Folk herbal medicines from tribal area of Rajasthan, India

Journal of Ethnopharmacology 92 (2004) 41–46

Folk herbal medicines from tribal area of Rajasthan, India S.S. Katewa∗ , B.L. Chaudhary, Anita Jain Laboratory of Ethnobotany and Agrostology, Department of Botany, College of Science, ML Sukhadia University, Udaipur 313 001, India Received 8 July 2002; received in revised form 19 November 2003; accepted 8 January 2004

Abstract A floristic survey of ethnomedicinal plants occurring in the tribal area of Rajasthan was conducted to assess the potentiality of plant resources for modern treatments. The information on medicinal uses of plants is based on the exhaustive interviews with local physicians practising indigenous system of medicine, village headmen, priests and tribal folks. The Aravalli hills of Mewar region of Rajasthan are inhabited by many tribes; Bhil, Garasia, Damor and Kathodia being the main ones. In a floristic survey 61 ethnomedicianl plant species belonging to 38 families were recorded from this region. A categorical list of plant species along with their plant part/s used and the mode of administration reported to be for effective control in different ailments is prepared. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Ethnobotany; Folk medicinal plants; Tribals; Aravalli hills; Rajasthan

1. Introduction Folk medicines, mainly based on plants, enjoy a respectable position today, especially in the developing countries, where modern health service is limited. Safe, effective and inexpensive indigenous remedies are gaining popularity among the people of both urban and rural areas, especially in India and China. Information from ethnic groups or indigenous traditional medicine has played a vital role in the discovery of novel products from plants as chemotherapeutic agents. Rajasthan is the largest state in the North-Western part of India. Geographically it lies between 23◦ 3 to 30◦ 12 N longitude and 69◦ 30 to 78◦ 17 S latitude. The tribal dominated Mewar region of Rajasthan (Fig. 1) harbours a vast diversity of vegetation. It includes subtropical evergreen forest of Boswellia serrata, Diospyros melanoxylon, Dendrocalamus strictus, Bombax cieba, Madhuca indica, Tectona grandis, Anogeissus latifolia and Balanites aegyptiaca. These forests are inhabited by the major tribes of the state, viz. Bhil, Garasia, Damor and Kathodia. The surrounding plants form an integral part of culture of these people and the information about plants is passed on from generation to generation only through oral folk lore, although it is often kept secret. Modern health care in the tribal and rural areas of the Rajasthan state is characterised by a deficiency of infrastruc-

∗ Corresponding

ture, of qualified personnel and of medicine. Access to and within the region is extremely difficult during certain periods of the year making evacuation for medical treatment an unrealistic option. Given these extreme conditions, the population has recourse almost solely to traditional medicines. The traditional healers of Rajasthan have a commendable knowledge of the medicinal virtues of plants that grow around them. This knowledge of traditional healing practices using wild plants is now fast disappearing due to modernisation and the tendency to discard their traditional lifestyle. There is an urgent need to study and document this precious knowledge for posterity. The traditional uses of plants as herbal remedies has further declined due to a scarcity of species, which is caused by multifarious human activity coupled with natural calamities like droughts and overgrazing by sheep, goats and other domestic animals in the state, thus threatening the diversity of the herbal medicines. It is in this context that conservation and scientific verification of rare and lesser known medicinal plants assume greater significance. Ethnobotanical studies in the tribal dominated Aravalli hills of Mewar region of Rajasthan have been carried out by Joshi (1995); Singh and Pandey (1998); Katewa and Arora (1997); Katewa and Guria (1997); Katewa and Sharma (1998); Katewa and Chaudhary (2000) and Katewa et al. (2001). A perusal of the literature reveals that, although a lot of ethnomedicinal work has been done in the Aravalli hills of Mewar region, some ethnobotanical gaps in knowledge exist in this region and this is revealed in the present paper.

author.

0378-8741/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.01.011

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Fig. 1. Map of Rajasthan showing tribal area.

