Ethnobotanical studies on plants used in folk medicines in cure of Diabetes in Gondwana Region of Madhya Pradesh.

Dr. Rajiv Rai

Scientist E, Tropical Forest Research Institute, RFRC, Mandla Road, Jabalpur MP

(Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education)

*Corresponding Author E-mail: rai_rajiv_57@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Ethnobotany started off as an appendage to classical taxonomy and systematic biology essentially listing species collected from wild and used by ethnic communities. Many indigenous communities have accumulated lot of empirical knowledge on the basis of their experience while dealing with nature and natural resources. The present study has been conducted on Gond Tribes in Gondwana region in state of Madhya Pradesh. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in the endocrine system. It is defined as a state in which homeostasis of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism is improperly regulated by insulin. Diabetes is regarded as a group of disorder associated with high blood sugar levels which leads to several complications as increase in blood pressure, complications in vision through eyes, heart, kidney. The symptoms are observed by various age group with loss in weight, increase in thirst, increase in frequency of urination and in excretion of sweet urine. The information was documented through rapid roving survey method for selection of Gond localities in Gondwana belts for recording floristic diversity and their ethno-medicinal uses. During the visits a rapport was made with a number of elderly person of tribal communities and traditional herbal healers who were contacted to collect the information and interviewed. The discussion revealed local name of species, plant part used, formulation and dosages of herbal drug used by traditional healers and tribal communities. The specimens were collected, processed and identified with help of flora. The results of the study as documented from traditional healers conducted in districts of Hoshangabad and Seoni district revealed that the traditional healers found out of 500 persons suffered from Diabetes who were tested and examined for infestation in tribal pockets of Madhya Pradesh state were administered different herbal plant formulation based on availability of medicinal plants in their habitat. About 29 % of tribals patients were benefitted from diabetes by use by use of leaf extract of Gymnera sylvestris, 18% of tribals patients were benefitted from diabetes by use of leaf juice of Ocimum sanctum, 16% of tribals patients were benefitted from diabetes by use of bark gum resins of Petrocarus marsupium, whereas 15% of tribals patients were benefitted by use fruit / leaf juice of Aegle marmelo, 13% of tribals patients were benefitted from diabetes by use of whole plant of Convolvulus arvensis and 21% of tribals patients were benefitted from diabetes by use leaf juice of Azadirachta indica, whereas 4% of tribals could not be benefitted by any herbal medicine found in their localities. Similarly traditional healers in Gondwana region of Jabalpur district revealed formulations prepared as seed powder of Abrus precatorius Linn., leaf mesh Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa, bark powder of Ailanthus excelsa (Roxb), leaf powder of Andrographic lineate Wall Ex Nees Azadiracta indica A.Juss., leaf powder of Caesalpinia bonduc Linn, root powder of Coccina grandis (L.)Voight, tuber extract or decoction Caralluma adscendes (Roxb.) R.Br, leaf powder of Costus specious (Koen) Smith, leaf powder of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd) Hook. F. and Th., and stem bark of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. had been found effective in controlling blood sugar of patients suffering from Diabetes. The study concludes a number of promising plants with different plant parts and formulations are prevalent in cure of diabetes used by tribal communities in Gondwana region to cure patients from diabetes among Gond tribes of Madhya Pradesh

KEY WORDS: Gondwana region, Gond tribes, diabetes, formulations, plant parts

INTRODUCTION:

The Gond tribe belongs to Dravidian clan of tribes. The clan is one of the most important non-aryan community living in forests of Central India since ancient period. The word Gond has originated in the medieval period from the word “ Kond ” which means people living in forest, a community which was earlier called as “ Koitur ”. The community has been grouped into different groups based on regional basis . The community has migrated in Central India in different regions in state of Madhya Pradesh , Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Orrissa and grouped into different groups based on regional basis .

