Research Paper Ethnobotanical Uses of Some Plants by Tripuri

Natural Product Radiance, Vol. 8(2), 2009, pp.172-180 Explorer: Research Paper

Ethnobotanical uses of some plants by Tripuri and Reang tribes of Tripura

Himangshu Bikash Das1, Koushik Majumdar1, B K Datta1* and Debasis Ray2 1Plant Taxonomy and Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Botany,Tripura University Suryamaninagar - 799 130, Tripura (W), India 2Department of Pharmacology, Agartala Govt. Medical College, Agartala-799 006, Tripura (W) *Correspondent author, E-mail: [email protected] Received 19 March 2008; Accepted 22 December 2008

Abstract and environment. In India, out of 18, 864 An ethno-medicinal survey of plants in Tripura state revealed that some less known medicinal (World Bank Report, 2004, 2007) species plants have been used by the indigenous tribes. The valid scientific name, family, local name(s), of higher plants, over 2000 species are habit, dosages and traditional formulation of 33 species belonging to 32 genera and 25 families are documented and 1,100 species are used enumerated in the paper. The ethnic people of Tripuri and Reang communities of Tripura are in different system of medicine. About involved in using these medicinal plants. Traditional beliefs, concepts, knowledge and practices among them for preventing, lessening or curing disease are accessible till now. Still they depend upon 95% medicinal plants are obtained from such traditional healthcare and the need for immediate documentation of such knowledge and wild sources and 150 species have only conservation of these valuable plants are emphasized to secure it for our future generation. commercial uses1. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Reang tribes, Traditional herbal practice, Tripuri tribes, Tripura, In Tripura, 19 tribal India. communities are found, viz. Tripuri, IPC code; Int. cl.8 — A61K 36/00 Reang, Noatia, Jamatia, Halam, Kuki, Chaimal and Uchai are known to have migrated to this Introduction state from outside in the Tripura is India’s third smallest historical period as such state located in the Bio-geographic zone they are regarded as the of 9B-North East Hills between 22°56’ original settlers of and 24°32’ N latitude and between 90°09’ Tripura. The list of the and 92°20’E longitude. The total area of immigrant tribes includes the state is 10, 497.69 sq km. The forest the rest i.e. Chakma, Magh, Garo, Lushai, covering area of the state is about North 6292.681 sq km. Temperature ranges Tripura Bhutia, Lepcha, Bhil, Munda, Oraon from 10-36°C and the annual rainfall West about 247.9 cm. The state has four Tripura Dhalai and Santhal. Each districts, viz. North, South, West Tripura Agartala community has their and Dhalai. North-East India is very rich unique socio-cultural in plant diversity. Tripura is rich in its heritage, language, food South biological resources and possesses an Tripura habits. Although there are extremely rich plant bio-diversity which different dialect forms is gradually decreasing. among the different Tribal people are the eco-system communities but people who live in harmony with Nature Kokborok is the standard and maintain a close link between man Map showing the location of the study area spoken form among all