2. Methodology An ethnobotanical survey of Mewar region was conducted during 1998–2002 in different seasons and areas. Before actually launching into the field work, rapport was established with one or two persons of each group preferably the chief, guidance was sought and contact then established with other tribals of the locality. The linguistic fluency, personality and social standing are crucial to establishing rapport between the participants involved. The local informants were the medicinemen, men and women working in the field, village headmen, priests and other community leaders. Field sites were visited with the local medicineman. The persons mostly above the age of 60 had accurate information regarding their old traditions. Generally two types of interviews were taken, firstly of individuals and secondly of groups. Of individuals, persons were selected at random on the way or entering a hut, finding out knowledgeable individuals from the village or also the bhopa (village priest) or the headman. In group interviews, more than one individual was approached, our purpose explained and interviews taken. In forests, with the ambient vegetation before them, the tribals were prompted to remark on the utility of species. In smaller groups, women folk were lesser in number, but both

sexes were represented in larger groups and resulted in heterogeneity of information. To determine the authenticity of information collected during field work, repeated verification of data from different informants and in different areas at different times was done. Thus, only the specific and reliable information cross-checked with at least 11 informants has been incorporated in the present study. Participating in their feasts, festivals, other social events, etc. was of great use in collecting information on plants and observing how they are used. During the survey some interesting folk uses of plants have come to light which are not mentioned in important medicinal literature of Singh and Pandey (1998); Jain (1991); Kirtikar and Basu (1984). The collected medicinal plants were identified at species level at the Herbarium of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. All the collected specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of Laboratory of Ethnobotany and Agrostology, Department of Botany, College of Science, ML Sukhadia University, Udaipur for authentication of information and further references. Numbers of voucher specimens is also provided in Table 1. The information about the medicinal properties of plants are given by mentioning their botanical name, local name, part/s used and the mode of their administration.

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Table 1 Ethnomedicinal plants from tribal dominated Mewar region of Rajasthan Botanical name

Local name

(A) Digestive system and related ailments Abrus precatorius var. alba Chirmi (Fabaceae) Aegle marmelos (Rutaceae) Bel

Herbarium number

Part/s used

Ailments

Mode of administration

EA119

Lvs.

Blisters

Fresh leaves are chewed

EA63

Frs.

One tea spoon pulp is taken orally once a day for 3–4 days Two hundred and fifty grams of fresh pulp along with a pinch of black pepper and black salt is taken empty stomach for 7 days Half tea spoon seed powder is mixed in boiled egg and eaten for 1 week One tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with water One tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with water One tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with water Half tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with milk One tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with water for 3 days One tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with water Paste of 8–10 crushed leaves is taken orally with water One tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with water Smoke treatment, affected part is fumigated Half cup of root or stem decoction is given orally for 2–3 days

Aloe barbadensis (Liliaceae)

Gawarpatha

EA101

Lvs.

Abdominal pain and constipation Indigestion

Cesalpenia bonduc (Cesalpeniaceae)

Kantkaranj

EA178

Sds.

Piles/ulcer

Convolvulus microphyllus (Convolvulaceae) Fagonia cretica (Zygophyllaceae)

Bhumari

EA210

W.Pl.

Constipation

Dhamaso

EA290

Lvs., Fis.

Diarrhoea

Helicteres isora (Sterculiaceae)

Marodphali

EA325

Frs.

Dysentery

Hibiscus cannabinus (Malvaceae)

Bhang

EA108

Lvs.

Constipation

Nymphea nauchalii (Nymphaceae)

Kamal

EA57

Frs.

Phyllanthus emblica (Euphorbiaceae)

Amla

EA44

Frs.

Piles/dysentery and dyspepsia Constipation

Salvadora persica (Salvadoraceae)

Pilu

EA93

Lvs.

Constipation

Salvia aegyptiaca (Lamiaceae)

Hingot

EA87

Sds.

Diarrhoea

Solanum surattense (Solanaceae)

Makoae

EA340

Frs.

Piles

Wrightia tinctoria (Apocynaceae)

Khirni

EA55

Rt./St.

Stomachache

Chirmi Harshia Kalipad

EA24 EA98 E273

Lvs. Lvs., Bk., Sds. W.Pl.

Wounds Boils Boils

Paste is applied for early healing Paste is applied on the affected part Paste is applied on the affected part

Hingora

EA78

Frs.

Carbuncles, scabies

Boswellia serrata (Burseraceae) Butea monosperma (Fabaceae) Chrozophora rottleri (Euphorbiaceae)

Salar Dhak Suballi

EA52 EA190 EA225

GR. St, Bk. Lvs.

