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Ancient Science of Life, Vol. IX, No.1, July 1989, Pages 31-35

FOLK – MEDICINE FOR DIABETES FROM RAYALASEEMA OF

N. NAGARAJU and K.N.RAO

Medicinal Plant Research Lab., Dept. of Botany, Sri Venkateswara, University, -517 502 , India

ABSTRACT: The paper deals with the folk-lore use of 26 antidiabetic plant species occurring in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. The methods of preparation and dose of administration of crude drugs as suggested by tribal and non – tribal herbalists are recorded in the study. Also the known chemical constituents(s) of these plants are included in the communication.

INTRODUCTION Eastern ghats. The climate is semi-arid with many sunny days during the year. The mean Diabetes Mellitus was known to mankind as maximum temperatures are 40.5oC. The Madhumeha from antiquity for more than average rain-fall is only 72.8 cm. 2500 years ago as can be seen from medical Rayalaseema area suffers drought and texts such as charaka Samhita1 and Sushruta famine, leading to changes in the occupation Sahita2 (400 B.C.). The disease was most and food habits of the people. The principal often treated with diet control, herbs and forest types are dry deciduous species herbomineral drugs. In India from ancient mixed up with scrub jungle and with some times, the herbalists treated the disease with evergreen taxa in the gorges. The south indigenous herbs which were free from side Eastern ghats in this region cover Horsely effects. Many tribal and non tribal herbalists hills, Tirupati hills, part of Nallamalais, keep this information as patent medicine. Erramalais, Velikondas, Palakondas and The present attempt is therefore a thorough Lankamalais. survey for information on the treatment Rayalaseema area is inhabited by a large prevailing in tribals and non-tribals to enrich number of tribals like Yanadis, Chenchus, the traditional systems and to document the Irulas, Yerukalas, Sugalis, Koyas, Reddi prescriptions which are not listed so far in Dhoras, Konda , Kattunayaka, Manne Rayalaseema region. Dora and Godabas, who possess good The districts of cuddapah, , knowledge of home remedies. By and chittoor comprise Rayalseema enumeration studies it is known that this (12o41’and 16o21’N., 76o45’and 80o1E.) in region is a rich source of medicinal plants. Andhra Pradesh (Fig.1). The topography of The villages and the tribal localities have 80 the area is mostly undulating and inclined per cent of traditional healers who treat towards Bay of Bengal. Further it covers many human ailments. much of the southern most part of the

Pages 31-35 Ethnobotanically this region remains under the healers, from Table 1 it can be seen that explored and no comprehensive account either a single plant is used to treat diabetes especially on the folk-lore survey is or mixed with other plants to synergise its available 3,4. The antidiabetic properties of effect. the plants of this region has also not been adequately codified. Thus, in the present DISCUSSION paper, an elaborative account of the plants The foregoing enumeration presents an which are used as antidiabetics, is reported. account of 26 plant species used in the treatment of diabetes by the local folk. METHODOLOGY During the study important literature, vix., During 1986-1988, frequent trips were chopra8,9, Kirtikar and Basu10 and conducted to different parts of Rayalaseema. Nadkarni11, were consulted to ascertain Information form tribal and non-tribal whether these plants are prescribed and people on 26 plant species which are known for similar used in the treatment of frequently used in diabetes is recorded. It is the same. During the course it was observed noted that each village has 2-3 well reputed that out of 26 plants, 6 plant taxa, which are traditional healers or Natuvaidyulu as they marked with an asterisk, are already are known locally. Samples of the plant ascribed with such properties, this species were collected from them and investigation throws light on the popularity deposited in the Herbarium, Department of of our indigenous system of medicine Botany, S.V. University, Tirupati. As for as amongst the general public and might draw possible the nomenclature of plants is the attention of phytochemists and updated by consulting the latest floras on pharmacologists for further scientific study. South India5,6,7. In conclusion, it is assumed that many more vital drugs can be unraveled from the secret wealth o tribal medicines of this area for the well being of mankind.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are very much grateful to Dr. S.K Mukherjee Emeritus scientist, CDRI, Lucknow for valuable discussions. The financial support (to NNR) by the ICMR, New is gratefully acknowledged.

REFERENCES

1. Charaka Samhita commentary by The data gathered and the plants classified Chaturvedy, G.N. and Shastri, K.N so far, are presented in Table 1. They are IX edition, Chowkhamba generally the plants most frequently used by vidyabhavan, Varanasi (1980).

Pages 31-35 2. Sushruta samhita. Hindi 7. Matthew, K.M The flora of the commentary by shastri, K.A., Tamilnadu Carnatic, 3 parts. The chowkhamba Sanskrit series, III Rapinat Herbarium, Tricharapalle, Edition, Varanasi (1973). India (1983). 3. Jain, S.K., Banerjee, D.K. and Pal 8. Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L. and D.C., Medicinal plants among Chopra, I.C Glossary of Indian certain Adibasis in India. Bull Surv. Medicinal Plants, CSIR, New Delhi, India 15: 85-91 (1973). India (1956). 4. Hemadri, K. Sarma, C.R.P and Rao, 9. Chopra, R.N., Chopra, I.C. and S.S Medicinal plant wealth of Verma, B.S. Supplement to Glossary Andhra Pradesh Part II. Ancient of Indian Medicinal Plants, CSIR, Science of Life 7(1):55-64 (1987). New Delhi, India (1969). 5. Nair, N.C and Henry, A.N Flora of 10. Kirtikar, K.R. and Basu. B.D. Indian Tamilnadu, India Series: 1, Analysis, Medicinal Plants. Vol.1 & 2, Bishen Vol.1. BSI, Coimbatore, India Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, (1983). Dehradun (1975). 6. Henry, A.N., Kumari, G.R and 11. Nadkarni, K.M. Indian Materia Chitra, V. Flora of Tamilnadu, India, Medica (Revised and enlarged by Series: 1, Analysis, Vol.2. BSI, A.K. Nadkarni) Vol.1, Popular Coimbatore, India (1987). Prakashan, Bombay (1976).

