India has over one million traditional village level healers and several millions of knowledgeable households, who are well versed in traditional home remedies. Health remedies have attained much more popularity in the treatment of minor ailments due to increasing awareness of personal health maintenance through natural products ^9-12. Infectious diseases are disorders caused by pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and multicellular parasites. Infectious diseases account for about half of the deaths in tropical countries ¹³ . Bacterial diseases are a type of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria. It is notable that majority of bacteria are non pathogenic and are not harmful to human health. Some bacteria are even helpful and necessary for the good health.

Millions of bacteria normally live in the intestine, on the skin and the genitalia. Bacterial diseases results when the harmful bacteria get into a body area, multiply their and thrash the body’s defensive mechanism. Pathogenic bacteria can invade in the body through various routes like inhalation into nose and lungs, ingestion in food or through sexual contact. Once bacteria enter the body, the immune system of the body recognizes the bacteria as foreign intruder and tries to kill or stop them from multiplying. However, even a healthy immune system is not always able to stop the bacteria from reproducing and spreading. As a result bacteria thrive in the body and emit toxins which damage cells and tissues that consequently results in the symptoms of bacterial disease.

The eastern part of Maharashtra is endowed with quite rich plant resources in general and medicinal plants in particular. Although good numbers of medicinal plants have been identified, many more of species have not yet been identified. The paper enlists the medicinal plants used by several tribes, vaidus, knowledgeable persons and locally available information from the common people ^14-15. The tribal communities (Gond, Gawali, Halbi, Pradhan and korgu) of Gondia district rely on plant resources for their uses in daily life. They collect some of the important plant species from their surroundings and use according to their own traditional lore ^16-20.

The present study area, Gondia district is situated in the North Eastern region of Maharashtra having state borders of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It covers an area of 4843.13 sq. kms., having 1,56,175 hector of land under forest. The population of study region is about 12,00,151, among which 5,98,447 Male and 6,01,704 Female and density of population is 247 per sq.kms. Gondia district lies between the north lattitude of 20.39 AND 21.38 and East lattitude of 79.27 AND 82.42. The district witnesses extreme variation in temperature with very hot (47.5⁰C) during summer and very cold (07.5⁰C) during winter season.

METHODOLOGY:

The survey was carried out from March 2010 to November 2011. Information about the medicinal uses of several plants were collected from several villages of Salekasa, Deori, Tiroda, Amgaon and Goregaon talukas of Gondia district with special emphasis on antimicrobial activities. The matured specimens were collected during the survey with the help of forest guard, local Vaidus, Mukhiyas, Traditional healer and knowledgeable persons were consulted for the correct identity of plants. Information on plant/ plants part(s) used for treatment, local name, family, method of preparation, dose and duration of treatment is presented. Identification of plant species were carried out and the plant specimen were preserved according to the conventional herbarium technique.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Evolving over a long period of time based on necessities and experiences, indigenous medicinal system is an important component of indigenous knowledge of the tribal community, which is an important natural resource that facilitates the development process in cost effective, participatory and sustainable ways and plays an important role in resources conservation ^21-22.

In the studied area, the local herbal healers and elder people rich in traditional knowledge are dependent on the natural resources of the area. The local practitioner such as Bhakta, Vaidus, Hakims in the studied area belongs to different castes and communities like Korgus, Gond and Muslims who are popular among the resident people. The study highlights on the popularly ethnomedicine enjoys in the minds of the natives and stresses on the need for utilization of ethnomedicine as an alternative method of treatment along with modern medicine in the tribal areas.

Tribals use common forest medicinal plants for the relief of various ailments and also to preserve and promote their health by practicing their own methods. These methods are being considered safe and with lesser side effects. Hence, there is a need to explore the folk medicine to cure and prevent health related problems. A total 65 plant species have been collected and efforts were made to survey and compile the available information on medicinal plants used in ayurveda along with their scientific documentation of these total 65 plant species.

The present study revealed that traditional medicinal plants still play a vital role as antimicrobial activities in Gondia district and the knowledge received from them will be very useful for researchers in ethnobotany and pharmacology. The observations from the present study need to be validated with pharmaco-chemical studies in order to confirm their effectiveness.

