Ethnobotanical study on Medicinal Plants used by Traditional Health Practitioners and Villagers of Garhphulghar Gram, Chhattisgarh, India

 

Mohammad Shamim Qureshi¹*, A. Venkateshwar Reddy², G. S. Kumar³ and Lubna Nousheen²

¹Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, Kukatpally - 50035, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

²Anwarul Uloom College of Pharmacy, New Mallepally, Hyderabad – 500001, Telangana, India

³School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jallil, Kuala Lumpur 57000. Malaysia

 

ABSTRACT:

An ethnobotanical survey of various medicinal plants used in curing some diseases in villagers of Garhphulghar Gram, Chhattisgarh, was carried out between September – October 2014. Ethnobotanical data were collected by oral interview with local villagers, traditional medical practitioners (TMPs), and herb sellers. From the survey, a total of 30 plant species belonging to 20 families were found to be useful in the treatment of skin problems, cold, fever, cough, headache, diarrhoea, toothache, stomach ache, wounds, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, dysentery, hair loss and poisoning (snake, scorpion and insect bites). Residents in the study area find the Ayurvedic traditional medicine cheaper as compared to orthodox medicines. It is therefore implicated that attempts should be made on how to explore on documentation, conservation and standardization of the medicinal plants. Also, attention of the researcher and health officials should be drawn towards the importance medicinal and different uses of the medicinal plants and they should intensify the research to reveal other concealed potential of the medicinal plants.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Ethanobotany is the study of bond/correlation between people and plants. Where, “ethno” – study of people and “botany” – study of plants. In simple terms, ethanobotany is the field of botany that analyse the result of traditional uses of plants along with the cultural context in which the plants are used. Medicinal plants are believed to be with healing potency, and traditional people have used them for many centuries. Aimed to modern drug discovery, traditional medicinal plants have been studied which is followed by ethnobotanical lead of indigenous cures used by traditional medical systems^1-3.

 

In India ethnomedicinal evaluation have been conducted from various rural and remote localities, where the residents are still dependent on herbal medicines^4-16. In resent past attention has been paid on various aspects of ethno-medico-botany in Chhattisgarh where some areas bear very rich medicinal flora^17-31. India is one of the 12-mega biodiversity centres, including two hot-spots of biodiversity in the Western Ghats and north-eastern region. There are about 400 families in the world of flowering plants; at least 350 are represented by India³².

 

In the medicinal use of plants the documentation of traditional knowledge provides various important drugs on a daily basis that are used worldwide. Traditional remedies had been (and still are) the main source of various treatments, especially in regions of poor resources of the Garhphuljhar, dist. Mahasamund Chhattisgarh. In many rural areas of the Chhattisgarh, sometimes the traditional medicine is the only available present day orthodox health care for managing both human and animal health. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate trends in medicinal plant uses in Ayurvedic gram Garhphuljhar, dist. Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh. Garhphuljhar (Basna) an Ayurvedic gram (village) is located at 21.28°N and 82.82°E. It has an average elevation of 266 metres (872 feet). Though we have these facts, literature survey on the ethnobotanical investigation reveals that there is no previous documentation work conducted at any place in the Mahasamund District. Hence, there is a requirement to conduct ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in the area, to look into and compile relevant information and to document them before the medicinal plants become too scarce to capture the knowledge of the indigenous people; and hence this study was initiated. Tribal people and people who live in remote areas depend considerably on medicinal plants for their basic treatments. Due to this factor, medicinal plant usage in such communities is far richer when compared to the urban population. The exploration of the therapeutic activity of medicinal plants rendered by them has a long history of use passed on from generation to generation³³. In recent past efforts have been made to reveal folk medicines through ethno botanical exploration.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The ethnobotanical Survey was conducted with close assistance and co-operation of traditional healers and local villagers. The data was collected from the native informants who were Healers/Ayurvedic Physicians/Baidya/Elderly people and common people who have knowledge about the therapeutic value of plants. Because of the fact that majority of population in rural areas is illiterate, oral interviews were conducted in villages and derived information was placed on records. In the survey conducted during September – October 2014, standard methodology was followed^34-35. More than 120 informants were interviewed; elderly people were preferred more for interviewing based on the past knowledge on use of medicinal herbs for treatment of various diseases. The data was considered worth mentioning, when more than 10 informants gave similar answers for same plant. The plant specimens were collected from local area of an Ayurvedic gram (village) Garhphulghar, Dist.- Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh (India) and was identified and authentified by M. Ahmedullah (Scientist-E) and P.V. Prasanna (Scientist-F) at the Botanical Survey of India, Deccan regional centre, Hyderabad (Establishment under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India). The medicinal use of plant species are given with vernacular (local name), and family of the plants.

