Review Article Traditional Practice of Medicinal Plants in Contai Sub Division, East Midnapur District, West Bengal, India Debajyoti Das*, A.K. Panda, A.K. Dixit, W. Rungsung, Jayram Hazra

Department of Clinical Research, National Research Institute of Ayurveda Drug Development, CN- 4, Sector-V, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkota-91, India

ABSTRACT The paper deals with excellent information about medicinal practice with indigenous knowledge of rural people in Contai sub division Midnapur (East) district, West Bengal state, India. A total of forty Address for three medicinal plants are practiced for various ailments. The data Correspondence was collected during our field trips on the basis of interviews, observations and discussions with village elderly persons, local Department of Clinical practitioners and women folk. In the study twenty three medicinal Research, National Research Institute of species belonging to ten families had been recorded for curing forty Ayurveda Drug four number of diseases. Among of them the most important easily Development, CN-4, available species found viz. Terminalia arjuna, Coccinia indica, Sector-V, Bidhan Azadirachta indica, Aegle marmelos, Ocimum sanctum, Adhatoda Nagar, Kolkota-91, vasica, Andrographis paniculata, Centella asiatiea, Datura metal, India Ricinus communis, Ficus bengalensis, Ficus hispida, Cocos nucifera, E-mail: Cynodon dactylon etc. debajyoti.das02@ gmail.com Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, medicinal plants, Folklore, local practitioners, Contai.

INTRODUCTION Medicinal plants play an important knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) are role in supporting healthcare system in repository of 1200 formulations of various India. According the world Health systems of Indian medicine, such as Organization (WHO), 80% of the rural Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha and 1500 Yoga population in developing countries utilizes postures (asanas), translated into five locally available medicinal plants for their languages – English, German, French, primary health care needs1. About 8000 Spanish and Japanese3. Many herbs and species of medicinal plants are in current use minerals used in Ayurveda were described by local communities all over India. About by ancient Indian herbalists such as Charak 90% of the country’s medicinal plants are and Sushruta during the 1st millennium BC4. found in forest habitats2. Only Traditional The traditional knowledge of medicinal

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plants has been recorded in numerous administration and their uses. In the study literature5,6. In India, there are more than plant species belonging to families were 7000 species, which have been identified as found to be used for various diseases (Table medicinal plants.7The medicinal plants have 1). The rural people mainly used leaf, root, traditionally occupied an important position bark, rhizome, stem, fruit, seed and latex of in the socio-cultural, spiritual and medicinal these plants as medicine for various area of the people and it is generally ailments. The reported plants were mostly transmitted orally through a community, administered as decoction, extracts, paste, family and individuals until collected8. juice and poultice. Of these plants stems and Some studies of ethno botany in west stem barks are used in 09cases; leaves are Midnapur are available9 but no such used in 18 cases; roots, rhizomes and bulbs documentation are available in East are used in 05cases; seeds and seed oil are Midanapur district. Therefore such study used in 08cases; latex are used in 02cases was formulated and the aim of the study into and flower is used only in 01case. See table record the medicinal plants used in different 1. diseases of rural people of contai, Midnapur (East) district. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION

Methodology From the present investigation, it The study was carried out in was found that some of medicinal plants different blocks of Contai subdivision have other therapeutic effects which are (21˚46/), Midnapur (East) district, about 200 mentioned in different research paper and km west from Kolkata of West Bengal. This Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. As for examples, Emblica officinalis is antioxidant, immune subdivision (6m elevation) constitutes 10. southern most part of Midnapur district. modulator & rejuvenator Calotropis This area is famous for its tourism, cashew procera latex is reported to contain cardiac steroid glucoside11. Fumes of Curcuma crop, fishing and processing industries.The 12 study was conducted through extensive longa are used during hysteric fits . Important preparative oil of paederia survey and field observations in different 13 remote villages of Contai sub division. foetida is used for curing paralysis . Oil of Ricinus communis is applied externally as Information was gathered through 14 questionnaire, consultation and interviews emollient in seborrhoeic dermatitis .The with selected knowledgeable persons, local active ingradient moringinine of Moringa physicians & women folk. During collection oleifera acts on the sympathetic nerve endings as well as on the cardiac muscles of information, local name, useful parts, 15 method of preparation and uses of medicinal and smooth muscles .Datura metel acts as plants were noted for relocation of plant in analgesic, antiviral, nematocidal, anthelmintic & antispasmodic16. Starch of near future. The specifics were identified 17 with help of available literature. Tinospora cordifola is used in rheumatism . Earlier researchers have documented Enumeration 50 species of plants belonging to 30 The rural people of this area use a families, which are used by the local healers large number of medicinal plants. The and tribal community of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal for the treatment of records of collected plants were enumerated 18 with their scientific name, family, local diverse diseases . In this study, the name, method of preparation, mode of documented 43 species of plants belonging to 37 families are found to be used as

