Medicinal Plant Resources for Bioprospecting and Drug Development in Tribal Rich District of Orissa, India

 

 

Kambaska Kumar Behera1, Sanjibketan Sahoo1

and Purna Chandra Mohapatra2

 

1Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, 

    Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India

 

2Tridentaccadamy of Science and Technology,

Bhubaneswar, Orissa India

Email:-kambaska@yahoo.co.in

 

 

 Abstract

 

The present paper highlights some of the important medicinal species that are used by local baidya and tribal healers of tribal rich district of Orissa. Based on the locality available, herbal wealth there has enormous potentiality for commercial cultivation of some useful herbs and production of safe green medicines by establishing plant based industries in the tribal rich tract for the socio-economic development and conservation of genetic diversity. The wide geographical and climatic diversity provides a repository of valuable medicinal and economic plants wealth as a gift of nature for the Similipal bio-reserve in the Eastern Ghats and Satokosia and Tikarpada reserve forest as well as Nursinghanath and Harisankhar of Western Orissa. Today, the search for new drugs having potential therapeutic compounds is of world-wide importance.

 

Introduction

There is a vast expanse and scope for medicinal plant heritage in tribal areas of Orissa for bio-prospecting of the green medicines based on traditional practices among the local baidya, and tribal healers for meeting health care. The local baidya and tribal healers collect many plants and plant products for treatment of various diseases and disorders in their community. The present paper highlights some of the important medicinal species used by local baidya and tribal healers. Based on the locality available, herbal wealth there is enormous potentiality for commercial cultivation of useful herbs and production of safe green medicines by establishing plant based industries in the tribal rich tract for the socio-economic development and conservation of genetic diversity. The wide geographical and climatic diversity provides repository of valuable medicinal and economic plants wealth as a gift of nature for the Similipal bio-reserve in the Eastern Ghats. The search of importance of new drugs having potential therapeutic compounds like reserpine, quinine, ephedrine, cocain, emetin digiotnin, diogenin, colchicines, taxol, vinblastim areteminsinine and gugulipid from medicinal plants with rich ethnobotanical lore has given impetus to ethno medicinal plant research in the world.

Materials and Methods

            During the course of the investigation the authors have scrutinized the literature (Flora of Orissa, Saxena and Brahamn, 1994; Kanjilal, 1934-1940; Hara, 1996; Haridasan and Rao 1985; Kriti Kar and Basu, 1984; Skalani and Jain 1994; Mitra and Jain, 1991; Pal, 1984; Saxena, 1986; Kappor and Mitra 1979 etc.) pertaining to the ethnomedicinal studies of tribal and aboriginal people of Orissa. Apart from this extensive and intensive survey were conducted among the tribal and rural pockets of Orissa in different seasons and in varied eco-climatic conditions. During the study dosage and mode of their administration were gartered from the local baidya, tribal healers and other experienced teachers of the area who were familiar with the use of such indigenous systems of medicinal plants in curing of various ailments. Data have been compared, verified and reported in this paper.

Observations

            The tribal and rural population of Orissa utilizes a large number of plant species from the forest flora for food, fibre, medicine, oils, gums, resins, dyes, basketry, timber and wood work, fish poison, religious ceremonies, narcotics etc. The medicinal plants are arranged alphabetically, giving information and correct botanical names, family local name in Oriya (O), and preparation of medicinal dosages, therapeutical uses and mode of administration.

 

Enumeration of plants

 

Achyranthus aspera L. (Amaranthaceae), Apmaranga (O)

 

Uses:

1.      The juice of the whole plant is used to kill intestinal worms and the stem is used as toothbrush for pyorrhea and other gum troubles.

2.       Whole plant paste is applied for curing of piles and skin eruption.

 

Acorous calamous L. (Araceae), Bacha(O)

Uses: Rhizome powder along with honey is applied in toothache and carries.

 

Alipinia galangal (L.) Wild. (Zingiberaceae), Gandha sunthi (O)

Uses:

1.      Decoction of rhizomes taken 3- times daily after meal for treatment of piles.

2.      Rhizome powder is given orally for the treatment of rheumatism and bronchial asthma.

3.      Rhizome paste is massaged on the body to bring down fever.

 

Asparagus racemosus Wild, (Liliaceae), Satabari (O)

Uses: The aqueous extract of the tuberous root is given for the treatment for stomach disorders, diarrhea and dysentery.