Sore, skin eruptions Cuts, wounds Sunburn

Commiphora wightii (Burseraceae) Cressa cretica (Convolvulaceae) Datura innoxia (Solanaceae)

Gugal Rutandi Dhatura

EA201 EA121 EA104

GR. W.Pl. Lvs.

Old wounds Boils Purulient wounds

Digera muricata (Amaranthaceae)

Kaligera

EA182

Lvs.

Boils

Ficus benghalensis (Moraceae) Gloriosa superba (Liliaceae)

Bargad Kalgari

EA73 EA222

Ltx. Tbs.

Carbuncles Wounds

Salvadora persica (Salvadoraceae) Sida cordata (Malvaceae)

Pilu Rukri

EA93 EA159

Rt., Bk. Lvs.

Blisters Cuts, bruises

Tecomella undulata (Bignoniaceae)

Sagwan

EA302

Sds.

Typha angustata (Typhaceae)

Era

EA191

Ifl.

Abscess, allergies and eczema Wounds

Paste is made from brown greasy outer rind of fruit and applied locally Fragrant ointment Paste is applied on the affected part Paste is applied locally on the affected portion of body Applied locally as an antiseptic Paste is applied locally Juice with turmeric powder is applied as ointment Paste is applied locally to prevent the pus formation Paste is applied locally Paste of dried powder is applied locally Paste is applied locally Paste of dried powder is applied locally Paste is applied locally

Ziziphus nummularia (Rhamnaceae)

Jhari ber

EA400

St./Bk.

Allergies, Scabies and eczema

Aandhi jhara

EA150

W.Pl.

Pneumonia

(B) Skin disease and related ailments Abrus precatorius (Fabaceae) Albizia lebbeck (Mimosaceae) Aristolochia bracteata (Aristolochiaceae) Balanites aegyptiaca (Balanitaceae)

(C) Respiratory ailments Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae)

Inflorescence is tied over deep wound as dressing Decoction is used as disinfectant One tea spoon powder is taken with warm water

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Table 1 (Continued ) Botanical name

Local name

Herbarium number

Part/s used

Ailments

Mode of administration

Costus speciosus (Zingiberaceae) Cyamopsis tatragonoloba (Fabaceae)

Maha lakdi Ganwar

EA87 EA74

Rt. Lvs.

Asthma Asthma

Datura innoxia (Solanaceae)

Dhatura

EA104

Lvs.

Asthma

Infusion is taken orally One tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with water One tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with water

Solanum surattense (Solanaceae)

Makoe

EA340

Bk., Frs.

Cough

Urginea indica (Liliaceae) Wrightia tinctoria (Apocynaceae)

Kolikanda Khirni

EA402 EA55

Bl. Lvs.

Bronchical troubles Asthma

Ziziphus nummularia (Rhamnaceae)

Thanber

EA400

Frs.

Cold

Gawarpatha Dholi musali

EA101 EA43

Lvs. Tbs.

Liver diseases Enemic

Raidodi

EA112

Gd.

Diabetes

Safed kikar Gugal

EA47 EA201

Lvs. GR.

Urinary tract bleeding Urinary obstruction

Jungali turai

EA91

Sds.

Stone in urinary bladder

Decoction is taken orally One tea spoon gum and resin are dissolved in water and taken orally for 3 days Half tea spoon of powder taken orally with water for 3–4 days

Babul Kukidi

EA58 EA50

Lvs. Sds.

Sexual weakness Ovarian and uterus diseases

Decoction is taken orally Twenty gram crushed seed is taken orally

Pedalium murex (Pedaliaceae)

Badagokharu

EA226

Lvs.

Gonorrhoea

Tamarindus indica (Caesalpiniaceae)

Imli

EA45

Frs.

Irregular menstruation

Tribulus terrestris (Zygophyllaceae)

Chota gokharu

EA232

Frs., Lvs.

Impotency

Eight to ten fresh leaves are rotated in half litre water and the water becomes mucilaginous. Half cup of this water is taken once a day for 7 days Eaten directly or cooked as vegetables Dried powder is used for making laddoos and eaten by man. Powder is taken with milk to increase the number of sperms

EA359

Bl.

Snake bite

Kalipad

EA273

Lvs.

Snake bite

Neem

EA21

Sds.