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these2. A rich diversity of both population of Jain9. Periodical trips were undertaken and flower, petiole, shoot, twig used in 4 and flora in the state has provided an to the different tribal hamlets to document ailments. Maximum formulation are in initial advantage to its inhabitants since the ethno-botanical information during complex mixture of two or more plant times immemorial for observing and 2006-2007. Details of information on the parts, preservatives such as honey, sugar, scrutinizing the rich flora and fauna for medicinal plants used, types of medication, Jowan, Hing, Ghee, etc. are also used developing their own traditional disease treated and mode of treatment were in several ailments. It is also noticed that knowledge. Most of the tribal economies collected. Direct observation, causal same formulation is used in two or more have been engaged in subsistence interaction and structured interviews were different diseases. Some of the medicinal agriculture, jhum, piggery, fishery and adapted to collected valid information plant species mentioned in this paper were hunting. With the passage of time, they from those herbal practitioners. Plants already reported in some earlier works have developed a great deal of knowledge were identified by using various but purposes and method of use are on the use of plants and plant products in Floras5, 10-12. The data collected in the field different, for example Euphorbia hirta curing various ailments/diseases. They have were formatted and preserved carefully. is used for curing septic ulcer in the nail a deep belief in their native folklore Voucher specimens were prepared corner of the toes and increasing mother medicine for remedies. Acquired following conventional methods of Jain9 milk after delivery, Semecarpus knowledge on native properties of plants and deposited in the herbarium of Botany anacardium in rheumatic pain, against various diseases was transmitted Department, Tripura University. contraceptive and small pox, Asparagus from one generation to another only racemosus in frigidity and sexual verbally. Due to modernization the Enumeration weakness and Cynodon dactylon in traditional knowledge is vanishing rapidly The medicinal plant species are amenorrhoea, abnormal menstruation, day by day3. There is still very little work enumerated alphabetically, with their fever, dysentery and nausea8, 13-16. has been done in the field of ethno-medico- botanical name, family, vernacular The present survey concludes that botany of Tripura. Though, some workers name(s), followed by availability status, the tribal of Tripura has detailed have reported several medicinal plants and parts used, ailments, dosage and mode of knowledge regarding ethno-medicinal their utilization by the indigenous administration are tabulated in Table 1. plants and their utilization in various tribes4-8. In the present study, an attempt simple to critical diseases. The promising has been made by the authors to investigate Results and Discussion ethno-medicinal plants of Tripura are and document less known herbal practices In the present investigation, 32 interesting and provide new medicinal by the Tripuri and Reang tribes. Angiosperms and one Pteridophyte have plants for further ethno-pharmacological been documented for folklore medicinal investigation on them. Such species may Methodology plants uses by Tripuri and Reang tribes be utilized in the formation of new drugs Ethno-botanical exploration was of Tripura. Of these, 15 species are herbs, after confirmation of their therapeutic undertaken particularly in the isolated 10 woody trees and 5, 2 and 1 species efficacy on modern parameters. Recently tribal inhabitant hilly dense forest areas listed as shrubs, climbers and fern, revival of interest towards herbal drugs where they live along with their own respectively. Among these medicinal because of their efficacy against different customs and traditions. During the ethno- plants, 6 species are cultivated around the ailments invites immediate attention botanical survey particularly in the West huts and jhum land whereas the rest are towards herbal protection and district several herbalists, medicine men collected from the wild habit and habitat. conservation of such valuable medicinal and women of Tripuri and Reang The analysis of data reveals that stem and plants, otherwise it will be too late. A few community were first identified and visited bark are used in 6 ailments; root, rhizome medicinal plants need immediate several time to gathered information on and tuber used in 8 ailments; leaves used cultivation so that these could be source medicinal usage of plants. Such study was in 12 ailments; whole plant used in 7 of revenue generation amongst the local carried out by adopting the methodology diseases; fruit and seed used in 6 occasion people of this region.

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Crataeva nurvala Typhonium trilobatum Asparagus racemosus

Drynaria quercifolia Phyllanthus acidus Psidium guineense

A Riang medicinemen applying the paste A Tripuri Medicine practitioner showing on the fractured area of a child Euphorbia hirta a medicinal plant

