Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 10 (2), April 2011, pp. 354-357
Some ethnomedicinal plants used by the Garasia tribe of district Sirohi, Rajasthan KL Meena* & BL Yadav Department of Botany, MLV Government College, Bhilwara 311 001, Rajasthan E-mail:
[email protected] Received: 27.11.2008; revised: 29.04.2010 The paper enumerates the ethnomedicinal uses of 35 plant species belonging to 34 genera and 27 families used by the Garasia tribe of Sirohi district in Rajasthan. Information on the medicinal uses gathered from the tribals together with their botanical identity, local name and mode of administration are presented. Keywords: Garasia tribe, Ethnomedicine, Rajasthan IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K36/00, A61P1/10, A61P1/14, A61P5/10, A61P11/04, A61P19/00, A61P29/00, A61P31/02, A61P33/00, A61P39/02
Rajasthan is situated in the North-western part of India between 23° 30′ - 30° 11′ N latitude & 69° 30′78° 17′ E longitude and covers an area of 3, 42, 239 sq km which is 10.4 % of the countries total area. Sirohi district is situated in the Southwest of Rajasthan state between the parallels of 24o 20′ - 25o 17′ North latitudes and 17° 16′ - 73°10′ East longitudes (Fig.1). It is characterised by dry climate with the hot season somewhat milder than in the adjoining district to the North and North-west of the state. The maximum temperature is 34°C and minimum (-) 3.4°C. Total annual rainfall is 73.23 cm. The tribal dominated area of the district harbours vast diversity of vegetation. In the Rajasthan, quite a handful of tribal communities reside in every hook and corners of the states. The tribals, namely Meena, Bhil, Sahariya, Garasia, Domor and Kathodia residing in the district of Sawai Madhopur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Dungarpur, Sirohi, and Pali districts of Rajasthan. Majority of the tribal population fall below poverty line. The Garasia tribe are the main dwellers of these forests. The surrounding plants of these people form an integral part of their culture and the information about traditional medicinal plants gets passed on from generation to generation through oral talk or folk songs. Garasia derive their name from Sanskrit word "Gras" which means a morsel or subsistence. Their —————— * Corresponding author
general way of life is to a large extent similar to those of Bhils. Rajasthan has 121939 Garasias constituting 2.91% of the total scheduled tribes population1. A perusal of literature revealed that significant contribution has been made by several workers on ethnobotany in India2-7. In Rajasthan, these studies have been carried out by various botanists from different parts of the state8-22. However, the ethnomedicinal studies on Garasia tribes are scantier. Therefore, an attempt has been made here to collect the recent information about plants used by tribals in their traditional healthcare system. The study is based on interviews with local tribals living in this region and entirely dependent on the plants occurring around them. Methodology Field trips conducted with the local medicine men. Generally tribals, who know about the herbal medicine do not want to give all the information because they believe that when the medicinal plant is disclosed its medicinal properties will be lost. For this reason, the information collected from the tribals is an important aspect of ethnobotanical study. The peoples who can provide information about medicinal plants, were consulted and includes for authenticity about medicinal properties of plants the information collected during fieldwork were verified at different places through different informants and in different seasons. Each of
MEENA & YADAV: ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY THE GARASIA TRIBE OF RAJASTHAN
the plant species recorded have been collected with the help of the informants and photographs were taken. The species were identified with the help of authentic literature 23-25. The voucher specimen was deposited in the Herbarium of Department of Botany, MLV Government College, Bhilwara. Enumeration In the enumeration, data on medicinal uses are arranged alphabetically, each by its botanical names followed by name of family and local names are enumerated in Table 1. The data on ethnomedicinal plants such as the botanical name, local name, family,
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time of flowering and fruiting and the traditional methods of drugs administration in different ailments are being presented. During the study, 35 plant species belonging to 34 genera and 27 families have been recorded and these plants are being used by Garasia tribes of district Sirohi of Rajasthan to treat their ailments such as injuries, wounds, cuts, fever, diarrhea, ulcers, swelling, bone fractures, potency, anti-poisons, skin care, asthma, cough & cold, by using fresh as well as dried plant material. Still, they firmly believe in the traditional way of treatment of various ailments by using medicinal plants rather than modern medical treatment.
