Herbal Cures

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University (Aurangabad, M.S.) with Angiosperm as a subject of specialization in 1978 and 1983 respectively. He has about 29 years of research and teaching experience at graduate and post-graduate classes. His major research interest includes Taxonomy and Anatomy of Angiosperms, Floristics, Ethnobotany and Etymology. He has authored (i) Key to the Angiospermic Families of North Maharashtra, (ii)Flora of Dhule and Nandurbar Districts (Maharashtra), (iii) Origins of Plant Names, and co-authored, (iv) Ethnobotany of Nasik District (Maharashtra), (v) Ethnobotany of Jalgaon District (Maharashtra) and (vi) Forest Flora of Jalgaon District (Maharashtra). He has also edited a proceeding, 'Plant Diversity and Biotechnology'. He has 132 research papers to his credit published in national, international journals and journals of CSIR, India. Apart from his participation in several national and international conferences and symposia in India and abroad, many students in botany received his guidance for Ph.D. and M.Phil. degrees. He is member of Editorial Boards of four national journals and acted as a referee for Ph.D. and M.Phil. degrees for other universities. He has been awarded: (i) Dr. M.s. Swaminathan Award (1996) by Indian Botanical Society, (ii) Scientist of the Year 2004 by National Environmental Science Academy, (iii) Jivaka Ayurved Vishwa Sanman (2006) by International Academy of Indian Medicine and (iv) Life Time Education Achievement Award 2007 by Health and Education Development Association. He is ex-Dean, Faculty of Science, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, M.S. and also Ex-Chairman, Board of Studies in Botany of the same university. He is member of many prestigious academic and scientific bodies and societies. He also contributes for Marathi Daily news papers and creates interest about plants by delivering talks especially for younger generation.

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TRADITIONAL APPROACH

Editor

Dr. D.A. PatH

M.Sc., Ph.D. (Botany) Reader

Post-Graduate Department of Botany S.S.V.P. Sanstha's L.K. Dr. P.R. Ghogrey Science College, Dhule-424 005 (Maharashtra)

Aavishkar Publishers, Distributors

Jaipur

302 003

(Raj.) India

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Prem C. Bakliwal for

Aavishkar Publishers, Distributors

807, Vyas Building, Chaura Rasta Jaipur 302 003 (Raj.) India

Phone: 0141-2578159

e-mail: [email protected]

ISBN 978-81-7910-250-3

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied for any purpose by any means, manual, mechanical or electronic, without prior and written permission of the copyright owner and the publishers.

Printed at

Sheetal Printers

Jaipur (Raj.) India

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PREFACE

The science of medicine, whether traditional or folkloric, has undergone a phenomenal growth with a concomitant increase of interest among the plant scientists, ethnobotanists, anthropologists, pharmacologists, medicinal chemists and druggists. Medicine differs materially from other branches of knowledge like algebra, trigonometry, astronomy and the like. In other branches, independent development of each would be required before the principles of one be applied to the purposes of the other. But this is not the case in medicine. Medicine is developed from a desire from within, and not from any foreign impetus. Ailment! disease is not separate companion of life. The desire springs with the ailment simultaneously which soon turns into the effort to heal. It is this effort that has gone by the name of 'medicine' in every society, whether primitive or advanced. Also the origin of medicine cannot be traced to one man. It

is natural and traditional in origin. The traditional communities living close to the nature acquired knowledge about the use of plant species. After a long period of observation and analysis, trial and errors, experimentation, apart from intuitive method, the innovative individuals of societies select and realize usefulness of the flora in their ambience. Their plantlore passes over generations. The development of medicine starts from tapping the traditional/indigenous wisdom after establishing rapport with the indigenous people. Bioassay-guided fractionation and determination of molecular structure are necessary. The task does not end with these in recent times. The IPR and benefit-sharing completes the success story of drug development. Thus a synergetic effort is needed involving the scientists from different disciplines, technologists and legal advisers.