174 Natural Product Radiance Explorer: Research Paper fruits ), and it is ) are Retz. Hing Gandhak Terminalia chebula Terminalia powder is mixed with equal amount of crushed and made into pills (500 mg) then dried. About 1-2 pills are mixed with 100 ml of coconut oil and massaged everyday all over the body. filtrate solution thrice a day. with equal amount of milk and taken once a day for three month as a remedy against epilepsy. Equal amount of leaf this mixed with the Half cup tuberous root’s decoction is diluted Half cup tuberous root’s plant are cooked as vegetables with dry fish and rheumatic muscular or joint pain. Dosage and mode of administration and strained, 10 g of powdered Moong pulse is boiled with this decoction by adding small amount of asafoetida ( prescribe to children for twice a day one week to cure respiratory troubles. The same formulation is also prescribed during rheumatic pain. Fruits or seeds are powered and half teaspoon- honey and taken once a day for about one month in case of muscular rheumatism. mouth Equal amount of crushed fresh flower and bark infection patients are prescribed to gargle with the blotch ( and sulphur-di-oxide Pruritis, Epilepsy Ailments andBronchitis painrheumatic About 10 g of stem and rhizome are reduced to half boiled in 8 cups of water, Muscular rheumatism ful Leaves roots rhizome joint pain Part(s) used Stem, Fruits or seed Petiole,and Muscular Small pieces of fresh petiole and bulbils this Availability Rarely Occasionally (K); (K); Table 1: Some ethno-medicinal plants of Tripura Table (B); Wild,bark Flower, Cough, B; status Taruku (B); Wild (B) Cultivated Tuberous (T) taken with rice once a day for 10-12 days (K) common and throat are soaked overnight in one glass of water, (T) cultivated

(B), (K); (R) Wild (R) cultivated rhizome (B); Kumbhira Kumbhi Ziodi Satamuli Ul Hugu Dadunga Maimorang Kokborak- K; Reang-R; Tripuri-T; English-E) Alach Tara Taru Alachi Roxb. Linn. Rosc. Roxb. on No. (Bengali- /Araceae/KM,292 /Liliaceae/HBD,165 Careya arborea Lecythidaceae/KM,187 Barleria prionitis Acanthaceae/BKD,308 rubefacient and ashes of Willd. Asparagus racemosus (Roxb.) Bl. Amomum dealbatum Amorphophallus bulbifer Alpinia allughas Zingiberaceae/HBD,102 Zingiberaceae/HBD,124 6. 5. 4. S. Botanical name /name Vernacular No. Family/Collecti 2. 3. 1.

Vol 8(2) March-April 2009 175 Explorer: Research Paper ) to form to ) Enhydra

and cucumber Atap chal Urban mixed with equal amount of teaspoonful leaf juice of given orally in early morning empty Leaves and stems are boiled in water, strained, Leaves and stems are boiled in water, cooled and then sponged all over the body. and applied on the infected area as a thin smeare and bandaged with young banana leaf for 24 hours. Same formulation may be used 2-3 times and rest it for about one week in case of serious bite. Decoction of bark is given orally twice a day for 8-10 days to the patient suffering from urinary disease. Same formulation is also very useful in case of stomach troubles. decoction is About 5-7 g of fresh rhizome’s locally to cure urinogenital ulcer. About 50 g of plant powdered with equal amount of unboiled rice ( 3-4 days in a week after meal. Dosage and mode of administration fluctuans Centella asiatica juice and taken twice daily for 15-20 days in case of hypertension and biliousness excess bile secretion. stomach for one week to the patient suffering from intestinal worms and abdominal pain. and ulcerand spoonful of sugar and given orally twice a day Boils, poisonousBoils, In case of boils or infections due to poisonous wormsIntestinal and abdominal Equal amount of leaf and rhizome are smashed and about 2 teaspoonful of juice are collected Scabies biteinsects insect bite, young leaves are pasted with ginger, disorders Decreased vaginain Miscarriage for 20 days. Rhizome decoction is also applied Hypertension and One (s) used Ailments ender Bark Nephritic Leaves, rhizome Leaves, stem leaves Wild status Availability Part (T); sag

Durbu (B); Wild Whole plant (R)

(K) excess bile secretion (B); Wild Rhizome (B) Wild T

(B); Wild, frequent Whole plant (K)of density mixed with 3-4 teaspoonful of milk and one (K);

