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MEDICINAL PLANTS IN URBAN AREA OF CHHINDWARA TOWN: A Survey Based Report
By Dr Deepak Acharya
In the present project, it is aimed to discuss the ethnomedicinal importance of more that 100 urban medicinal plants which are being Used by native people of this area.
Key words : Medicinal plants, Chhindwara
Introduction
Chhindwara, in the south-west of Jabalpur Revenue Division, is situated on the Satpura Plateau in the South-Central part of the Madhya Pradesh State (the Central State of India) and lies between latitudes 21°23' and 22°49' North and the longitudes 78°10' and 79°24' East. Chhindwara district is gifted with abundance in natural resources, especially minerals, forests and agriculture.
A Complete Picture
The Headquarter town of the district, Chhindwara is situated on the Bodri Stream, a tributary of the Kulbehra River. It stands picturesquely on the open Satpura plateau at an elevation of about 677 meters, flanked by ranges of low hills. With a comparatively light rainfall, the climate is very salubrious and pleasant. The name of the place is derived from the Chhind or date-palm tree.
The Nagpur road that separates the Civil Lines from the rest of the town traverses Chhindwara. Another main road, running from the district office to the railway station, similarly traverses the town. A circular road runs round it passing by the hill of Dharamtekri. With several beautiful roads in the civil line area, the Chhindwara-Nagpur road is picturesque. One road radiates from it and reaches the Collectors bungalow. It is extremely beautiful, shaded by huge old banyan trees on both sides; this region is known as Badwan today. Near about is another road, lined by old and bulky tamarind trees on two sides. Yet another road is bordered by Shisham trees (Dalbergia Sisso). In part the area is well wooded.
Since time immemorial, people have gathered plant and animal resources for their needs. Examples include edible nuts, mushrooms, fruits, herbs, spices, gums, game, fodder, fibres Used for construction of shelter and housing, clothing or utensils, and plant or animal products for medicinal, cosmetic or cultural Uses. Even today, hundreds of millions of people, mostly in developing countries, derive a significant part of their subsistence needs and income from gathered plant and animal products. Gathering of high value products such as mushrooms (morels, matsutake, truffles), medicinal plants also continues in developed countries for cultural and economic reasons .
Among these Uses, medicinal plants play a central role as traditional medicines Used in many cultures and tribes.
Central India is known for its richness of medicinal flora. Plants, shrubs, roots of immense medicinal value are abundantly found in Satpuda, Vindhyachal, Aravali ranges, Bailadilla Hills, Abhujmar, Khurchel valleys, Kanger Reserve, Amarkantak, Pachmarhi and Patalkot areas. Central India is covered with tropical forests, which are supposed to be rich in biodiversity. However subtropical hill forests are found in few areas. About 500 species of medicinal plants are found. Some of the economically medicinal plants are on the verge of extinction. The endemic and rare flora is also found in the region. The other areas of unique plant diversity are Chandanbagh, Patalkot valley, Supkhar chir pine, plant fossils of Maldla, Trap (Basalt) dykes of Pipri, Machna teak forest reserve, Bori nature reserve, Rukhad nature reserve, Sitanadi Sal nature reserve, bamboo forests of Lanji. Over-exploitation of plants like safed musli, chironji, sarpagandha and bach has made them endangered species. Some plants like psilotum are found in Pachamarhi only.
Our Aim...
...is to spread knowledge on plants and their ethnomedicinal importance. We are trying to put information on the Uses and conservation of medicinal plants. But, so far, just like so many, biodiversity of this region is also threatened. We try to document the medicinal plant found here.
Methedology Surveys were carried out during Sep’ 03- Jan’ 04. List of plants belonging to various families found in Chhindwara town is prepared in alphabetical order. Medicinal importance of the plants have been described after gathering information from local people and consulting literature. Plants collected during the surveys have been deposited in the Department of Botany.
1. Acacia arabica (Lamk.) Willd. Local Name: Babul Family: Mimosaceae Use: The leaves are astringent and beneficial to the eye. Fruit of the plant is Coagulant. Gum is astringent, cooling and healing. It stops bleeding. It cures dysentery and diarrhea. Extract of the bark is mixed with honey is applied in the eyes to relieve conjunctivitis and to stop lacrimination. Bark is goof for gums, heals and ulcers. It is a sedative.