The present book 'Herbal Cures : Traditional Approach' includes total 22 articles on traditional plant uses in family welfare, wound care, diabetes and skin afflictions, ethnobotanical or ethnomedicinal plants from West Rarrh (West Bengal). Jharkhand, North Gujarat and Western Orissa, ethnotherapeutic leads from tribals of Orissa, ethnomedicinalleads from modern drug development programmes, parasitic angiosperms from mythology to medicine, graphic review of ethnbotany in Chhatisgarh and

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veterinary medicines of Gond tribals (Madhya Pradesh). It also covers topics on development and standardization of herbal medicine, methods of tribal drug purification, ethnomedicinal uses of Neem plant and traditional knowledge with particular emphasis on ethnomedicines/traditional medicines. Articles on recent approaches in phytochemical and biological importance of Calendula officinalis, in vitro regeneration and phytochemical screening, antibacterial activity and hypoglycaemic effects of Ocimum sanctum.

This book is the outcome of efforts of the experts. Their ideas, experience, thoughts and opinions shaped the book significantly and would be valuable immensely to its users. It will help popularize the subject of traditional medicine and provide instructions for the learners. I thank heartly to all honourable experts/ authors for contributing in such a scientific pursuit. The opinions and text contained herein are those of the contributors. The book will cater to the immediate needs of students, teachers and research workers. I would appreciate to pass on comments and suggestions from the users of this book which will help improve the future edition or print.

Throughout its preparation, well wishers and colleagues freely gave their help and advice. It is thankfully acknowledged. I particularly appreciate and acknowledge the painstaking effort of Mr. Akshay Jain of Aavishkar Publishers, Distributors aaipur, Rajasthan) for publishing this book with full zeal and zest.

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I.c.

Patel, A. R. Seliya and D.N. Parmar

145 158

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9. Ethnomedicinal Plants of North Gujarat Part-II 197

- N.K. Patel, I.C Patel, A. R. Seliya and D.N. Parmar

10. Folk Remedies against Skin Afflictions in Maharashtra 218

- Shubhangi Pawar, M. V. Patil and D.A. Patil

11. Ethnomedicinal Plants of Jharkhand, India 248

- Harish Singh

12. The Parasitic Angiosperms: From Mythology to Medicine 264

- R.B. ladhav, S.P. Bhatnagar and

5.1.

Surana

13. In vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Some Medicinal

Plants of Genus Buhinia Linn. 285

- Ravindra G. Mali, Shailaja G. Mahajan and Anita A. Mehta

14. Medicinal Uses of Plants as Revealed from Tribal Communities

in Purulia District, West Bengal 295

- Sujit Kumar MandaI and Ambarish Mukherjee

15. Indigenous Knowledge of Veterinary Medicines among Gond

Tribals of Noradehi Wildlife Sanctuary (M.P.) 302

- Anjali Rawat, Arti Gupta and T.R. Sahu

16. Ethnobotany of Western Orissa, India 316

-L.M. Behera and S. K. Sen

17. Ethnobotanical Survey in West Rarrh for Natural Health

Care and Green Belt Movement 332

- Ashis Ghosh

18. Ethnobotany in Chhattisgarh (India) : A Graphic Review

and Future Directions 340

- Amia Tirkey

19. Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) : A Panacea 348

- M. V. Patil, Shubhangi Pawar and D.A. Patil

20. Phytochemical and Biological Importance of Calendula officinalis L. 368

- Madhurima, S.H. Ansari, Md. Sohail Akhtar and Prawez Alam

21. Methods of Purification of Tribal Drugs in India 387 -D.C Pal and CR. Paul

22. Ethnobotanical Heritage on Traditional Drug Practices Relating to

Diabetes in Magadh Region (Bihar) 390

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CONTRIBUTORS

Akhtar, Md. Sohail

Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Jamia Hamdard, (Hamdard University), New Delhi-110 062.

Alam, Prawez

Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Jamia Hamdard, (Hamdard University), New Delhi-l1O 062.

Ansari, S.H.

Ayyavoo, M.

Sri Gowri Biotech Research Academy, Nagai Main Road, Thanjavur-613 001, Tamil Nadu, India.

Behera, L.M.

P.G. Deptartment of Botany, G.M. (Auto.) College, Sambalpur-768 001. Bhatnagar, S.P.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, BirIa Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi-835 215.

Brahmam, M.