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traditional medicines for the treatment of CONSERVATION, Int. J. LifeSc. Bt & various diseases. Detailed pharmacological Pharm. Res. 2013 studies of these claims are recommended for 8. Acharya D, Anshu S (2008), Indigenous further study. Herbal Medicines: Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal practices. Jaipur: Aavishkar Publishers. ISBN-9788179102527. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 9. Sarkhel Sumana, Ethnobotanical survey of Authors are thankful to the local folklore plants used in treatment of snakebite physicians, knowledgeable persons and in Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2014 May; 4(5): technical staffs for cooperation and support 416–420. in this study. 10. Sharma PC, Yelne MB & Dennis TJ, database on Medicinal Plants used in Ayurveda, REFERENCES Central Council for Research in Ayurveda & Siddha, New Delhi, 2001, Vol.3, P.12,14. 1&2. Fact sheet no 134: Traditional Medicine 11. Pharmacognasy of Indigenous Drugs, Central “World Health Organization” 2008-12-01. Council……Siddha, New Delhi,1999, Vol.1 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factheets P.114. /fs134//en/index.html.Retrieved 2009-05- 12. Kirtikar KR, Basu BD, the Indian Medicinal 02. Plants, 1989, Vol-4, P.2424. 3. Know Inatances of patesting on the UES of 13. Sharma PV, Dravyaguna Vigyan, Medicinal Plants in India. PIB, Ministry of Chowkhambha Sanskrit Series, Environment and Forests. May 6th , 2010. Varanasi,1956, part.1&2,P.56-58. 4. Dwivedi Girish, Dwivedi Shridhar. History of 14. The Wealth of India : Raw Materials, CSIR, Medicine : Sushruta – the Clinician – Teacher New Delhi, 1950, Vol.96 : 26-47. par Excellence. National Informatics Centre. 15. Kritikar KR, Basu BD, Indian Medicinal 2007. Plants, 1989, Vol – 1, P.680. 5. Plants of India (Publication & Information on 16. Sharma PC, Yelne MB & Dennis TJ, database Directorate, New Delhi), 1956. on Medicinal Plants used in Ayurveda, 6. Rajendram SM & Agarwal SC, Medicinal Central Council for Research in Ayurveda & Plants Conservation through sacred forest by Siddha, New Delhi, 2001, Vol.2, P.203. ethnic tribals of Virudhunagar district, 17. Kritikar KR, Basu BD, Indian Medicinal Tamilnadu, Indian J traditional knowledge, Plants, 1989, Vol – 1, P.79. 3(3) (2004) 229-304. 18. Gadgil, M., Berkes, F and Folke, C. (1993) 7. Tripathi Sayantan, Ray Souradut, Mondal Indigenous knowledge of biodiversity Amal Kumar & Verma N K, RARE ETHNO conservation.,22: 151-156. MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SOUTH WEST BENGAL, INDIA WITH THEIR DIFFERENT MEDICINAL USES: NEEDS

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Table 1. Medicinal plants used for various ailments

Local Parts Plant name & family Uses name used Adhatoda Vasica Nees Leaves juice 5 to 10ml intake orally in common Vasak Leaves Acanthaceae cold, cough & fever. Andrographis paniculata Stem infusion 5 to 10 ml intake in empty Nees Kalmegh Stem stomach in helminthes. Acanthaceae Centella asiatica Linn Leaves juice or paste intake in empty stomach Thankuni Leaves Umbelliferae in amoebiasis dysentery & diarrhoea. Tender rhizome intake in diabetes & skin diseases.Dried rhizome paste eaten with hot Curcuma longa Linn halud Rhizome boiled rice in chronic amoebiasis. Lukewarm zingiberaceae Paste of rhizome powder and lime applied locally in traumatic swelling. Hot Poultice of leaves compressed on the Datura metel Linn Leaves, Dhutura traumatic pain. Seed boiled in coconut oil and Solanaceae seeds applied over body hair to remove lice in cattle. Eclipta alba Hassk Keshunt Leaves Fresh juice apply over scalp to promote hair. Compositae Fruits soaked in water overnight and drank the Foeniculum Vulgare Mill. Mouri fruits next morning for acidity, burning micturition & Apiaceae amoebiasis. Holarrhena Stem antidysenterica Wall Kurchi Fresh bark juice uses in amoebiasis, dysentery. bark Apocynaceae Leave, Tender leaves & fruits used as vegetables to Moringa oleifera Lam. Fruits, prevent Chickenpox. Sajina Moringaceae root Root bark paste applied locally in traumatic bark swelling & rheumatism. Leaves juice used in common cold, cough, bronchial asthma & fever. Leaves juice with Ocimum sanctum Linn Tulsi Leaves common salt applied locally in ptyriasis Labiatae versicolor. The plant is planted in front of houses to prevent evils. Luke warm oil messaged over abdomen in Ricinus communis Linn Branch, abdominal flatulence with pain especially in Verenda Euphorbiaceae oil children. Branches used as tooth brush in bleeding gum. Stem Saraca indica Linn Ashok bark, Decoction used for menstrual disorder. Caesalpiniaceae Flower Syzygium Cumini Skeels Jam Seed Seed powder taken for diabetes. Myrtaceae Tinospara cordifolia Miers Gulancha Stem Tender stem juice taken for diabetes. Menispermaceae

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Local Parts Plant name & family Uses name used

Tender rhizome paste boiled in water with Zingiber officinale Rosc Ada Rhizome common salt and then gurgle in sore throat, zingiberaceae cough, tonsillitis.