2. Achranthes aspera Linn. Family: Amaranthaceae Local Name: Chirchita Use: It cures eye disorders. Good for cough, worms and indigestion. Good in snake bite.
3. Adhatoda vasica Linn. Family: Acanthaceae Local Name: Adusa Use: It is used in asthma, diarrhea and dysentery. It checks bleeding. Good for throat emollient, flowers are used in eye disorders, extract of root is used in stiffness of neck.
4 Aegle marmelos Correa. Family: Rutaceae Local Name: Bel Use: Used in dysentery and diarrhea. Root checks vomitting. Leaves cure fever, dysentery, diarrhea and piles. Fruits are good tonic for brain. Leaves are good in diabetes.
5. Ageratum conyzoides Linn. Family: Asteraceae Local Name: Ajgadha Use: It is good in stomach disorders. Used as a tonic.
6. Allium sativum Linn. Family: Liliaceae Local Name: Lahsun Use: It is laxative, strength promoter, aphrodisiac and carminative. It cures cough, skin troubles and chronic fever. Relieves breathing problems, heart troubles. It is good in piles. It helps the union of fractured bones.
7. Amaranthus virdis Linn. Family: Amaranthaceae Local Name: Choulaee Use: It is said to be good blood purifier. Used in piles. Taken as digesting agent.
8. Argemone mexicana Linn. Local Name: Pili Kateri Family: Papaveraceae Use: The root-powder is mixed with sugar and taken orally with water when affected with skin diseases.
9. Asparagus racemosus Willd. Local Name: Naarbod Family: Liliaceae Use: root-powder is Used to increase vigour and strength.
10. Azadirachta indica Juss. syn. Melia azadirachta L. Local Name: Neem Family: Meliaceae Use: Seeds are Used in skin diseases, and in rheumatism. Bark is Useful in malarial fever. Dry fruits are Used as tonic and stomachic. Tender twigs are Used as tooth-brush.
11. Berberis aristata Linn. DC. Local Name: Daru Haridra Family: Berberidaceae Use: Used in inflammation. Root-bark extract is Used to heal the ulcer.
12. Butea frondosa Roxb. Local Name: Palaas Family: Papilionaceae Use: Seeds are Used to cure ringworm. Petioles are chewed during heat in urination.
13. Caesalpinia bonducella (L.) Roxb. Local Name: Gatran Family: Caesalpiniaceae Use: For the preparation of the powder for digestion.
14. Calotropis procera R. Br. Local Name: Madaar Family: Asclepiadaceae Use: Used in boils, and also to remove the thorn from the body.
15. Carica papaya Linn. Family: Caricaceae Local Name: Papeeta Use: It is used as digestant. It anthelmintic, laxative, tonic, nutritive and diuretic. Latex acts as anthelmintic. Unripe fruit is good for excretory troubles in children. It is a good aphrodisiac It has wormicidal activity and it is good in cough.
16. Cassia fistula Linn. Family: Caesalpiniaceae Local Name: Amaltas Use: Leaves and flowers are used in ringworms and other skin infections. Roots cure fever. Pulp is purgative and used in all intestinal disorders. Bark is laxative and astringent.
17. Cassia tora Linn. Local Name: Titi Family: Fabaceae Use: Powder of the the dry seeds is Used in Asthma. The powder is mixed with Gud (2-3-year old) and about 7 small balls are prepared. One ball is taken every day with water upto 7 days.
18. Citrullus aromatica Salisb. Local Name: Kachariya Family: Cucurbitaceae Use: The fruits are used in stomach troubles.
19. Cocculus hirsutus Diels. Syn. C. Villosus. DC. Local Name: Jal Jamani Family: Menispermaceae Use: The leaves are Useful to cure leucorrhea.
20. Coriandrum sativum Linn. Family: Umbelliferae Local Name: Dhania Use: Seeds are carminative, stomachic. In case of frequency of stools with blood, leaves of this plant is given to remove blood in stool. Leaves are appetizer. Extract is used as antidysentric. Extract is useful in conjunctivitis.
21. Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Local Name: Amarbel Family: Convolvulaceae Use: The extract of the plant is applied to get rid of dandruff.
22. Datura stramonium Linn. Family: Solanaceae Local Name: Dhatura Use: Fruits are used in skin related disorders. It is good in ulcers and worms. When internally used, it stimulates the mind and creates intoxication lastly resulting in fainting. Seeds are employed in headache. Plant is used as antidote for poisons.