Regional Research Laboratory (C.S.I.R.), Bhubaneswar-751 013, Orissa. ChandrakaIa, N.

P.G. & Research Department of Microbiology, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam College, Thanjavur-614 904 Tamil Nadu.

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Deo, Richa

Plant Biotechnology Research Laboratory, Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College, Ghatkopar (W), Mumbai-400 086.

Ghosh, Ashis

Saraswati Vidyamandir, P.O. Midnapore, District-Paschim Medinipore-721 101, W. Bengal.

Goel, R.K.

Environmental Biology Laboratory, University Department of Botany, Magadh University, Bodh-Gaya-824 234, Bihar.

Goel, Rajul

Environmental Biology Laboratory, University Department of Botany, Magadh University, Bodh-Gaya-824 234, Bihar.

Gupta, Arti

Department of Botany, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar-470 003 (M.P.). Jadhav, R.B.

Bioecology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacognosy,

R.c.

Patel College of Pharmacy, Shirpur-425 405, Maharashtra.

Kaur, Bhavneet

Institute of Biotechnology and Allied Sciences, Seedling Academy of Design, Technology and Management, Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Madhurima

Mahajan, Shailaja G.

Department of Pharmacology, L.M. College of Pharmacy, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-380 009.

Mali, Ravindra G.

Department of Pharmacology, L.M. College of Pharmacy, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-380 009.

Malik, c.P.

MandaI, Sujit Kumar

Department of Botany, Burdwan University, Golapbag, Burdwan-713 104, W. Bengal.

Mehta, Anita A.

Department of Pharmacology, L.M.College of Pharmacy, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-380 009.

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xi

MUKherjee, Ambarish

Department of Botany, Burdwan University, Golapbag, Burdwan-713 104, W. Bengal.

Mukundan, Usha

Plant Biotechnology Research Laboratory, Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College, Ghatkopar (W), Mumbai-400086, Maharashtra.

Pal, D.C

Retd. Botanist, Industrial Section, Indian Museum, B.S.!., 1, Sudder Street, Kolkata-700 016, W. Bengal.

Parmar, D.N.

Sheth M. N. Science College, Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan-384 265, Gujarat.

Patel, I.C

Department of Biology, Sheth M. N. Science College, Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan-384 265, Gujarat.

Patel, N.K.

Department of Biology, Sheth M. N. Science College, Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan-384 265.

PatiI, D.A.

P.G. Department of Botany, S.s.V.P. Sanstha's L.K. Dr. P.R. Ghogrey Science College, Dhule-424 005 (M.S.).

PatiI, M.V.

Department of Botany, GET's Arts, Science & Commerce College, Nagaon-424 004, District Dhule (M.S.).

Paul, CR.

48, Pioneer Park, Maa Sarada Road, Borasat (N), Kolkata-700 124, West Bengal. Pawar Shubhangi

Department of Botany, Pratap College, Amalner-425401, District Jalgaon (M.s.). Prabakaran, M.

P.G. & Research Department of Zoology & Biotechnology, A.V.V.M Sri Pushpam College (Autonomous), Poondi-613503, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.

Prasad, B.K.

Environmental Biology Laboratory, University Department of Botany, Magadh University Bodh-Gaya-824 234, Bihar.

Priyadarshan Sensarma

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Rani, E. Jennifer Nancy

P.G. & Research Department of Microbiology, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam College, Thanjavur-614904 Tamil Nadu.

Rawat, Anjali

Department of Botany, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar-470 003, (M.P.). Sahu, T.R.

Department of Botany, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar-470 003, (M.P.). Seliya, A.R.

Sheth M. N. Science College, Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan-384 265, Gujarat.

Sen, S.K.

Department of Botany, Panchayat College, Bargarh-768 028. Singh, Harish

Central Botanical Laboratory, Botanical Survey of India, P.O.-Botanic Garden, Howrah (West Bengal) 711 103.

Surana, S.J.

Bioecology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacognosy, R.C Patel College of Pharmacy, Shirpur-425 405.

Tirkey, Amia

School of Life Sciences, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur- 492 010, (CG.). Verma, Aman

Wadhwani, Chitra

Yadav, D.K.

21.

Celosia argentea

179

22.

