Traditional medicinal practices among the tribal people of Malkangiri district, Orissa, India

Natural Product Radiance, Vol. 6(5), 2007, pp.430-435 Explorer: Research Article Traditional medicinal practices among the tribal people of Malkangiri district, Orissa, India Chiranjibi Pattanaik 1 *, C Sudhakar Reddy 2, Rasmita Das 3 and P Manikya Reddy 4 1 Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Deccan Regional Station Hyderabad-500 017, Andhra Pradesh, India 2 Forestry and Ecology Division, National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad-500 037 3 Department of Botany, Berhampur University, Berhampur-760 007, Orissa, India 4 Department of Environmental Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500 007 *Correspondent author, E-mail: jilu2000@rediffmail.com Received 31 October 2006; Accepted 22 May 2007 Abstract An ethnobotanical survey of some tribal areas revealed that 34 plant species are used by tribal people of Malkangiri district, Orissa. The use of traditional medicine was observed to be wide-spread and prevalent over modern medicine in the study area. In present paper plants for various diseases have been discussed along with their uses, botanical names with family, local names, plant parts used and medicinal preparation along with dosage and mode of administration. Keywords: Traditional medicine, Bonda, Didayi, Koya, Paroja, Bhatoda, Khondh, Ethnobotany, Malkangiri district, Orissa. IPC code; Int. cl. 8 A61K 36/00, A61P 7/17, A61P 17/00, A61P 29/00 Introduction In the past decade, there has been renewed attention and interest in the use of traditional medicine globally 1. The World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed out that traditional medicine is an important contributor to its health goals. Today, according to the WHO, as many as 80% of the world's people depend on traditional medicine and in India, 65% of the population in the rural areas use Ayurveda and medicinal plants to help meet their primary health care needs 2. Thus, traditional medicine practices, conserved over decades from old civilizations, can serve as an effective basis for the discovery and development of modern therapeutic drugs. There are considerable economic benefits in the development of indigenous medicines and in the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases. In a report recently published by the World Bank, Lambert et al, pointed out that preserving and enhancing the plant knowledge and use was equivalent to 'rescuing a global heritage 3. Herbal medicines are comparatively safer than synthetic drugs. Plant-based traditional knowledge has become a recognized tool in search for new sources of drugs 4. The ethnobotanical survey can bring out many different clues for the development of drugs to treat human diseases. Orissa with varied climatic regions has a rich and diverse flora and a mixed floristic composition of aboriginal species used in traditional medicine 5. Although, a good amount of ethnobotanical investigation has been carried out in the southern part of Orissa 6-10, still some areas are left unexplored. Malkangiri is one of twelve Bauhinia vahlii Abrus precatorius Asparagus racemosus Argemone mexicana 430 Natural Product Radiance

Calotropis gigantea tribal districts of Orissa dominated by several primitive tribal communities 11. The district is the homeland of various tribal communities with their sub-tribes found in interior part of the forest. Bonda, Didayi, Koya, Paroja, Bhatoda and Khondh are the primitive tribes found in this district 12. Despite of various developmental activities, the traditional medicine system is quite stable in the study Semecarpus anacardium Location map of Malkangiri district, Orissa area and currently not being replaced by modern allopathic medicine. The present study highlights the use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine of the tribal people in Malkangiri district, Orissa. Study site The Malkangiri district lies between 17º45' to 18º40' N latitude and 81º10' to 82º 00' E longitude. It was earlier a part of undivided Koraput district. Now, it spreads over an area of 5791 sq. kms with a maximum North-South elongation of 137 kms and a maximum East- West elongation of 76 kms. The district is bounded in the East by Koraput district (a portion) of O r i s s a, Vishakhapatnam and East Godavari districts of Lantana camara var. aculeata Cassia tora Tridax procumbens Andhra Pradesh, Bastar district of Chhattisgarh in the West, Koraput district of Orissa in the North and East Godavari and Khammam districts of Andhra Pradesh in the South (Map). The general topography of the area is of broken mountains intercepted by large riverbeds and watercourses. The altitude varies from 400 m near western side to 1200 m on the eastern side with mountain peaks and ridges. Sandy and clay type soil predominate the entire district. The climate of the major portion of the district is influenced by its varied elevation. The minimum and maximum temperatures are 11.2ºC and 44ºC in the month of December and May, respectively (Indian Meteorological Department, Bhubaneswar). Humidity is generally high especially in the monsoon and postmonsoon months. It receives about 1500 mm rainfall annually. Major portion of the annual rainfall is received during Vol 6(5) September-October 2007 431

