Ethnomedicinal plants used by Bhil tribe of Bibdod, Madhya Pradesh

Transcription

1 Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 5(2), April 2006, pp Ethnomedicinal plants used by Bhil tribe of Bibdod, Madhya Pradesh Dinesh Jadhav 8, Daulat Ganj, Ratlam , Madhya Pradesh; Received 4 March 2005; revised 23 June 2005 The paper provides information on the use of plant crude drugs for various diseases prevalent in Bhil tribe of Bibdod village of Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh. The paper deals with 62 plant species belonging to 57 genera of 40 families used for different diseases by the tribe. For each species, the information regarding botanical names, local names, parts used and ethnomedicinal uses have been provided. Keywords: Bhil tribe, Medicinal plants, Madhya Pradesh, Ethnomedicine IPC Int. Cl 8 : A61K36/00, A61P1/12, A61P7/00, A61P13/04, A61P15/08, A61P17/00, A61P19/02, A61P257/08, A61P33/14 Ratlam district is situated on Malwa plateau at m above the mean sea level. The district lies between 23º 18 N 75º06 E. Bibdod is situated at Bajna road about 5 km away from Ratlam. Bhils are the main inhabitants of the village, these villagers still practice herbal medicines. The knowledge of these medicines is age old. For them, use of herbs is the cheapest way to cure various health disorders. So far, there is no Government clinic in the village. A review of literature reveals that though much work has been done on ethnomedicinal plants but still there are some tribal pockets, which could be surveyed for the search of new traditional medicines. A report on the Ethnomedicinal plants used by villagers of Bibdod is being presented. Methodology Periodical surveys were conducted during October 2004 to August 2005 in Bibdod village of Ratlam district. Indigenous knowledge of local inhabitants about the use of native plants was collected during field trips through questionnaire. The plants were identified and deposited in the herbarium of the Botany Department, Government Arts and Science College, Ratlam (Figs.1-7). Results and discussion The Bhil tribe of Bibdod uses about 62 plants for various ailments. The tribal people depend totally on herbal medicines of the surroundings, as there is no clinic in the village. The plants are generally used for stomach disorders, skin diseases, fever, dog bite, respiratory disease, leucorrhoea, eye-disease, cough, cold, piles, sore throat, toothache, night blindness, jaundice, headache, swelling, itching, kidney stone problem, boils, epilepsy, small pox and other gynaecological problems. The benefit of indigenous knowledge can be harnessed and improved upon by its appropriate use, establishing validity of such knowledge and integrating it with health care programmes. Acknowledgement Author is thankful to Dr Milind Dange, Head, Department of Microbiology, Government Arts & Science College, Ratlam, Dr Swati Samvatsar, Independent Consultant (Botany), Indore, and Dr Ratnadeep Nigam, Ratlam for their keen interest in the work. References 1 Jain S K, A Manual of Ethnobotany, (Scientific publishers, Jodhpur), 2002, Jain S K, Glimpses of Indian Ethnobotany (Oxford University Press, New Delhi), 1981, Jain S K & Tarafdar C R, Medicinal plant lore of Santhals, Econ Bot, 24 (1970) Jain S K, Medicinal plant lore of the tribals of Bustar, Econ Bot, 19 (1965) Jain S K, On the prospectus of some new or less known medicinal plant resources, Indian Med J, 59 (1965),