23. Delbergia sisoo Roxb. Family: Fabaceae Local Name: Shisham Use: Used in gonorrhoea.
24. Emblica officinalis Gaertn. syn. Phyllanthus emblica L. Local Name: Aonla Family: Euphorbiaceae Use: To cure dandruff.
25. Euphorbia hirta Linn. Family: Euphorbiaceae Local Name: Dudhi Use: Used in treatment of cough and asthma. It is aphrodisiac and enriches the blood. Employed in diarrhea, piles and semen debility. It is laxative and astringent.
26. Ficus bengalensis Linn. Family: Moraceae Local Name: Bad, Bargad, Vat Use: Latex of the plant is good in curing diarrhea, dysentery, piles, teeth decay, rheumatism, leucorrhoea and other skin related problems.
27. Ficus religiosa Linn. Family: Moraceae Local Name: Peepal Use: Good in leucorrhoea. It is used in impotency. It is astringent, expectorant, laxative and conceptive. Taken in asthma, whooping cough and genital-urinary troubles.
28. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Family: Malvaceae Local Name: Jason, Gurhal Use: It is aphrodisiac. Leaves are good for curing boils. Flowers are laxative.
29. Jatropha curcus Linn. Family: Euphorbiaceae Local Name: Chadrajot, Ratanjot Use: Seed are used in cholera, and dysentery. Good in stomach disorders. Cures toothache and gum ache. Seeds are used as antidote for poisoning. It is effective in skin diseases and rheumatism.
30. Launaea acaulis Family: Asteraceae Local Name: Musakani Use: It is nutritive, diuretic, stomachic and blood purifier. It is used as antidote for poisoning. Roots relieve jaundice and skin disorders. Leaves and roots are given in leprosy and leucorrhoea.
31. Leucas zeylanica Family: Labiatae Local Name: Gooma, Gatta, Lumba, Drona Use: Used in fever. Good in scorpion and snake bite. Taken for curing dysentery. Leaves and flower are good in jaundice.
32. Mangifera indica Linn. Local Name: Aam Family: Anacardiaceae Use: The leaves are Used in erruptions of the tongue. Bark of the plant is aphrodisiac, cardiac, appetizer and astringent. Fruits are good in bleeding piles, haemmorrhage from uterus, Lungs and intestine leucorrhoea Roots relieve jaundice and skin disorders. Leaves and roots are given in leprosy and leucorrhoea. Bark is used in scabies and other cutanious problems. Used in opthalmia ad erruptions.
33. Mentha arvensis Linn. Family: Labiatae Local Name: Podina Use: Used as carminative and flavoring agent. Stomachic, diuretic and anthelmintic. It cures bad taste of mouth, indigestion, constipation and worms.
34. Moringa oleifera Lam. Local Name: Sahjan Family: Moringaceae Use: The juice of the leaves is Used in the eye diseases. The whole plant is abortifacient, anthelmintic, carminative, digestive, diuretic and stomachic. Fruits and seeds are taken to relieve abscess, asthma, earache, epilepsy and hysteria. Roots are important in curing paralysis and guinea-worm. The whole plant has the ability to cure rheumatism and sore throat. It is a good tonic.
35. Mucuna prurita Hook. Syn. M. pruriens (L.) DC. Local Name: Kimaach Family: Papilionaceae Use: Seeds are Used as aphrodisiac.
36. Ocimum sanctum Linn. Local Name: Tulsi Family: Labiateae Use: The leaves are used against skin diseases.
37. Phyllanthes niruri Linn. Family: Euphorbiaceae Local Name: Bhui-aonla Use: The whole plant is diuretic and given in jaundice. Good liver tonic. Cures urino-genital infections.
38. Punica granatum Linn. Family: Punicaceae Local Name: Anaar Use: Used as an anthelmintic. Good for improving memory, brain and strength. It cures fever, burning, heart diseases and disease of throat. It is laxative and astringent.
39. Ricinus communis Linn. Family: Euphorbiaceae Local Name: Arandi Use: It is purgative, carminative, aphrodisiac. It cures cough and headache. Good in rheumatism, fever ad urinary disorders.
40. Rosa damascena Mill. Family: Rosaceae Local Name: Gulab Use: Used as purgative. It heals ulcer. Employed in the treatment of conjunctivitis, headache and fainting.
