Ethnomedicinal Plants of Mount Abu Region in Rajasthan
Mrs. Asmita Gautam*, Dr. Amla Batra
Dept. of Botany, Rajasthan University, Jaipur, Rajasthan
*Corresponding Author E-mail:
ABSTRACT:
The paper
documents ethnomedicinal uses of 49 wild plant
species from Mount Abu region situated in Rajasthan. The plant parts most
commonly used in the treatment of various diseases are roots, leaves, stem, flowers,
seeds, whole plant and bark. These are mainly used fresh. The reliance on folk
medicine for health care is associated with the traditional belief of
effectiveness as well as lack of modern medicines and medication and poor
economic status.
KEYWORDS: Ethnobotany ; Medicinal plants ; Mount Abu ; Sirohi
District ; Rajasthan.
INTRODUCTION:
Plants are
immense value to human health and roughly 80 percent of world’s population
relies on them for cure of various ailments. As stated by Dobson [1] (1996), “Only 1100 plants out
of the 3,65,000 known plant species have so far been thoroughly examined for
their medicinal properties.” Thus, considerable research efforts need to be put
in to access the medicinal value of these plants. Sirohi
district covering an area of over 5,136 sq km and it is the third smallest
district of Rajasthan. It lies between 24º21' and 25º17' N Latitude and 72º16'
and 73º10' E longitude.
Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan state in western India. The
highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar at 1722
m. The climate of Mount Abu varies greatly from the foot hills to high
altitude. It is hot and dry at the base, while pleasant and moderate at the top
for the greater part of the year. Average rainfall 1500 mm in Mount Abu. Sirohi district is inhabited by mainly two types of tribes
– Bhils and Grasiya. The
main source of the income of the Grasiya and Bhil is
agriculture and the animal husbandry. Collection of medicinal plants from
different Mount Abu regions has been a common practice among indigenous people
and medical practitioners.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
The ethnobotanical study was
conducted in year 2010-2013. Extensive field trips were organized for
collecting the plant species and data using an integrated approach of botanical
collections, group discussions, interviews and questionnaires. For the
collection of sample and for their confirmation help taken by local medical
practitioners. Plants were identified using different floras [2-5] (Bhandari 1978, Shelty et al.
1987, 1991, 1993) and confirmed by Herbarium of RUBL, Jaipur.
TABLE 1-SYSTEMATIC
ENUMERATION OF MEDICINAL PLANT FOUND AND USES IN MOUNT ABU, SIROHI DISTRICT,
RAJASTHAN
|
1 |
Acacia concinna (willd.) Dc. |
Fabaceae |
Shikakai |
Pods – hair problems and skin disease Leaves – malaria fever |
|
2 |
Acacia nilotica (L.) willd.
Ex.Delile |
Memosaceae |
Babool |
Bark – sore throat, ulcers, leucorrhoea Gum – dysentery, sexual debility |
|
3 |
Achyranthes aspera Linn. |
Amaranthaceae |
Apamarg |
Seeds – renal dropsy, leprosy Flower – menorrhagia |
|
4 |
Alanguim salvifolium
Lam. |
Cornaceae |
Ankol |
Bark – rheumatism Fruit – heamorrhages,
skin boil Root – artherities,
inflammation |
|
5 |
Ailanthus
excels Roxb |
Simaroubaceae |
Ardu |
Leaves – Respiratory problems, asthma Bark – Gynecological diseases |
|
6 |
Alstonia scholaris R. Br. |
Apocynaceae |
Saptparni |
Bark – Malaria, Gastric problem, epilepsy Latex – Toothache, joint pain |
|
7 |
Andrographis paniculata (Burm . f.) wall. ex Nees |
Acanthaceae |
Kalmegh |
Whole plant – Debility, dyspepsia Leaves – Anthelmintic |
|
8 |
Anogeissus pendula Edgew |
Combretaceae |
Dhonk |
Whole plant- Twig decoction is applied on burn
part of body to clear spot. |
|
9 |
Argemone mexicana
Linn. |
Papaveraceae |
Satyanashi |
Seeds juice – opnthalmia,
opacity of cornea Latex – Bilious fever, migrane
|
|
10 |
Asparagus racemosus willd.