 

Figure 1. Location Map of Study Area

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Among the 120 interviewees, major informants were male aged around 50-60 years, who have completed 5-8 years of education having a professional experience of  >20 years as Ayurvedic practitioners, 10-20 years as baidya/baigas, 5-10 years as local older people and others >2 years. Along with this figure of professional background, a significant portion of informants were local old people, baidya and other professionals (Table 1).

 

Table 1. Demographic Data of the informants.

 

The results of the survey are presented in Table 2 and the plants are arranged in alphabetical order. The present investigation comprises 30 species of ethnomedicinal plants distributed in 29 genera belonging to 20 families. (Table 2) For each species botanical name, family, local name, Voucher number (B.S.I.), parts used and Ethnobotanical/ medicinal uses are provided. Traditional healers are using these plants to cure diseases related to skin problems, cold, fever, cough, headache, diarrhoea, toothache, stomach ache, wounds, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, dysentery, hair loss and poisoning (snake, scorpion and insect) bites. (Table 2). The most dominant families in the study were Lamiaceae (4 species), Convolvulaceae (3 species), Malvaceae (3 species), Euphorbiaceae (2 species), Nyctaginaceae (2 species) and Apocynaceae (2 species).

 

In India the traditional knowledge systems are slowly declining, due to not having enough knowledge of traditional medicine systems in young generation and increasing use of allopathic medicines due to their excess availability and efficacy. So there is immediate need to record and register all the ethnobotanical knowledge among diverse ethnic communities. In this paper work on ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants belonging to Garhphulghar Gram, Chhattisgarh has been recorded for their food value and their important therapeutic properties for various diseases. Various plants have two aspects; foremost is they have the potential as promising future food, further these medicinal plants can have some active ingredients, which have to be identified, characterized for future pharmaceutical analysis and development. Various results show that the age and gender class differ in their traditional knowledge with concern to medicinal plants reported. Males above 50 year of age had more traditional knowledge regarding medicinal plants and their benefits than females. We learned through the survey that most of the local people are still dependent on plant resources for cure of various diseases, but this kind of dependence is decreasing day by day.

 

Figure 2. Plants parts used for the management of various healthcare problems in villagers of Garhphulghar Gram, Chhattisgarh, India.

 

Table 2. Ethnobotanical plants of Garhphulghar Gram, Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh, INDIA.

CONCLUSION:

Present ethnobotanical survey revealed that the local traditional healers of Garhphulghar Gram, Chhattisgarh are rich in ethnomedicinal knowledge and majority of people depend on plant based treatment for common health problems such as skin diseases, cold, fever, cough, headache, diarrhoea, toothache, stomach ache, wounds, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, dysentery, hair loss and poisoning (snake, scorpion and insect bites) etc. The study also revealed that all the traditional healers have strong faith in ethnomedicines although they are less aware about the documentation and preservation of medicinal plants. The group discussion and personal interviews revealed that youngsters of Garhphulghar Gram are less aware and have least concern to the use of ethnomedicines.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are thankful to the local traditional healers in the Mahasamund district of Garhphulghar Gram for sharing their knowledge on herbal medicine. Especially Mrs. Nitu Pande for her support during collection of plants. We also thank Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Deccan Regional Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana (India) for permitting to confirm the identified plant specimens with herbaria.

 

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Received on 27.03.2017       Accepted on 14.05.2017     

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