 

Calotropis gigantean (L.) R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae), Arakha (O)

Uses: The sticky milky latex is applied on skin for curing of scabies and other skin disease.

 

Centella asiatica (L) Urban (Apiaceae), Thalkudi (O)

Uses:

1.      Young leaves are eaten in morning time as brain tonic,

2.      The decoction of the whole plant is given to cure skin diseases and blood dysentery.

3.      The decoction of leaf is taken for cold, cough, fever, stomachache and for expelling worms.

 

Chenopodium ambrosidies L. (Chenopodiaceae), Bathua(O)

Uses:

1.      The leaf juice is given twice a day in empty stomach for 3-4 days for the treatment of influenza, pneumonia and typhoid fever.

2.   The leaf juice is taken in empty stomach up to 7days for expelling round worms.

 

Coccinia grandis Voigt. (Cucurbitaceae ) Kunduri (O)

Uses: Extraction of leaf juice on slight boiling is given for curing of earache and decoration of root is given to stop vomiting.

 

Costus speciousus (Kone). Sm. (Zingiberaceae), Panikenduli (O)

Uses: Decoction of rhizome is given to cure burring sensation during urination and to dissolve kidney stone.

 

Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. (Zingiberaceae), Parbati Palua (O)

Uses: The starchy powder, which is extracted from rhizome, is taken with sugar as sarbat for curing of stomach disorder and dysentery.

 

Eclipta alba L. Hassk. (Asteraceace), Bhringaraj (O)

Uses: The juice with honey is given to cure diarrhea, throat pain cough and fever and whole plant decoction is given for gastric and liver disorders.

 

Elephantopus scaber L. (Asteraceace), Chhotarasana (O)

Uses: Decoction of the whole plant is given in urinary trouble.

 

Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Asteraceae), Anola (O)

Uses: Fresh leaf juice (2ml) with diluted common salt (1ml) used in a drop in eyes for improving weak eyesight.

 

Ficus palmate Forsk (Moraceae) Bata Brukhya (O)

Uses: The fruit paste used to control diabetes and for treating lungs diseases.

 

Ficus racemosa L. (Moraceae), Pipal (O)

Uses: Root powder is given to control diabetes and Latex is applied for curing of fistula and boils.

 

Gloriosa superba L ( Liliaceae), Pancha-anguli (O)

Uses: The tubers are used as tonic and for cure of stomachache.

 

Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae), Anantamula (O)

Uses:

  1. The decoction of the whole plant is given in anemia and general weakness.
  2. Root paste about 10 gms is taken in empty stomach continuously seven days for the treatment of leucoderma.

 

Holarrhena pubescens. Wallich. ex. G. Don (Apocynaceae), Kurein (O)

Uses:

  1. Decoction of the stem bark and seed is given for diarrhea and dysentery.
  2. Flower paste about 10gms is taken empty stomach continuously seven days for treatment of leucoderma.

 

Mesua ferrae L. (Clusiaceae), Nageswar (O)

Uses:

  1. The leaf juice is given as antidote for snakebite and the powered bark along with clove and ginger is taken for curing anemia and cough.

 

Mismosa pudica L. (Mimosaceae) Lajakuli (O)

Uses:

  1. The decoction of whole plant is prescribed for diarrhea, skin diseases, hydrocele and for dissolving kidney and galls tones.
  2. The powder is taken as oral contraceptive and the leaf paste is applied on boils and sores.

 

Moringa oleifera Lamk. (Moringiaceae) Sajana (O)

Uses:

A pasty mass prepared by mixing fruits along with Cissus quadrangular stem and ginger is used as plaster for bone facture and dislocation of bones.

 

Nepenthes khasiana Hook. f. (Nepenthaceae) Kamadual (O)

Uses: The digestive juice of the unopened pitcher is used as eye drop for cataract and night blindness.

 

Oroxylum indicum L. Vent. (Bignoniaceae) Phanaphana (O)

Uses:

Rot bark decoction is prescribed for diarrhea and dysentery.

