Studies on ethnomedicinal plants conserved by Garasia tribes of Sirohi district, Rajasthan, India

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1 Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources Vol. 1(4), December 2010, pp Studies on ethnomedicinal plants conserved by Garasia tribes of Sirohi district, Rajasthan, India K L Meena* and B L Yadav Department of Botany M L V Government College, Bhilwara , Rajasthan, India Received 29 December 2009; Accepted 20 July 2010 An extensive survey of Garasia tribe dominated area of Sirohi district, Rajasthan has been made to document the information about uses and conservation of ethnomedicinal plants by them. 34 plant species belonging to 34 genera and 27 families have been recorded and enumerated. Species like Anogeissus sericea Brandis var. nummularia King ex Duthie, Ceropegia vincaefolia Hook. and Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand., included in the red data book of India and species like Ensete superba Cheesman, Habenaria marginata Colebr., Viscum articulatum Burm.f., etc. restricted in this region of Rajasthan require conservation. The tradition of conservation of nature by way of dedicating forests to some deities and sprits was observed in the Garasia tribe. Keywords: Ethnomedicinal plants, Conservation, Garasia tribes, Sirohi district, Rajasthan. IPC code; Int. cl. 8 A61K 36/00 Introduction India is a land of diverse natural resources. It has good traditions for conservation of nature. Since time immemorial, conservation of natural resources has been the integral part of many indigenous communities all over the world, especially in India. It is true for Rajasthan which has suffered an almost unabated devastation of its natural biological heritage and much of what remains has been preserved through the ages because of fast conservation-oriented socio-cultural and religious traditions. One such significant tradition for conservation of nature is the dedication of patches of forests to some deities and spirits by Garasia tribes (Plate 1a). The district is situated in the south-west part of Rajasthan in between N and N latitude and E and E longitude. It has an area of 5136 sq. km. It is bounded on the west by Jalore district, on the north by Pali district, on the east by Udaipur district, and on the south by Banas Kantha district of Gujarat (Fig. 1). The area is inhabited by various ethnic groups namely Bhil, Damor, Damriya, Garasia, Kathodi, Kokna, Kolidhor, Meena, Patelia and Seharia. Of these, Garasia is the main dweller of the forests of this area. Garasia derive their name *Correspondent author: kanhaiyameena211@yahoo.com from Sanskrit word Gras which means a morsel or subsistence. In Rajasthan, the population of these tribes is 2.91%, of the total scheduled tribe population. These tribes are more or less illiterate and traditionally living in the remote forest areas. They have commendable knowledge of medicinal properties of plants that grow around them. This knowledge has been passing on orally from generation to generation. Fig. 1 Location Map of District Sirohi

2 501 MEENA & YADAV: ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIROHI DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN Plate 1 a: View of Bhakar hill with Bhakar Bavasi-the God of Garasia, the matlok surrounded by trees of Anogeissus latfolia, Ficus benghalensis, Lannea coromandelica, etc.; b: Anogeissus serisea var. mummularia; c: Ceropegia vincaefolia; d: Viscum articulatum.