Plant Name/ Family	Local Name	Part Used	Uses
Abuliton indicum (L.)	Kanghi	Whole plant	Fever, musculoskeletal disorder, surgical wound healer, delayed labour, hyperpigmentation.
Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae	Kutri	Whole plant	Plant paste in skin disease, ascites, diseses of eyes, surgical wound healer,Piles, wholesome food, Polyphagia
Albizia lebbeck L. Benth	Sirasha	Bark, seed, wood	Skin disease (bark paste,flower), piles(seed), herpes (flower,bark), snake bite (flower juice), insect bite, granulated wound (seed)
Allium cepa L. Liliaceae	Piyaz	Tuber	Piles, hiccups
Allium sativum L.Liliaceae	Lahsun	Tuber	Musculoskeletal disorder, skin disease, fever, epilepsy, rhinitis, herpes, eye sight disorder
Amaranathus spinosus (L.)	Chowlai	Root, leaf, stem	Urinary disorder, piles, purpura
Andrographis paniculata NEES	Bhunimba	Whole plant	Over the anaestheized patches in skin disease
Anogeissus latifolia WALL	Dhaura	Gum	Skin disease, fever, obesity, anaemia, dropsy, diabetes, urinary calculi, herpes, piles, wound healer
Anthocephalus cadamba MIQ.	Kadamba	Bark, fruits	Diabetes, cough, musculoskeletal disorder, fever, anaesthetic
Boerhavia diffusa L.	Punarnava	Root, leaf	fever, skin disease, head ache, cramps, tissue builder, dropsy, heart disease, disease of head and neck, musculoskeletal disorder, gout
Brassica nigra (L.) KOCH	Saraso	Seeds	Skin disease, musculoskeletal disorder, mania, constipation perrectal, earache, chronic wounds, post surgical care, ascites, acne vulgaris, dental disease
Calotropis gigantea (L.)	Rui	Root, latex, leaf	Skin disease, dropsy, ascites, piles, tumours, wounds, Musculoskeletal disorder, douche, latex dipped wicks in sinus wounds
Carthamus tinctorius L.	Kusum	Seed, Flower	Flower paste in spider bite
Carum carvi L.	Syajira	Seed	Dropsy, piles, alchoholic delirium, dyspepsia, indigestion
Cassia fistula L.	Amaltas	Fruit pulp, leaf, Flowers	Wound wash, vitiligo, diabetes, tumours, syphilitic chancre, skin disease, musculoskeletal disorder
Cassia tora L.	Tarat	Leaf, Seed	Skin disease, Kanakaksiri taila
Croton tiglium L.	Jamalgot	Root,leaf, Seed	Skin disease, suppurative wounds, tumours
Dalbergia sissoo ROXB.	Shisham	Corewood	Skin disease, enema, considered to be an auspicious wood, source for fermented decoction
Dioscorea bulbifera L.	Gethi	Rhizome	Herpesleisons, fistula, diabetes, urinary caliculi
Embelia ribes BURM.	Babirang	Seed	Bleeding wounds, piles, fistula, skin disease, tumour, mouth disease, post operative wounds in cosmetic surgery, vitiligo, dropsy, fumigation in piles, Eye disease
Euphorbia hirta L.	Dudhiya	Fruit	Vitiligo, bleeding piles, dysentry
Ficus benghalensis L.	Vad	Bark, Root, Leaf	Fever, styptic in venomous bite, bark as splint in fractures and dislocations, skin disease, wounds and sinuses, colour and complexion promoter, medicated smoking
Ficus racemosa L.	Umar	Bark, Fruit	Purpura, fever, piles, herpes, sores, boils, gout, tumours, splint in fractures
Ficus religiosa L.	Pipal	Bark	Fever, purpura, herpes, sores, boils, wound, granulation and pigmentation, splint in fracture and dislocations
Foeniculum vulgareMILL.	Saunff	Seeds	Fractures, musculoskeletal disorder, fever, headache, skin disease, earache
Gardenia gummifera L.F.	Dikamali	Gum exhudate	Collyrium in diseases of eye and epilepsy
Gosspium herbaeceum L.	Kapasi	Seed, root, bark	Flowers in skin disease, seed oil in musculoskeletal disorder, fumigation of seed inhaled in cough.
Holarrhena antidysenterica (ROTH) DC.	Kuda	Bark, Seeds, Flowers	Skin disease, fever, surgical wounds
Jasminum officinale L.	Chameli	Flowers, Tender leaves	Skin disease, disease of oral cavity, vaginal discharge, wounds, tumours
Madhuca indica J.F. GMEL.	Mahua	Fruit, Flowers	Flower paste in gout, fever, purpuria, tumour, tender twigs as tooth brush, musculoskeletal disorder
Mimosa pudica L.	Lajavanthi	Whole plant	Skin grafting as wound healer, prolapsed rectum, in vaginal discharges
Moringa olifera LAM.	Drumstick	Leaf, Fruit, Flowers	Suppurating fever, skin disease, mania, tumours, dropsy, ascites, piles, otitis, musculoskeletal disorder, gout
Ocimum sanctum L.	Tulsi	Leaves	Wounds, ulcers, skin disease, fever, premature hair grey and fall, musculoskelatal disorder, epilepsy
Operculina turpethum (L.)	Nisoth	Root, gum	Wounds, ulcers, surgical wounds, disease of eye, skin disease
Phyllanthus amarus	Bhuiamla	Whole herb	Fever, bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, heart diseases, diabetes
Plumbago zeylancia L.	Chitrak	Whole plant	Fever, skin disease, piles, suppurating, musculoskeletal disorder, vaginal disorder
Pongamia pinnata (L.)	Karanja	Fruits, leaf, bark	Skin disease, twig as tooth brush, dropsy, fever, piles, musculoskeletal disorder