Malaria

(D) Blood and liver related ailments Aloe barbandensis (Liliaceae) Chlorophytum borivilianum (Liliaceae) Cosmostigma racemosum (Asclepiadaceae) (E) Urinary system related ailments Acacia leucophloea (Mimosaceae) Commiphora wightii (Burseraceae)

Luffa acutangula var. amara (Cacurbitaceae) (F) Sex related ailments and disorders Acacia nilotica (Mimosaceae) Celosia argentea (Amaranthaceae)

(G) Animal bites and parasitic nature of ailments Arisaema tortusum (Aracaceae) Kotukand Aristolochia bracteolata (Aristolochiaceae) Azadirachta indica (Miliaceae)

One tea spoon powder is taken orally with water for 3 days Decoction is taken orally Half tea spoon of dried powder is taken orally with water Dried powder taken orally with warm water Leaf pulp is taken orally Half tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with milk Used as vegetable

Infusion of 25 g fresh bulb is taken orally thrice a day Infusion is taken orally Dried powder is taken orally with water Tied locally

Clerodendrum phlomidis (Verbenaceae) Datura innoxia (Solanaceae)

Arani

EA115

Lvs.

Guinea worm

Dhatura

EA104

Sds.

Hydrophobia

Euphorbia neriifolia (Euphorbiaceae) Prosopis cineraria (Mimosaceae)

Thor Khejri

EA238 EA218

Ltx. Frs.

Scorpion stings Ring worm

(H) Rheumatism, sprains and swellings Aloe barbadensis (Liaceae)

Gawarpatha

EA101

Lvs.

Rheumatism

Bread of wheat flour prepared after mixing pulp and cow butter is eaten

Argemone mexicana (Papaveraceae) Celastrus paniculatus (Celastraceae)

Dhaturi Malkangani

EA148 EA110

St. Ltx. Sds.

Rheumatism Rheumatism

Latex is rubbed over affected part Oil is employed

Decoction of dried powder is taken orally once a day for 4 days Applied locally Pulp applied locally

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Table 1 (Continued ) Botanical name Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Fabaceae) Pedalium murex (Pedaliaceae) Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) Withania somnifra (Solanaceae)

Local name

Herbarium number

Part/s used

Ailments

Mode of administration

Gawar Gokharu Arandi Ashavgandha

EA74 EM26 EA136 EA81

Sds. Frs. Lvs. Rt.

Swellings, sprains Rheumatic pains Rheumatism Painful swellings

Wet seeds are applied locally Powder is applied locally with butter Warmed and tied locally Bruised paste is applied locally

EA148 EM73

St., Ltx. Sds.

Eye affections Stiff hair

EA2l

Sds.

Body lice

EA107

Rt.

Eye swelling and in watering of eyes

Poultice is tied over eyes Paste of dried powder applied to soften stiff hairs Paste of dried seeds is applied locally Dried powder is mixed with butter and poultice is tied over eyes

(I) Ear, eye, teeth and hair related ailments Argemone mexicana (Papaveraceae) Dhaturi Aristolochia bracteata Kalipad (Aristolochiaceae) Azadirachta indica (Miliaceae) Neem Boerhavia diffusa (Nyctaginaceae) Commiphora wightii (Burseraceae)

Gugal

EA201

Gr.

Pyorrhoea

Costus speciosus (Zingiberaceae)

Maha lakdi

EA87

Rt.

Earache

Cordia gharaf (Ehretiaceae)

Gundi

EA319

Bk.

Toothache

Ficus benghalensis (Moraceae) Solanum surattense (Solanaceae) Ziziphus nummularia (Rhamnaceae)

Bargad Bhor ringni Jhariber

EA73 EA340 EA400

Ltx. Bk., Frs. Rt.

Eye pains Toothache Pyorrhoea and bristles

(J) For weakness and debility Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae)

Andhijhara

EA150

Sds.

Weakness

Asparagus racemosus (Liliaceae)

Satawari

EA16O

Rt.

Debility

Cordia gharaf (Ehretiaceae)

Gundi

EA3 19

Lvs.

General debility

Amarbel Bhumari

EA109 EA180

W.Pl. W.Pl.

Chest pain Fever

Jungali tulsi

EM47

Sds.

Fever

Solanum nigrum (Solanaceae)

Makoe

EA89

W.Pl.

Fever

Solanum surattense (Solanaceae)

Bhor ringni

EA340

Rt.

Fever

Tamarindus indica (Caesalpiniaceae)

Imli

EA45

Frs.

