TRADITIONAL AND ETHNOMEDICINAL USES OF PLANTS IN
TRIBAL AREA OF LAMMASINGI AND TAJANGI PANCHAYAT,
CHNITAPALLI MANDALAM, VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT,
ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA
1
Maneesha Reemala, 2*Geetha Saramanda and 3A.J. Solomon Raju 1
Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Sanketika Institute of Technology and Management (SITAM), Visakhapatnam.
2
Post Doctoral Fellowship, Department of Microbiology, Andhra University. 3
Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam.
ABSTRACT
The studied medicinal plants were those used in traditional health care of humans and livestock. However, only very few individuals of each species were found in the area and this might be attributed to the ongoing habitat modification and loss of natural vegetation. Therefore, it is important to create awareness on sustainable use of the natural vegetation. Paying special attention to the medicinal plants found in the area may help to amplify the role that these plants play in healthcare, poverty alleviation as well as environmental protection. During ethnobotanical exploration of Lammasingi and Tajangi Panchayat, Chnitapalli Mandalam, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, a number of plants have been collected which are used by the local tribal’s for the treatment of various ailments. Plant species collected, identified for future references.
KEYWORDS: Ethnobotanical, healthcare, Plant species. INTRODUCTION
Tribal communities are considered to be forest dwellers living in harmony with their environment. The use of plants by man is as old as the human civilization itself. The term Ethnobotany refers to the interrelation ship between the primitive people and plants growing at round them. The success of aboriginal, primitive or rural societies in understanding plants
Volume 5, Issue 12, 1578-1585. Research Article ISSN 2278 – 4357
*Corresponding Author Dr. Geetha Saramanda
and their medicinal virtues is a result of long-standing and intimate association with the flora and their dependence on them. Several wild and cultivated plant species play a very important and vital role among their cultures. Their relationship with the plant world has evolved over generations of experience, practice, experimentation, trials and errors has passed down to next generations by words of mouth. Their traditional knowledge has still remained especially with the indigenous tribal or rural people world over.
The knowledge of tribal doctors and plant experts played an important role in demonstrating which plant might be developed as source of food or medicine. This knowledge of the traditional medical practitioners might have laid a foundation for the present medicinal systems. The tribal doctors, healers and plant experts often play a crucial role in demonstrating, which plant might be developed as source of food or medicine. These studies are extraordinarily knowledgeable and give more information about local plants. Koteswar Rao et al., (2011) described certain potential crude drugs used by tribal’s of the Gadabas, a primitive tribe of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh. Padal et al., (2013) and Stayavathi et al., (2014) has reported the ethnobotany of Medicinal Plants Used by the Tribes of Pedabayalu Mandalam, Visakhapatnam District.
MATERIAL AND METHODS Study Area
Lammasingi and Tajangi Panchayat is an interior part of the Chintapalli Mandal located on the northeastern part of Visakhapatnam district, it is lies between 17o 44’22” North latitude to 18o04’29” North and 82o 16’00’ East to 82o38’04’ East. The Lammasingi panchayat consists of 19 and Tajangi panchayat 21 villages and hamlets belonging to different tribal group like the Bagata, Valmiki, Kondadoras, Konda Kammaras and Khonds. The total population of the panchayats is 11,854.
Collection of Plant Samples
RESULTS
During field survey, 30 plant species are recorded as medicinal plants which are used by the tribal people of Lammasingi and Tajangi Panchayat, Chnitapalli Mandalam, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh. Out of these 30 plant species Euphorbiaceae (3 species), Meliaceae (2 species), Solanaceae (2 species), Apocynaceae (2 species), Amaranthaceae, Areceae, Agavaceae, Papaveraceae, Moraceae, Liliaceae, Bambusaceae, Caesalpiniacea, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Zingiberaceae, Acanthaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Rutaceae, Compositae, Plumbaginaceae, Apocynaceae, Punicaceae, Rubiaceae, Leguminoceae and Poaceae (1 species).