Cephalonoplos segetum

179

23. Chenopodium album

179

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24. Cicer arietinum 179 25. Cichonlm intybus 180 26. Cissus quadrangula 180 27. Cleome viscosa ₁₈₀ 28. Clitoria ternatea 180 29. Coccinia grandis 180 30. Commelina diffusa ₁₈₀ 31. Corchonls aestuans 180 32. Crotalaria retusa 180 33. Ctenolepsis cerasiformis ₁₈₁

34:

Cucumis sativus 181 35. Cuscuta reflexa 181 36. Cymbopogon citratus 181 37. Cyamopsis tetragonoloba 181 38. Cynodon dactlJlon 181 39. Cype.nlS rotundus 181 40. Echinops echinatus 181 41. Eclipta prostrata 182 42. Enicostema axillare 182 43. Euphorbia neriifolia 182 44. Evolvlllus alsinoides 182 45. Fagonia eretica ₁₈₂ 46. Gloriosa superba ₁₈₂ 47. Glycine max 182 48. Gymnema sylvetre ₁₈₂ 49. Indigofera tinctoria 183 50. Ipomoea nil 183 51. Jatropha curcas 183 52. Lablab purpllreus 183 53. Lagenaria siceraria 183 54. 'Leptadenia reticulata 183 55. Leucas aspera 183 56. Luffa acutangula ₁₈₃ 57. Luffa cylindrica 184 58. Lycopersicon esculentum 184 59. Momordica charantia 184

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xv 60. Momordica dioica ₁₈₄ 61. Mukia maderaspatana ₁₈₄ 62. Nicotiana tabacum ₁₈₄ 63. Ocimum tenuiflorum ₁₈₄ 64. Passiflora foetida 184 65. Pergularia daemia 185 66. Phaseolus vulgaris ₁₈₅ 67. Phyllanthus amarus 185 68. Physalis minima 185 69. Pithecellobium dulce 185 70. Pongamia pinnata 185 71. Portulaca quadrifida 185 72. Psidium guajava 185 73. Pterocarpus marsupium 186 74. Raphanus sativus ₁₈₆ 75. Rosa damascena 186 76. Sapindus laurifolia ₁₈₆ 77. Saraca asoca 186 78. Semecarpus anacardium 186 79. Sesbania grandiflora ₁₈₆ 80. Sida orientalis 186 81. Syzygium cumini 187 82. Syzygium malaccense 187 83. Tamarindus indica 187 84. Terminalia bellirica 187 85. Terminalia catappa 187 86. Terminalia chebula ₁₈₇ 87. Thespesia populnea 187 88. Trichosallthes dioica ₁₈₇ 89. Triticum aestivum ₁₈₈ 90. Typha domingensis 188 91. Vigna radiata 188 92. Vigna unguiculata ₁₈₈ 93. Viola cinerea ₁₈₈ 94. Vi tis vinifera 188 95. Withania somnifera 188 96. Xanthium strumarium 188

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TRADITIONAL USE OF PLANTS IN

INDIA IN FAMILY WELFARE

PRIYADARSHAN SENSARMA

Chapter Outline 1. Introduction 2. Methodology

3. Enumeration of information

3.1 Increasing the vitality and ensuring better sexual life 3.2 Treatment of semen

3.3 Treating leucorrhoea and menorrhagia 3.4 Infertility of woman

3.5 Ensuring easy delivery 3.6 Prevention of pregnancy 3.7 Termination of pregnancy 4. Discussion and conclusions 5. Summary

6. Appendix A & B 7. Suggested Readings

1. INTRODUCTION

The expression 'Family Welfare' with special reference to this subcontinent implies 'Family Planning'. This is perhaps inescapable in the context of population explosion and increasing poverty of the larger section of the society. But can the economically backward societies, plagued with lack of education, afford to respond positively to the measures of population control, unless their conjugal life is made more pleasant with cheap but effective steps? It is a hard fact of life tl:at poor people have very limited opportunities of enjoying life, either in physical or mental or in both spheres.