(B), ( K) Wild (K)(Epiphyte) Wild Batto Bara Bathua

Kansira Barun Talmuli (E)Grass Dub Gundi small pills and prescribed to take 2 for Durba (B); Lengdi Dubba (Bengali- B; Kokborak- K; Reang-R; Tripuri-T; English-E) Bara bathu Titirdoga Helencha Lour. (Linn.) Linn. . C. paludosa

ction No. syn . /Capparaceae /Hypoxidaceae /Poaceae/HBD,121 Commelina obliqua Crataeva nurvala Curculigo recurvata Cynodon dactylon Drynaria quercifolia ambrosioides Chenopodiaceae/BKD, 233 (K); Buch.-Ham. /HBD, 113 Buch.-Ham HBD,117 Dryand. KM,214Pers. (Linn.) J. Smith Polypodiaceae/HBD,125 semen pain and Bl. /Commelinaceae Chenopodium Asteraceae/ BKD,309 Enhydra fluctuans 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. No. Family/Colle 7. S. Botanical name /name Vernacular 13.

176 Natural Product Radiance Explorer: Research Paper are boiled in Syzygium Kurz and young shoots of cup of warm milk is pounded and 1-2 teaspoonful (Linn.) Skeels ith equal amount of seeds parts of this plant are cooked as vegetable and eaten during chronic rheumatism for about one month. jaundice and anaemia. About 15-20 g of fresh leaf and 10 g of root pounded half cup juice administered twice a day in case of vomiting or intestinal worms. cuminii empty stomach for one week in case of white discharge. the paste is rubbed on amount of ginger, infected areas. taken once daily for 7-8 weeks as a remedy gonorrhoea and lactation. Melocanna baccifera half litre of cow milk. The mixture is then completely dried and powdered, pre- scribed to take 1-2 teaspoonfuls with cold water twice for 3 weeks. Dosage and mode of administration to About 4 - 5 teaspoonful of plant juice and one rheumatism Chronic Young leaves, rhizome and other vegetative Nephritic About 250 g of flowers this plant is mixed irritationSkin About 40-50 g of leaves crushed with little disorders w Jaundice, Fresh bark is pounded and half cup of dischargeWhite Fresh leaves are increase lactationincrease teaspoonful sugar in one Ailments ender leaves Flower Leaves, bark Part(s) used Occasionally status Availability (K)worms anaemia, decoction is given orally in every morning and

(B); Wildplant Whole (K) mucilaginous juice is taken early morning in (B); Wild Rhizome, (B)common Wild T (B); (K) leaves (T) cultivated (B); Wild

(B) Wildplant Whole and Gonorrhoea Mehendi Gaittara Banaitya Mendi Monkata Kukurchik Phatikhira Blang jambura Menda (Bengali- B; Kokborak- K; Reang-R; Tripuri-T; English-E) Dudhi Linn. Linn. (Lour.) Roxb. (Linn.) Lauraceae ction No. /Rutaceae /Araceae/KM,179 Lawsonia inermis Thw. Lythraceae/DKD,234 Rubiaceae/DR,190 Lasia spinosa Meyna spinosa C. B. Robins/ HBD,161 (Roxb.) DC. KM, 222 and vomiting evening for about three weeks in case of Glycosmis arborea glutinosa Litsea Euphorbiaceae/HBD, 115 Euphorbia hirta 17. 16. 19. 15. 18. No. Family/Colle 14. S. Botanical name /name Vernacular

Vol 8(2) March-April 2009 177 Explorer: Research Paper and applied ghee ) and made into large Atap chal Decoction of seeds is applied externally on the scalp before one hour of bath to prevent baldness or excessive falling of hair. are prescribed to the 2-3 months pregnant woman, if abortion is necessary. boiled with two glasses of water and reduced to one glass, given as mouth wash to the patient leaves chewed and Young suffering from scurvy. teeth are brushed with twig or young stem to make the gum strong and prevent untimely falling of teeth. immediate relief from pain. Ripe fruits are prescribed to take raw as a blood purifier. with warm water for the same purposes. Dosage and mode of administration made into paste, warmed up and then applied on the fractured area of body and covered with a young banana leaf and bandaged some hard materials (bamboo stick). After seven days bandaged should be open and repeat the treatment with above formulation at least three times or more. Crushed twigs are mixed with paste of un sized pills, fried and taken orally or with meals to prevent gastritis, acidity and constipation. es About 100-200 g of fresh leaves and twigs are purifier, Ash of the leaves mixed with Abortion Half cup of root decoction once for three days Liver problem andproblem Liver Fruits are taken either raw or dry as liver tonic. blood purification Some time dry fruits are preserved and taken Bone fractureBone Approx. 100 g matured fresh leaves are gastritis Acidity, Ailments Leaves and dentriti Scurvy, Fruits, seeds Excessive hair loss Fruits Leaves Part(s) used Availability T)constipation and boiled rice ( (R)scabiesand burns in burns and scabies, to heal the wounds ( (R) twigs , Wild fruits Leaves, Blood (K) mixed with it and crushed and one egg (Hen’s) (R) Wild Root (B); Wild , Wild B; status (T) Cultivated (K); Wildshoot Young (B), (K) Wild