S.No Scientific Name Family Vernacular
Name Mode of Adminstration
1. Achyranthes
aspera L. Amaranthaceae Uthareni
Root, Twig
Root paste mixed with water is administered daily twice till cure vomiting, bronchitis, heart disease, piles, itching abdominal pains, ascites, dyspepsia, dysentery, blood diseases etc.
2. Acorus colamus
L. Araceae Vasa Rhizome
Rhizome paste is administered with water once a day till cure Jaundice
3. Agave cantula
Roxb.
Agavaceae
Kithanara Stem
Stem paste is applied on effected parts applied on Burning sensatuion in feet
4. Argemone
mexicana L. Papaveraceae Balla rakasi
Latex Latex is applied on effected parts of Joint pains.
5.
Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.
Moraceae Panasa Stem bark
Stem bark paste mixed with half tea glass of water is administered twice a day for 2 days for Body pains
6. Asparagus
racemosus Willd Liliaceae Bheemudu jada Tubers
paste is administered with water twice a day till cure Jaundice
7. Azadirachta
indica A.Juss. Meliaceae Yepa chettu
Stem,bark ,Leaves,F ruits,Flow ers,Seeds
cough, fever, loss of appetite, worm infestations, wounds and vomiting, skin diseases and xcessive thirst. Twigs have been used as a ‘toothbrush’ and for dental care, since antiquity.
8.
Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.)
Bambusaceae Bongu veduru Tender stems
Tender stems eaten ascurry once a day till cure diabetes
9. Bauhina vahlii
Wight& Arn. Caesalpiniaceae
Addaku,
Addachettu Seed
Seed paste mixed with half tea glass of water is administered twice a day cure Stomach pain.
10. Benincasa hispida
(Thunb.) Cogn. Cucurbitaceae
Budida
gummadi fruit
Fifty ml juice of unripened fruit is given once a day for 3days jaundice
(L.) Millsp administered twice a day for three days to cure Dysentery
12.
Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br. Ex Ait.
Asclepiadaceae Nalla jilledu Leaf Leaf paste is applied on painful joints. 13. Cipadessa baccifera (Roth) Miq Meliaceae Paradonda, Paladonda
Stem bark Stem bark paste is administered with water twice a day for two days to control Allergy
14.
Croton
bonplandianum Bail.
Euphorbiaceae Kukkatulasi Leaf
Leaf paste mixed with Allium sativum paste is applied along with coconut oil on the effected parts Migraine
15. Curcuma longa
L. Zingiberaceae Pasupu Tubers
Tubers paste mixed with water is given orally twice a day till cure Jaundice
16. Datura metal L. Solanaceae Chinna
ummetha Leaf
Leaf and nut paste is applied on effected parts Scabies
17. Jatropha curcas
L. Euphorbiaceae Nepalam
tender branches
Brush the teethes with tender branches Teeth infection.
The milk obtained from the stem is applied to heal the skin diseases. 18. Justicia adhatoda
L. Acanthaceae palakam poolu Root
Root paste is applied on effected parts of Cuts and Wounds
19. Mirabilis jalapa
L. Nyctaginaceae
Poddhu poolu
chettu Tubers
Tubers paste mixed with root paste of Asparagus racemosus, Rubia cordifolia is administered twice a day till cure Jaundice.
20. Murraya koenigii
(L.) Spreng. Rutaceae Karrivepaku Leaf
Leaf paste mixed with a pinch of salt is administered twice a day till cure Heart pain
21. Parthenium
hysterophorus L. Compositae Zingirichettu
Leaf Leaf paste mixed with half tea glass of water administered twice a day for three days. Menorrhagia
22. Plumbago
zeylanica L. Plumbaginaceae
Tellachitramula
m Root
Root paste along with tuberous paste of Rauvolfia serpentina mixed with half tea glass of water is
administered twice a day for Stomach pain
23. Plumeria alba L. Apocynaceae Lakshmi poolu stem bark
Bark paste mixed with Argemone mexicana root paste is administered with half tea glass of water daily twice till cure Anti-emetics. the paste of the stem bark is mixed with water and used for Stomach pain
24. Punica granutum
L. Punicaceae Danimma
Root, leaves
Root paste mixed with half tea glass of water is administered twice a day Caugh.