3 INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, DECEMBER A perusal of literature revealed that significant contribution has been made by several workers on ethnobotany in India 1-6. Ethnobotanical studies and ethnomedicinal aspects of Rajasthan have been studied by several workers The protection of a large number of medicinal plants in different parts of the India are well documented In Rajasthan, an account on rare, threatened and endemic angiospermic species has been provided by several workers But the conservational aspect about the medicinal plants through traditional practices is very rare. Therefore, an attempt has been made to document the knowledge of herbal medicinal as well as the recent information about conservation of medicinal plants by Garasia tribes in their traditional mode of life. The study is based on interviews with these tribal people living in this region who are entirely dependent on plants around their habitation. Materials and Methods Extensive ethnobotanical survey was carried out among the tribal people of different tribal pockets of the district. Normally tribal people are very conservative regarding providing information because of their common belief that, if they disclose the property of the plant to a person outside of their clan then the property of that plant will be lost forever. However, during this field study information gathered from medicine men and women, from bhopa, elderly birth attendants, wood cutters, shepherds and headman of the community. Collected informations were cross examined at different places through different informants in different seasons. Each of the studied plant species has been collected with the help of informants and photographs were also taken. The species were identified with the help of different published state flora Identification of species was done on the basis of spot identification method and the voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium, BSI, Jodhpur and the Department of Botany, MLV Government College, Bhilwara. Results and Discussion The Garasia tribal community of the district Sirohi has a tradition of conservation of plants based on various religious beliefs. In this district Bhakhar regions is a protected forests zone, where maximum diversity of medicinal plants have been observed at one hand and sacred grove, of each village on the other (Plate 1 a-d). The size of sacred grove (the patch offered to God) varies from village to village. They have dedicated some forests patches to deities and spirits to conserve the area as well as have imposed ban for a selected plant species that should not be exploited throughout the year. The decision on the dedication of forest patches to the deities and spirits for the purpose of conservation are generally taken in their annual general body meeting (Panchayat). During the present study of three sacred groves of district Sirohi, a total of 34 species belonging to 34 genera and 27 families of ethnomedicinal plants covering herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers have been recorded. Out of these 16 species were found to be common throughout the district, 7 species were found restricted to the northern part and 7 species were common in Bhakhar reserve forests, Abu sanctuary and Mt. Abu wild life sanctuary and 4 species were found restricted at the Mt. Abu wild life sanctuary. The plants are enumerated alphabetically with their botanical names followed by the name of the family, voucher specimen number, place of collection, local name, plant part(s) used and its medicinal uses in Table 1. The forest represents a long tradition of environmental conservation by the tribal of this region. Therefore, there is an urgent need not only to protect forest, but also to revive and reinvent such traditional practices of nature conservation and environmental management. Initially only two species namely, Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari and Rosa involucrata Roxb. were included in the lists of threatened species from state by Botanical Survey of India (BSI) but now this list has been increased due to addition of a number of species in this category The species like Anogeissus sericea Brandis var. nummularia King ex Duthie (Plate 1b), Ceropegia vincaefolia Hook. emend. Ansari (Plate 1c) and Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand are rare and have included in red data book of Indian plants 28. Some species like Citrullus colocynthis (Linn.) Schrad., C. wightii and Tecomella undullata (Sm.) Seem. are reported as threatened species 31. The gum of C. wightii is of importance in international trade and it appears that this species is being extracted at unsustainable rates, causing decline, therefore, presently it is included in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. These plant species are facing various threats in this region of Rajasthan.

