Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 7, Issue 8, 216-220Original Article


ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY RAJGOND TRIBES OF HALADKERI VILLAGE IN BIDAR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA, INDIA

SURYAWANSHI POOJA1, VIDYASAGAR G M1*

1*Medicinal Plants and Microbiology Research Laboratory, Department of Post-Graduate, Studies and Research in Botany, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi 585106, Karnataka, India
Email: gmvidyasagar@rediffmail.com

Received: 07 Jan 2015 Revised and Accepted: 20 Jun 2015

ABSTRACT

Objective: Present work deals with the studies on Ethnomedicinal plants used by Rajgond Tribes of Haladkeri village in Bidar District, Karnataka, India

Methods: Field trips were conducted from March to December, 2014 to collect the information on the medicinal plants used in the treatment of different ailments by Rajgond Tribe using the methodology suggested by Jain and Goel.

Results: A total of 12 Vaidyas or healers were interviewed and 60 ethno medicinal plants species belonging to 37 families were recorded along with their scientific names, vernacular names, botanical family, parts used and their ethno medicinal significance.

Conclusion: Rajgond Tribe of Haladkeri Village in Bidar District is far away from modern medicine even in 21st Century and is known for their unique way of life and disease management. As the majority of people in modern days is much conscious about their health and aware of the side effects of modern drugs, such study of ethnic drugs may turn a useful base in finding out new drug molecules.

Keywords: Ethno medicinal plants, Rajgond, Tribe, Haladkeri, Bidar District.

INTRODUCTION

Plants have been used as folk medicine all over the world for centuries [1] and indigenous communities have developed their own specific knowledge on plant resources, uses, management and conservation [2]. Ethno medicinal treatment is not merely a medical system but also part of our culture [3]. Today, approximately 25% of all prescribed medicines in the developing world contain ingredients derived from medicinal plants [4]. It has been estimated that herbal medicines are used by more than 80% of the world’s population in developing countries to meet their primary health care needs [5]. The traditional use of plants and plant resources is rapidly increasing due to their minimal side-effects and (affordable) accessibility, and because they sometimes represent the only source of health care available to poorer communities [6]. Medicinal plants provide an efficient local aid for disease free life. The importance of ethno medicine has been realized by various sections of the society and the need to use herbal medicines in health care programmes is being stressed upon [7]. Traditional ethno medicinal studies have in recent years received much attention due to their wide local acceptability and clues for new or lesser-known medicinal plant [8]. In India, about 2,500 plant species are used for medicinal purpose by the traditional healers[9]. There are reports on traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by tribal people in different regions of the world [10-17].

India consists of about 427 tribal communities with a rich diversity of indigenous tradition. The knowledge base and the practice have been marginalized due to political, social and economic reasons. Of late, interest in traditional medicine has continuously been increasing and there by various ethno botanical studies have been initiated to explore the knowledge base from the various tribal groups [18-19]. The main objective of this study was to assess the diversity of ethno medicinal plant species used by Rajgond tribes in Haladkeri village and also to document their traditional medical practices in healing various ailments.

Study area

Bidar district is located on the Deccan Plateau in the North-Eastern Part of Karnataka covering a total area of 5448 (km)2 which lies between 17 °35’ and 18 °25’ N latitudes and 76 °42’ and 77 °39’ E longitudes. Haladkeri is a small Village/hamlet under Amalapure Panchayath in Bidar District of Karnataka State, India. Haladkeri area lies between the Latitude of 17.9659 and Longitude 77.60116.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethnobotanical survey