Diabetes mellitus (DM), long has considered as disease of minor significance to world health, has now been found to be considered as main threat to human health ^{( 1 )} .It is most common non communicable disease and patients have been found , suffering from ailment across the globe .In developed countries like USA , China, Japan, U.K., Germany a large number of chronic patients have been recorded , with an estimate of 4/5 th of leading patients die due to high rise in blood sugar leading to failure of Kidney , Heart , Pancreas and other complication in human body . As per latest estimates about 150 million people throughout the world wide are suffering from diabetes type1, almost five times more than was estimated in 1998 about a decade ago. The global figure of persons affected with diabetes is estimated to increase from 150 million to 220 million in 2010 and 300 million by 2025 ^(2). In developing countries like India the current prevalence of type 2 diabetes is 2.4 % in rural areas and 11.67 % in urban areas . A large number of ethnical communities living in forest fringes have been observed as suffering from disorders.

The floristic study conducted in Madhya Pradesh have been carried out by numerous ethnobotanist^{( 3-e 21)} . These studies revealed that folk healers collected medicinal plants and have inherited the art of healing, curing the patients from use of herbal medicines prepared from medicinal and aromatic plants of their different parts such as root, rhizome, stem, leaves, flowers , fruits , bark etc. making different formulations of such plants having medicinal value are used by traditional healers ^{( 12, 15,19,
28, 29)} .

MATERIALS AND METHODS :

The study was conducted in tribal belts of Gondwana region, which lies between latitude 17^º48 ^′ N and 26^º52′ S and between longitude 74^º 2^′ N to 84 ^º24 ^′ E in state of Madhya Pradesh .The gond tribes are spread in districts of Jabalpur , Katni , Chhindwara, Betul, Seoni, Mandla, Dindori and Hoshangabad in M.P. Observations on wild plants used in cure diabetes were recorded on Gond tribes Field trips were conducted in different seasons in during years 2013 – 2016 in the study sites were selected in tribal pockets of Gond tribes in villages, in districts of Jabalpur , Seoni and Hoshangabad through rapid roving survey method for selection of Gond localities in Gondwana belts for recording floristic diversity and their ethno-medicinal uses. During the visits a rapport was made with a number of elderly person of tribal communities and traditional herbal healers who were contacted to collect the information and interviewed. The discussion revealed local name of species, plant part used, formulation and dosages of herbal drug used by traditional healers and tribal communities. The specimens were collected, processed and identified with help of flora . The information recorded in field were further screened in laboratory as per work pertaining to Indian ethno-botany ^{( 24, 25)}and plants recorded ^{( 23, 26, 28)}. The information as genus of plant species, local name, family, plant part used of plant species, formulation in cure of ailments prevalent among tribal community have been tabulated in the present investigation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION :

The results of the study carried out in districts of Hoshanagabd and Seoni in Madhya Pradesh with help of local traditional healer or vaidraj in pockets of Gond tribes in controlling blood sugar in patients suffering from Diabetes revealed that the out of 500 persons suffered from Diabetes who were tested and examined for infestation in tribal pockets of Madhya Pradesh state were administered different herbal plant formulation based on availability of medicinal plants in their habitat.

About 29 % of tribal patients were able to control blood sugar who in ailment of diabetes by use of leaf extract of Gymnera sylvestris , 18% of tribal patients controlled blood sugar by use of leaf juice of Ocimum sanctum , 15% of tribal patients controlled blood sugar by use of bark gum resins of Petrocarus marsupium , whereas 15% of tribal's patients controlled blood sugar by use of fruit / leaf juice of Aegle marmelo, 13% of tribal patients controlled blood sugar by use suffering from ailment of diabetes by use of whole plant of Convolvulus arvensis and 21% of tribal patients controlled blood sugar in ailment of diabetes by use leaf juice of Azadirachta indica , whereas 4% of tribal's could not controlled blood sugar by any herbal medicine found in their localities has been presented in table- 1

The study conducted in Gondwana region of Jabalpur district is presented in table 2 reveals formulations prepared as seed powder of Abrus precatorius Linn., leaf mesh Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa , bark powder of Ailanthus excelsa (Roxb) , leaf powder of Andrographic lineate Wall Ex Nees Azadiracta indica A.Juss. , leaf powder of Caesalpinia bonduc Linn , root powder of Coccina grandis (L.)Voight, tuber extract or decoction Caralluma adscendes ( Roxb.) R.Br , leaf powder of Costus specious (Koen) Smith , leaf powder of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd) Hook.F. and Th. , and stem bark of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. had been found effective in controlling blood sugar of patients suffering from Diabetes.