Table 1―Ethnomedicinal plants used by the Garasia tribes Plant name/ Family/ local name Alangium salvifolium (L.f.) Wangerin Alangiaceae Ankol Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. Liliaceae Gwarpatha Annona squamosa L. Annonaceae Hitaphar Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb.ex DC.) Wall. ex Guill & Perr. Combretaceae Dhawari Arisaema tortuosumate Schott Araceae Akal kara Bombax ceiba L. Bombacaceae Sibal Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Cocls. Burseraceae Salar Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taubert. Papilionaceae Khankara Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew. Capparaceae Kair Cassia fistula L. Caesalpiniaceae Dhedia Chlorophytum tuberosum (Roxb.) Baker Liliaceae Dholi musali
Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. Hypoxidaceae Moosli Curcuma amada Roxb. Zingiberaceae Shankariya Cyperus rotundus L. Cyperaceae Sinya Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f.) Etting Loranthaceae Doodhi Dioscorea bulbifera L. Dioscoreaceae Vahrikand Ehretia laevis Roxb. Ehretiaceae Tambolan Enicostema axillare (Lam.) Roynal Gentianaceae Kiramari Erythrina stricta Roxb. Papilionaceae Kesuri
Uses One glass stem bark decoction is given once a time to cure snakebite. Fresh leaf pulp is tied as bandage on deep cuts for early healing. Root paste is applied on the swellings of snakebite as well as scorpion bite; root bark decoction is given to cure scorpion bite. Fresh bark is chewed to cure cough; gum is used during winter season as well as after delivery in the form of laddu. Fresh tuber decoction with curd is taken in the morning to cure laryngitis in children. Decoction of Bombax ceiba stem bark and Abelmoschus esculentus root is taken orally by males to regenerate fertility. Fresh fruits or dried fruits crushed on stones and is taken with 1 hen egg to cure scorpion bite. Fresh stem bark gum is taken to cure diarrhoea. Fresh root juice is applied to nose to cure headache. Fresh or dried fruits are kept below pillow to keep away the dreadful dreams, mango fruits are kept in the flowers of Cassia fistula for reducing their bitterness. Fasciculated dried roots are used in the preparation of laddu with gum of Anogeissus latifolia; laddu are taken during winter season to cure general debility. Fresh tubers are eaten by shepherd children for sweet taste; as tonic against indigestion. Root extract mixed with diluted curd (chhachh) is taken to cure diarrhoea. One fresh inflorescence is smelled as well as rubbed on head to cure headache. Five to ten fresh stems are chewed and juice is sucked orally to treat the water snakebite. In bone fracture, the bones are readjusted and tide over the fractured organ with the leaves; leaf decoction is given for dewormification the cattle stomach. Fresh tuber decoction is given to cattle to cure stomach pain. Bark juice given just after delivery relives delivery pain; leaf paste is applied on the cuts for early healing. One to two drops of juice of fresh leaves is applied in eyes to cure insect bite. Juice from fresh or dried flowers is given orally for abortion. (Contd.)
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INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 10, NO 2, APRIL 2011
Table 2―Ethnomedicinal plants used by the Garasia tribes―Contd Plant name/ Family/ local name Euphorbia hirta L. Euphorbiaceae Kalia Feronia limonia Swingle Rutaceae Kaitha
Grewia abutilifolia Vent. ex. Juss Tiliaceae Gangchi Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch Ulmaceae Sil, Kanjeri Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. Convolvulaceae Rassa patti Launaea procumbens (Roxb.) Ramayya & Rajagopal Asteraceae Lampri Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forsk.) Decne. Asclepiadaceae Khimp Madhuca indica J.F. Gmelin Sapotaceae Mori
Miliusa tomentosa (Roxb.) J. Sinclair (Fig. 2) Annonaceae Ubiya Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. Oleaceae Tomati, Hanti Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre Papilionaceae Karngia Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.) A. Juss. Meliaceae Rohini Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. Combretaceae Bahira Terminalia catappa L. Combretaceae Hadria Toona ciliata Roem. MeliaceaeMolla, Bhurla Wattakaka volubilis (L. f.) Stapf (Fig. 3) Asclepiadaceae Bhainsa dodi
Uses Latex is applied on pimples to cure from pimples. Leaf decoction is used for children bath for curing skin diseases; fresh mature fruits are eaten to keep stomach free from disease. In bone fracture, root decoction is given orally to human beings as well as to animals. Leaf decoction is used for bath for curing skin diseases; fresh leaf paste is applied below the rotten hoofs to kills the germs in animals. Boiled fresh leaves are taken orally to cure the fractured bone. Warmed leaves are tide around the neck during night to treat goitre. Stem sap is applied on mouth ulcers. Fresh leaves are used as a bandage on muscular injury. Bread prepared from dried corolla mixed with wheat flour is eaten with butter to cure weakness. Maize grains mixed with corolla are given to ox to cure weakness. Seed oil is laxative and is also applied to itchy skin. Fresh and mature fruits are given for during summer to cure weakness in children. Crushed leaves are applied on skin to cure ringworms of the pinna (outer ear). Dried seeds powder dissolved in ten litre of water is used to wash hairs to kill lice. Fresh or dried bark is boiled in water till the colour of water turns yellow; bark is tied and extract is applied on the affected part. Leaves are given to goat for lactation. Fruit powder is given to cure stomachache. Leaves are eaten by goats to increase lactation. Fresh bark juice is sucked with nose to cure cough and cold. Fresh leaves tied on stomach as bandage of a pregnant lady reduces swelling on stomach during pregnancy. Fresh root juice is taken to cure fever headache cough cold and vomiting during fever.
