JOURNAL OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ISSN NO: 0745-6999

Preliminary study of some common and medicinally important

weeds of region of () Kirankumar Khandare Assistant Professor in Botany, P.G. Department of Botany, K. A. A. N. M. Sonawane Arts, Commerce and Science College Satana, Dist. Nashik. (India) [email protected]

ABSTRACT- Weed is generally considered as food plants but also as a source of medicine and unprofitable, noxious growth of herbs or shrubs, fodder for domestic of animals. Thorny or prickly growing wild in much commercially valued weeds pose problems to human skin or their live vegetation such as crops, lawns, landscapes, golf stocks poisonous weeds also create threat to life courses etc. They interfere by competing for soil, (Latika Mehata and Sharda Vaidya, 2014) sunlight, space, water and nutrients etc. In the diverse According to Wall, John et.al. (1962) Weeds climatic conditions of the numerous competing with the desired plants for the resources weeds are found. In the present region great like direct sunlight, soil nutrient, water and space for biodiversity of weeds are found in both growth. Weeds providing hosts and vectors for plant Monocotyledons and in Dicotyledons categories In pathogens provide food shelter for animals like skin the present investigation22 dicotyledonous and three irritation, digestive track poisons to humans and monocotyledonous weeds were studied, these weeds animals. Many weeds stabilize the soil and add were found valuable medicinal importance among organic matter, some weeds are edible to humans and tribales of the region, the weeds have other domestic also provide habitat and food for wild life. uses also. The present investigation is an attempt to study biodiversity of weeds in respect to their Key words: Weed, Tribal, Nashik, medicinal importance, other uses and harmful effects too. I Introduction Study area: Weed is generally considered as The Nashik region is located at north – west unprofitable, noxious growth of herbs or shrubs, of the Maharashtra state, between latitudes 190 35’ to growing wild in much commercially valued 20050’ and 730 30’ to 74055’ and extended over an vegetation such as crops, lawns, area of 15,582 Sq. Km. Western Ghats occupies some landscapes, golf courses etc. They interfere by region of the district the forest in the district varies competing for soil, sunlight, space, water and from evergreen to deciduous types .The district nutrients etc. They act as host for the pathogens or socially predominantly tribal (Peth, , Wani, their vector. Many weeds act as pest preventive Baglan, Dindori, , Trimbakeshwar) Godavari, ,which repel insects and other pests through their Kadava, Girna, Mosam, etc, prominent rivers flows in the district. In the diverse climatic conditions of the Nashik district, having different percentage of rainfall smell some weeds are beneficial to , nutritive, edible is found the highest average rainfall (2991.0mm) was some are considered as a staple sources of food ,some recorded in Igatpuri followed by Trimbakeshwar having medicinal and economic values also (Finch, S (2072.0mm) Peth (1955.0mm) and Surgana and Collier, R.H., 2003) (1788.0mm) While lowest rainfall (494.0mm) was It is believed that weeds are plants very recorded in Deolali followed by (58.0mm) aggressive, competitive and noxious to man but some and Nandagaon (569.0mm) while Nashik district species of weeds have significant role in the economy average rainfall is 1062.15mm (C. Sanjay and et al, of local people. The crop weeds are not only useful as 2018).

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JOURNAL OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ISSN NO: 0745-6999

