Ethnomedicine for Asthma used by the Tribals of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, India

 

Keerti Shrivastava, Skand K.Mishra

Department of Botany, Govt.New Science College, Rewa (M.P.) 486001

 

ABSTRACT:

This study represents the information about the treatment of asthma disease by the tribal of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, India. A total of 9 plant species belonging to 9 genera and 8 families were recorded. The documented medicinal plants were labeled alphabetically with their local name, family name, plant part used and mode of administration.The documented of these medicinal plants against asthma reveals that these tribal people are still dependent on forest vegetation for their life care. Thus, this type of ethnomedicinal studies appears to be useful for the research on medicinal plants for the betterment of humankind.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Since time immemorial the human society has developed amidst, and in close association, with the plantlife (De, 1980a). The relationship between the indigenous people and their plant surroundings forms the subject of Ethnobotany, a science (De, 1968), which includes a study of the plants used by the tribals for food, medicine and clothing (Jain and De, 1966). Aboriginal elements are strongly represented in the district itself; mostly living isolated lives in remote spursof hills, covered almost to their summits with heavy forests (De, 1965). Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve was declared as Biosphere Reserve by Government of India with notification no. 9\16/99 CS/BR dated 30^th March.

 

It is situated on a plateau at 22^°15’ to 22^°58’ N latitudes and 81^°25’ to 82^°5’ E longitudes; average altitude ranging between 800-1100 m. above sea level. Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve parts of Anuppur and Dindori district of M.P. and Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh covering an area of 3835.51 sq. km. out of total area of 1224.98 sq.km falls in Madhya Pradesh and the remaining area of 2610.53 sq.km falls in Chhattisgarh state. The entire area of 551.55 sq.km of Achanakmar Sanctuary falling in Chhattisgarh state will form the core zone and remaining area of 3283.96 sq.km. Surrounding the core zone will form buffer zone.The vegetation of the area is of subtropical type dominated mainly by sal trees. The mean annual temperature ranges is from 16.1°C in winter to 31°C in summer and the average annual rainfall range 1336.97 mm.The highest mean relative humidity recorded 70.33% in the month of December.In the study site there are inhabited tribalsare Gond, Baiga, Panika, Bharia, Kanwar, Pao, Kol, Pradhan and Agariya. Ethnomedicinal studies have reported antiasthmatic plant species in India. Asthma is of several types- the two main ones are bronchial and cardiac. The tribals use various types of herbs, shrubs and trees available in their surroundings for treatment of asthma. However, so much work has been done in AABR. Nowadays, there are many conventional drugs to treat and cure asthmatic attack. However, many asthma patients used traditional medicine because of poverty and fewer side effects.Brijlal and Dubey, 1992; Saxena, 1970; Prasad and Pandey, 1987; SikarwarandMaheshwari 1992; Tiwari et al, 1995 have carried out ethnomedicinal studies of Achanakmar- Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. However, no attention has yet been paid to the used specifically for the treatment of asthma.

 

Fig 1- Map of Achanakmar- Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve showing explored localities and its location within India, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

 

METHODOLOGY:

The survey was carried out during 2012-2013 covered areas of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. Several field trips were organized to administer questionnaires and interviews to traditional healers, medicine men, experienced people, village headman etc. The questions were designed to obtain information on their  knowledge  of asthma, plant parts used in treating the disease, method of preparation and mode of administration The information was cross checked by the other informants in the same locality or in the other locality for verification of medicinal claims by the tribal and other folk people.

 

Table-1: Antiasthamatic plants used by the tribals of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

Plant Name	Family	Local Name	Habit	Mode of administration	Status
Adhatoda vasica Nees.	Acanthaceae	Arusa/ Adusa	Shrub	Leaves and flowers are boiled and used to cure asthma.	Common
Boerhavia diffusa Linn.	Nyctaginaceae	Punarnawa	Herb	Root powder is taken with black pepper powder daily ones for a fornight to treat asthma.	Common
Calotropis procera R.Br.	Asclepidaceae	Madar /Aak	Shrub	The flowers are burnt and the ash is mixed with honey given thrice a day.	Critically Endangered
Datura metel Linn.	Solanaceae	Dhatura	Shrub	Two spoonful of dry leaf powder mixed with a glass of milk is administered daily ones for 8days	Common
Eucalyptus lanceolatus Smith	Myrtaceae	Lyptis/ Neelgiri	Tree	A spoonful of leaf oil mixed with a spoonful of honey is used daily twice for 8 days.	Planted
Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.	Convolvulaceae	Shankhpuspi	Herb	Dried leaves are smoked to treat asthma	Common
Gloriosa superba Linn.	Liliaceae	Kalihari/ Kaliyari	Herb	The leaves when applied in the form  of a paste to the forehedand neck to cure asthma	Vulnerable
Ipomoea pestigridis Linn.	Convolvulaceae	Phulijua	Herb	Root of plant along with the root of Holorrhenaantidysentrica Wall. and a black pepper is powdered used to treat asthama	Common
Mangifera indica Linn.	Anacardiaceae	Aam	Tree	Young leaves used in the form of decoction are good for asthma	Common

 

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

A total 9 plant species were explored which have potent use in the treatment of asthma disease (Table 1).  A total of 9 plant species (2 Monocot and 7Dicot) are belonging to 9 genera and 8 families of plants, in which 4 plant species are herbs, 3 species of shrubs and 2 species of trees. Statistically, among the different plant parts used for the treatment of asthma disease. The leaf of 5 plant species each, 2 plant species used as root and one species used for flower and also 1 plant species use for both leaf and flower.The parts of 3 plant species were used in the form of powder, decoction of 2 plant species and 1 species each was used in the form of paste, oil, ash and original dry form by the tribal people for the treatment of asthma. Many of the preparations are used orally in the form of decoction, infusion, paste, oil, powder or ash. Although leaves, roots and flowers are the most common parts used in the treatment of asthma.On the conservational aspects have been categorized of Achanamar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve in the plant species   6 are common, 1 species each vulnerable, endangered and planted. From the account, it is clear that the tribal as in the case of other ancient tribals (Dubey and Bahadur, 1967; Jain, 1988), posses the ability to discern the character of various plants and their beneficial properties for asthma disease. It is interesting to note that such a way of life, particularly with respect to health care practices, has hardly undergone any change even to present day. Similarly ethnomedicinal studies have been reported in India (Ahirwarand Sandya, 2015; Ahirwar, 2015; Bhatt and Mithaliya, 1999; Dey and De, 2010; Oommachan and Masih, 1990; Jain, 1963b; Jain 1962). The Knowledge about the ethnomedicinal uses of these plants and their status of distribution in India would be exploring these plant resources on a large scale. These plant resources under huge demand by the pharmaceutical industries, for which they extracted several bioactive compounds for the preparation of drugs.Likewise, this study would be explored by the common for the treatment of asthma in an herbal way. Therefore, it is concluded that being more dependent on allopathic drugs in the form of ethnomedicine by human beings would play a key role in the treatment of asthma in India.

 

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Received on 11.02.2017          Modified on 18.02.2017

Accepted on 21.02.2017      ©AandV Publications All right reserved