Field surveys were conducted in the Haladkeri village from March to December 2014. Ethno botanical data were collected according to the methodology suggested by Jain and Goel[20]. The ethno botanical data were collected using a standard questionnaire through interviews and discussions with the Vaidyas. Plant species were identified with the help of Flora of the Presidency of Madras, Flora of Gulbarga district and the Flora of Karnataka [21-23]. Medicinal plants were used by Rajgond tribes to treat various diseases are listed in table 1. The plant species are arranged in alphabetical order of their botanical names, followed by their family, vernacular name, habit, parts used and a brief note on their ethno medicinal uses.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 60 ethno medicinal plants belonging to 37 families were recorded during the survey. The leaves were mostly used parts, followed by fruit, root, bark, flower, stem and latex as shown in fig. 2. Herbs (25) were dominant medicinal plants followed by trees (21), shrubs (9) and climbers (5) as shown in fig. 3. The dominant families of ethno botanical importance were Fabaceae with 7 species followed by Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Verbinaceae, Liliaceae, Lamiaceae with 3 species each, and Combretaceae, Mimosaceae, Rutaceae and Myrtaceae with 2 species each and the family Apocynaceae was represented with single species only as shown in fig. 4. These plants are being used to treat various ailments such as injuries, wounds, mouth ulcers, fever, diarrhoea, ulcers, swelling, snake bite, skin care, toothache, asthma, cough and cold diabetes and cancer. Many plant species were used to treat the same disease as shown in fig. 5. For example Aegle marmelos and Caesalpinia bonduc are used to treat diabetes. The medicinal plant species used for treating most commonly occurring diseases are as follows; Skin diseases are treated by 13 plant species; diabetes is cured by 13 plant species, followed by 5 plant species for snakebite, and 4 plant species are used for treating white discharge. Ethno medicines have received renewed global attention of scientists in India and elsewhere in recent past because of their local acceptability. Plant extracts used in ethanol medical treatment are enjoying great popularity, but many of them lack scientific validation[24]. Nevertheless, Ethnopharmacological studies are expected to provide sources for the discovery of new drugs of plant origin [25] the plant species reported in the present study were cross checked with the available literature. Some of these plant species were already identified for the same purpose, but the parts used, method of drug preparation and dosage was different. The medicinal plants cited in the present study have different kinds of curative properties in other regions as well. For example Caesalpinia bonducella is used in Dysmenorrhoea, Ziziphus maruitiana Lam. In diabetes, the fruit juice is given for constipation, in Bellary District, Karnataka [26], and Aloe Vera Linn. used in wound healing, Citrus medica L. The fruit used for nail infection and as a refresher in Dharmapuri Tamilnadu [12] and Allium cepa L. is used in the treatment of ulcer in Gadag district of Karnataka [27].

Table 1: Ethnomedicinal knowledge of plants used by the Rajgond Tribes Haladkeri village

Botanical name Family Local name Habit Part used Medicinal uses
Abrus precatorius Fabaceae Lal gunj Climber Seeds and Leaf Leaf directly chewed early in the morning for tonsils up to 2-3 days. Applied Seed paste against snake bite
Abutilon indicum (L.) Sw. Malvaceae Kopa sari Herb Leaf Seed root Leaf act as laxative, seed used for fever, and root to treat dental problems.
Acacia catechu L. Mimosaceae Kaatha Tree Bark To cure mouth ulcers
Acacia farnasiana Mimosaceae Vadadatha mara Tree Fruit To cure cough
Achyranthus aspera L. Amaranthaceae Agala Herb Leaf Paste of leaf with garlic, cloves and pepper taken with water twice a day for remedies of ear pain and toothache
Aegle marmelos (L.) Rutaceae Bel Tree Fruit To cure diabetes & to make bones stronger.
Alove vera L. Liliaceae Keke tal chidur Shrub Leaf

Apply pulp on hair and wash with cold water after 30 min for smooth and silky hair.

Pulp is also effective to cure diabetes

Albizia lebbeck (L.)

Allium cepa L.

Fabaceae

Liliaceae

Siras

Piyaz

Tree

Herb

Leaf

Stem and Leaf

Grind 10–15 leaves to make a paste and apply to the rash to treat eye conjunctivitis

A glass of boiled A. cepa leaf extract mixed with salt and turmeric given 2-3 days for fever

Paste of stem mixed with mercury applied on snake bite area
Annona reticulata Annonaceae Sitafal Shrub

Leaf

Fruits

 The leaf used for alcohol detoxification and aphid’s control. Fruits used for blood purification
Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees Acanthaceae Kalmegh Herb Leaf Decoction of leaves cures jaundice
Argemone Mexicana L. Papaveraceae Pili dhaturi Herb Latex and Root

Applied Latex directly on ulcers in 3-4 days

Two spoonful of root powder mixed with papaya decoction is administered daily, twice for a month to cure women’s white discharge
Aspergus recemosa Lilliaceae Shatamuli Herb Root Root powder of A. racemosa and W. sominefers mixed with cow milk and taken 2-3 times daily to stimulate lactation
Azadirachta indica A. Juss Meliaceae Neem Tree Leaf Taking Leaf juice twice a day continuously for 2 to 3 months cure diabetes, piles and skin diseases
Boerhavia diffusa Linn. Nyctaginaceae Punarnava Herb Root and Leaf Taking powder of root and leaf material with honey at morning and evening before food for 21 days cures jaundice and abdomen pain
Butea monosperma (Lam.)Taub. Fabaceae Pittith mara Tree

