10. Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. & Fernad. Moha (DPG106) (Liliaceae), Safedmusli (DPG77) About 10g of dried flower powder is mixed in Plant powder (10g) is mixed with 10g of alcohol and two spoonful of the mixture is jaggery and this mixture is given twice a day given twice a day against indigestion as well as for 10 days to cure rheumatism. to cure oral ulcer. 11. Cocculus hirsutus (Linn.) Diels. 20 Mangifera indica Linn. (Anacardiaceae), (Menispermaceae), Vasanvel (DPG99) Amba, Aam (DPG 160) Spoonful extract of leaf is taken orally thrice in Spoonful extract of leaf is taken orally in a day for three days to cure dysentery. About a empty stomach for 2-3 days to cure diarrhoea cup of decoction of root is mixed in cow milk and dysentery. and given twice a day for three days to cure 21 Peristrophe paniculata (Forssk.) Burm. f. hepatitis. (Acanthaceae), Bhuilimb (DPG 97). 12. Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (Hypoxidaceae), About half cup of plant extract is given three Kalimusli (DPG63) times a day to cure fever and abdominal pain. Spoonful extract of rhizome is given orally 22 Pergularia daemia (Forssk) Choiv. thrice in a day for five days as a tonic while the (Asclepiadaceae), Utran (DPG 89). powder is taken orally, one spoonful twice a Extract of seed along with boiled milk is given day for a week, to better urinary complaints. to cure abdominal pain and cough. 256 INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, JUNE 2010

23 Polyalthia longifolia (Sonner.) Thw. body heat. A spoonful bark extract with 5g (Annonaceae), Ashok (DPG 148). jaggery is given once in a day for three days Powder of stem bark (10g) is mixed with to cure heart disease. 50ml curd and 10g sugar and this mixture is given orally thrice a day to cure diarrhoea. Discussion 24 Tectona grandis Linn .f. (Verbenaceae), The tribal medicine has been considered as Sagwan, Sag, (DPG 101). mother of indigenous system of medicines. Tribals in About 10g of seed powder is mixed with this area have been using hundreds of plants for 50ml of milk and given twice a day for eight curing different ailments but the younger generation days to treat kidney stone. has now developed a tendency to rely upon the 25 Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & modern medicine and less importance is being given Arn. (Combretaceae) Arjun, (DPG 140). to their traditional medicine. This gross negligence About 50 ml extract of bark with 25g jaggery may have a drastic impact on the existence of many is given once in a day for three days to reduce important plant species and their usefulness.

Plate 1: Some important ethnomedicinal plants of Kinwat forest and medicine practitioner BIRADAR & GHORBAND: ETHNOMEDICINAL WISDOM OF TRIBALS OF KINWAT FOREST, MAHARASHTRA 257

The present investigation has brought to light 25 and Nasik Forest divisions of Maharashtra (India), Hamdard medicinal plants used against various diseases by Medic , 1997 , 40 (2), 59-61. 3 Bhuktar AS, Traditional use of medicinal plants of Hingoli rural population in different rural and forest areas of district In : Proceedings of Plant Resource Development, by Kinwat tahsil of Nanded District (Plate 1). The data A M Mungikar and AS Bhuktar (Eds), Dr. B.A.M. was compared with the published literature and it University, , 2002, pp.146-152. was found that many of the usages listed were not 4 Korekar SL and Papadiwal PB, Studies on forest based recorded earlier 8,12,13 . Some unlisted usages are as cottage industries in Osmanabad and district, In : follows: Ailanthus excelsa stem bark is used for Proceedings of Plant Resource Development, by AM Mungikar and AS Bhuktar (Eds), Dr. B.A.M. University, colic pain and arthritis; Asparagus racemosus root Aurangabad, 2002, pp.142-144. extract is used to treat white discharge; Butea 5 Naser Rafiuddin and Vaikos NP, Plants used in monosperma flower is used to enhance sperm count; ethnoveterinary practices in Aurangabad district, Cocculus hirsutus leaves are used to treat dysentery Maharashtra- I, In : Proceedings of Plant Resource and hepatitis; Enicostema axillare root extract is Development, by AM Mungikar and AS Bhuktar (Eds), Dr. B. A. M. University, Aurangabad, 2002, pp.202-210. used against snake bite; Glossocardia bosvallia is 6 Rathor OS, Zare MK, Kagne RM and Chavan VB, used to treat typhoid; Helicteres isora pod is used for Ethnobotanical studies on some less known plants of fits; Jatropha gossypifolia latex is used for treatment , In : Proceedings of Plant Resource of typhoid; Madhuca indica flower is used to cure Development, by AM Mungikar and AS Bhuktar (Eds), Dr. oral ulcer; Peristrophe paniculata whole plant is B.A.M. University, Aurangabad, India, 2002, pp.86-89. 7 Rohidas SB and Bankar GJ, Marathwada: Rich source of used to reduce abdominal pain. medicinal plants, In : Proceedings of Plant Resource Development, by AM Mungikar and AS Bhuktar (Eds), Dr. Conclusion B.A.M. University, Aurangabad, India 2002, pp.224-228. The study represents a contribution to the existing 8 Rathor OS, Chavan VB, Zare MK and Kagne RM, knowledge of folk remedies that are in current Ethnomedicinal uses of some uncommon Angiospermic plants of Nanded district in Maharashtra, Dr. B.A.M.U. J Sci , practice for the treatment of different diseases and 2001, 31 (8), 93-96. this information will serve as a useful lead for 9 Kasture SW and Rathor OS, A sacred groove from phytochemists and pharmacologists for further study Marathwada, Bioinfolet , 2006, 3(1), 52-54. especially on uses of plants which have been reported 10 Naik VN, Marathwadyateel Samanya Vanaushadhi. Amrut first time from this region. Prakashan, Aurangabad, 1998. 11 Chopra RN, Chopra IC and Varma BS, Supplement to Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, Publications and Acknowledgments Information Directorate, New Delhi, 1974. Authors are grateful to Principal Dr. PL More, 12 Jain SK, Medicinal Plant, 5 th Ed, National Book Trust, New Dnyanopasak College, Parbhani for encouragement Delhi, 1985. and provision of necessary facilities. The authors are 13 Jain SK, Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and also thankful to forester Mr. S S Patil and Kishan Ethnobotany, Deep Publications, New Delhi, India, 1991. Gaikwad, Kinwat forest range for their kind help 14 Shubhangi Pawar and Patil DA, Ethnobotany of District, Maharashtra, Daya Publishing House Delhi, 2008. during field visits and tribal people especially Mr. 15 Naik VN, The Flora of Osmanabad, Venus Publishers, Champat Meshram and Shreeram Mandale who Aurangabad, 1979. shared their traditional knowledge about medicinal 16 Naik VN and Associates, Flora of Marathwada, Amrut plants during field visits. Prakashan, Aurangabad, 1998. 17 Cooke T, The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay, Vol. I, III, References BSI, Calcutta, Reprint 1958.

1 Pawade BB, Bhise VB and Takle SR, Adoption and Impact 18 Ambasta S.P, The Useful plants of India, Publications and of New Agricultural Technology on Tribal Agriculture, Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi, 1986. Serials Publications, New Delhi, 2008. 19 Watt Geogre, A Dictionary of Economic Product of India, 2 Gupta VC, Hussain SJ and Imam S, Important folk medicinal Vol. I-VI, Periodical expert, Shahdara, Delhi, India, 1889- plants and traditional knowledge of tribals of Aurangabad 1893.