South-West monsoon between July to September. Half of the portion of the district is covered by dense semievergreen and moist deciduous forests, which is congenial for luxuriant growth of many valuable medicinal plant species. Methodology Several field trips were undertaken for collection of plants during different seasons in 2004 and 2005. Information on the plants was gathered through oral interviews of the local tribal people, especially older persons, local medicine men and herbalists. Throughout the interviews, local plant names, usable plant part, preparation method for medicine, application mode and dosage were recorded. All gathered information was cross-checked with people of other villages and other individuals practicing in or near the locality in which the plant material was collected. Also, comparison was made between the information provided by the tribal people and available literature 13-16. Efforts have been made to select the plants in flowering and fruiting condition and have been provisionally identified by consulting the regional floras 17-18. Voucher specimens have been deposited in the herbarium of Botany Department, Kakatiya University (KUH), Warangal, Andhra Pradesh. Results and Discussion A total of 34 plant species belonging to 33 genera and 25 families were identified as being used for treatment of approximately 17 ailments or therapeutic indications including headache, toothache and fish poisons (Table 1). Fabaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Acanthaceae families had the largest number of plants used; and the largest numbers of preparations used were for dysentery and skin diseases. Mostly leaves were used for preparation of medicines for different ailments. Water is used exclusively in the preparation of medicines. Information on Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb., Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn., Cassia fistula Linn., Butea monosperma(lam.) Taub., Holarrhena antidysenterica (Linn.) Wall. and Hemidesmus indicus R.Br. are found to be new from this area when compared with the available literature on Indian medicinal plants 6-10, 13-16. The uses recorded for the first time have been asterisk marked in Table 1. Table 1 : Traditional uses of plants against various diseases Therapeutic indication Local name Plant parts used Medicinal preparation Botanical and Family name and dosage Abortifacient Abrus precatorius Linn. (Fabaceae) Kainch Seeds Three seeds taken for 4 days to induce abortion. Plumbago zeylanica Linn. Sitaparu Root Two grams of root powder with water taken (Plumbaginaceae) orally for 2 times. Cough Adhatoda zeylanica Medik. Basongo Leaves Decoction of seven leaves taken orally (Acanthaceae) for one week. Barleria prionitis Linn. Tamresa Leaves 15 ml of leaf juice mixed with honey given (Acanthaceae) orally for one week. Cuts and Wounds Semecarpus anacardium Linn.f. Kalabhalia Fruits Oil extracted from the fruits applied externally. (Anacardiaceae) Sida acuta Burm.f. (Malvaceae) Bajarmuli Leaves Juice of the leaves applied locally. Tridax procumbens Linn. Bisal gacha Leaves 7-8 leaves rubbed in hand and the juice (Asteraceae) applied externally. 432 Natural Product Radiance

Therapeutic indication Local name Plant parts used Medicinal preparation Botanical and Family name and dosage Diabetes Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. Bija Stem bark Decoction of the stem bark (2g) given (Fabaceae) orally everyday. Syzygium cuminii (Linn.) Skeels Jamukoli Leaves Juice of leaves and powdered fruit with water (Myrtaceae) and Fruits taken orally everyday. Dysentery Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Bel Fruits 10-15 ml of infusion of fruit taken Correa ex Roxb. (Rutaceae) orally twice daily. Bauhinia vahlii Wight & Arn. Sialpatar Pods Decoction of seven pods taken orally (Caesalpiniaceae) for 2 days. *Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. Duri Stem bark Crushed stem bark with water given (Ebenaceae) orally for 3 days. Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Anlakoli Fruits Decoction of fruits (seven) taken (Euphorbiaceae) orally for 3 days. Fever Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Bhuingkara Leaves 50 ml of infusion of leaves taken orally for 3 days. Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae) Argemone mexicana Linn. Kantakusum Root Fresh root grounded with black pepper and (Papaveraceae) the extract given orally, one spoonful twice a day for 5 days. *Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. Kokra Leaves Leaf juice together with black pepper is given (Oleaceae) internally till fever cures. Fish poison Casearia elliptica Willd. Benimonj Leaves The milky juice, mixed with the water and (Flacourtiaceae) used as fish poison. Gastro-intestinal disorders Achyranthes aspera Linn. Chir-chir Aerial part Half glass of decoction of aerial parts taken (Amaranthaceae) orally for 2 days. Asparagus racemosus Willd. Pinaspari Root Dried root powder crushed with turmeric and the (Liliaceae) filtrate taken orally, 2 spoonful twice a day for 3 days. Terminalia chebula Retz. Harida Bark 5ml decoction of bark taken orally (Combretaceae) for one week. Headache Ricinus communis Linn. Jada Seeds Seed oil applied on head for cooling effect. (Euphorbiaceae) Jaundice Vitex negundo Linn. (Verbenaceae) Begunia Leaves 20 ml of infusion of leaves taken orally for 3 times with a gap of 4 days. Leprosy *Cassia fistula Linn. Sonari Leaves Decoction of leaves applied on (Caesalpiniaceae) the affected area. Vol 6(5) September-October 2007 433