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3 JADHAV: MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY BHIL TRIBE, MADHYA PRADESH 265 Table 1 Medicinal plants used by the Bhils of Bibdod village S No Botanical name Family Local name Uses 1 Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet. Malvaceae Kanghi Root extract is used to cure leucorrhoea 2 Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Delile Mimosaceae Bambool Leaf paste is applied on anus to cure piles 3 Achyranthes aspera Linn. Amranthaceae Lutjiro Root is tied on hand to cure fever 4 Adina cordifolia Benth. & Rubiaceae Haldu Stem bark powder is used to prevent miscarriages Hook.f 5 Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. Simaroubaceae Aydu Stem bark extract is taken to cure typhoid 6 Anogeissus latifolia Wall. Combretaceae Dhavdo Balls prepared from gum fried in ghee and mixed with jaggery and safed musli (Chlorophytum borivillianum) and warmed with ghee are taken everyday after pregnancy for strength and vigour 7 Argemone mexicana Linn. Papavaraceae Pilo daturo Leaf juice is applied externally to cure ringworm 8 Asparagus racemosus Willd. Liliaceae Motibapji / Root extract is taken to cure typhoid Hemuri 9 Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Meliaceae Lemdi Leaf juice is used as tonic to cure ascariasis and skin diseases 10 Barleria prionitis Linn. Acanthaceae Dantudi Root powder is taken to cure fever 11 Bombax ceiba Linn. Bombacaceae Semlo Root extract or flowers are taken to promote conception 12 Brassica nigra (Linn.) Koch. Brassicaceae Raii Seed powder is applied on forehead to cure headache 13 Bryonia laciniosa Linn. Cucurbitaceae Shivlingi Seeds are taken with water to promote conception 14 Butea monosperma O.ktz. Papilionaceae Khankro Seed powder is taken with water to cure bodyache 15 Caesalpinia bonducella Roxb. Caesalpiniaceae Ghatar A syrup made up of seed powder with jaggery is used to cure stomach trouble 16 Calotropis procera Br. Asclepiadaceae Ankro Latex of leaves is used to cure backache and swelling 17 Cicer arietinum Linn. Fabaceae Chana Roasted seeds are taken with jaggery to cure jaundice 18 Citrus limon (Linn.) Burm.f. Rutaceae Limbu Leaves are warmed with ghee and tied on eyes to cure swelling 19 Clerodendrum phlomidis Verbenaceae Arni Flower extract is used to prevent miscarriages Linn. F. 20 Corchorus capsularis Linn. Tiliaceae Rajan Seeds and leaves are used as stomachic 21 Coriandrum sativum Linn. Apiaceae Dhanio Seed powder is taken with sugar to cure headache 22 Crinum defixum Ker.-Gawal. Amaryllidaceae Didigundo Paste of bulb is applied on anus to cure piles 23 Curcuma domestica Valeton Zingiberaceae Haldi Powder of rhizome mixed with salt and ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) is taken with water to cure vomiting 24 Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Convolvulaceae Amarbel Stem extract is used to cure epilepsy 25 Echinops echinatus DC. Asteraceae Ontkato Root powder mixed with clove and jaggery is taken orally to cure cold. Powder of root is also used to cure sore throat 26 Enicostemma littorale Blume. Gentianaceae Nau Leaf extract is useful in fever and headache 27 Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. Euphorbiaceae Ghotla Leaf extract is used to cure cough and sore throat thuwar 28 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Euphorbiaceae Dudi Extract of whole plant is to cure small pox 29 Ferula asafoetida Linn. Apiaceae Heeng Root extract is useful in toothache 30 Ficus Glomerata Roxb. Moraceae Gulri Bark extract is taken with water to cure dysentery 31 Heylandia latebrosa DC. Fabaceae Jungle buti Plant extract is used to cure small pox 32 Ipomea carnea Jacq. subsp. Fistulosa (Mart.ex.choisy) Austin. Convolvulaceae Besharam Leaves are warmed with edible oil and tied on wound and boils 33 Jatropha curcus Linn. Euphorbiaceae Ratan jot Twigs are used as toothbrush to cure toothache (Contd)

