SOME TRADITIONAL ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED FOR CHILD HEALTHCARE IN BARGARH DISTRICT OF WESTERN ODISHA (INDIA)

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1 wjpmr, 2017,3(1), SJIF Impact Factor: Research Article WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH ISSN WJPMR SOME TRADITIONAL ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED FOR CHILD HEALTHCARE IN BARGARH DISTRICT OF WESTERN ODISHA (INDIA) Sunil Kumar Sen 1 * and Lalit Mohan Behera 2 1 Department of Botany, Panchayat College, Bargarh: , Odisha, India. 2 Ex-Reader in Botany, Modipara (Near Water Tank), Sambalpur: , Odisha, India. *Corresponding Author: Dr. Sunil Kumar Sen Department of Botany, Panchayat College, Bargarh: , Odisha, India. Article Received on 25/10/2016 Article Revised on 15/11/2016 Article Accepted on 05/12/2016 ABSTRACT The present paper highlights an ethnobotanical study conducted during the year on the wild plant species used by the tribal as well as local rural inhabitants of Bargarh district in western Odisha (India). A total of 30 plant species belonging to 25 families are reported in this paper based on an ethnobotanical field study. The five major life forms are herbs, shrubs, climbers, creepers and trees. Trees make the highest proportion (11) followed by herbs (9), shrubs (5), climbers (3) and creepers (2). The various uses of these medical plants by the tribals and locals people are discussed. KEYWORDS: Ethnomedicinal plants, Child healthcare, Tribals, Bargarh district. INTRODUCTION Ethnomedicine is the mother of all systems of medicine. It is perhaps, as old as mankind itself. Pain, ailments and diseases are reasons, enough for mankind to look for suitable remedies to ameliorate their conditions. Over the years, through experience humankind has acquired knowledge on health promotive, preventive and curative properties of animate and inanimate objects such as plant and animal products, mineral etc. in their immediate environment. Ethnomedicinal use of plants has been known since time immemorial and several plants were used to cure diseases and to maintain good health. India is rich with medicinal plant diversity distributed in different geographical and environmental conditions and is associated with tribal and folk knowledge system. According to WHO, more than 80% of the world s population relies on traditional medicinal practices for primary healthcare needs. [1] India is considered as one of the 12 mega-biodiversity countries of the world having rich vegetation. [2] There over 45,000 species of vascular plants reported from India. Of these, the folk medicine system of India use about 5,000 plant species with about 25,000 formulations for treating a variety of ailments, whereas the tribal medicine involves use of over 8,000 wild species with about 1, specific preparations/ applications. [3] Tribal people and ethnic races throughout the world have developed their own culture, customs and medicinal practices. A large number of wild and cultivated plants are being used by this culture for the treatment of various ailments and diseases and a considerable volume of information on medicinal plants available with these communities. [4] The primitive tribals acquired the knowledge of economic and medicinal properties of many plants by trial and error methods; and have become the store house of knowledge of their surrounding plants. This knowledge has accumulated over the years and passed down from one generation to the other orally. Study Area The state of Odisha (previously known as Orissa) is located towards the eastern part of India. It is surrounded by West Bengal to the north-east and in the east, Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west and north-west and Andhra Pradesh to the south. It covers a total geographical area of 155,820 sq Km and the forest cover extends over an area of 58, sq Km. According 2013 census, the total population of Odisha is 43,122,537. A majority of population of Odisha lives in the rural areas and a majority of which are tribals residing in the interior forests. Odisha is the third largest tribal populated state of the country with a tribal population of 8,145,081. There are about 62 different ethnic tribes in Odisha, which constitutes 22.1 per cent of the total population of the State and 9.7 per cent of the total tribal population of the country. Out of 62 STs, living in Odisha Khond is the most populous tribe followed by Gond. The other major tribals are Santal, 136

