Ethno Botanical Polypharmacy of Traditional Healers in Wayanad (Kerala) to Treat Type 2 Diabetes
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Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 11(4), October 2012, pp. 667-673 Ethno Botanical Polypharmacy of Traditional Healers in Wayanad (Kerala) to treat type 2 diabetes Dilip Kumar EK & Janardhana GR* Phytopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Studies in Botany University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysore-570006, Karnataka, India E-mail: [email protected] Received 30.06.10, revised 15.05.12 The aboriginal medical system prevalent among traditional healers of Wayanad has demonstrated a good practice, so bright future in the therapy of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, present study focused on identification validation and documentation such Ethno botanical polypharmacy prevalent in the district. A total of 47 species belonging to 44 genera comes under 29 families were identified being utilized in 23 different compound medicinal recipes for diabetic healthcare in Wayanad. These preparations and the herbal ingredients need scientific evaluation about their mechanism of action in living organism in heath as well as disease condition to confirm their activity against type 2 diabetes. Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, Traditional medicine, Polypharmacy, Wayanad district IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K, A61K 36/00, A01D 16/02, A01D 16/03 Local herbal healers of Wayanad (Kerala), India have communities that directly depend on it. The present numerous prescriptions aims directly to treat and study documented some of the ethno botanical manage type 2 diabetes (old age diabetes). This remedies for the management of diabetes so as includes over 150 herbal preparations including to protect it within the aboriginal repository of simple and compound folk recipes and diets. This knowledge (ARK) programme and also shed light traditional medical knowledge has demonstrated a on a traditional culture that believes that a healthy potent therapeutic system for the management of lifestyle is found only at a healthy environment 1. diabetes and the symptoms associated. Despite antidiabetic, many of this therapeutics have not Methodology been pharmacologically validated to ascertain their Wayanad is a panoramic hill of Malabar, at the therapeutic potential. Unlike modern medical system northern part of Kerala (India), lies at 11º 55’ N, this aboriginal medicines proffer integrated care latitude and 75° 59’ E, longitude with an altitude rather removing the disease symptoms. ranging from 950m-1350m above sea level. Recently the socio-economic upliftment of tribal Temperature goes down to 16° C during the winter and traditional communities in light of legislations on season and to 30° C during the summer months. domestic patenting act and intellectual property rights, The annual rainfall ranges from 300 mm-1000 mm. there is an ever increasing necessity in the qualitative The forest types are semi-evergreen, ever green and grass lands. and quantitative evaluation of uses and management The study focused on gathering, validation and traditional medicinal wealth. Ethno biology has documentation of ethno botanical polypharmacy of therefore attained momentum as a distinctive area of tribal in Wayanad (Kerala). For the convenience of scientific research to experimentally assess and derive the study, Wayanad district was broadly divided benefits from the existing natural wealth, the into two ecological zones, wet and the dry. This science also helps us to understand conservation of division was on the basis of edaphic, climatic and natural resources, while protecting the rights of the biogeographic features. Among the 6 sites selected 4 —————— were in wet zone and 2 were in dry zone (Table 1). *Corresponding author Preference was given to wet zone because of the 668 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 11, NO 4, OCTOBER 2012 Table 1—Profile of the study sites and the respondents referral centre, Department of studies in Botany, Ecological Name of the Socio- Gender groups Total University of Mysore and voucher specimens were Zones area cultural number of deposited. Males Females group informants Separate transact walks were under taken with the Wet Zone Thavinzhal Kurichya 3 1 4 traditional healers at different seasons of the year to Tirunelli Kattunaika 5 3 8 identify and collect different antidiabetic medicinal Mananthavadi Kurichya 5 2 7 plant ingredients of the recipe. A detailed information Edavaka Kurichya 4 4 8 Vellamunda Paniya 6 2 8 on availability of medicinal plants, people’s preference Panamaram Kurichya 6 3 9 for one species over the other and the gender Kaniyambetta Kurichya 10 2 12 difference in the collection and processing of Kottathara Paniya 4 4 8 medicinal plants are also obtained5 are presented Vengappally