Pages 31-35 TABLE 1 : Anti-diabetic Plants from Rayalaseema

No. Plant Name & Family Plant Part Treatment Chemical 1 2 3 4 Constituents 5 1. Abrus precatorius L. Gurivenda Leaves Juice, twice a day for 20 Glycyrrhizin (Leguminosae – Fabaceae) days. 2. Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. Kalabanda Leaves Powder with hot water, Quercetin, rutin, (Liliaceae) twice per day after food emodin, Chrysophanic acid. 3. Andrographis elongate T. And. Entire plant Decoction, drink 3 times Andrographolides Nela vemu (Acanthaceae) per day. 4. Asparagus gonoclados Bak Tuberous Powder mixed with leaf Quercetin, rutin Pilliteega gaddalu (Liliaceae) Root powder of Gymnema sylvestre twice per day for 20 days. 5. *Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Flowers/Bark Roasted flowers or bark Acety lnimbin Vepa (Meliaceae) days; dose: powder with buttermilk nimboloid once in a day. for 40 (lactone)

6. Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. Leaves Paste, made into pills; Kagitapoolu (Nyctaginaceae) dose: 3 pills twice per day for 20 days 7. Carica papaya L. Parinda Green fruit Juice is drunk 2 times per Nicotinic acid, (Caricaceae) day papain, Violaxanthin, ascorbic acid, Caricaxanthin. 8. Cassia auriculata L. Tangedu Leaves Juice with Triphala Sennosides A&B (Leguminosae – +Flowers Churnam (mixture of Anthraquinones. Caesalpiniaceae) Emblica officianlis, Terminalia chebula and T. Pallida) for 15 days. 9. Cassia occidentalis L. Kasinda Leaves Powder with milk (sugar Sennosides A&B (Caesalpiniaceae) should be avoided) twice Anthraquinones. a day for 40 days.

10. Centratherum anthel-minticum Leaves Paste made into pills, 3 Ricinoleic, (L) Kuntze Nelavavil pills per dose, twice a day myristic, palmitic, (Asteraceae) for 40 days. stearic, oleic linoleic acids

Pages 31-35 No. Plant Name & Family Plant Part Treatment Chemical 1 2 3 4 Constituents 5 11. Coccinia indica Wight & Arn. Leaves/root Powder, 3 times per day Caffeic acid, Donda (Cucurbitaceae) quercetin, Kaempferol, B- sitosterol. 12. Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L) Fruit Fried, used as a curry or Rutin, Caffeic Taub. (Muttikayalu) (Fabaceae) chutney for 40 days. acid, isovitexin 13. Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Tuberous Root powder, one root Quercetin, Am. teaspoonful twice a day Kaempferol rutin, Maredukommu/Madinakommu with hot water for 20 days coumarin (Asclepiadaceae) 14. Emblica officiinalis Gaertn. Usiri Dry fruit Powder, one teaspoonful Linolenic, inoleic, (Emphorbiaceae) with milk twice per day oleic stearic, palmitic, myristic acids 15. Gymnema sylvestre (Retz. R.Br. Leaves Chewed Gymnemic acid ex Roemer & Schultes Podapatri (Asclepiadaceae) 16. Ichnocarpus frutescens (L) R.Br Leaves Powder, two spoons twice Illu-katte (Apocynaceae) per day after food for 20 days 17. *Momordica charantia L. Kakara Green fruit Juice, daily in the morning Charantin (Cucurbitaceae) (momordicin)= Phytosterolin= B- Sitosterol 18. Moringa oleifera Lamk. Munga Fruit Fried fruit for 20 days Protocatechuic (Moringaceae) acid, Caffeic acid, P-hydroxy benzoic acid. 19. Phyllanthus amarus Schun & Entire Powder, 1 teaspoon once Phyllanthin, Thonn. Nela usiri in a week for 4 weeks astralgin, (Euphorbiaceae) Quercetoside, Quercetoside, Quercitrin. 20. Psidium guajava L. Jama Fruit Powder, with buttermilk Kaempferol, rutin (Myrtaceae) twice per day for 15 days. 21. Pterocarpus santalinus L. wood Aqueous extract, pieces Quercetin, Caffeic Raktachandanam (Fabaceae) twice per day; drinking acid, Rutin water incubated in wooden cups.

Pages 31-35

No. Plant Name & Family Plant Part Treatment Chemical 1 2 3 4 Constituents 5 22. Syzygium alternifolium Walp. Seed Powder, 3 times a day Sapogenins, Mogi (Myrtaceae) after food Quercetin, Kaempferol 23. Talinum portulacifolium willd. Leaves Powder mixed with boiled Palaaku (Portulaceaceae) milk, twice a day for 20 days. 24. Tecoma stans (L) Kunth. Leaves Decoction is drunk Alkaloids, (Bignoniaceae) tecomine tecostanine 25. Terminalia chebula Retz. Karaka Dry fruit Powder, 1 to 2 Quercetin, (combretaceae) teaspoonful with water chebulin Caffeic kernel for 20 days acid 26. Trigonella foenumgraecum L. Seed Powder with water daily Alkaloid: Menthulu (Fabaceae) in the morning trigonelline, coumarin, nicotinic acid, disogenin, quercetin, luteolin.

Pages 31-35