2 Kolha, Munda, Saora, Shabar and Bhottada, Bhumij, Bhuiya, Oraon, Paroja and Kisan. Bargarh is one of the 30 districts of Odisha which came into existence on 1 st April It lies between longitude and East and between latitude and North extending over an area of 5837 sq Km (Fig.1). According to census 2011 the total population of the district is 1, 478, 833 where as the tribal population is (census 2001), which includes the tribes like Binjhal, Sahanra (Saora), Kondh, `Gond, Munda, Kuli, Kalanga, Oran, Mirdha, Dharua, Kisan, Kharia, and Parja. The total forest coverage of the district is sq Km. Majority of the tribes live in the forest villages and have their own socio-cultural systems, traditions and food practice. Fig.1. Map showing the location of study area at Bargarh district. The economy of the district is primarily agrarian and is famous for paddy. Also the people wholly of partially dependent upon the forest produce for meeting their dayto-day livelihood. They utilize a wide variety of plants for their basic needs, such as food, fibre, fodder, medicine, dye, gum and shelter. During the survey a number plant species have been collected from different the forest localities and some from the cultivated fields. The information on ethnomedicinal uses, gathered from the tribal informants have compared with the information available in scientific literature. [5-11] Though several works on ethnomedicinal plants have been documented from Odisha [12-22] ; no work particularly on child healthcare system has so far been reported. In the present work an attempt has been made to document the wild and cultivated medicinal plants resources of Bargarh district for child healthcare. MATERIALS AND METHODS Field trips were conducted with the local medicine men during the year to collect, identify and record the wild plant species used by the tribal as well as local people inhabiting in rural areas in the district. A total of 30 plant species belonging to 25 families are reported in this paper based on an ethnobotanical field study. Information on ethnomedicinal plants used by the tribal and other rural people for treatment of various diseases related to child were collected through interview with traditional herbal medicine practitioners and experienced old men and women. Plant specimens collected during the survey were identified with the help of standard flora books [23-24] and are preserved in the herbarium of Botany Department, Panchayat College, Bargarh. ENUMERATION The present paper enumerates 30 numbers of plant species which are categorized under 19 diseases/ problems occurs during development of a child. Plants used under each category of disease/ problem are listed with their botanical names, parts used, dosages and mode of application. Anthelmintic 1. Bambusa bambos L. leaf extract along with turmeric powder and warm water is given once daily. 2. Citrus sinensis L. Seed paste along with honey is given orally once daily. Fruit rind is sundried and powdered. The powder along with honey is given once daily. 3. Leucas aspera L. leaf extract along with honey is given once daily. 4. Mentha arvensis L. leaf paste (3 teaspoon) and turmeric powder (1 teaspoon) are mixed together and the paste (1/2-1gm) with water is given orally once daily. 5. Mormodica charantia L. leaf paste (1/2-1gm) along with water is given orally once daily. 6. Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. leaf paste (1/2-1gm) along with water is given orally once daily

3 7. Ricinus communis L. seed oil (5 drops) is given along with coconut oil (1/2 teaspoon) and sugarcandy is given orally once daily. Cold 1. Leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum L., rhizome (6gm) extract of Zingiber officinale Rosc and honey and Makardwaj (sublimate of mercury and sulphur prepared through the catalytic agency of gold) are mixed together and given orally twice daily. 2. Leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum L., Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. and a pinch of camphor are mixed together and is given along with honey twice daily. Constipation 1. Momordica charantia L. leaf extract (1/2-1 teaspoon) is given once daily to cure constipation. 2. Old cow ghee is massaged over the navel to cure constipation. Cough 1. Warm Brassica campestris L. seed oil is applied over leaf of Piper betle L. and it is fomented over chest. 2. Cinnamomum tamala Nees leaf decoction and sugar candy are mixed together and is given once in every hour. Delayed Teeth formation 1. Myristica fragrans Hoult. fruit and Piper longum L. fruit are rubbed in a stone separately to obtained the paste and mixed together and is applied over gum enamel for quick formation of teeth. Diarrhoea 2. Cetella asiatica L. leaf extract along with honey or sugar is given once daily. 3. Marselia minuta L. leaf extract along with honey is given once daily. 4. Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels Seed paste along with water is given once daily. Dysurea 1. Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. leaf paste is applied externally around the navel. 2. Tagetes erecta L. leaf paste is applied externally around navel to induce proper urination. Earache 1. Musa paradisiaca L. fruit/ leaf extract (luke warm) is dropped into the affected ear. 2. Piper betel L. leaf extract (luke warm) is dropped into the affected ear. 3. Tegetes erecta L. leaf extract (luke warm) is dropped into the affected ear. Indigestion 1. Mother is advised to take Allium sativum L. bulb cloves (2 in numbers) paste every day morning in empty stomach for few days to cure indigestion problem of her baby. Itches and scabies 2. Equal amount of leaf extract of Justicia adhatoda L., Azadirachta indica A.Juss., Vitex negundo L. and turmeric powder are mixed together and is applied along with a pinch salt over the affected part. Mouth ulcer 1. Maringa oleifera Lam. leaf paste along with a pinch of salt is applied inside the affected part. 2. Vitex negundo L. tender leaf extract is applied inside the mouth cavity. Navel swelling 1. Mormodicha charantia L. leaf paste is applied locally around the navel. 2. Warm thumb finger is fomented over the navel. Navel wound 1. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. leaf is fried with cow ghee and crushed to paste to applied over the affected part. 2. Cordia macleodii (Griff.) Hook.f. & Thoms, fine leaf paste is applied locally. Oedema 1. Piper nigrum fruit (5-6 in numbers) powder mixed with butter is given 1-2 times daily. Preventing child from breast feeding 2. Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. leaf paste is applied over the breast. 3. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. bark/leaf paste is applied over the breast of mother. 4. Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels bark paste is applied over the breast of mother. Pus formation in the ear 1. Zingiber officinale Rosc. rhizome extract and Allium sativum L. bulb are mixed together and poured into the ears. 2. Leucas aspera L. leaf extract is boiled in Brassica compestis L. seed oil and slightly warm oil is poured in the affected ear. Stomachache 1. Allium sativum L. bulb extract is mixed with cow ghee and massaged over the belly. Besides, few drops of bulb extract with water is given orally 1-2 times daily. Ulcers in head 2. Warm cow milk is applied externally over the head. 3. Leaf paste of Pavetta crassicaulis Bremek. is applied externally over the affected part