In the present region great biodiversity of Uses: Used in Asthmatic cough, snakebite, abdominal weeds are found in both Monocotyledons and in pain, piles, dropsy and boils. Leaves useful as jaundice Dicotyledons categories. remedy and colic in children. II Materials and Methods 3. Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. Ver. Name: The present investigation is based on survey Chibuk kata, Locality: Trimbakeshwar, Family: study of weed plants in different regions of Nashik Amaranthaceae. region. The weed plants were observed in the field Annual herb, prostate, branches many, glabrous, collected from the field and brought to the laboratory. flowers white, sessile, and shining in dense The collected plants were identified with the help of Small, lanceolate and white perianth 3 mm long, tepals Flora of Nashik District, (1991), Lakshminarsimhan, ovate, acute ovary broad and long, sub orbicular seeds. P. Sharma B.D., Flora of Marathwada, (1998) V. N. Flowering: Throught the year. Naik, The medicinal values of the weed plants was Uses: Useful to treat hepatitis, lung diseases, and verified with the knowledge of local people, rural antimicrobial and wound healing. It is given to women folk medicine person, traditional Ayurvedic in post delivery condition for flow of milk. practitioners, local herbal drug sellers and referring 4. Amaranthus spinosus Linn. Ver. Kathe math, literature of Flora of Maharashtra state (1996) Locality: Baglan, Family: Amaranthaceae Sharma, B.D. et.al., Flora of Maharashtra, Vol. I, It is an erect, much branched annual plant, growing Almeida, M.R. (1996) Orient press, Mumbai. up to 100 cm tall, leaves ovate or lanceolate, Herbarium specimens are deposited in the alternate, spines divaricate, sharp, 1-2 cm long, Botany department, Karmveer A. A. N. M. Sonawane flowers aggregated, terminal, panicle, spikes , or Arts, Commerce and Science College Satana, Dist. axillary, sessile clusters, bracts bracteoles minutes, Nashik. male and female flowers 1.2 mm, stigma 2-3. Enumeration of weed plants: Flowering: December – April. Following information is the alphabetic list of weed Uses: Used as poultice for broken bones, used for plants with their botanical names, family name, local internal bleeding, root extract is used in fever, urinary / vernacular name, distribution, medicinal uses and trouble, leaves are used as vegetables by local adverse effects. peoples. 1. Acalypha indica L. Ver. Name: Kupi, 5. Aristolochia bracteolate Lan. Ver. Nam: Locality: Baglan, Family: Ephorbiaceae. Kitmari, Locality: Nandgaon, An erect annual herb weed, leaves are broad, ovate, Family: Aristolochiaceae stem pubescent, inflorescence like kitchin, cup It is climbing or prostate, perennial herb with an un shaped involucres, surrounding the minute flowers, pleasant smell, stems 10-60 cm tall, underground grows up to 1-2 cm., flowers spike are axillary, male rhizome, leaves ovate, 1.5 x1.5-7 cm, flowers are flowers white, female flowers green, located lower on dark purple, tubular with trumpet shaped mouth. spikes. Flowering: Flowering: June- December. Uses: It is traditional medicine used in intestinal Uses: The weed is used in medicines as anthelmentic, worms, skin itching, insect bites, intestinal pain, used antibacterial, anti –ulcer, used for bronchitis, asthma, as sexual arousal, weight loss, arthritics, for starting wound healing, anti inflammation, anti-obesity, leaf menstruation. juice is useful on snakebite and skin diseases. 6. Argentum conizoids L. Ver. Name: Nilphuli, 2. Achyranthus aspara L. Ver. Name: Aaghada, Locality: Trimbakeshwar, Family: Asteraceae Locality: Baglan, Family: Amaranthaceae Its herbaceous, annual weed. It is an erect softly hairy Perinnial herb, erect, spreading longlined, stem become weed grows upto 2 feet in height Leaves opposite, woody at the base, flowers greenish white, elongated lanceolate serrate margins. Terminal or axillary terminal spikes, flowers surrounded by brackts, heads inflorescence bears 4-18 flowers, arranged in clusters spiny. a corizoida inflorescence, flower heads surrounded Flowering: September – April. by 2/3 rows of tracts. Flowering: Throught year. Hazards: Invasive weed.