Better conjugal life is seldom enjoyed by the poor for various factors and reasons. One of the major reasons is the great increase in the number of children-which enhances

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poverty and other problems. In such situation it becomes imperative on the scientists to suggest cheap but hygienic measures to improve upon the quality of conjugal life of the poor and backward people. This idea persuaded the present author to search the traditional use of plants in India for various aspects of family welfare.

India is a country of diversity-The land mass may be divided into almost all the known climatic zones, and there are two groups of islands situated in Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Being rich in biodiversity this country has been included in the list of the 12 mega diversity centres of the world. There are more than 400 scheduled tribes of different ethnicity residing in various ecological niche, besides the inheritors of the Vedic and Pre-Vedic cultures. It is obvious that the spectrum of knowledge about the life and the universe and the skill of utilizing the resources vary among these communities of men. It is only natural that there will be divergence among them in the use of plants-it may be remembered that normally men like to utilize the resources available in their ambiance. In this condition to get an idea about the traditional use of herbal course of different diseases in India, the ethnic societies and literary works should be studied. It needs to be mentioned here t1}at there are numbers of literary works written in Sanskrit, Pali, Tamil, Persian, and some other languages. Further in additional to the texts on medical science (Ayurveda) there are many other works, in Sanskrit, which contain reckonable volume of information about the traditional approach towards the plants and their use. Hence, the job of collecting data about the traditional use of the herbal cures in India is vast and complex. But an humble beginning can, perhaps, be made with some selected texts and ethnic societies. Being guided by this idea the present ethnobotanical venture has been made.

The ethnobotanical exploration in India was perhaps initiated by Mitra (1913-1916, 1919, 1922, 1933 to 1939), subsequently a great philip was given by Bodding (1925, 1927, 1940); since the last half of the 20th _{century Jain (1956, 1963a, 1963b, 1964, 1965, 1966,} 1967, 1979, 1971, 1975, 1981, 1991), Maheshwari (1961, 1980, 1986), Pal (1970, 1972, 1973, 1980), Pal and Jain (1998), and many others are carrying out methodical studies among the tribals of India, but the vast literary sources of India are still awaiting through investigations. Albeit some efforts have been made by Majumdar (1938), Basu (1966), Karnick (1975), Sensarma (1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995 etc.), Manilal (1988) and others. Hardly any attempt has been made to correlate the information collected from the tribal studies with the same gleaned from the literary sources. For obtaining a comprehensive idea regarding the traditional use of plants in this subcontinent corroboration and correlation of information are important.

Before accepting or rejecting the ethnobotanical information for practical application in the modern society, the veraity of the same is to be ascertained. In accomplishing this important but great task, the ethnobotanist is dependent on the cooperation of phytochemist and pharmacologist. A preliminary effort, in ascertaining the veracity of the ethnobotanical information, collected from textual and tribal sources, however, may be made by comparing the same with the Ayurvedic and Yunani Pharmacopias on one hand, and the chemical properties of the contents of the concerned plants on the other. This exercise of verification will not help to draw the conclusive inference, but may be a significant supportive step towards the objectives.

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TRADmONAL USE OF PLANTS IN INDIA IN FAMILY WELFARE

3

Keeping the above in view, the present attempt has been made : (i) to correlate the textual and tribal information regarding the use of plant materials in the physiology of human reproduction, and (ii) to compare the same with the Ayurvedic and Yunani systems of medicines as also with the chemical data available from authentic sources.

2. METHODOLOGY

The textual information have been collected from five non-ayurvedic texts, viz., Agni Purana, Garuda Purana, Indrajala Tantra, Prayoga Cintamani and Vijacintamani Tantra. Information regarding uses of plants by three tribes, viz., the Bhats, the Bhils and the Santals, have been obtained from published works and the field surveys. The medicinal and chemical information have been gathered from The Indigenous Drugs of India (1896/1984) of K.L. Dey, Indian Medicinal Plants (4 Vols. 1918/1981) by Kirtikar and Basu, Second Supplement to GlossanJ of Indian Medicinal Plants with Active Principles (1992) by L.V. Asolkar, K.K.Kakkar and O.J.Chakre and from Wealth of India published by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India.