4 503 MEENA & YADAV: ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIROHI DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN Table 1 Ethnomedicinal plants used by Garasia tribes of Sirohi district, Rajasthan S. No. Species/Family Herbarium Voucher No./Locality 1. Alangium salvifolium (Linn. f.) Wang./Alangiaceae 2. Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson/Araceae 3. Anogeissus sericea Brandis var. nummularia King ex Duthie/Combretaceae 4. Arisaema tortuosum (Wall.) Schott/Araceae 5. Bombax ceiba Linn./Bombacaceae 6. Butea superba Roxb./Fabaceae 7. Capparis grandis Linn./Capparaceae 8. Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban/Apiaceae 9. Ceropegia vincaefolia Hook./Asclepiadaceae 10. Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand/Liliaceae 11. Cissampelos pareira Linn./Menispermaceae 12. Citrullus colocynthis (Linn.) Schrad./Cucurbitaceae 13. Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari/Burseraceae 14. Curcuma amada Roxb./Zingiberaceae 15. Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn. f.) Etting./Loranthaceae 16. Dioscorea pentaphylla Linn./Dioscoreaceae 17. Ensete superbum Cheesman/Musaceae 18. Eriolaena hookeriana Wight & Arn./Sterculiaceae 19. Erythrina stricta Roxb./Fabaceae 650/MLVGCBH /Bosa 4309/MLVGCB H/ Mt. Abu 3927/MLVGCB H/ Bosa 3720/MLVGCB 3782/MLVGCB H/Upali Bor 2085/MLVGCB 3405/MLVGCB H/Jamburi 1265/MLVGCB H/Guru shikhar 1190/MLVGCB H/ Mt. Abu 4532/MLVGCB 1445/MLVGCB H/Revdar 1701/MLVGCB H/Sirohi 2287/MLVGCB 2634/MLVGCB 4403/MLVGCB 2496/MLVGCB 1710/MLVGCB H/ Bhakhar hill 2497/MLVGCB H/Upali Bor 2322/MLVGCB H/ Bosa Local name/category of distribution Part(s) used Ethnomedicinal use Ankol/A Stem bark *Stem bark (100 g) crushed to make 1 glass of juice and is given as one dose in case of snake bite. Sitari/D Tuber Tuber (5 g) is taken with 1 glass of milk once a day for seven days to cure piles. Dhawara/C Wood, leaves *Wood is useful in making agricultural implements. Paste of leaves is applied on wounds for 3-5 days. Halira/A Tuber *Fresh tuber (2 g) is crushed to make 100 ml of juice it is used to cure laryngitis in children. Sibal/A Stem bark *Half cup of stem bark juice is taken for 7 days to regenerate the fertility in males. Khankerwel/D Roots *Root extract (25 ml) is used by Garasia men as aphrodisiac. It has no side effects. Wathera/B Leaves * Half - one kg leaves are boiled in 1 bucket water and bath is taken for 3 days to cure swellings. Brahmi/D Leaves *Juice of leaves (1-2 tsp) is given to children once a day for one month to cure ricketts. Khadul bati/d Leaves *Fresh leaves (5-10) are eaten once a day Dhorimusali/A Roots to cure stomachache. One tsp powder of dried fasciculated roots is used for 15 days to improve vitality in males; fresh ones are eaten by children as tonic and against indigestion. Padi/A Tuber *Fresh tubers (100 g) are crushed and fried with mustard oil and applied on joints pain two times a day for 2-3 days. Tumbo/B Guggal/B Fruit & Seed Gum (Guggal) *Fruits are used in jaundice. Seed oil is used in snake bite and scorpion sting. Guggul has been used to relieve cough and lung congestion. Shankariya/A Flowers *Fresh inflorescence is smelled as well as rubbed on head for 7-8 times to reduce the headache. Dudeli/A Leaves *Fresh leaves (500 g) are tide on fractured bones for 7 days. Jatashankari/ A Tuber *Fresh tubers (25-50 g) are boiled in water. The boiled tubers are made into curry after removing the skin or roasted and taken two times a day for two weeks to treat piles. Jangali kela/a Leaves * Ointment of leaf ash in butter as base is applied on leucoderma spots three times a day for 45 days. Giyari/C Leaves * Fresh leaves are given to cattle for 15 days once a time, it increases fat in milk. Sinduri/A Flowers * Juice (¼ cup) of fresh or dried flowers is given orally once a time for abortion. (Contd)

5 INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, DECEMBER Table 1 Ethnomedicinal plants used by Garasia tribes of Sirohi district, Rajasthan Contd S. No. Species/Family Herbarium Voucher No./Locality 20. Feronia limonia 2498/MLVGCB Swingle/Rutaceae 21. Grewia asiatica 1279/MLVGCB Linn./Tiliaceae 22. Habenaria marginata 2735/MLVGCB Colebr./ Orchidaceae 23. Lavandula bipinnata (Roth) O. Ktze var. rothiana O. Ktze/Lamiaceae 24. Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr./Leeaceae 25. Madhuca indica J.F. Gmel./Sapotaceae 26. Miliusa tomentosa (Roxb.) J.Sinclair/Annonaceae 27. Neuracanthus sphaerostachys (Nees) Dalz./Acanthaceae 28. Plumbago zeylanica Linn./Plumbaginaceae 29. Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb./Fabaceae 30. Sauromatum venosum (Ait.) Kunth/Araceae 31. Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.) A. Juss./Meliaceae 32. Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem./Bignoniaceae 33. Terminalia catappa Linn./Combretaceae 34. Viscum articulatum Burm. f./loranthaceae 1265/MLVGCB H/Jamburi 1265/MLVGCB 1401/MLVGCB H/Jamburi 2598/MLVGCB 2081/MLVGCB 2083/MLVGCB 2675/MLVGCB 3400/MLVGCB 2735/MLVGCB 4512/MLVGCB H/Swaroop ganj 1509/ MLVGCBH/ Mean 2735/MLVGCB Local name/category of distribution Part(s) used Ethnomedicinal use Kaitha/A Fruits * Mature fruits (2-4) are eaten for 15 days to keep stomach free from any disease. Phalasa/B Root *Root paste (100 g) is applied on backache. Butti/A Tuber Tuber paste is applied externally on swelling of scrotum. Gond/A Stem *Stem (5 g) is crushed in water and half glass of water is given orally to kill stomach germs. Plashi/A Flowers *Extract of inflorescence (1-2 tsp) is given two time a day for three days to cure chest pain. Mahua/C Laeves, flower, seeds Leaves (5-7) are used as a bandage on muscular injury for 3 days. Dried corollas are eaten to cure weakness. The seed oil is used to relieve constipation as well as oil is used in itchy skin. -/C Fruits *Mature fruits (5-7) are given once a day for 7 days to cure weakness among children. Ghiyari A Leaves *Fresh leaves (1 kg) is given to cattle for 15 days to increase fat in milk. Chitrak/A Roots Roots (5 g) are crushed and warm with ½ cup of mustered oil. 3-4 drops are applied in the earache. Biyalakari/C Stem Stem cavity of 1 glass capacity were bored and fill with water at night, in morning this water is taken for 7 days to reduce sugar level. Samp ki Tuber Rhizome (5-10 g) is used as stimulating dawa/a poultice in snakebite. Rohini/B Bark Fresh bark (1 kg) or dried bark (½ kg) is boiled in water to make paste. It is tide on swelling for 3 days. Rohira/B Bark * Paste of stem bark is used for 5 days as a remedy for syphilis. Ubia/B Stem * The juice of fresh bark is extracted by crushing with stones and ¼ tsp juice is sucked through nostril to cure cough and cold. Va-hakar/C Whole plant *: New information recorded for the first time. A: Species widely distributed throughout the district. B: Species restricted to northern part. C: Species common in Bhakhar reserve forests, Abu sanctuary and Mt. Abu wild life sanctuary. Conclusion The Garasia tribe of Rajasthan is having commendable knowledge of medicinal properties of plants that grow around them. This knowledge of * The whole plant is dried and powdered. 1-2 tsp powder is mixed with ½ cup of water and taken once a day for seven days to cure rheumatism. tribal and rural people is now fast disappearing due to modernization and the tendency among younger generation to discard their traditional life and gradual migration to the mainstream. There is an

6 505 MEENA & YADAV: ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIROHI DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN urgent need to study and document this precious knowledge for future generations. The traditional uses of plants as herbal remedies has further declined due to scarcity of such plants which is caused by multifarious human activities coupled with natural calamities like drought and overgrazing by livestock, thus threatening the diversity of herbal medicines. The danger of extinction of species is ahead; therefore, it is necessary to ensure the survival of germplasm by their protection, conservation, multiplication and maximum aforestation of such medicinal and economically important plant species. Because of limited resources of this tribe it is essential for biotechnologist to come forward for ex-situ conservation through tissue culture, establishment of botanical gardens or in-situ conservation by way of protection the forest region of the state. The political as well as involvement of NGOs may play an important role for the protection of this valuable area of the state. Acknowledgements Authors are highly thankful to all the tribal informants for their cooperation and help during ethnobotanical study. Help rendered by Shri Jetha Ram Ji, Laxman Ram Ji, Limba Ram Ji, Modan Ji, Nana Ram Ji, Ram Chandra Ji, Salira Ram Ji and Vikram Ji by way of providing traditional knowledge is thankfully acknowledged. Thanks are also due to Shri Bhanwar Singh Ji Meena, Additional Superintendent of Police, Sirohi district for his cooperation during these studies. Thanks to Dr. S. L. Meena scientist BSI Jodhpur, for identification of specimens. Authors are thankful to Dr. V. K. Vaidya, Principal, Dr. V. K. Dosi Vice Principal for providing the facilities. Financial assistance provided by UGC Bhopal is gratefully acknowledged. 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