Sunstroke

Tinospora cordifolia (Manispermaceae) Withania somnifera (Solanaceae)

Gibe

EA158

Rt., Bk.

Fever

Ashvagandha

EA81

Lvs.

Fever

(K) Other ailments Cuscuta hyalina (Cuscutaceae) Evolvulus alsinoides (Convolvulaceae) Ocimum americanum (Lamiceae)

Infusion is used in gurgles thrice a day for 3 days Two or three drops of decoction is poured to check pus formation Decoction is used in gurgles thrice a day for 3 days Applied locally Powder is rubbed on teeth Decoction is used in gurgles thrice a day for 2 days One tea spoon powder is taken with milk for 3 days One tea spoon dried powder is taken with milk for 4 days One tea spoon dried powder is taken with water once a day for 3 days Decoction is taken orally One tea spoon powder is taken orally with water Half tea spoon dried powder is taken orally with milk Decoction is taken orally thrice a day for 3 days Half cup decoction is taken orally thrice daily for 3 days Pulp is taken orally and also applied locally Decoction taken thrice a day for 3 days. One tea spoon powder is taken with water once a day for 7 days

EA., ethnobotany and agrostology Herbarium; Rt., root; Bl., bulb; St., stem; Bk., bark; Wd., wood; Lvs., leaves; Ifl., inflorescence, Fls., flowers; Frs., fruits; Sds., seeds, W.Pl., whole plant; Ltx., latex; Gm., gum; GR., gum and resin; Gd., green pods; Tbs., tubers.

3. Results and discussion The traditional knowledge system in India is fast eroding. There is an urgent need to record all ethnobotanical information among the diverse ethnic communities before the traditional culture is completely lost. Often, tribals are exploited by the modern societies and they are forbidden to use the forest resources with which their lives are strongly interwoven. As a result of present study the ethnomedicinal use of approximately 61 plant species be-

longing to 38 families have been reported from the study area. Some important medicinal plants which occur in this region are Costus speciosus, Arisaema tortusum, Abrus precatorius, Abrus precatorius var. alba, Cesalpinia bonduc, Urginea indica, Typha angustata, Nymphaea nauchalii, Gloriosa superba, Chlorophytum borivilianum, Tribulus terrestris, Aristolochia bracteata, Ficus benghalensis, Solanum nigrum, Asparagus racemosus, Helicteres isora, Celastrus paniculatus, Chrozophora rottleri, Cosmostigma

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racemosum, Celosia argentea and Pedalium murex. From Table 1, 38 of 61 plant species have the property of curing skin diseases and related ailments, while 14 species are important for digestive system and related ailments. Other plants listed have the property for curing diseases and disorders related to respiratory ailments, blood and liver, urinary system, sexual disorders, diabetes, animal bites and parasitic related problems, rheumatism, eye, ear, teeth and hairs. Hence the role of ethnobotanical surveys and field work is of crucial importance as some miraculous medicines for uncurable diseases are known to the tribes and aboriginals and much acquired knowledge through the ages is usually passed on from generation to generation as a guarded secret of certain families. Therefore, it is necessary to popularise the identity and utility of these medicinal plants. The observations emanating from the present survey need to be substantiated with pharmaco-chemical studies in order to evaluate their effectiveness. However, for some species, there is evidence in the literature that the mode of application being practised by the local people is likely to be effective. For example several alkaloids have been isolated from the extract of whole plant of Argemone mexicana (Chang et al., 2003). In the traditional medicine of Southern Rajasthan the seed powder of Abrus precatorius is used as abortifacient (Singh and Pandey, 1998) which coincides by the pharmacological validation (Sethi et al., 1990). Similarly the anthelmintics properties of Tribulus terrestris in traditional medicines is reported by Asha et al. (2001); Prashanth et al. (2001); Deepak et al. (2002); which is due to spirostanol type saponin, tribulosin and ␤-sitosterol-d-glucoside. The application of fruit extract of Helicteres isora in gastrospasm is in accordance with the fact that it contain cucurbitacine (Bean et al., 1985), flavonoids (Romesh and Yuvarajan, 1995), neolignans (Tezuka et al., 1999) and rosmarinic acid (Satake et al., 1999).

Acknowledgements Authors are thankful to the CSIR, New Delhi for providing financial assistance and to the authorities of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India for consulting Herbarium for final identification of herbal medicinal plants.

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