Leaf and

Flower

 One teaspoonful leaf powder with Cuminum cyminum mixed in water is taken orally one time in a day for 4-5 days to kill stomach worms & its flowers used for discussion of malaria and fever
Caesalpinia bonduc L. Caesalpinaceae Gajga Shrub Seeds Crushed seeds soaked in aluminium, glass containing water for overnight and read in the early morning to cure diabetes and white discharge in women
Calotropis gigantia R. Br. Asclepiadacea Aakada Shrub

Latex

Flower

 Applied latex directly on infected area for curing dermatitis. Juice extracted from boiled flowers taken orally for cough & cold
Cassia tora Caesalpiniaceae Tarwat Herb Leaf and Seed Leaf used as laxative. seeds to cure ring-worm & diabetes
Catharanthus roseus L. Apocynaceae Sadabahar Herb Leaf and Root

Leaf extract mixed with fruit extract of M. charantia given one cup daily to the diabetic patient.

Root used to treat cancer
Citrus medica L. Rutaceae Nimbu Tree Fruit To treat cancer and cholera, to improve digestion system and also to cure pimples
Centella asiatica L. Apiaceae Brahmi Herb Leaf Used for brain related problems and to improve hair growth
Chlorophytum borivillanum Lilliacaea Safed mosali Herb Root One tea spoon of roots powder taken orally with honey for Snake bite
Curcuma longa L. Zinzibaraceae Kamka Herb Rhizome Used as antiseptic, rhizome powder mixed with cheese applied on face and washed with rose water to improve skin glow & remedy for pimples
Dalbergia sissoo DC. Papilionaceae Sheesham Tree Leaf Powder of dried leaves mixed with sugar beads soaked in water overnight and taken early in the morning to cure stomach disorders, white discharges and to release excess body heat
Datura stramonium L Solanaceae Dhatura Herb

Root and

Seeds

 Root used to cure asthma, cough, male fertility disorders. Seeds used to treat mental disorders & respiratory problems
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Myrtaceae Nelegri Tree Leaf Leaf for relieving body ache and also as body a re-freshener
Euphorbia hirta L Euphorbiaceae Dudhi Herb Leaf Used in the treatment of cancer & ring worm
Eugenia jambolana Lam Myrtaceae Kala jamun Tree Fruit Seeds Fruits used to cure stomach problems & seeds as anti-diabetic
Ficus bengalensis L Moraceae Peppal Tree

Bark,

Leaves

 Bark used for diarrhoea, whereas leaves for stomach problems, burn & wounds healing
Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. Asclepiadaceae Madhunasini Climber Leaves, Root Leaf powder mixed with cow milk taken orally to treat diabetes

Hemidesmus indicus

(L.) R. Br.

 Asclepiadaceae Karsodhari Climber Root Used to cure asthma and as a blood purifier
Ipomia staphylinaI Roemer. Convolvulaceae Besharam Tree Leaf Used for joint pain. It also has antimicrobial property
Lawsonia inermis L. Lythraceae Henna Mehandi Herb Leaf

Applying a paste of young leaf over the heel cracks in the night time

Leaf powder mixed with tea decoction applied to hair as anti-dandruff agent
Lantana camara L Verbenaceae Kikiri Shurb Leaf and fruit Leaf decoction given for tetanus & malaria. Eat seeds as raw for rheumatism
Mentha piperita L. Lamiaceae Podina Herb Leaf Leaf act as carminative, used for cough and cold
Mangifera indica L. Anacardiaceae Markata mara Tree Leaf Leaf juice taken with honey for white discharge and dysentery
Momordica charantia L. Cucurbitaceae Karela Shrub Leaves and fruit

Useful for diabetes

and hepatitis
Moringa oleifera Lam. Moringaceae Pera shenga mara Tree Leaf and fruits

Boiling leaves in water till it becomes greasy used for kidney-stone.