4 Vomiting 1. Warm Brassica compestis L. seed oil (locally prepared) is applied externally over navel to control vomiting. 2. Foeniculum vulgare Mill. seeds (5g) are soaked overnight, crushed with water and filtered. The filtrate (2.5-5ml) is given orally. 3. Mangifera indica L. fruit kernel extract is given along with honey 1-2 times daily. RESULT AND DISCUSSION The investigation reveals that the tribals and other communities use 30 plant species belonging to 25 families for the treatment of various diseases/ some problems that occur during child development. Out of these 30 plant species 11 are trees, 09 are herbs, 05 are shrubs, 03 are climbers, and 02 are creepers. These plants are used for the treatment of anthelmintic, cold, cough, delayed teeth formation, diarrhoea, dysurea, earache, indigestion, mouth ulcer, navel swelling, navel wound, prevent child from breast feeding, pus formation in the ear, ulcer in head, stomachache, vomiting. It has been reported that 7 species of the total reported plants are used as anti-helminthic, followed by 3 species each used in diarrhoea, earache, prevention of breast feeding and vomiting, 2 species each in cold, cough, constipation, dysurea, mouth ulcer, navel swelling, and ulcers in head, 1 species each used in delayed teeth formation, indigestion, oedema and stomachache. Medicines are used in the form of paste, powder, extract, decoction and oil extract. Out of 40 prescriptions reported 14 are used orally, 9 are applied internally, 18 are externally and in one case thumb is utilized and in other case cow milk is applied to treat the problem. The present study indicates that the area harbors a high diversity of medicinal plants. Despite gradual sociocultural transformations, local communities still possess substantial knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses. Several numbers of medicinal plants are used in traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of various diseases and ailments. The present study provides information on 30 plant species under 25 families used to cure various medical problems of children in Bargarh district. The plant parts are used in the form of paste, powder, decoction and oil. Both internal and external applications are involved in the treatment process. CONCLUSION The district is rich with wild herbal medicinal plants. Through ages, people of the area utilizing this plant resource cure various ailments. Present study suggests increasing demand of medicinal plants resulted in fast degradation of these natural resources and there is an urgent need of conservation and sustainable development of medicinal plants. There are some plants which are panacea for most human ailments. Their documentation and protection of this indigenous knowledge, related to the use of medicinal plant is the need of the hour. As a recommendation phytochemical, toxicological and pharmacological studies should be undertaken to show the efficiency level of these plants which are used for the purpose. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Authors are thankful to Prof N. B. Pradhan, Retired Reader in Botany and Mr. Pareswar Sahu of Botany Department for their kind help during field collection and identification of plant materials. Authors are also thankful to the local informants for sharing their valuable ethnomedicinal knowledge about the plants. REFERENCES 1. Khan, Mohd Habibullah, Yadav, PS. Indian J Traditional Knowledge, 2010; 9(3): Borthakur SK. Goswami N. Herbal remedies from Dimoria of Kamrup district of Assam in northeastern India. Fitotherapia, 1995; 66(4): Pushpangadan P, & George V. Indian J Traditional Knowledge, 2010; 9(1): Meena KL, Yadav BL. Indian J Traditional Knowledge, 2010; 9(3): Jain SK. Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and Ethnobotany. New Delhi; Deep Publications., Kirtikar KR, Basu BD. Indian Medicinal Plants. Reprint edn., Allahabad; Lalit Mohan Basu Allahabad, 7. Ambasta SP, Ram Chandran K, Kashyappa K, Chand R. The Useful Plants of India, New Delhi; Publication and Information Directorate, CSIR., Chopra RN, Nayar SL, Chopra IR. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Reprint edn., New Delhi; National Institute of Science Communication, CSIR., Warrier PK, Nambir VPK, Ramamurthy G. Indian Medicinal Plants. New Delhi; Orient Logman., Pal DC, Jain SK. Tribal Medicine. Calcutta; Naya Prakash., Joshi SG, Medicinal Plants (Reprint edn.), New Delhi; Oxford and IBH publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., Bal SN. Useful plants of Mayurbhanj state in Orissa, Rec. Bull Bot. Surv. India, 1942; 6(1-10): Jain SK. Some magico-religious beliefs about plants among Adibasis of Orissa, Adibasi, 1971; 12(1-4): Rai Choudhury HN, Pal DC, Tarafdar CR. Less known uses of some plants from the tribals areas of Orissa, Bull. Bot. Surv. India, 1975; 17(1-4):

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