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Uses; Used in dysentery. Diarrhea, for curing of Uses: This weed have anticancer potential used on wounds, cuts, burns. snake bite poisoning, it reduces cholesterol ,on Toxicity: Can causes liver lesion and tumors (Fu, P.P. urinary diseases improves skin glow and complexion, at.al., 2002). It is invasive weed found in paddy field. used on skin disease asthma, respiratory disorders, 7. Barleria priontos Linn. Ver. Name: Katekorante, local peoples used as leaves vegetable. Locality: Baglan, Family: Acanthaceae 11. Cassia auriculata L. Ver. Name: Awali, An erect perennial shrub growing upto 1.5m with Locality: Baglan, Family: Fabaceae spines, leaf apex bristle tipped, flowers solitary, Perinnial shrub, much branched with brown bark, axillary or terminal short spikes, orange – yellow. alternate leaves, Irregular, bisexual, bright yellow Uses: Leaf juice with sugar useful in fever for flowers, Raceme inflorescence, legume. children ash with water effective in leprosy, and Flowering: Throught the year. cough, used tooth ache, joint pain, respiratory Uses: Decoction of roots used in fevers, diabetes, diseases. urinary disorders, constipation, leave have laxative 8. Biophtum sessitivum (L) DC. Ver. Name: properties, eye infection. Lajvanti, Locality: Baglan, Family: Oxalidaceae 12. Chrozophor rottleri (Geis.) Juss. Ver. Name: Annual herb, stem unbranched glabrous hairy stem, Survati, Locality: Baglan, Leaves pinnatly compound, numerous crowded at Family: Ephorbiaceae. apex of the stem, flowers many, sepal lanceolate An erect densely woody herb, broadly ovate hairy crowded at apices. leaves, axillary terminal inflorescence, flowers Flowering; August- January. creamy yellow monoecious male flowers sepals Uses: Used as ailments such as inflammation, triangular and acute, male flowers petals ovate. arthritis, wounds, tumors and burns, gonorrhea, Flowering: July – April stomach ache, cough joint diseases, urinary calculi, Uses: Useful in skin orders, deirrhoea, jaundice , diabetes, snake bite. mouth ulcer, fever, joint pain, swelling, abdominal 9. Justica prostrata Roxb. , Ver. Name: Karambal, pain, skin born, menstrual problems, urinary Locality: Trimbakeshwar, Family: Acanthaceae disorders ,piles and be wound healing. Erect or prostrate herb, stem pubescent leaves 1.7 x 1 13: Cleome viscose L., Ver. Name: Tilvani, cm ovate apex obtuse or acute , base rounded, petiole Locality: Baglan, Family: Cloemaceae 7mm long spikes 1.5cm long , terminal, cylindrical to Annual erect fast growing herb densely covered with ovoid flowers , calyx lobes -3mm long, lamellate , glandular and simple hairs, flowers yellow, axillary glabrous , corolla 4mm long , ovary glabrous, capsule growing out into lax racemos, fruits capsules, seeds 3mm long seed triangular. Flowering: Throughout the brown, black when ripe, finely transparent, striate year. subgloboses. Uses: It is alternative and expectorant and is given in Flowering: Throughout the year. the form of infusion in asthma, cough and Uses: The leaf juice used on ear ache, paste of root is rheumatism; Juice of leaves is squeezed into the eyes used in ear ache leaves and seeds are used in case opthalmia, decoction of whole plant is used in medicinally to treat infection, fever, rheumatism and backache and flatulence. headache. 10: Cassia tora Linn. Ver. Name: Tarwt/ Dukkr 14. Celocia argentia L. Ver. Name: Kombda, Bhuimung, Locality: Chandwad. Locality: Deola, Family: Amaranthaceae Family: Fabaceae Fast growing erect, coarse, simple, branched and Herbaceous animal weed, grows upto 30-90cm, tall, smooth annual herb, on 2-4m in height, stem alternative pinnatly compound leaves, stems have glabrous, leaves alternate, lanceolate, oblong, bitter distinct smelling foliage when among axile flowers test and odour, inflorescence dense, many flowered with five petals and pale yellow colour, unequal spike, small silvery to pink coloured conical stamens, bract some what flattened 10-15 cm long previously later become cylindrical. and sickle shaped Flowering : November- December. Flowering: October to February. Uses: Anti diabetic , anti microbial, hepatic protective activity seed powder used in eye disease