4 266 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 5, No. 2, APRIL 2006 Table 1 Medicinal plants used by the Bhils of Bibdod village Contd S No Botanical name Family Local name Uses 34 Jasminum sambac Ait. Oleaceae Mogro Leaves are warmed with ghee and tied on boils 35 Lawsonia inermis Linn. Lythraceae Mendi Leaf paste is applied on anus to cure piles 36 Lippia nodiflora Rich. Syn. Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene. Verbenaceae Pattharchatti Paste of whole plant is applied on stomach to cure kidney stone problem 37 Madhuca indica J.F. Gmel. Sapotaceae Mauwdo Boiled flowers are tied on injured part of body to cure wounds 38 Medicago sativa Linn. Fabaceae Rizko Leaves are used to cure night blindness 39 Neptunia oleracea Lour.fl. Mimosaceae Loyadi Root extract is taken with curd to cure dysentery Cochin 40 Ocimum basilicum Linn. Lamiaceae Maruo Leaf paste with bitter gourd fruit and lime is used to cure ringworm 41 Ocimum sanctum Linn. Lamiaceae Tulsi Mixture of leaf extract with cloves and jaggery is used in cough 42 Pandanus odoratissimus Pandanaceae Kevdo Powder of roots is useful to prevent miscarriages Linn. F. syn. P. tectorius Auct. non park. 43 Papaver somniferum Linn. Papavaraceae Ammal Leaves are tied on eyes to cure swelling 44 Piper longum Linn. Piperaceae Pipramoor Root powder is taken with tea to cure fever 45 Plumbago zeylanica Linn. Plumbaginaceae Sitawel Root extract is taken with tea to cure headache, cough and cold 46 Portulaca oleracea Linn. Portulacaceae Ludsio Boiled leaves are tied on injured body part 47 Psidium guajava Linn. Myrtaceae Jaamphal Ripe berry fruit is used after roasting to cure cough & cold 48 Quisqualis indica Linn. Combretaceae Tameshvar Leaves are tied on throat to cure tonsillitis 49 Ricinus communis Linn. Euphorbiaceae Arandi Seed oil is used for teething trouble in children 50 Sonchus arvensis Linn. Asteraceae Jungli buti Leaf extract is used to cure bodyache 51 Syzygium aromaticum Linn. Myrtaceae Laung Roasted cloves powder mixed with jaggery is used in the post delivery period 52 Syzygium jambolana Lam. Myrtaceae Jambu Stem bark extract is taken to cure dysentery 53 Terminalia arjuna Combritaceae Kavdo Stem bark extract is taken with curd to cure dysentery (roxb.ex.dc.) wt & arn. 54 Tinospora cordifolia Miers. Menispermaceae Limbvel Stem juice is used to cure leucorrhoea, snake bite and leprosy 55 Trachyspermum ammi Linn. Apiaceae Ajwain Balls prepared from seed powder mixed with jaggery and warm ghee are taken everyday after pregnancy for strength and vigour 56 Tribulus terrestis L. Zygophyllaceae Bekhrio Extract of whole plant is taken to cure leucorrhoea 57 Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq. Tiliaceae Lapti Root extract is taken to cure urinogenital problem of male 58 Cayratia auriculata (Roxb.) Vitaceae Choti gudvel Root extract is useful in dog bite Gamble 59 Cissus quardrangularis Linn. Vitaceae Haadjood Stem extract is used to cure fracture 60 Zingiber officinale Rosc. Zingiberaceae Soonth Balls prepared from powder of dry rhizome mixed with jaggery, safed musli and ghee are taken everyday after pregnancy for strength and vigour 61 Ziziphus jujuba Lam. Rhamnaceae Bor Root powder is useful in dysentery 62 Ziziphus nummularia W.&A. Rhamnaceae Boorzari Root powder is useful in dysentery

5 JADHAV: MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY BHIL TRIBE, MADHYA PRADESH Kirtikar K R & Basu B D, Indian Medicinal Plants, Part I to IV, (Reprint) (Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun), Nayak S, Behera S K & Mishra M K, Ethno-medicobotanical survey of Kalahandi District of Orissa, Indian J Traditional Knowledge, 3 (1) (2004), Maity D, Pradhan N & Chauhan A S, Folk uses of some medicinal plants from North Sikkim, Indian J Traditional Knowledge, 3(1) (2004), Jain S K, Dictionary of Indian Folk medicine and Ethnobotany, (Deep Publications, New Delhi), 1991, 1-311