Figs. (1-3)―Map of the study area; 2. Miliusa tomentosa; 3. Wattakaka volubilis.
Discussion Efforts were made for collecting ethnobotanical information from Garasia tribals dominated district Sirohi of the Rajasthan by organizing field visits. During the survey, medicinal value of the plants was discussed with different age group at different localities of the district. Persons above 50-60 yrs of age had more traditional knowledge about medicinal plants. These tribals are dependent upon herbal practices due to lack of communication and
negligence from both sides (tribal as well as Government), cost of allopathy and have deep faith of these communities in their old treatise and traditions. It is interesting to note that some plants have their new medicinal uses. This plants like Alangium salvifolium, Annona squamosa, Boswellia serrata and Cyperus rotundus are used to cure snake as well as scorpion bite, respectively. Some species such as Arisaema tortuosumate, Bombax ceiba, Butea monosperma, Cassia fistula, Curcuma amada,
MEENA & YADAV: ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY THE GARASIA TRIBE OF RAJASTHAN
Dioscorea bulbifera, Enicostema axillare, Feronia limonia, Launaea procumbens, Nyctanthes arbortristis and Wattakaka volubilis are used in laryngitis in children, to increase fertility in men, diarrhoea, dreadful dreams, headache, stomachache in cattle, insectbite, stomachache in human being, goiter, ringworm and fevers, respectively 7-22. This is clearly prove that most of plants are remained undocumented ethnobotanically. On the other hand, some of the well known plants reported from the treatment of various diseases in different part of India have also been reported from district Sirohi Rajasthan to have same or similar uses11. The study prove that tribals of this localities are not only adept in using plants specifically occurring in this region. Report of so many new uses clearly underlines the importance of such study in all tribal residing districts. The findings of this study can provide useful leads for pharmacological, conformation of these reported uses which might in time become useful for mankind. Acknowledgement Authors are highly thankful to all the tribal informants for their cooperation and help during the study. Help rendered by Shree Jetha Ram Ji, Laxman Ram Ji, Limba Ram Ji, Modan Ji, Nana Ram Ji, Ram Chandra Ji, Salira Ram Ji and Vikram Ji is thankfully acknowledged. Thanks are also due to Shri Bhanwar Singh Ji Meena, Additional Superintendent of Police; district Sirohi for his cooperation during these studies. Authors are thankful to Dr VK Vaidya, Principal, Dr DC Jain, Dr VK Dosi and Dr SS Bhatt, Vice Principals for providing the facilities. Financial assistance provided by UGC Bhopal is gratefully acknowledged. References 1 Bhasin MK & Jain A, Biology of the Tribal Groups of Rajasthan, India: 1.Body Mass Index as an Indicator of Nutritional Status, Anthropologist, 9 (3) (2007) 165. 2 Jain SK, Medicinal Plants, 2nd edn, (National Book Trust of India, New Delhi), 1975. 3 Rao RR, Ethnobotany of Meghalaya: Medicinal plants used by Khasi & Garo tribes, Econ Bot, 35 (1981) 4. 4 Gangwar AK & Ramakrishnan PS, Ethnobiological notes on some tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, North-east India, Econ Bot ,44 (1990) 95.
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