Premna latifolia ROXB.	Arni	Root bark, leaf	Inflammations, fever, fomentation in piles, glandular swellings, musculoskeletal disorder
Prunusamygdalus BATCH.	Badam	Kernel	Disease of head, musculoskeletal disorder
Psoralea corylifolia L.	Bavachi	Seed, leaf, flower	Skin disease, flower, leaf and seed wholesome food in skin disease, operative wound healer
Pterocarpus marsupium ROXB.	Bija	Gum	Twig as tooth brush, fever, skin disease, piles, musculoskeletal disorder, diabetes
Raphanus sativus L.	Muli	Tuber, leaf	Surgical wounds, eye disease, ear disease, fever, hot fermentation, piles, musculoskeletal disorder
Rauwolfia serpentina (L.)	Chotachand	Root	Fever, ophthalmia, epilepsy, applied to eye lid, poisonous bites, spider bite
Ricinus communis L.	Erandi	Seed, seed oil, leaf, root	Surgical wound, leaf for wound dressing, wound healer, musculoskeletal disorder, syphilitic chancre, carbuncies, eye disease, ear disease, sudation, skin disease, piles
Semecarpus anacardium L.F.	Bhilawa	Seeds, kernel, seed oil	Alopecia, skin disease, fever, piles, tumours, diseases of head, musculoskeletal disorder, induce hyper pigmentation in wound scars, sinus wounds, tumours
Sesamum indicum L.	Tila	Seeds, leaf, seed oil	Sudorific, skin disease, seed paste in consumption, abcess, musculoskeltal disorder, surgical wound, cracked sole, fistula, tumours
Sida cordifolia L	Khareti,	Whole plant, especially root	Skin diseas, fever, headache, herpes, wounds, gout, musculoskeletal disorder, pessary in vaginal discharges, breast milk disorder
Sida spinosa L.	Jangalimethi	Whole plant	Surgical wound, glandular swellings
Solanum indicum L.	Kateri	Root, fruit	Fever, dropsy, skin disease, piles, eye disease, musculoskeletal disorder, vaginal pessary
Solanum nigrum L.	Makoy	Whole plant	Leaves in dressing of wounds, skin disease, dropsy, grey hair
Solanum xanthocarpum	Ringani	Root, berries	Fever, abcess, skin diseas
Soymica febriduga A. JUSS.	Rohan	Bark	Wounds, glandular swellings, anaesthetic to skin, fever, skin disease
Syzygium cumini (L.)	jamun	Fruit, seed, bark	Fever, diarrhoea, in giddiness and fits, bark paste application to chest, wounds, uterine disease, piles
Tamarindus indica L.	Imli	Leaf, fruit, bark, flowers	Piles, dyspepsia, cardiotonic, laxative
Terminalia bellirica ROXB.	Baheda	Fruit	Boils, carbuncles, herpes, premature grey hair, skin disease, sinus wounds, dropsy
Tinospora cordifolia MIERS.	Giloy	Stem	Fever, skin disease, consumption, herpes, burn wounds, vaginal discharges, wounds, musculoskeletal disorder
Trachyspermum ammi (L.) SPRAGUE	Ajavain	Seed	Obesity, taste promoter, heart tonic, appetizer, diabetes, dropsy, urinary calculi, chronic cough
Trapa bisponosa ROXB.	Singhada	Fruit kernel	Fractures, Musculoskeletal disorder, herpes, fever
Tribulus terrestris L.	Gokhru	fruit	Musculoskeletal disorder, fever
Tylophora indica BURM.F.	Anantmul	Leaf, Root	Asthma, bronchitis
Vetiveria zizanioides DES (L.) NASH.	Khas	Root	Fresh cuts, wounds, skin disease, fever, head ache, herpes, gout, breast milk disorder
Vitex negundo L.	Nirgundi	Whole plant,leaf	Eye diseases, musculoskeletal disorder
Withania somnifera (L.)	Asagandha	Root, leaf	Root in minor skin diseases, root fumigation in piles, root in herpes, used in fever and musculo skeletal disorders, root is used externally as tissue builder.
Woodfordia fruticosa KURZ.	Dhataki	Whole plant	Skin disease, rectal perforation wounds, fistula, vaginal discharges
Zingiber officinale ROSC.	Adarak	Rhizome	Dropsy, otitis, musculoskeletal disorder, ophthalmia dental disease, ascites
Ziziphus mauritiana LAMK.	Ber	Fruit	Chancre wounds, boils, eruptions, fever, piles, polydipsia, alcoholic delirium, musculoskeletal disorder

CONCLUSION:

The knowledge gathered from the study can thus be exploited in arousing the general masses to conserve the natural wealth of bio-resources in the region before they fall prey to large scale deforestation activities that are in progress in the Gondia district of Maharashtra. The collected information not only shows that many preparations are made from single plant but rarely mixture of several plants is used. These traditional herbal formulations need further pharmacological investigation to prove their efficacy and also develop new drugs for the effective treatment of chronic diseases in both human and veterinary species.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Authors express their sincere thanks to local herbal healers and practitioners of Gondia district for providing the valuable information on herbal medicine.

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Received on 14.03.2012

Modified on 16.03.2012

Accepted on 18.03.2012

Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 4(3): May-June 2012, 147-151