Bangayam Jarbogoyam Vela Sweta chita Horboroi Fok gula Kokborak- K; Reang-R; Tripuri-T; English-E) Mussaenda Ban kamala Kuthoikhum Haraisag Panya lajuri Linn. Swartz Linn. on No. (Bengali- Baill. /Rubiaceae/DR,171

/Anacardiaceae Linn. f. KM,244 Psidium guineense Myrtaceae/KM,243 Semecarpus anacardium Plumbaginaceae/HBD,154 Phyllanthus acidus (Linn.) Skeels Euphorbiaceae/BKD,211 Plumbago zeylanica Passifloraceae/DR,116 Mussaenda roxburghii Hook. f. Neptunia prostrata Mimosaceae/HBD,178 Passiflora foetida (Lamk.) 25. 26. 23. 24. 20. No. Family/Collecti 21. 22. S. Botanical name /name Vernacular

178 Natural Product Radiance Explorer: Research Paper Jaiphal , Ganja

Eclipta , Linn. ), inflorescence of Coriandrum sativum

, Jeera stem juice is boiled in 2 litres of Linn. are crushed to prepare small pills. , Cumin ( Jain young petioles are cut into small pieces

Dosage and mode of administration 1-2 teaspoonful of this paste is taken with little honey twice a day for one week. evaporated into a thick viscous liquid. Equal amount of honey is added to preserve it. About 1-2 spoonfuls are taken 4-5 times a day as remedy against asthma. of the liquid is administered orally in early morning and other half in the evening for 20-25 days. given to the patients suffering from piles and rheumatism. Ocimum sanctum and One pill is given orally in early morning empty stomach for 3 days in case of hydrophobia (caused by dog bite). Equal amount of this plant, prostrata Linn. about one week to relieve lower abdominal pain and dysuria. Fruits are also prescribed as sexual stimulant. 100 g of fresh tender leaves made into paste shake dilute with 250-300 ml of water, properly to generate foam, which is applied gently on the swelling of eyelid in case dropsy. Ailments Asthma About 250 g Seminal weakness 3-4 Bleeding piles,rheumatism Leaves and tubers are cooked as vegetable Lower abdominalLower About half cup root decoction is mixed with Hydrophobia Dropsy Part(s) used Leaves, tubers Whole plant Availability Rarely (B); (K) and soaked in a glass of water over night. Half (K); Wild, Whole plantasthmapain, Chest About 250 g of whole plant is boiled in one

(B) Wild fruits Leaves, (T)occasional litre of water till it reduces into paste. About

(B) Wildplant Whole B; status (K), (B) (K), Wild (K)dysuria pain, 4-5 drops of honey and given twice a day for (K) cultivated (B); Wild Bark, fruits

(B); Wildbark Petiole, Tide Begal Tide Kokborak- K; Reang-R; Tripuri-T; English-E) Ram begun Kantikari Udal Phatibarak Kharkan Bhringaraj Bajna Bajrong Bhimraj Ban baroi Merrill Roxb. Lam. /Rutaceae on No. (Bengali- /Araceae

Solanaceae/BDK,271 reduced to half litre, which is further water, /Solanaceae/HBD,129 Jacq. Schrad./ Solanum stramoniifolium Solanum xanthocarpum villosa Sterculia Sterculiaceae/HBD,166 Typhonium trilobatum (Linn.) Schott HBD,181 Wedelia chinensis Wedelia Zanthoxylum limonella (Dennst.) Alston BKD,284 Asteraceae/DR,107 Ziziphus rugosa Rhamnaceae/HBD,111 S. Botanical name /name Vernacular 27. No. Family/Collecti 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.