Fruit powder improves haemoglobin and reduce blood pressure
Ocimum basilicum L. Lamiaceae Kali tulsi Herb Leaf Used as mouth freshener for dry cough
Ocimum sanctum L Lamiaceae Thulasi Herb Leaf For stomach disorders and eye burning

Opuntia dillenii

(Ker-Gawl.) Haw.

 Cactaceae Panje Shrub Stem and fruits

Stem vertically split, warmed & applied over the infected area of skin.

Fruits are directly eaten to increase the blood level and for blood purification
Piper nigrum L. Piperaceae Kali Mirch Climber Seeds To cure throat infection, cold, and cough
Punica granatum L. Punicaceae Anaar Shurb Fruit For gastrointestinal problems and whitening of tooth.
Phyllanthus emblica L. Euphorbiaceae Aamla Tree Fruit Eating dried fruits applied with salt after meals for 3 months reduces acidity. Fruit powder mixed with henna applied to hair to remove dandruff
Plumbago zeylanica L. Plumbaginaceae Chitrak Herb Leaf Flower Taking 2 spoonfuls of leaf powder with glass of water for 2-3 days in week cure diabetes and white patches. Flower mixed with turmeric powder protect face from the sun
Raphanus sativus L Brassicaceae Muli Herb Stem It cures piles, calculi and acidity
Ricinus cummunis L. Euphorbiaceae Arandi Shurb Leaf & Root Leaf powder given with banana and honey to cure jaundice Root powder to cure joint pain
Santalum album Santalaceae Chandan Tree Bark Bark powder mixed with turmeric used for skin glow and snake bite
Saraca asoca Ceacalpinaceae Ashoka Tree Bark Paste of 10 g of fresh bark powder mixed with a little sugar given with cow milk thrice a day for one week to cure piles, skin discoloration and cardiac problems
Seseli indicum Apiaceae Wowa Herb Leaf Used for stomach disorders & also improves digestion
Sapindus laurifolia L. Sapandaceae Reetya Tree Fruit Used for snake bite and hair bath
Tectona grandis L. Verbenaceae Saagvan Tree Root Juice extracted from its root & O. sanctum leaf taken weekly once for diabetes
Terminalia arjuna Combritaceae Arjuna Tree Bark Mixture of T. arjuna bark, W. sominefera root and A. recemos in equal quantity taken for cardiac problems, jaundices and asthma for 30 days with goat milk at early in the morning
Terminalia bellrica Combretaceae; Bahera Tree Fruit

Pulp of fruit is helpful in curing leprosy and

Diarrhoea & have antibiotic properties.
Tribulus terrestris L. Zygophyllaceae Birbavoti Herb Fruit and Seed Seed/fruit powder mixed in water and orally taken twice a day for one month for urinary trouble, kidney stones, and gonorrhoea
Tridex procumbens L. Asteraceae Bramadandi Herb Leaf and Stem

Stem powder is mainly used against: Kidney stones, boils and dysentery. Leaf paste is applied topically

On cuts and wounds
Vitex negundo L. Verbenaceae Nirgundi Herb Leaf 2 spoonfuls of leaf powder with water taken orally 3 times a day for 3 days as a tonic for rheumatism, ulcer and paralysis
Withania somnifera Dun. Solanaceae Ashwgandi Herb Leaf and Root Root powder mixed with honey and goat milk used to cure asthma, diabetes and to make immune strong
Zizipus mauritiana lamk. Rhamnaceae Rengad mara Tree Leaf and Fruit The leaf used for scorpion bite, whereas fruit used for intestinal problems and also as a blood purifier

Fig. 2: Number of plant parts used in the preparation of drugs


Fig. 3: Habitat wise distribution of Medicinal plants used by Rajgond tribes


Fig. 4: Number of plant species from different families used in drug preparation


Fig. 5: Number of plant species used to treat same diseases

CONCLUSION

In the present investigation, 60 ethnomedicinal plant species used for the treatment of various diseases were reported. Achyranthus aspera L, Aspergus recemosa, Boerhavia diffusa L, citrus medica, Dalbergia sissoo DC. & Withania somnifera Dun where the important species as prescribed by 12 traditional healers. The traditional knowledge of these medicinal plants needs scientific validation for further applications in the development of modern medicine.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Authors are grateful to the tribal healers (Vaidyas) of Haladkeri Village in Bidar district, who shared their valuable information on medicinal plants along with their consent. Special thanks to Jayawant Raj Vaidya for his co-operation and support during the field work.

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

Declared None.

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