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Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 11: 148-163. 2007. Ethno-Medico Botanical Study of Sundargarh
District, A.B. Prusti1 and K.K. Behera2 E-mail: aratibala_prusti@hotmail.com 2Ph.D.Scholar, P.G. Dept.of Botany, E-mail:kambaska@yahoo.co.in Issued ABSTRACT Ethnomedicinal
plant wealth of Sundargarh district is one of the
richest in Orissa state of Key words: Ethnobotanical, Sundargarh,
Orissa Introduction For millennia, human in every corner of the world have accumulated knowledge about plants. This knowledge has been gathered and transmitted orally and textually through generations. Some of the knowledge is the product of modern science; a precise method for learning about plants. Ethnobotanical research is providing fundamental information in the search for new drugs, foods, pesticides, natural products, gene resources and chemicals. The tribals, in general are endogamous groups sharing common language and culture. They are living under varying geo-ecological setting of hills and forest areas and far away from modern convenience of life. They are the economically backward ethnic group. They are food gatherers; hunters, forest-land cultivators, and minor forest produce collectors. They live-in isolation near to nature. Various scientists have described them by different names, “Aboriginals”(1904 Herbert Risley and Lacey), “Jungle People” or “ Hill tribe” (1941V.Elwin & Thakar). They have vast knowledge of plants, which they apply, on their daily life. Orissa
with its 7 million tribal population of 62 different
ethnic groups inhabiting in the dense and thick tropical forest areas
possesses rich empiric knowledge about plant wealth. Sundargarh
district one of the 30th districts of Orissa state occupies
the northwestern portion of Orissa state in A detailed perusal of the ethnobotanical records reveals that a number of outstanding botanists led several ethnobotanical studies in different parts of Orissa (Bal 1942;Jain, 1971 & 1987;Brahmam&Dutta.1981; Chaudhury Rai. et al 1975;Brahmam. &Saxena.1990; Das &Mishra, 1987;Das&Kant.1998; Girach et al1998; Mukherjee&. Namhata.1990; Murty et al & Chopra 1997;Prusti 1998; Prusti & Mishra 2005;Saxena & Dutta, 1975. Reports on Sundargarh district (Satapathy &Panda.1992; Kulkarni. et al, 1993, Satapathy & Brahmam.1996; Satapathy & Chand. 2003, Prusti, & Panda.2005) are available. From the literature it reveals that Sundargarh district with rich flora has remained botanically almost unexplored. Therefore study has been undertaken to record less-known ethnobotanicals from different tribal communities of this district. Materials and Methods During the ethnobotanical field survey of the district the second author carried out extensive field studies (2001-2005) in the tribal areas of Bonai, Panposh and Sundargarh Forest Divisions, and recorded tribal use of plants for various purposes, such as for food, fodder, medicines, household materials etc. The methodology followed for the study was that of Jain& Mudgal (1999). The local doctors ‘Baids’ or medicine men of different tribal communities and tribals having knowledge on plant use were taken to the forest areas, the local name of the plants, their uses and method of preparations and dose was noted from them. The information gathered was crosschecked from other persons who actually use the plants. The plants were correctly identified with the help of Flora book (Haines, 1921-25;Saxena & Brahmam, (1996.4 Vols.). Matching of voucher specimens was done with the authentic herbarium specimens available at Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar.In the enumeration a disease-based approach is given to understand the health-profile of the tribals of the district giving the binomial nomenclature of the plant, family name, and locality from where the plant was collected, followed by method of preparation and dose if available. The local name of the plant is given in inverted commas at the end of each claim.. The Specimens are preserved in the herbarium of P.N.College.In the enumeration a disease-based approach is given to understand the health-profile of the tribals of the district giving the binomial nomenclature of the plant, family name, and locality from where the plant was collected, followed by method of preparation and dose if available is also given.