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Conclusion Institutions of the Tripuri Community, 10. Hooker JD, The Flora of British India, L Reeve The tribal living in the forest or Directorate of Tribal Research, Government & Co., London, Vols I-VII, 1872-1897. of Tripura, 1983. in close proximity of the forest are 11. Kanjilal UN, Kanjilal PC, Das A, De RN and dependent upon herbal practices due to 3. Maheshwari JK, Kalakoti BS and Brijlal, Bor NL, Flora of Assam, Government Press, lack of communication and negligence Ethnomedicine of Bhil tribes of Jhabua Shillong, 1934 -1940, Vols I-V. from both sides, cost of allopathy and have district, Madhya Pradesh, Ancient Sci Life, deep faith upon their old treaties and 1986, 5, 255-261. 12. Prain D, Bengal Plants, Vols I & II, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, Reprint tradition. The plant parts such as root, 4. Deb DB, Medicinal Plants of Tripura, Indian Edn, 1963. leaf, flower, fruit and seeds are used by For, 1968, 94(10), 753-765. tribals as a medicine and their knowledge 13. Huidrom BKS, Plants used in medico-sexual of practice has come down through 5. Deb DB, The Flora of Tripura State, Vols I & purposes by Meitei community in Manipur generations. But now-a-days this flow of II, Today and Tomorrows’ Printers and State, India, J Econ Taxon Bot, Addl Ser, Publishers, New Delhi, 1981, 1983. 12, 1996, pp.364-366. indigenous knowledge from elder to younger generation is interrupted as the 6. Majumdar K, Saha R, Datta BK and Bhakta T, 14. Singh V and Pandey RP, Ethnomedicinal plants young generation is reluctant to learn Medicinal plants prescribe by different tribal used for venereal and gynaecological diseases about traditional medicinal practices. The and non-tribal medicine men of Tripura state, in Rajasthan (India), J Econ Taxon Bot, younger generation often leaves their Indian J Trad Knowledge, 2006, 5(4), Addl Ser, 12, 1996, pp.154-165. 559-562. villages because of the profound economic 15. Sarkar S and Sarma CM, Ethnomedicinal plants changes. Indigenous practices and 7. Majumdar K and Datta BK, A study on used by Muslims of Barpeta District of Assam, knowledge regarding the sustainable ethnomedicinal usage of plants among the In: Ethnomedicinal Plants of India, by PC harvest and utilization of plant resources folklore herbalists and Tripuri medical Trivedi (Ed), Aavishkar Publishers, as medicine should be documented and practitioners: part II, Nat Prod Rad, 2007, Distributors, Jaipur, 2007, pp. 67-76. 6 (1), 66-73. preserved before they disappear. 16. Maiti SK, Mishra TK and Mishra M, 8. Singh HB, Hynniewta TM and Bora PJ, Ethno- Ethnobotany of some primitive tribal groups References Medico-Botanical studies in Tripura, India, (Kheria-Sabar, Lodha and Munda) of 1. Pullaiah T, Medicinal Plants in India, Regency Ethnobotany, 1997, 9, 56-58. Southwest Bengal, In: Ethnomedicinal Plants Publication, New Delhi, 2002, 1, 1-4. of India, by PC Trivedi (Ed), Aavishkar 9. Jain SK, Methods and Approaches in Publishers, Distributors, Jaipur, 2007, 2. Barman DDP, Treatise Traditional Social Ethnobotaby, National Botanical Research pp.85-121. Institute, Lucknow, 1989.

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