The medicinal plants are subject to various process to prepare leaf , stem , seed ,root , bark powder and mode of administration in cure of ailment . These plants vary from community to community and locality to locality within ethnic communities as per knowledge which is orally communicated from one generation to another and isprevalent since the dawn of the civilization ^{( 12, 30, 31)} . The results obtained and presented in table-1 and 2 reveals that large number of plants are being used in the ailment. Changes in human behaviour and lifestyle over the last century have resulted in a dramatic increase in the incidence of diabetes worldwide ^(1,2)

Similarly a number of ethno- botanists had reported many other plants as prevalent among ethic communities and aboriginals in controlling blood sugar , other than those mentioned in table 1 for Hoshnagbad and Seoni district and in table 2 in Jabalpur district had been reported in different tribal pockets of Madhya Pradesh such as among indigenous community of Bundelkhand region in Sagar district⁽³⁾, among Kol tribes in Rewa district^{(4 ,
5)}, Baiga and Gond tribes in Mandla district in MP^(6,7), among indigenous community in Bastar ^{(8 , 9),} among Bharia tribes Patalkot valley in Chhindwara district ⁽¹²⁾, among Sahariya tribes of Chambal region ⁽¹³⁾, among aboriginals in Betuls district⁽¹⁴⁾ among Bhil tribes in Jhabua district^{( 15)}, local indigenous communities in Pachmarhi biospheres^{(16, 18)}, among aboriginals in Chhatisgarh region ^{( 17)}, in abujhmaria region of Bastar^{( 19,20)} , in tribal pockets of Gond tribes of Bastar ^{( 21,29)}. These traditional healers have specialized skill and knowledge for time of collection of plant part , preparing formulations and dose of administration without having formal education^{(30, 31)} . Herbal drugs obtained from plants are supposed to be much safer, this has been proved in the treatments in cure of various ailments ^(30,32) .

During the survey carried out it was found that this knowledge is restricted to traditional healers , folk healers and elderly people . It was also observed that elderly people had a strong belief in the efficacy and success of plants based therapies. But this vital knowledge is lacking among new and younger generations and that had a tendency to migrate to urban areas and towns. Hence, it has become essential to document the information scientifically.

Table -1 Plants in cure of Diabetes prevalent among Gond tribes in Hoshanagabad and Seoni District ( Gondwana region) in Madhya Pradesh

S.No	Species ( Common name)	Family	Habit	Plant Part Used	Formulations	Dose administered	No of patients benefitted out of 500 Percentage in bracts (%)
1	Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa (Beal)	Rutaceae	Tree	Fruit and Leaf	Juice	15 ml. of fruit / leaf juice is orally administered twice a day regulated the blood sugar .	65 ( 13%)
2	Convolvulus arvensis Linn. (Hirankuri)	Convolvulaceae	Herb	Leaf or Whole plant	Decoction	15 gms. of leaf or whole plant decoction is prepared and orally administered 2-3 times a day to regulate blood sugar .	105 (21%)
3	Gymnera sylvestris R.Br. (Gudmar)	Asclepiadaceae	Herb	Leaf /Whole plant	Extract	50 ml. of extract is orally administered twice a day, empty stomach early in the morning and 3-4 hours after meals in evening before dinner regulates sugar The insulin requirement is also reduced among patients .	145 ( 29%)
4	Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi)	Lamiaceae	Herb	Leaf	Juice	15 -20 ml. of leaf juice is orally administered twice a day regulates the blood sugar .	90 ( (18%)
5	Petrocarpus marsupium Roxb. ( Bija sal )	Fabaceae	Tree	Bark - Gum resin	Extra ct	3-5 ml. of extract is orally administered empty stomach twice a dayin fore-noon and 3-4 hours after meals in evening before dinner .The extract helps in reducing blood suar in patients .	75 (15%)
6	Azadirachta indica A. juss	Fabaceae	Tree	Leaf	Juice	3-5 ml. of extract is orally administered empty stomach twice a day to regulate blood sugar .	20 ( 4%)