Bulb paste boiled in mustard oil and then Allium sativum Linn Rasun Bulb applied in forehead, throat, ear, nose in Liliaceae common cold, fever, cough, malaise.

Calotropis procera R.Br Hot poultice of leaves applied in arthritis Akanda Leaves Asclepiadaceae rheumatism, traumatic swelling with pain. Ficus bengalensis Linn. 3-4 drops latex added in sugar candy is taken Vata Latex Moraceae in chronic amoebiasis. Terminalia arjuna W.&A. Stem Arjun Bark juice or powder used in heart disease. Combretaceae bark Fruits powder taken at bed time in Terminalia chebula Retz. constipation. Fruits soaked in water overnight Haritaki Fruits Combretaceae & then next morning drank for acidity, constipation. Vitex negundo Linn. Fresh leaves used as a hot poultice in swelling Nisinda Leaves Verbenaceae and arthritis. Unripe fruit pulp taken in diarrhoea dysentery, Aegle marmelos Fruits, amebiasis, sprue. Ripe fruit pulp used in Bel Rutaceae leaves constipation. Leaves juice with honey is taken for fever. Momordica charantia Fruit juice drank in empty stomach specially Linn. Karala Fruits for diabetes. Cucurbitaceae Seed chewed with common salt & then Piper nigrum Linn. Marich Seed swallowed in sore throat, cough, tonsillitis and Piperaceae pharyngitis. Leaves juice applied for chicken pox, measles, Leaves, Azadirachta indica skin allergy etc. Stem bark decoction used to Neem stembar Meliaceae wash cut injury, wound, ulcer, boil, eczema, k,oil etc. Neem oil applied over ulcer, wound. Fruit latex mixed with water taken orally to Carica papaya Linn. Fruit, Penpe increase appetite. Boiled fruit taken in Caricaceae latex constipation & jaundice. Oxalis corniculata Linn. Leaves used as vegetables in chronic Amrul Leaves .Oxalidaceae amoebiasis Tender leaves juice mixed with honey taken in Puncia granatum Linn. diarrhea, dysentery, especially in neonates. Dalim Leaves Punicaceae Fruit cover juice is also used in diarrhea, dysentery of adults.

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Local Parts Plant name & family Uses name used Saccharum officinarum Stem juice taken in jaundice, burning Linn. Aakh Stem micturition, dehydration. poaceae Coccinia indica W.&A. Leaves juice drank in empty stomach in Telakucha Leaves Cucurbitaceae diabetes. Green Green coconut water drank in dehydration. Oil Cocos nucifera Linn. coconut Narkel applied over scalp hair to promote hair Palmae Water, growth. oil Cynodon dactylon Per. Leaves juice drank in dysentery. Leaves paste Durva Leaves Graminae mixed with sugar applied over cut injury. Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Fruit juice taken in acidity. Fruit juice boiled in Amlaki Fruit Euphorbiaceae coconut oil promotes hair growth Nyctanthes arbortristis Leaves juice mixed with honey drank in fever Linn Shewli Leaves of children Nyctaginaceae

Cinnamomum zeylanica Stem Stem bark chewed for maintaining oral Dalchini Blumae. bark hygiene & controls foul breath Lauraceae Paederia foetida Linn. Leaves used as vegetables in diarrhea, Gandal Leaves Rubiaceae amoebiasis & dysentery. Allium Cepa Linn. Crushed onion paste used locally in insect Paianz Bulb Liliaceae sting. Carum carvi Linn. Seeds covered by cloth, rubbed & then inhaled Kalojira Seeds Umbelliferae in common cold. Seeds crushed & boiled in mustard oil & then Myristica fragrans Houtt Jayphal Seed massaged in the whole body, neck, ear, throat Myristicaceae and forehead in common cold. Mangifera indica Linn. Boiled green mango used as syrup to drink in Anacardiaceae Aam Fruit summer season for avoiding sun stoke.

Bacopa monnieri Pennell. Leaves fried in ghee & then eaten to promote Brahmi Leaves Scrophularaceae memory. Mimusops elengi Linn. Stem Stem bark decoction used as gurgling in Bakul Sapotaceae bark spongy gum, bleeding gum etc. Tagetes erecta Linn. Leaves juice applied over cut injury to stop Ganda Leaves Compositae bleeding.

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