View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by PubMed Central Ancient Science of Life Vol. No XX January 2001 Pages 20 - 25 Some Less Known Ethnomedicinal uses from Mysore and coorg districts, Karnataka, Southern India R.D. KSHIRSAGAR Quest Institute of Life Sciences, Nicholas Piramal India Limited, LBS Marg, Mulund (W), Mumbai – 400 080 *N.P. SINGH Botanical survey of India, P-8, Brabourne Road, Calcutta – 700 001. Received: 11.9.2000 Accepted: 12.11.2000 ABSTRACT: Present communication deals with 51 less known uses belonging to 39 medicinal plants which are being used traditionally in Karnataka, and are not well known for its said efficacies for curing respective disorders. Each use has been given under correct botanical name, family, local name, locality in particular district and finally the collection number Key words: Ethnobotanical study; Tribes; Mysore; Coorg; Karnataka; India. INTRODUCTION: The area of present ethnobotanical studies On an average tribals are tin, dark comprises karnataka’s two southern most complexioned, tick lipped, tit curly airs and districts viz mysore and coorg, comes to generally stay in hatched huts. Cultural stud about 16,049 sq km lying in between 11o22- of tribal save revealed that average tribes 12015’N latitude and75o22’ -77o22’12o15’n observe “Yajmana’ system i.e headman of a latitude. In the final stages of studies, hamlet is a leader who solves all disputes of mysore district as been split into two al village, Tribes generally speak “Kannada’ districts viz. erstwhile mysore with 7 talukas some times mixed with ‘Tamil as a local and newly carver out chamrajangar district dialect. However malekudia is the only tirbe with 4 talukas. However, for the present of coorg district speaking ‘Tulu’ language. work two earlier districts (sensu lato) are Most of the maintain fait in ‘Guddas’ i.e a considered because of devoid do authorized local tribal doctor who prescribes medicine detailed information. for tribals. Methodology: TRIBES: Present work is the outcome of the stud Karnataka state is rich in both floristic and carried out by senior author wile in botanical ethnic diversities. Tribals of Mysore and survey of India, Pune. A total of nine field coorg districts still maintain their ancient life tours were conducted in the period of style, culture and traditions. In all there are January 1995 to covering all villages. Each 14 tribes viz jenukuruba bettakuruba. Soliga, exploration tour was of 25-30 day’s duration yerava, Panjariyerava, malekudia, Tammadi in which ever effort was made to coverall medha, hakki-pikki, paniyerava gowda- the area of both the district visiting all the kuruba, kadu-kuruba, kaniyan and girijana. tribes. Data presented ere are based on personal observations and interviews with 1 pages 20 - 25 informants like mdicinemen, local healers within singly inverted comma, locality, and village headmen and old, experienced men lastly the field number in parentesis. Novel and women. use is given on next line in which medical use heading is bold for which the plant is Tribals do not divulge the uses of the plants being employed is given in the beginning, in presence of other fellow tribals because followed by detail use with combination if that knowledge yields tem some sort of an and lastly in bold the tribe named who status in their tribe. Therefore, one or two utilize the plant is mentioned. Abbreviation of tem were taken to forest to collect first Vet. Is used for veterinary disorders except and information and 3-4 voucher specimens other wise stated. as well. RESULTS: So collected data is believed to be valid when the same use was told by atleast three 1. Acanthospermum hispidum DC, persons belonging to different tribes from (Asteraceae) ‘Kadumulla’ far and w2ide area. The information was Javankattehadi (Mysore) (175721). recorded in the field notebooks. Use: Cough: Infusion of whole plant Various NGOs are working in the stud area. given for curing cough by Kadukurubas. They have good rapport with tribes because Two teaspoonful twice a day till recover. the are working for tribal upliftment. No stone was left unturned to build up a good 2. Aloe Vera (L) Burm f. (Liliaceae) with these NGO personnel and through them ‘Lolisaru’ B.R. Kote Ayyankere, Hunsur wit the tribals. (Mysore) Sampaje (Coorg) (167197) Uses: Expelling torn: Leaf pulp applied Plants were identified with help of local like locally to expel thorns from foot by flora of Mysore district by R.R. Rao and Hakki-pikkies. B.A Razi (1981) and similary, Flora of coorg by K.R. Keshava Murthy and S.N. Repelling mosquitoes: Whole plant kept Yoganarasimhan (1990) and by consulting in huts in order to repel mosquitoes by the BSI western circle herbarium as well. Bettakurbas. All voucher specimens are deposited in herbarium of BSI Pun under the first 3. Anacardium occidentale L. author’s names RDK To determine the less (Anacardiaceae Kashumavu’ known or new uses, the main literature Paksharajpura (Mysore); Mundrote. sources referred to were: Kirtikar and Basu Sampaje. Makuta (Coorg) (176157). (1933), Anonymous (1948-76), Chopra et al. (1956, 1969), Dastur (1964), Jain and De Use: Dyspnoea: Two-three drops of seed Filipps (1991), Jain (1991) and Asolkar et oil mixed with 20 ml of milk and taken at. (1992), besides many books and papers for dyspnoea by Hakki-pikkis. – One published in different journals. teaspoonful of mixture 3-4 times a day till recovery In present enumeration, the plants are listed alphabetically with correct botanical name 4. Anagallis arvensis L. (Primulaeae) in italics and bold, followed b its family ‘Suryakantheesoppu’ M.M. hills, B,R. name n parenthesis, local name in italics hills (Mysore) (175710) 2 pages 20 - 25 Rickets: Stem paste rubbed on body Use: Fever Leaves cooked as vegetables to cure rickets by jenukurubas. and eaten especially to cure fever in Soligas. 9. Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Roxb. 5. Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb ex DC.) (Mimosaceae) Hebbidiru’ M.M. hills Wall. Ex Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae) B.R. Kote, Mettikuppe, Muscare ‘Dindal’ B.R. Kote, B.R. Hills M.M. (Mysore); Sampaje (Coorg) (173406). hills, Nagarahole (Mysore) ( 173447). Uses: Vet Expelling placenta; Leaves Us: vomiting Sensation: Thin, papery fed to cows after delivery to expel the layer, immediately after outermost layer placenta by malekudiyas. of bark is eaten to check vomiting sensation b soligas. 10. Bombax ceiba L. (Bombacaceae) ‘Burga’ Sampaje (coorg); B.R. Kote, 6. Argyreia cuneata (Willd.) Ker, Gawl. B.R. hills N. Begur (Mysore) (175727) (convolvulaceae) ‘kallanegida’ Mettikuppe, M.M. hills, Byllur (mysore Use: Dizziness: Bark paste applied on (173486). forehead during an attack of dizziness by jenukurubas. Uses: Interittent fever: Leaf paste applied all over the body for curing 11. Careya arborea Roxb. (Lecythidaceae) intermittent fever by Jenukurubas. ‘Gabbal’ Kushalnagar, Nagarahole (coorg) (173438) Rheumatism: Leaves pounded with leaves of Lantana camara in 1:1 Use: Toothache: Stem Bark along with proportionm paste used to massage bark of Phyllanthus emblica in 1:1 painful joints by Jenukurubas. proportion boiled in water, stem inhaled by month as a cure for toothache by 7. Argyreia elliiptica (Roth) Choisy jenukurubas. (Convolvulaceae) ‘Kongepataballi’ Baswanahally (Coorg) (173434). 12. Catunarggam spinosa (Thunb.) Tiruv. (Rubiaceae) ‘ Karekaai’ B.R. Kote, Use: Toothache: Root juice applied Nagarahole, Muscare (Mysore); locally on aching tooth for curing Channehadlu (Coorg) (174384) toothache by jenukurubas. Uses: Headache: Roots paste applied on 8. Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Liliaceae) forehead for headache by jenukurubas. ‘Saralblle’ Makuta (Coorg); B.R. Kote , balle, B.R. hills (Mysore) (173442). Thirst: 2-3 teaspoonful root paste taken to quench or to avoid more thirst in Uses: Toothache: Tubers made luke- jungle by jenukurubas. warm and put on aching booth by jeunkurubas. 13. Chionanthus malabarica (Wall. Ex G. Don) Beed (Oleaceae) ‘Kolikaare’ Byllur (Mysore ) (176147) 3 pages 20 - 25 Use: Mouth ulcers: Root extract taken 19. Erythrina variegate L. (Fabaceae) for curing mouth ulcers by soligas. – ‘Pangarpatti’ Somwarpet (Coorg) Two tablespoonful 3-4 times a day till (175749). recovery Use: Giddiness: Bark pounted with 2 14. Clitoria ternatea L. (Fabaceae) cloves of garlic and little water, paste ‘Gokarnahambu’ Natgalhundi (Mysore) rubbed over body to remove giddiness (176144) by jenekurubas Use: Aphrodisiac: flowers eaten raw for 20. Ficus religiosa L. (Moraceae) ‘ its supposed aphrodisiac property by Aralimara’ Muscare (Mysore) (167193). Jenukurubas. Use: Stuttering: Eleusine coracana seed 15. Coccinia grandis (L.) Voight flour mixed with rice powder to prepare (Cucurbitaceae) ‘Tondekaai’ B.R Kote roti, two leaves of this plant attached on (Mysore) (173418). either side of roti, baked on fire, fed to Use: Mouth ulcer: Raw fruits eaten, children who stutter during speaking. It especially to cure mouth ulcers b is practiced by jenukurubas. – It is fed Bettakurubas. for two days. 16. Crossandra infundibuliformis (L) Nees Note: 5 children were seen being treated (Acanthaceae Mundrota (Coorg) during the visits. (176127) 21. Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg Use: Expeling thron from foot Leaf juice (Thymelaeaceae ‘Adakehoogida’ Byllur applied locally to surface thorns from (Mysore) (167191) foot by Malekudiyas. Use: Dropsy: Stems tied around the 17. Cryptostegia grandiflora R. BR. stomach to cure dropsy by kaniyanas. (Periplocaceae ‘Karali’ hills (Mysore) (167165). 22. Lpomoea nil (L) Roth (Conovolvulaceae) ‘Ulkansoppu’ Use Influenza: Bark extract given for Bubnoor, Bandipur (Mysore) (175194) curing influenza by soligas. – To teaspoonfuls thrice a day till recovery. Use: Sprains: Leaf paste smeared o sprains by soligas 18. Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. (Ebenaceae) ‘Tupreelle’ B.R. Kote, 23. Jasminum malabaricum Wt. (Oleaceae) Katwal (Mysore) (173404). ‘Kadumallige’ N. Begur (Mysore); Sampaje (Coorg) (175743). Use: Autidote: Bark paste mixed with Use: Eye complaints: Stem juice put into buttermilk and given as antidote for eyes for removing foreign particles by poisoning due to seeds if semecarpus bettakurubas.s anacardium by soligas. – Two tablespoonful twice a day.