Results and Discussion The tribals of Sundargarh district have developed vast knowledge of plants as observed by the authors during their field survey from 2004 to 2006 of ethnobotanical work which they have acquired through their traditional practices since time immemorial. Use of certain plants for some particular purposes (e.g. Insect repellants, Stupefiers, Cancer, Rheumatism, Diabetes etc) is restricted to some people only and normally they are quite reluctant to share their knowledge with any outsider. There is an urgent need of documentation of this irreplaceable knowledge. It may be lost when traditional cultures collapse with advent of modernization. g. The present studies aimed at documenting all Ethnobotanical Products data covering most important eco-sensitive zones of Sundargarh district .The video graphic documentation is more useful in identification of plant species in the field and it may also useful for conservation strategies. Generally, it was noted that Non-Timber Forest Products were under threat, due to decline of forests in various ways and the disappearance of traditional knowledge and values which accounts for 83 plant species with 78 genera in 42 families. Most of the claims are found to be new and interesting to the indigenous system of Indian medicine. Enumeration Accidents
& derangements Croton bonplandianus Baill. F: EUPHORBIACEAE Locality:San Beura, Sap is applied locally to treat cuts due to sharp-edged tools. ‘Gondri’. Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. F: FABACEAE Locality: Bonai, Dried powder of wholeplant and toasted rice
powder in equal quantities is mixed well. The mixture thus obtained is taken
on empty stomach to cure bone-fracture. ‘Hadjodi’. Dose: 5-10 g twice daily. Simultaneously, the whole plant together with an egg is ground to a
fine paste, applied over the fractured limb and bandaged for bone setting. Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall. F: APOCYNACEAE Locality: Bonai, The root is rubbed on a stone with a few drops of water and the paste
thus obtained is given internally and applied externally in snakebite. ‘Kurai’. Calotropis gigantea R.Br. F: ASCLEPIADACEAE Locality: Bonai, The fresh root, together with milk of cow, is ground to a fine paste
and taken as an antidote for snakebite. ‘Arka’ Adiantum philippense L. F: ADIANTACEAE Locality: Dhumsara, The whole plant (green) is pounded to a fine paste and applied to the
fracture, and bandaged. ‘ Cassia
obtusifolia Linn. F: CAESALPINIACEAE Locality: Lefripara, Jayashree,
239 The whole plant is pounded to a fine paste and applied to the fractured
portion of the limb. ‘Chakunda’ Careya arborea Roxb. F: BARRINGTONIACEAE Locality: Lefripara, Bark paste is tied over the cuts due to sharp-edged instruments. ‘Kumbi’ Rauvolfia tetraphylla Linn. F: APOCYNACEAE Locality: Lefripara, Root paste (25 g) is fed to the victim slowly in snakebite. ‘Patalagarudi’. Alopecia & allied illness Streblus asper Lour. F: MORACEAE Locality: Bonai, The root, together with the juice of the leaf is ground to a fine paste
and applied daily on the head. ‘Sahada’. Note: Before the application the bald portion
of the head is rubbed with the lower portion of a fresh leaf. Tridax procumbens Linn. F: ASTERACEAE Locality: San Beura, Juice of wholeplant is mixed in equal
quantity of the fruit juice of Phyllanthus emblica and the whole mixture is transferred into an
earthen-pot and buried deep underground for one month. The admixture thus
obtained is used as hair tonic to prevent immature graying of hair and also
to maintain it in black with luster. ‘Kesadudura’. Cancer Phyllanthus lawii Grah.ex Muell.- F: EUPHORBIACEAE Locality: Bonai, Dried root powder (10g) and fresh juice (25 ml) of the bark of Moringa
oleifera together with old ‘gur’
(molasses) (10 g) is eaten on empty stomach twice daily for three days only. Followed by the above treatment the root
powder (10 g) together with same quantity of powdered sugar candy is taken
orally for another 7 days in stomach and other cancers barring brain and lung
cancer. ‘Jhar’. Cardiac Symphorema
polyandrum Wight F: VERBENACEAE Locality: Bonai, Bark is grounded to a fine paste and the paste thus obtained is mixed
in cow’s ghee and applied externally to treat cardiac ailments of rheumatic
