Ethnobotanical Study of Hepato-Protective / Hepato- Curative Plants Used by Ethnic Communities of South-East Rajasthan, India
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RESEARCH PAPER Biology Volume : 4 | Issue : 6 | June 2014 | ISSN - 2249-555X Ethnobotanical Study of Hepato-Protective / Hepato- Curative Plants Used by Ethnic Communities of South-East Rajasthan, India. KEYWORDS Aravalli Hills, South-East Rajasthan, Hepatoprotective/ Hepatocurative plants Asha Arora Jaishree Meena Department of Biotechnology, B.N. P.G. College, M L S Department of Biotechnology, B.N. P.G. College, M L S University, Udaipur (Raj.)India. University, Udaipur (Raj.)India. ABSTRACT Rajasthan is a state of diversified physiography with desert, plains and range of Aravalli Hills.These mountain shelters diversified ethnic tribe with vast traditional system and proceedings. Their belief in mother nature and easier availability of the resources poke them to hold and follow the ancient medicine system. A present study was specifically carried out to document hepato-protective/curative plants used by various ethnic tribes of south-east Rajasthan , as although these people follow frequent liquor practices but the reports on hepatic disfunction and deaths trolls are comparatively low. An ethno medicinal survey of tribal belts of south-east Rajasthan reveals uses of 51 plant species in various liver aliments and among the documented plants, 21 novel plants viz. Agave americana, Amaranthus spinosus, Aristolochia bracteolate, Citrus aurantifolia,Clitoria ternatea,Cuscuta reflexa, Lawsonia inermis, Mentha spicata,Mimosa pu- dica, Nelumbo nucifera, Ocimum sanctum, Sonchus oleraceus and Tephrosia purpurea were reported to be hepatotropic/ hepatoprotective. Introduction: ment the ethno-hepato-protective or curative plants so South-East Rajasthan encompasses Banswara, Bhilwara, that they can be explored further to meet out the drug/s Dungarpur, Pali, Pratapgarh, Rajasamand, Sirohi and requirement of modern era of alcoholic culture. Udaipur district of Rajasthan and harbors various tribes such as Bhill, Garasia, Damor, Gameti, Kathodi, Mina, Methodology: Kharadi, Mohradi, etc. Despite urbanization these local For documentation of ethno hepato-protective and hepa- communities largely depend on their immediate vicinity to-curative plants, field surveys were carried out in different for their basic needs. Their belief in mother nature can be seasons, from 2010 to 2013 in various tribal pockets. The visualized through their tradition and customs which co- pockets were selected randomly and were emphasized to relate seasons, food and basic bodily elements with do’s cover nearly all ethnic groups. For the documentation field and don’ts (Singh and Pandey, 1998). Despite availability interviews were made from the people of different age and of health care network by Government and other social occupation through local transcends to avoid language health agencies most of the people are partially or totally ambiguity. For the authentication of plant usage cries- dependent on local traditional medicinal system. In tribe’s, cross check was made, either by showing them plants or interference of supernatural agency is particularly strong by making a tour with them to a forest array. For documen- in context to health and disease, different deities or spirits tation usage, dose, mode of dose, tenure/ time interval are co-related to various types of aliments (Singh and Pan- was also enumerated. In case of poly-herbal preparation dey, 1980). Tribals perform different type of practices for ratio of respective drug/s and mode of usage was specifi- diagnosis and treatments of illness which include spiritual cally noted. As some of the herbs prevents usage of other action, religious rituals, exorcism, herbal remedies and food/s & supplements/s as they directly/ passively inter- diet. The medical sphere of tribal is highly pluristic with acts with others, in such cases a special notification were emphasis on prevention, curative and promotive meas- made on such check modes. Plant specimens were col- ures (Sebastian and Bhandari ,1984). The different heal- lected, followed by herbarium preparation as per standard ers utilize different resource/s for therapies as plants, ani- method (Jain and Rao, 1977) with citation of all related mals or animal’s products, minerals or therapeutic rituals. information. Herbarium sheets are deposited in Depart- The tribal response to health problems reveal a multiple ment of Biotechnology, B.N. P.G. College and specimens and simultaneous usage of home remedies and multiple were botanically authenticated for their genus and species therapy depending on the cultural logic based on medi- name using the identification keys from Rajasthan Flora cine of body fluids and supernatural dimension(Kirtikar (Singh and Sheety, 1987–1993). and Basu ,1984). For the prevention and management of disease various tribal healers viz-Bhopa (ritual therapeu- RESULT AND DISCUSSION tic), Jhankar/ Jhangar (herbalist),Devala (grain diviner), Traditional health system of ethnic pouches