Therapeutic indication Local name Plant parts used Medicinal preparation Botanical and Family name and dosage Costus speciosus (Koenig.) Sm. Keokanda Rhizome Make a paste with water and apply locally. (Zingiberaceae) Liver disorder *Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. Palaso Leaves A glass of leaf extract taken orally for 2 days. (Fabaceae) Rheumatic pain Holarrhena antidysenterica Khucchi Leaves Two to three leaves are attached with the latex Linn. syn. H. pubescens (Buch.-Ham.) of the same plant over back-bone and Wall. ex G.Don (Apocynaceae) fomented externally. Lantana camara Linn. Nagiri Leaves and Decoction of both parts given var. aculeata (Linn.) Mold. Flowers orally for 21 days. (Verbenaceae) Skin diseases Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Nima Leaves Crushed dried leaves with water applied (Meliaceae) locally till cure. Calotropis gigantea (Linn.) R. Br. Arakha Root Dried root powder sprayed locally. (Asclepiadaceae) Cassia tora Linn. Chhota Leaves Leaf paste applied locally for 3 days. (Caesalpiniaceae) chakunda Mimosa pudica Linn. Lajuli Root 5 ml of root juice applied locally for one (Mimosaceae) week. Snakebite Strychnos nux-vomica Linn. Kochila Root Root paste applied locally. (Loganiaceae) Stomach pain Ocimum sanctum Linn. Tulsi Leaves A handful of leaves boiled in water and the (Lamiaceae) infusion taken orally till pain relief. Toothache *Hemidesmus indicus (Linn.) R.Br. Chirmar Root Root paste is applied on teeth or a piece of (Asclepiadaceae) root is crushed by teeth. * New and additional uses of these species and plant parts. Conclusion Presently, developing nations, such as India, have an imperative need to systematically document the traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants in all autonomous areas or communities, many of which are still largely unexplored. Such documentation is necessary because 434 older people are usually the only custodians of such information and the fast disappearance of traditional cultures and natural resources arising from urbanization and industrialization of such areas suggest that unrecorded information may be lost forever. Documentation of plant materials used in traditional medicine could well benefit general health care and promote forest conservation and ecological research. Such medicinal plants could also be incorporated into primary health care, as people generally feel safer with indigenous cures and also the costs of medicine would be much lesser than the modern drugs. Natural Product Radiance

Acknowledgements The authors are thankful to Dr. S. N. Prasad, Head, SACON, Deccan Regional Station, Hyderabad and Dr. V. S. Raju, Department of Botany, Kakatiya University, Warangal for their suggestions and providing necessary facilities. The help received from the informant during data collection is duly acknowledged. References 1. Sheldon JW, Balick MJ and Laird SA, Medicinal plants: can utilization and conservation coexist?, Econ Bot, 2000, 12, 1-104. 2. Anonymous, Traditional Medicine Strategy Report, World Health Organization, Rome, 1992. 3. Lambert J, Srivastav J and Vietmeyer N, Medicinal plants. Rescuing a Global Heritage, The World Bank, Washington DC, 1997, p.61. 4. Sharma PP and Mujumdar AM, Traditional knowledge on plants from Toranmal plateau of Maharashtra, Indian J Trad Knowledge, 2003, 2, 292-296. 5. Behera SK and Misra MK, Indigenous phytotherapy for genito-urinary diseases used by the Kandha tribe of Orissa, India, J Ethnopharmacol, 2005, 102, 319-325. 6. Das PK and Misra MK, Some medicinal plants used by the tribals of Deomali and adjascent areas of Koraput district, Orissa, Indian J For, 1987, 10, 301-303. 7. Das PK and Misra MK, Some medicinal plants among Kondhas around Chandrapur (Koraput), J Econ Taxon Bot, 1988, 12, 103-109. 8. Aminuddin and Girach RD, Ethnobotanical studies on Bondo Tribe of district Koraput (Orissa), India, Ethnobotany, 1991, 3, 15-19. 9. Dash SS and Misra MK, Tribal uses of plants from Narayanapatna region of Koraput district, Orissa. Ancient Sci Life, 1996, 15, 230-237. 10. Pattanaik Chiranjibi, Studies pertaining to Medicinal use of plants and plant parts, available in South Orissa, M.Phil dissertation, Berhampur University, Berhampur, 2002. 11. Anonymous, The State of Forest Report. Government of India, Forest Survey of India, Dehra Dun, 2003. 12. Sachchidananda and Prasad RR, Encyclopedic Profile of Indian Tribes, Vol. III, Discovery Publishing House, New Delhi, 1998. 13. Chopra RN, Nayar SL and Chopra IC, Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, Publications & Information Directorate (CSIR), New Delhi, 1956. 14. Rao NR and Henry AN, The Ethnobotany of Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh, India, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 1996. 15. Hemadri K, Medico-Botanical exploration of Phulbani and Koraput districts of Orissa, Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha, New Delhi, 1991. 16. Das S, Dash SK and Padhy SN, Ethnomedicinal information from Orissa state, India - a review, J Hum Ecol, 2003, 14, 165-227. 17. Gamble JS, Flora of Presidency of Madras. Adlard & Son Ltd., London, 1928. 18. Saxena HO and Brahmam M, The Flora of Orissa, Vol. I-IV. Orissa Forest Development Corporation Ltd., Bhubaneswar, 1996. Vol 6(5) September-October 2007 435