|
Asparagaceae |
Stavari |
Roots – Mental stress, leucorrhoea, syphilis,
herpes, epilepsy |
|
11 |
Azadirachta indica A. Juss |
Meliaceae |
Neem |
Leaves – Skin disease, eczema, ringworm, scabies Seeds – Lice problem |
|
12 |
Bambusa arundinacea
(Retz.) willd. |
Poaceae |
Green bans |
Extrudate –
Muscles spasm, bronchial disorder, whooping cough, asthma |
|
|
Bauhinia veriegata Linn. |
Fabaceae |
Katchnar |
Bark – diarrhea, amoebic dysentery Roots – obesity,
snake bite |
|
|
Bombax ceiba Linn.
|
Malvaceae |
Semal |
Bark – Boils, genetile
disease, dislocate bones Seeds – Chicken pox and small pox |
|
|
Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) kurz |
Acanthaceae |
Patharchatta |
Leaves – Bites of venomous insects, piles, fistula
|
|
|
Butea monosperma
(Lam.) kuntze |
Fabaceae |
Tesu, Khakhra |
Bark – Bone fracture Gum – Backache, diarrhea Flowers – Skin disease, Swelling, itching |
|
|
Calotropis gigantia
(L.) W.T. Alton |
Apocynaceae |
Safed aak |
Leaves – headach,
paralysis Latex – hoil, skin
disease |
|
|
Calotropis procera (Ait). R.Br. |
Apocynaceae |
Aak |
Flower buds – Malaria Roots – Elephantiasis |
|
|
Capparis decidua Edgew |
Capparaceae |
Kair |
Whole plant – chronic foul ulcers, hiccough,
lumbago |
|
|
Carica papaya Linn. |
Caricaceae |
Papita |
Green fruits – constipation, general debility Leaves and fruits – sinuses, eczema |
|
|
Carissa carandas Linn. |
Apocynaceae |
Karunda |
Fruits – Anaemia,
anorexia, insanity Roots – Vermifuge,
chronic ulcer |
|
|
Cascabela thevetia
Linn. |
Apocynaceae |
Pili kaner |
Seeds – Rheumatism, dropsy Bark – Catharasis, fever |
|
|
Cassia fistula
Linn. |
Fabaceae |
Amaltas |
Flowers – cough and cold Fruits – Heart disease, leprosy |
|
|
Citrus medica Linn. |
Rutaceae |
Bijora |
Fruit – Hypertrophy of spleen |
|
|
Centella asiatica
Linn. |
Mackinlayaceae |
Mandookparni |
Leaves – improve memory, hydrocele.
Rheumalism |
|
|
Cordia dichotoma Forst. F. |
Boraginaceae |
Lasoda |
Leaves – Dyspepsia, leprosy Fruit – Several colic pains, ringworm |
|
|
Crinum latifolium Linn. |
Amaryllidaceae |
Sudarshan |
Leaves – Rheumlism,
fistula, tumors Seeds – weakness |
|
|
Cyperus rotundus
Linn. |
Cyperaceae |
Nagarmotha |
Rhizome – Paralysis, Loss of memory, food
poisoning, infertility |
|
|
Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. |
Fabaceae |
Sisam |
Bark - – Thirst and burning sensation, aphrodislac |
|
|
Datura stramonium
Linn. |
Solanaceae |
Dhatura |
Seeds – arthritis, Leucoderma,
jaundice |
|
|
Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk |
Asteraceae |
Bhringaraj |
Leaves / Flowers – Athlete foot, dermatilis, scorpion sting, viral hepatitis |
|
|
Emblica officinalis Gaertn |
Phyllanthaceae |
Amla |
Stem – Hemorrhagic piles Fruit – Vomiting, weakness and scurvy |
|
|
Erithrina indica linn. |
Fabaceae |
Gadha-palash |
Leaves – Joint pain, menstrual problems Bark – Intestinal worms |
|
|
Feronia limonia
Linn. |
Rutaceae |
Kabeet |
Fruit – stomach pain Root – snake bite |
|
|
Ficus carica Linn.