Kurichya 10 1 11 in the Table 2. A preliminary validation of ethno Kalpetta Kuruma 6 2 8 medicinal practices was considered as preliminary Muttil Kurichya 4 0 4 step to establish which plants are safe, effective and Dry Zone Mullankolly Paniya 8 2 10 Sulthanbattery Kattunaika 5 2 7 should be discontinued. It also ensures that clinical Nenmeni Kuruma 5 5 10 trials will not be wasted on plants that are used for Noolpuzha Paniya 4 2 6 cultural or religious purpose. The validation of remedies was conducted by non experimental method 6. Total 85 (70) 35(30) 120 Validation scores of each ethno botanical therapeutic *Values given in parenthesis represent per cent population. is mentioned in Table 3. abundance of tribal communities and species richness in terms of plant diversity. From the selected study Results sites 16 hamlets were selected, of these 16 hamlets Traditional healers of Wayanad formulate their 12 belongs to wet zone and 4 belongs to dry zone. therapeutics keeping in mind the conditions of Selection of the study site was on the basis of a grided sickness and the healing properties of the individual map of the district 2. The profile of the study sites and ingredients. It is important therefore, that herbal respondent are summarized in the Table 1. medicines and preparations should be taken with the A total of 120 traditional healers (85 men and considerations of their holistic therapeutic approach. 35 women) of post reproductive age group were The study revealed a total of 44 plant species belongs interviewed on traditional therapy of type 2 diabetes to 41 genera comes under 28 plant families being (old age diabetes). 6-8 trips were arranged in a season, used in their 23 antidiabetic preparations. Among queries were made only to 2 to 3 informants a day. the 23 angiosperms 04 species were monocots and Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) method was used 37 were dicots. There was only 01 gymnosperm. Among for obtaining the data 3. The target group includes full the medicinal species there were 27 trees, 3 shrubs, time and part time herbalists. Specific questions were 11 herbs, 05 climbers and 01 large scramble. The asked in the interview as the questions mentioned study revealed the use of roots in 18 plant species, in the questionnaire designed in the Department of stem bark in 12 species, wood in 04 species, rhizome Studies in Botany, University of Mysore, Mysore, 01 species, corm in 01 species, gum exudates in Karnataka, India (Table 2). Prior informant consent 01 species, flowers in 02 species, fruits in 03 species, (PIC) was obtained from the informants in view of pith in 01 species, whole plant in 02 species, and reproducing the medicinal information. Information seeds in 04 species. In 04 plant species juice were supplied by the informants was recorded when at least used as medicine, paste in 01 species, decoction in 5 informants independently report the use of a recipe 42 species, powder in 02 species, infusion in 01 species in the treatment of type 2 diabetes 4. Plant specimens and extract in 01 species. Of the 23 medicinal recipes were collected when available to verify their common 21 were compound recipe in liquid form and 02 were name, scientific name and authenticity. Validated compound recipe in dry tablet form, 04 plant species therapeutic prescriptions were recorded stressing on, were the constituents in 01 recipe, 03 plant species plant ingredients of the recipe, part of the plant used, were the constituents in 18 recipes and 02 plant method of preparation of the recipe and the prescribed species were the constituents in 04 recipes. In 21 dosage. Plants were identified at the Herbarium preparations 03 ml of the recipe was advised and in DILIP KUMAR & JANARDHANA: ETHNO BOTANICAL POLYPHARMACY OF TRADITIONAL HEALERS IN 669 WAYANAD (KERALA) TO TREAT TYPE 2 DIABETES Table 2—Questionnaire used to survey on antidiabetic medicinal plants Department of Studies in Botany University of Mysore, Mysore-570 006 1 Name............................. Address......................... 2 Occupation.................... Date of collection........... Collection No................. 3 Taxon........................... Family......................... 4 Local names (s) specify language or dialect.......... 5 Locality (specific) …….. Height.......................... Diameter........................ 6 Other characters 7 Bark characteristics........ 8 Smell ………………….. Latex........................... Colour of the latex......... 9 Tree part used in Medicine ………………. 10 Root ………………….. Stem............................... Twig............................. Root Bark …………… Stem Bark...................... 11 Flower ………………… Fruit............................. Seed............................ 12 How plant is used ……... Fresh............................ Dried.............................. Boiled …………………. 13 Other plant or tree ingredient added to it ….. 14 Method (s) of