25.
Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz
Apocynaceae Pathalagaridi Tubers
Tubers paste mixed with Banana nut, a pinch of salt is administered twice a day for Stomach pain.
26. Ricinus communis
L. Euphorbiaceae Amudamu
Eight tender leaves
Eight tender leaves along with eight nuts of Piper nigrum and tubers of Mirabilis jalapa grounded and administered with half glass of cow milk thrice a day for three days to cure Jaundice.
27. Rubia cordifolia
L. Rubiaceae Mangala katthi Bark
Bark paste mixed with water is administered twice a day Anti emetics.
28.
Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers.
Leguminoceae Vempali Root
Root paste mixed with water is administered twice a day control Stomach pain
Teeth ache: the paste of the roots is applied near tooth.
29. Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) Kuntze Poaceae Konda cheepurugaddi leaves, stem
Warm water present in the axils of the leaves on the stem is applied to eyes and to the tongue once a day till cure Conjunctivitis and cracks on the tongue.
30.
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
Solanaceae Pennerugadda Root
Root paste mixed with half tea glass of water is administered thrice a day to Cure Tuberculosis
The present investigation revealed an important and most alarming situation with respect to utilization of morphological parts in ethnomedicinal practices. These findings warn us from popularization of ethnomedicinal practices in dysentery before alternate steps are taken up to grow medicinal flora in a campaign approach. Leaves are the most frequently used plant part followed by roots, stem bark, fruits, latex, seed and oil. The common diseases treated using medicinal plants are wounds, diarrhea, dysentery, eye problems, mouth ulcers, cough, itching, jaundice, skin disease, allergy, menorrhagia, stomach pain, migraine and tuberculosis.
Achyranthes aspera L. Acorus colamus L.
Agave cantula Roxb. Argemone mexicana L.
Asparagus racemosus Willd Curcuma longa L.
Cajanus cajan (L.)
Millsp.
Cipadessa baccifera (Roth) Miq
Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. Rauvolfia serpentine (L.) Benth.
Ex Kurz
Rubia cordifolia L. Teprosia purpurea (L.)
Pers.
Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.)
CONCLUSION
The popular use of herbal remedies among the tribal people in Lammasingi and Tajangi panchyat reflects the revival of interest in traditional medicine. The scientific validation of these remedies my help in discovering new drug from the plant species. These ethnomedicinal data may provide a base to start the search the new compounds related to phytochemistry, pharmacology and pharmacognosy. This may provide new sources of herbal drugs and help to understand the molecular basis of their activities. To made on proper exploitation and utilization of these medicinal plants.
REFERENCE
1. Gamlbe, J. S. and C. E. C. Fischer, (1915-1935), Flora of Presidency of Madras, (3 vols.) (repr. Ed. 1957) Botanical Survey of India, Howrah.
2. J. Koteswara Rao, J. Suneetha, T.V.V. Seetharami Reddi and O. Aniel Kumar; Ethnomedicine of the Gadabas, a primitive tribe of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 2011; 1/2:10-14.
3. J. Koteswara Rao. Investigation of medicinal plants used by the tribes of G. Madugula Mandal, Visakhapatnam Distr., A.P. India. Ph.D. Thesis submitted to the Andhra University, 2010, Visakhapatnam.
4. S. B. Padal Investigation of medicinal plants used by the tribes of Paderu division, Visakhapatnam Distr., A.P. India. Ph.D. Thesis submitted to the Andhra University, 2010; Visakhapatnam.
5. K. Satyavathi, S. Satyavani, T.S.N. Padal & S. B. Padal; Ethnomedicinal Plants Used By Primitive Tribal of Pedabayalu Mandalam, Visakhapatnam District, A.P, India International Journal of Ethnobiology & Ethnomedicine BioMed Research, 2014; 1(1): Article ID: EBM14 08; 1-7.
6. S. B. Padal, Chandrasekhar P., K. Satyavathi; Ethnomedicinal Investigation of Medicinal Plants Used By the Tribes of Pedabayalu Mandalam, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. International Journal of Computational Engineering Research, 2013; 03(4): 8-13.