Table 2 Plants in cure of Diabetes prevalent among Gond tribes in Jabalpur District ( Gondwana region) in Madhya Pradesh

S.No	Species ( Common name)	Family	Habit	Plant Part Used	Formulations	Dose
1	Caralluma adscendes ( Roxb.) R.Br	Asclepiadceae	Herb	Tuber	Extraction	Extracts of Caralluma adscendes are orally administered 3-5ml empty stomach for a period of 45-55 days to reduce blod glucose level.
2	Andrographic lineate Wall Ex Nees	Acanthaceae	Herb	Leaf	Powder	One table spoon of leaf powder is orally administered wit cow milk twice a day for a period of 2-3 months to reduce blood sugar.
3	Costus specious (Koen) Smith	Zingiberaceae	Herb	Leaf	Powder	One table spoon of leaf powder is orally administered wit cow milk twice a day for a period of 2-3 months to reduce blood sugar.
4	Ailanthus excelsa (Roxb	Simaroubaceae	Tree	Bark	Powder	Bark of Ailanthus excelsa are collected and dried it. Dried bark is powdered. Prepared powder is orally administered at least 2-3 times a day for a period of 5-6 days to patient in cure in Diarrhea.
5	Azadiracta indica A.Juss.	Meliaceae	Tree	Bark	Powder	Bark of Azadiracta indica are collected and dried it. Dried bark is powdered. Prepared powder is mixed with 150 gm of P. nigrum and is orally administered twice a day, in morning and evening for a period of 30-35 days to patient to control blood sugar surffering from Diabetes.
6	Tinospora cordifolia (Willd) Hook.F. and Th.	Menispermaceae	Climber	Leaf	Powder	Fresh leaves of Tinospora cordifolia are collected, dried and powdered. Prepared powder is mixed with 150 gm of P. nigrum and 60 gm bark powder of Azadiracta indica and is orally administered two spoons of tea daily for a period of 20-25 days to patient to control blood sugar surffering from Diabetes.
7	Coccina grandis (L.)Voight	Cucurbitaceae	Climber	Roots	Powder	Root of Coccina grandis is collected, dried and powder is prepared. Prepared powder is mixed with sugar and is orally administered thrice a day to patient for a period of 35- 45 days to control blood sugar surffering from Diabetes.
8	Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.	Fabaceae	Tree	Stem	Bark	Stem bsrk of P.marsupium are collected, dried and glass is prepared. Prepared glass is filled with water on night and then the water is orally administered to drink on morning for a period of 20-25 days to control blood sugar surffering from Diabetes.
9	Abrus precatorius Linn.	Fabaceae	climber.	Seeds	Powder	Seeds of Abrus precatorius are collected, dried and powdered. Prepared powder is mixed with honey and is orally administered twice a day, morning and evening to patient for a period of 20-25 days to control blood sugar surffering from Diabetes.
10	Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa	Rutaceae	Tree	Leafs	Mesh	Fresh leaves of Aegle marmelos are collected and mesh is prepared. Prepared mesh is orally administered twice a day morning and evening to patient days to control blood sugar surffering from Diabetes .
11	Caesalpinia bonduc Linn.	Caesalpinaceae	Tree	Leaves	Powder	Leaves are collected, dried and powder is prepared. Prepared powder d is orally administered thrice a day to patient for a period of 40 -45 days days to control blood sugar of patients surffering from Diabetes

CONCLUSION:

A number of plants with different plant parts and formulations are prevalent among Gond tribes in controlling blood sugar among patients in ailment of diabetes used by tribal communities in Gondwana region since several years in Madhya Pradesh.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The author is thankful to Traditional healers who have shared the information for systematic documentation of information in states of Madhya Pradesh in pockets of Gond, tribes .The author is also thankful to Director General, MP Council of Science and Technology, Bhopal for financial Assistance of conducting the study and to Director , Tropical Forest Research Institute , Jabalpur for providing necessary facilities for the study.

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