|
Moraceae |
Anjeer |
Fruit – Gum abscess, constipation Latex – warts, insect bite and sting |
|
|
Grevillea robusta A Cunn. ex. R. Br. |
Proteaceae |
Silver Oak |
Bark – sore throat, general anticeptic |
|
|
Holptelea integrifolea
(Roxb.) |
Ulmaceae |
Chural |
Bark – rheumatism, ringworm Leaves – Oedema |
|
|
Jatropha curcas
Linn. |
Ephorbiaceae |
Ratanjot |
Leaves – ulcers, Jaundice, paralysis |
|
|
Justica adhatoda
Linn. |
Acanthaceae |
Adusa |
Leaves – cough, menstruation, rhinities
Root – Removal of intestine parasites |
|
|
Madhuca indica Gmel |
Sapotaceae |
Mahua |
Flower – impotency, general debility Seeds – Piles, stiffness and rheumatic
disease |
|
|
Mallotus philippensis
(Lam.) Muell. Arg. |
Ephorbiaceae |
Senduria |
Leaves - anthelmintic,
bladder stone |
|
|
Morus nigra
Linn. |
Moraceae |
Shahtoot |
Leaves – watery eyes and cough Fruits – Improve blood circulation |
|
|
Ocimum sanctum Linn. |
Lamiaceae |
Tulsi |
Leaves – night blindness, asthma Root – Malaria |
|
|
Phoenix dactylifera |
Arecaceae |
Khajur |
Fruits /dates – Heart disease, labour
pain, sexual weakness, liver disorder |
|
|
Pongamia pinnata
(L.) pierre |
Fabaceae |
Karanj |
Seeds – Anemia, bronchitis, sore joints Fruits – Abdominal tumors, ulcers |
|
|
Solanum virginianum
Linn. |
Solanaceae |
Kanteli |
Whole plant – Enlargement of liver and spleen. |
|
|
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn. |
Combretaceae |
Arjuna |
Latex – Menorrhagia,
dysentery, vomiting Leaf – ulcer, earache |
|
|
Vitex negundo
Linn. |
Lamiaceae |
Negadh |
Leaf – Joint pains, hemiplegia
Fruits – Aphrodisiac, vermifuge
|
|
|
Ziziphus mauritiana
Lam. |
Rhamnaceae |
Ber |
Fruits – Pulmonary ailments Seeds – Nausea, rheumatic pains |
|
1 |
Acacia concinna (willd.) Dc. |
Fabaceae |
Shikakai |
Pods – hair problems and skin disease Leaves – malaria fever |
DISCUSSION
AND CONCLUSION:
Ethnomedicinal uses of 49 plant species from Mount Abu
region are given. Tribal and rural people of Mount Abu region in Sirohi
District use these plants in their day to day life for treatment of various ailment
viz. asthma, malaria, heart disease, labour pain,
sexual weakness, liver disorder, anemia, bronchitis, sore joints, abdominal
pain, ulcers, dysentery, vomiting, vermifuge, nausea,
night blindness etc. Further pharmacological investigations on these plants
will benefit mankind. Such ethnomedicinal studies may
also help in conserving the biodiversity.
REFERENCE:
[1]. Dobson,
A 1995, Biodiversity and human health and Trends
in ecology and evolution. 10 : (10) 390 – 391
[2]. Bhandari, M.M. 1978. Flora
of the Indian Desert, scientific Pub., Jodhpur
[3]. Shelty, B.V. and Singh, V. (Eds.) 1987 ; Flora of India series 2 : Flora of Rajasthan.
Vol. I, B.S. 1 Howrah
[4]. Shelty, B.V. and Singh, V. (Eds)
1991 ; Flora of India series 2 : Flora of
Rajasthan. Vol. II. B.S. 1 Howrah
[5]. Shelty, B.V. and Singh, V. (Eds) 1993 ; Flora of
India series 2 : Flora of Rajasthan. Vol. III. B.S. 1 Howrah
Received on
27.12.2013 Modified on 15.01.2014
Accepted on 19.01.2014 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Res. J. Pharmacognosy & Phytochem.
6(1): Jan.-Mar. 2014; Page 33-36