 

Oxalis corniculata L.  (Oxalidaceae) Ambiliti (O)

Uses: Leaf juice along with honey is taken to cure chronic cough and stomach disorders and pasty mass of whole plant along with paste of Drymaria cordata and ginger is applied for snakebite.

 

Plumbago zelancia L. (Plumbaginaceae) Chitaparu/Dhala chita (O)

Uses: Decoction of root is given for permanent sterilization of woman after menstruation period and seed decoction is prescribed to reduce muscular pain.  

 

Rauvolfia serpentian Benth, Ex. Kruz. (Apocynaceae) Patala goruda (O)

Uses: Root decoction is prescribed for curing of blood pressure and also antidote to snake venom.

 

Sterculia villosa Roxb. (Steraculiaceae) Udal (O)

Uses:

  1. Powdered bark is prescribed along with slight hot water for constipation.
  2. Pasty mass of bark along with ginger is applied on hydrocele to relive the swells.

 

Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. (Fabaceae) Kulta (O)

Uses:

  1. Leaf decoction (5 ml) along with honey (2ml) given to woman twice a day continuously for one month against postnatal complication. 
  2. Pasty mass of root and stem along with stem paste of Paederia scandens placed in cotton is inserted into vagina for abortion.

 

Vitex negundo L. ( Verbenaceae) Begunia (O)

Uses:   Decoction of root bark (about 15 ml) with paste of  21 black peppers is taken twice a day after food continuously seven days for the treatment of typhoid fever.

 

Results and Discussion

            The empirical indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants plays a vital role in the primary health care and has potential of the discovery of new herbal drugs, new sources of pharmaceuticals, contraceptives and for sustainable utilization of medicinal plants genetic resources and their conservation. The exploration of medico-ethno medicinal data may serve as a useful source of information to the chemist, pharmacologists and practitioners of the herbal medicines for detection and isolation of bio-active components and standardization and production of the ethno medicine.

            Some of the potential medicinal plants like Acorous calamus, Alpinia galangal, Androgaphis paniculata, ocimum basilicum, Cathraranthus roseus, Celastrus paniculatus, Cissus quadranggularis, Clerodendrum, Centella asiatica, Gloriosa superba, Asparagus reacemes, Plumbago zeylanica, Croton roxburghjii, Hemidesmus, indicus, Rauvolia serpentina, Whighina somenifera, Toddalia asiatica, Curcuma angusifolia, etc. are recommended for commercial cultivation. This can improve the socio-economy of the tribal and rural population of Orissa. The poly herbal heritage and wisdom of the tribal and rural available in the tribal tracts provide an immense scope for establishing agro and forest based small cottage industries especially of herbal drug collection, processing and herbal medicine. 

 

References

 

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Hara, H. 1996. The Flora of Eastern Himalaya, Univ. Tokyo Japan, Haridasan, K and R.R. Rao, 1985. The forest flora of Meghalaya, Vol. I and II BSMPS, Dehradun.

Kanjilal, U.N., P.C. Kanjilal, A.Das, Flora a of Mehalays, Vol I and Vol II, BSMPS, Dehradun, Kappor, S.L. and Mitrs, R. (1979) Herbal drugs in India Pharmaceutical Industry, Economic Botany Information Service. National Botanical Service Research Institute, Lucknow, India.

Kritiakar, K.R, Basu, B.D (1984) (Ed). Indian Forest Medicinal Plants, Bishen Singh, Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India Vol. 1-4.

Mitra, R.and Jain, S.KI. (1991). Medicinal Plants research in India- A Review, Ethno-Botany.

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Saklani, A. and S.K. Jain, 1994. Cross Cultural Ethno-botany of North East India, Deep Publication, New Delhi 1-435.

Saxena, H.O. and Brahamam, M (1994) (Eds) Flora of Orissa Vol. I - IV. Orissa Forest development Corporation, Bhubaneswar.

Saxena, H.O. (1986). Observations of ethno botany of Madhya Pradesh. Bull, Bot. Surv. India. 18(1-4): 149-156.

Saxena, H.O, Brahamn, M. and Dutta, P.K. (1981). Ethno botanical studies in Orissa. In Jain, S.K. (ed). Glimpses of Indian Ethno botany, New Delhi 232 –244.