patient. ‘ Mahasindu’. Chest Hiptage
benghalensis (L.) Kurz. F: MALPIGHIACEAE Locality: Kulposh, Dried flowers (50 g) and dried bark (50 g )
made in to a fine powder. The powder along with a glass of cow milk is taken
on empty stomach to treat tuberculosis. ‘Madhavilata’. Dose: 5-6 g twice daily for 40 days. Solanum
virginianum Linn. F: SOLANACEAE Locality: Kulposh, Fresh-root juice is mixed in pure honey and taken internally on empty
stomach to treat Asthma. ‘Bejibaigan’. Terminalia chebula Retz. F: COMBRETACEAE Locality: Kurlokhaman,
Rind of fruit is wrapped with young leaves
of mango and tied with the stem of Abrus precatorius. The rind thus cooked is eaten as an expectorant. ‘Harida’. Vitex negundo Linn. F: VERBENACEAE Locality: Kello Raipuri,
a) Fresh leaf-juice
mixed in honey is taken on empty stomach in Asthma. Dose: 5ml twice daily. b) Fresh leaves are
boiled in water till vapourisation. The vapours are inhaled through mouth to reduce cough. ‘Begunia’. Dental Argemone mexicana Linn. F: PAPAVERACEAE Locality: Bonai, Fresh root is made in to a fine paste and applied to the caries teeth
for relief from pain. ‘Odosmari’. Solanum
virginianum Linn. F: SOLANACEAE Loc: Bonai, Powder of seeds is smoked in a pipe to get rid of worms in the caries
teeth. ‘Bejibaigan’. Jatropha
gossypifolia Linn. F: EUPHORBIACEAE Locality: Kurlokhaman, Stem is regularly used as toothbrush in swollen gums and caries
teeth. ‘Bondrijotta’. Pongamia
pinnata (L.) F: FABACEAE Locality: Kulposh, Twigs are employed as toothbrush regularly for healthy gums and
sparkling teeth. ‘ Karanja’. Diabetes Catharanthus
roseus (L.) G.Don F: APOCYNACEAE Locality: Bonai, Leaves (only 3nos) are soaked in water overnight and filtered. The
solution thus obtained is taken orally on empty stomach in Diabetes Mellitus.
‘Sadabihari’. Galactogogue Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. F: CONVOLVULACEAE Loc: Kulposh, Jayshree381 Leaf is eaten as vegetable regularly by lactating mothers to increase
the secretion of milk. ‘ Kalum’. Plumeria rubra L. F: APOCYNACEAE Locality: Kurlokhaman, a) Fruit (follicle) is grounded to a fine paste and given internally
on empty stomach to improve secretion of mother’s milk. b) Seed-paste with sugar candy water is also given to improve
secretion of mother’s milk.‘Kathchampa’. Sida acuta Burm.f. F: MALVACEAE Locality: Kulposh, Wholeplant together with rice washed water is
grounded to a fine paste and the paste is given internally to check diarrhoea due to indigestion. ‘Bachuramuli’. Dose: 3-5 very 2 hours. Holarrhena
antidysenterica Wall. F: APOCYNACEAE Locality: Kulposh, Water-extract of bark is given internally in blood dysentery. ‘Kurai’. Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet. F: MALVACEAE Locality: Kulposh, Leaves (7 nos) together with 7 black peppers are grinded to a fine paste and the paste thus obtained is taken on empty stomach with rice-washed water in jaundice. 'Chotapedi pedica'. Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. F: FABACEAE
Locality: Kurlokhaman, Wholeplant paste is.given,to lactating mothers for de-worming of children. 'Kuradia'. Dose: 2-3 g once daily for 10 days. Soymida febrifuga (Roxb.) A. Juss. F: MELIACEAE Locality: Kello Raipuri, Stem bark is grinded to a fine paste and taken together with curds on empty stomach in water stools. 'Roin.' Punica
granatum Linn. F: PUNICACEAE Locality: KelloRaipuri, Fruit- skin paste with curds is taken orally to check diarrhea and water stools. 'Dalimb'. Ardisia solanacea Roxb. F: MYRSINACEAE
Locality: KelloRaipuri, Water-extract of root is give infernally in Blood dysentery. 'Narasingha koda'. F: ARECACEAE Locality: Bonai, a) Immature-fruit is made in to a fine paste and the paste thus obtained is taken with rice washed water to check vomiting. b) Leaf-juice is mixed in honey and is taken on empty stomach as a vermifuge. ‘Bui khajuri’ Cucumis trigonus Roxb. F: CUCURBITACEAE Locality: Kulposh, Fruit is cooked and eaten to act as drastic
purgative. ‘Bengdimbu’. Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. F: COMBRETACEAE Locality: Kello Raipuri, Pulp of raw fruit is pounded and consumed to check Dysentery. ‘Bahada'. Anogeissus latifolia (
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