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whole plant is used as antidote in snake bite, used in 18. Evolvulus alsinoides (L) L. Ver. Name: diarrhea, wound healing in the treating white Shankhvel, Locality: Baglan, Family: discharge , whole plant dry powder 20gm with milk Convolvulaceae during night 7 days ( Jagtap et.al. 2009) . Root It is an annual /perennial herb with prostate spreading extract is administrated to cheek excessive branches in all direction. Leaves simple, alternate, menstruation. elliptical oblong- lanceolate, entire, flower axillary, 15: Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Ver. Name: solitary blue with throat, fruit conical capsule. Fuga, Locality: Sinnar, Family: Sapindaceae Flowering: Throught the year. Annual and perennial, slender and beautiful delicate Uses: The whole plant is useful, extensively as a climber with flower peduncle tendrils leaves twice febrifuge and tonic, with milk useful in nervous ternate, lanceolate, serrate, slender and perennial, debility and loss of memory, syphilis, useful in slender and beautiful delicate climber with flower- dysentery. in infusion prepared with oil is applied to peduncles tendrils, leaves twice ternate, lanceolate, hair growth. serrate, and acute. Umbellate, cyme, inflorescence. 19: Hemidesmus indicus L. (R) Br., Ver. Name: Flowering: July – February. Anantvel, Locality: Baglan, Uses: Plant deciduous used in cold, asthma, gastro- Famil : Apocynaceae intestinal disorder urinogenital infectious the leaves It is a perennial, slender, lacticiferous. twanging wiry are excellent for arthritics and fever also used on shrub numerous slender stem having thickened inflammation. nodes, leaves , simple, opposite linear lanceolate and 16: Ephorbia hirta. L. Vern. Name: Dudhi, 5-10cm long flower greenish crowded in sub sessile Locality: Baglan, Family: Ephorbiaceae cymes with opposite axils, Fruit are Cylindrical roots It’s a having herb weed, grows on open grass land, are cylindrical, irregular bent, slightly twisted and roadsides slender, erect, pubescent about 20-35 cm aromatic. tall, leaves tall, leaves decussate broadly oblong Flowering: November-February. elliptical, lanceolate, axillary cluster involucres Uses: Mainly root is an Ayurvedic medicine but minute, glands 5 red male flowers 4-6 ebracteates leaves and latex are also used in herbal medicine female florets laterally pendulous styles 2. Fruit: blood purifier, demulcent diuretic and tonic, used in Capsule. Flowering: Throughout the year. the treatment of appetite loss, dyspepsia, fever, skin Uses: known as asthma weed, used for reparatory diseases, syphilis , genitourinary disorders. disorders cough, cold, gastro intestinal disorders, anti 20. Echinops echinatus Ver. Name: Kate chendu, amoebic Locality: Nandgaon Hazards: The sap contains latex which is toxic on Family: Asteraceae, injection and highly irritating externally, causing A very common weed. erect 50-90 cm in height, inflammation. stem stout, white cottony pubescent, woody at base , 17. Corchorus trilocularis L. Ver. Name: leaves sessile lanceolate, spines, flowers- Capitola Kaduchunch, Locality: Deola, Family: Tiliaceae 2.0 -4.5 cm across globules , stalk 1.0-2.0 cm long Annual much branched spreading herb upto 75 cm in involucres, floret white or bluish 1.4 cm long , height , leaves alternate ovate to elliptical lanceolate, corolla 0.9cm long lobe acute anthers ashy. base rounded, margins serrate ovate to elliptic Flowering: October – April. lanceolate, base rounded, margins serrate short Uses: Whole plant is useful in cough and cold urinary pendnnculate cymes, pedicels sepals 5, 3-4 mm long discharge, thirst, chronic fever , pain in joint, linear – oblong , petals 5 , yellow, stamens many. inflammation increases appetite. Fruit: Capsule angular, angles winged. Flowering: 21. Phyllanthus niruri L . Bhuiavla Family: Throughout the year. Phyllanthaceae Uses: The leaves are appetizer, carminative, Agricultural weed , It grows 50-70 cm tall and bears demulcent, laxative stimulant, useful in dysentery, ascending herbaceous branches, the bark is smooth fevers and liver disorders stem yields fibers. and light green ,it bears numerous pale green flowers the fruit are tiny , smooth, capsule. The fruit are tiny , smooth, capsule.

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Uses: Useful in stomach problems, genitourinary inflorescence pedumaulate, first glum of spikelet not problems, liver, kidney and spleen problems, useful indurate stalks of the racemes hairy pedicelated to cure chronic fever. spikelet usually male or bisexual , sometime neuter, 22. Utrica dioica L. Locality; Baglan, Family: but both glumes well developed and often with Urticaceae lemmas basal sterile florets harem , without It is stinging flowering weed, perennial 1-2m tall soft significant palea green leaves opposite leaves have strongly serrated Uses: Used as fodder grass, it is a generally eaten by margins small, green brownish, and numerous cattle. flowers axillary. III Results and Discussion Flowering: June – September. In the present investigation total 33 Angiospermic Uses: Medicinally used in inflammation in the weed plants were studied. Out of them 28 weed treatment of rheumatism, local people used stems for plants are of Dicotyledons and remaining five are making huts. Animal disorders like neck sore, belonging to Monocotyledons were studied. In the infertility, wound , lateritious abdominal pain cure present floristic analysis of these weed plants it is with this plant (Pande et.al., 2007) Food for insects. found that, some of the weed plants are harmful to Hazards: It may cause skin irritation, urinary tract animals, humans and other plants too. They are irritation, may causes fluid retention sweating unwanted to human controlled setting. stomach upset. Most of the weed plants are found useful to 23. Cyperus compressus L. Family: Cyperaceae, humans by various aspects. They having medicinal Locality: Chnadwad and economic importance, some weeds are found Annual , erect , glabrous herb , root fibrous, height socially, domestically benefitted to human life.( 0.1 to 7.5 m flower simple , often with a sessile head Jagtap, et al, 2009) Weed like Urtica dioica is useful rays long , bearing 4-8 terminal spike , bracts 3-5 leaf for making huts by Tribal people of the region , on like ,longest leaves, spikelet much compressed, the other hand the same weed plant is useful for yellow 20 -40 flowers, angular, closely scarred, gynecological purposes like infertility and for scarcely winged glumes imprecate keel produced into lactation in feeding mothers (Pande, et. al, 2007). a tightly recurved , stamens 3 ,long, legulates, anthers Weeds of Nashik region have various Flowering: May to December biodiversity aspects also, the region is known for Uses: Useful in treating skin diseases. Tribal community, some weeds are consumed by 24. Themcda quadrivalvis (L) Kuntze. Ver. Name: local tribal people as vegetable. Roots, stems, fruits Gondagavat, Locality: Surgana, Family: and leaves of weeds are directly used as medicine. Poaceae. Some weeds act as biocontrol, as they plays role as Annual grass, stem sub erect growing upto 2m tall, insecticides, pesticides. leaves sheath glabrous the upper with scattered According to Mule and Sharma (2012) bulbous based hairs towards the ligules membranous Traditional knowledge has assumed great importance rounded, glabrous panicle, solitary 2-3 Nate in enhancing our knowledge about the plants which filliforms, invoker spikelet, whorled sessile, are used for the people since time immemorial. Weed persistent linear, lanceolate acute, long reddish barren plants are generally harmful to the crops and can or imperfectly male flower involucres glumes along dominate the vegetation, but many of the weeds are the winged, keel with stiff bristles, from large useful for other purposes. Whole plant of Celosia tubercular base, glabrous, pedicelated spikelet narrow argentia, common weed is useful in diarrhea, not winged. dysentery; it is having cooling, diuretic and sedative Uses: Decoction of root is useful in the treatment of properties also. (Gambhire and Biradar, 2016). Patil, dysmenorrhoea. Used to produce fodder for livestock et. al, (2016) noted that, weeds like Crotolaria and for thatching (Keir and Vogler, 2006). juncea, Indigofera cordifolia added nitrogen in the 25. Dichanthium ariststum (Poir) Ver. Name: soil , by the process of nitrogen fixation and made Rangavat, Locality: Dindori, Family: Poaceae. soil fertile, some weed have ecological importance as A perennial with slender erect culms, nodes, usually they act as a food for insects, Ipomia sinuta like bearded two to four racemes, erect and rather close, weeds planted as ornamental plants also.