of south east Khoonth (priest),Guni (herbal practitioner) use variable Rajasthan generally relies on symptomatic method of di- methodologies(Katewa and Jain, 2006). Liquor practices agnosis. Despite with the prevalence of health care cen- among tribes are common on the occasion of various cer- tres by Government and other social NGOs, pathological emonies and festivals. These practices cause several nega- investigations are least popular and the healers consider tive impacts socially as well as on health specifically on the symptoms to be more authentic for the treatment and hepatic metabolism/dysfunctions. curative purposes. General symptoms which are co-related to liver ailments include-yellowing of the skin and eyes, To protect the hepatic moiety healers are aware and they loss of appetite, swollen abdomen, abdominal pain, gen- have sorted plants to protect and cure the same. Some of eral fatigue, nausea and vomiting, weakness, weight loss, these plants are used as food, while other are prescribed mental disorientation or confusion etc. Local therapist cat- as therapeutics in the form of decoction, infusion, extract egorizes such ailments as primary or secondary and treats powder or paste depending upon the assigned symptoms. accordingly with preventive and curative herbs. To get through this wisdom an effort was mode to docu- 26 X INDIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH RESEARCH PAPER Volume : 4 | Issue : 6 | June 2014 | ISSN - 2249-555X Table I: Ethno-medicinal enumeration of hepato-protective and hepato-curative plants from southeast Rajasthan S.No Botanical Name Family Local Name Locality Herbarium Ac. no. Part/s used Usage Amarpura, 1. Abutilon indicum (L.) Malvaceae Jhumka BNC/11-12/02:S43 Leaves 5 g powder is taken orally with Sweet Aala Dhani water twice a day for 5 days. Decoction of 3 - 5 g dried powder 2. Acacia catechu (L.F.) Mimosacease Katha BNC/11-12/02:T45 Heart wood is used along with honey for 7 Willd. days. Whole plant infusion is consumed Katahar, Whole plant, early morning for 7 to 10 days. 3. Achyranthes aspera Amaranthaceae Chirchita, BNC/10-11/02:C4 Decoction of Leaves with Curcuma Linn. Andhijhara Patiya Leaves (tubers) is taken thrice a day for 7 days. Fruit pulp (3g), sugar (1g) and Bhootiya, 4. Aegle marmelos Rutaceae Bel-patra BNC/11-12/02:Z52 Fruit pulp seeds powder of black pepper (Linn.) Corr. Ubeshwarji (5 to7) are thoroughly mixed and swallowed for 5 days. Aerva lanata (L.) 5. Juss. Ex. Schult. Amaranthaceae Choti-bui Bhootiya BNC/10-11/02:C5 Root Root extract is taken orally. Bheelon Leaf sap (1/4 cup) along with salt 6. Agave americana Agavaceae Jhanjhar BNC/10-11/02:B3 Leaves and lemon juice is degluited for Linn. Ka Bedla 7 days. 25g of fresh pulp along with a Kakad 7. Aloe barbadensis Liliaceae Rambans BNC/11-12/02:Q39 Fresh Pulp pinch of powdered black pepper Mill. Sagwada and black salt is taken empty stomach for 14 days. Leaf juice mixed with ginger juice 8. Aloe vera (L.) Burm. Liliaceae Gwarpata Peepalwaas BNC/11-12/02:Q40 Leaves is ingested before meal once a day for 7 days. Tribes prepare pills of root- paste 9. Amaranthus spino- Amaranthaceae Adak Jhadol BNC/11-12/02:C6 Roots and give at least two pills per sus Linn. Dhatura dose for twice a day for 7 days. Bhutia, Whole plant 10. Andrographis pan- Acanthaceae Kalmegh BNC/10-11/02:A1 ½ glass of decoction is taken iculata Nees. Kurabad once a day for 15 days. Hukka-bel, 11. Aristolochia bracteo- Aristolochiaceae Jagat BNC/11-12/02:E9 Roots In morning 10g of root powder is lata Lam. Kalipaqd taken orally for 15 days. Root powder with boiled milk 12. Asparagus racemo- Liliaceae Satawari Nya gaon BNC/10-11/02:Q41 Roots and one spoonful of honey is sus Wild. consumed during winters. Hwala, Kernel powder is taken with sugar 13. Balanites aegyptiaca Balanitaceae Hingota, BNC/11-12/02:G12 Seeds (sour supplements are prohib- (L.) Del. Hingor Naei ited). Bhutia, Kathodias make a powder of 14. Barleria prionitis Acanthaceae Bajaradanti BNC/10-11/02:A2 Whole plant shade dried plant and ingest Linn. Kurabad orally with cow-milk. Bauhinia variegate About one cup of decoction of 15. Linn. Fabaceae Kachnar Lakadwaas BNC/11-12/02:N26 Leaves leaves is used twice a day. Boerhaavia diffusa Santhi, Root powder is taken with milk 16. Linn. Nyctaginaceae Punarnava Badi undri BNC/11-12/02:X50 Roots for 7 days. Keware-ki- 17. Cassia fistula Linn. Caesalpiniaceae Carmalo, BNC/10-11/02:H14 Seed 1 or 2 boiled seeds are grinded Amaltas nal, Hwala with Curcuma and taken orally. Citrullus colocynthis Indrayan, The powder of dry roots is taken 18. (L.) Schrad. Cucurbitaceae Gartumba Kurabad BNC/11-12/02:K18 Roots orally with water by the Bhils. Citrus aurantifolia As a diuretic sugary sap is con- 19. (Christ.) Swingle Rutaceae Nimboo Ramgiri BNC/11-12/02:Z53 Fruits sumed thrice a day. Clitoria ternatea Leaves 20. Linn. Fabaceae Gokarni Sisarma BNC/12-13/02:N27 Leaf extract is taken orally. Boreshwar Root decoction is taken twice a 21. Commelina bengha- Commelinaceae Kallni, BNC/11-12/02:I16 Whole plant day, till the disappearance of yel- lensis Linn.