41. Ruta graveolens L. Local Name: Shitab Family: Rutaceae Use: The juice of leaves is used as carminative.
42. Semecarpus anacardium Linn. Local Name: Bhilwa Family: Anacardiaceae Use: The oil of seeds is applied on the painful spot.
43. Salmalia malabarica (DC) Schoit and Endl. Family: Malvaceae Local Name: Semur, Semul Use: Gum of the plant is good for curing kidney troubles, leucorrhoea and tuberculosis. Flowers and barks have ability to cure conjunctivitis and cutaneous infections. It is expectorant, laxative and suppurative.
44. Solanum anguivi Lam. Local Name: Family: Solanaceae Use: Used in skin diseases.
45. Solanum xanthocarpum Schard & Wendl. Family: Solanaceae Local Name: Bhat Kataiyan Use: It is effective in respiratory diseases, dropsy and throat disorders. It cures gonorrhoea. It is good in snakebites.
46. Syzygium cumini L. (Skeils.) syn. Eugenia jambolana Lamk. Local Name: Jamun Family: Myrtaceae Use: Seed- powder is Useful in diarrhoea, dysentry and diabetes. Bark is used for mouth washes.
47. Sonchus arvensis Linn. Family: Asteraceae Local Name: Sahdehi Use: Good in body pains, diarrhea, dysentery, fever, leucorrhoea, leprosy, white spots of skin and ringworm, It is astringent and diuretic. It is good in snakebites.
48. Tamarindus indica Linn. Family: Leguminosae Local Name: Imli Use: It is laxative. Dry bark power relieves gastric pain. It is aphrodisiac, tonic and good for hair. Plaster of leaves is applied for curing inflammation, blood disorders and acne. Cures dandruff.
49. Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) W. & A. Syn. Terminalia glabra W. & A. Local Name: Arjun, Kahuaa Family: Combretaceae Use: The decoction of the bark is Used as tea in heart troubles. The bark gives strength to the heart. Good stomachic.
50. Terminalia bellerica Roxb. Local Name: Beheda Family: Combritaceae Use: Epicarp of fruit mixed with Harra is Useful in digestion. Seeds mixed with Buchammia seeds are taken in eruption of mouth.
51. Tinospora cordifolia (Lour.) Miers. Local Name: Gurvail Family: Menispermaceae Use: Juice with sugar is good after malarial and typhoid fever.
52. Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. Family: Leguminosae Local Name: Methi Use: Aphrodisiac. Stomachic, carminative, laxative. It is used in abscess, pigmentation and discoloration of the face.
53. Vernonia cinerea Linn. Family: Asteraceae Local Name: Sahdevi Use: The whole plant is good in fever.
54. Zizyphus jujuba Lamk. Family: Rhamnaceae Local Name: Ber Use: Good in diarrhea and fever. It is a good blood purifier.
Results and discussion
The survey provides an evidence that the local people of Chhindwara uses about 54 plants in various ailments. The traditional people still depend on herbal medicines. The plants are generally used as stomach disorders, skin diseases, aphrodisiacs, fever, tonic, ulcer, asthma, snake-bite, respiratory diseases, leucorrhoea, dandruff, eye-diseases and diabetes. There is need of training on cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants for the students and innovators. Only plants growing in sandy soils and require less water can be selected for cultivation since the local soil is sandy and there is scarcity of water in the suburbs. There is a greater need to develop a garden of medicinal plants of the area. The nearby tribal people can also be encouraged to take up this job as an income generation activity.
Acknowledgement
I am thankful to Dr S A Brown, Principal, Danielson College, Chhindwara, M.P., for support and encouragement. I am grateful Dr Sanjay Pawar, Miss. H. Gupta and Miss. R. Daniel for their constant support.
Dr DEEPAK ACHARYA Department of Botany, Danielson College, Chhindwara, MP - 480 001, India. Phone: + 91-7162-246159, Mobile: +91 9826171340; Fax: +91-7162-248454 email: deepak@patalkot.zzn.com RESEARCH INTERESTS: Microbial activity, Ethnobotany and Environmental Education EDUCATION & RESEARCH: MSc PhD, Publication: Published 20 research papers and 125 popular articles in various Journals/ magazines/ news papers of repute. URL: http://dracharya.tripod.com
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