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selected weeds from garden in Akola region, REFERENCES Journal of Global Biosciences, 5(7) : 4432- 1. Almeida, M.R. (1996), Flora of 4442. Maharashtra, Vol. I, Orient press, Mumbai. 2. . Latika Mehata and Sharda Vaidya, 2014 s 13. Pande P.C , Lalit Tiwari and Pande in the paddy field of Mahad (Raigad H.C. (2007) Ethnoveternary plants of District) , SIRJ – APBBP, 1:2, 18-33. Uttaranchal, A review, Int. J.Trad. Know, 3. C. Sanjay, P. Bhaskar, S.L. Damodare and 6,444-458. A.P. Abhale, 2018 statistical analysis of 14. Keir, A.F., Vogler, W. D. (2006) A seasonal rainfall variability in Nashik review of current knowledge of the weedy district by using GIS interpolation species, Themeda quadrivalivis (Grander technique,7(4) :2012-2077. grass) Tropical Grasslands, 40, 193-201. 4. Jagtap, S.D., Deokule, S. S.,Pawar P.P., and Hasrulkar, A.M,(2009), Traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge confirmed to the Pawara tribles of Saputara hills, Maharashtra, India, Ethnobotanical Leaglets, 19:98-115. 5. Watt, John Mitchell, Breyer Brand wijik,

Maria Gerdina , the medicinal and poisonous plants of southern and Eastern Africa 2nd Ed. publication E and S,Livestone,1962. 6. Finch, S and Collier R, K., (2003) Insect seen clearly how the weeds have gone Horticulture Research International, Biologists, 50(3) 132-135. 7. Fu, p.p., Yang, Y.C. Xia, (2002) Pyrsolizidine alkaloids tumorogenic components in Chines herbal medicines and dilatory suppliments, Journal of food and drug analysis, 10 (4): 198-211. 8. Gambhire, V.S, and R.M Biradar (2016) Medicinal importance of some weeds of Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, India , Bioscience Discovery, 7(1): 57-59. 9. Naik, V.N., 1998, Flora of Marathwada, Vol. I &II, Amrut Publication, Aurangabad. 10. Sharma, B. D. Karthikayann, S. and Singh S.P. (1996) Flora of Maharashtra state: Monocotyledons, Botanical survey of India. 11. Mule, J.R. and Sarma , P. P.(2012) Some useful weeds from Ahemadnagar district , Maharashtra, India, International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 2, (12):05-08.

12. Patil, V. S. Rathod , S.P. and Ingle R.S (2016) A preliminary survey of

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