The ethnobotanical information have been classified into following groups : (i) Increasing vitality and ensuring better sexual life, (ii) Treatment of the semen,

(iii) Treatment of leucorrhoea and menorrhagia, (iv) Treatment of infertility of women, (v) Ensuring easy delivery, (vi) Preventing pregnancy, and (vii) Termination of pregnancy.

Generally the botanical names of the plants have been used, and the Sanskrit names have been given parenthetically in case of textual sources, and in those cases where the botanical equivalents of the Sanskrit names could not be ascertained the Sanskrit names have been put in capital letters. In case of tribal sources also the Sanskrit equivalents of the botanical names, wherever possible, have been mentioned in parenthesis.

3. ENUMERATION OF INFORMATION

3.1 Increasing the vitality and ensuring better sexual life

(a) Textual sources

The Agni Purana states that (i) application of the sap of Anthocephalus chinensis (Lamk.) Rich. ex Walp (kadamba) along with honey and cane-sugar over the sex-organs in beneficial for conjugal life, (ii) the sap of Limonia acidissima L. (kapittha), Madhuca longifolia (Koenig) Mcbride (madhuka), Magadhi (many botanical equivalents have been suggested, e.g. Dioscorea bulbifera L., Jasminum officinale L., Piper longum L.), mixed with honey also serve the same purpose. (iii) the sexual vigour of a man increases immensely by regular consumption of milk in which the following have been boiled : the decoction of fruits of Terminalia chebula Retz.(haritaki), Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (vahera), and Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (amalaki), wood of Santalum album L. (candana), juice of Bacopa monnirei (L.) Wettst. (bhrnga), and Marsilea quadrifolia L. (cuncuka), HEMA (Datura metel L. or Mesua nagassarium (Burm. f & Kosterm), and DOSHA (Curcuma longa L.?), (iv) man who consumes equal quantities of powdered grains of Vigna radiatus (L.) Wilczek (syn. Phaseolus radiatus L. var. roxburghii) (masa), Hordeum vulgare L. (yava), Piper

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peepuloides Wall. (pippali), Triticum aestivum L. (godhuma), and a variety of OnJza sativa L. (sali), boiled with Piper peepuloides Wall. (whole plant?), and drinks milk with cane-sugar, can have longer duration of copulation, (v) if a man applies the paste of Wedelia calendulacea Less. (bhrngaraja), Biophytum sensitivum L. (lajjaluka) and Adansonia digitata L. (goraksa) externally over the penis, he can keep the woman extremely satisfied; (vi) the woman who washes her sex organs with the extract of Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (vahera), Terminalia chebula Retz. (harikati) and Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (amalaki) can win her husband completely.

(b) Tribal sources

To increase the potency of a man the Bhils (Maheshwari, Kolakoti and Lal, 1986) give him (i) to drink the water containing root paste of Asparagus racemosus Willd. (satavari) for fifteen days in the morning; (ii) the seedling roots of Bombax ceiba L. (salamali) to chew; and (iii) administer ghee mixed with root paste of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (musali).

To treat the impotency of man the Santals (Bodding, 1925/1986, p.357) administer, for a period of one month, pills made by pestling the roots of Themeda gigantea Hackel and Tragia involucrata L. (vrscikali) along with camphor.

3.2 Treatment

of

the Semen

(a) Textual sources

The Agni Purana states that (i) the quantity of sperms can be increased by consumption of ghee either boiled with the juice of Asparagus racemosus Willd. (satavari) or along with the grains of Vigna radiatus (L.) Wilczek (masa) and Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. (kalamvi); (ii) the use (specific method not mentioned) of Santalum album L. (canadana), Aganosma dichotoma (Roth) K. Schum. (malati), Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub. (laksa) and Plectranthus barbatus Andi. (girimrttika) can help curing the deformed sperms.

The Vijacintamani Tantra contains a long list of herbal medicines. According to this text, (i) consumption of 2 tola powder of sundried Cressa cretica L. (rudanti) before lunch for a period of one month improves the quality of sperms-the text, however, adds that for the particular month, the lunch of the patient should be constituted of rice and milk only; (ii) the entire vegetative plant of Wedelia calandulacea Less. (bhrangaraja) along with its roots should be dried in sun, powdered, and consumed along with stale rice for a period of six months to treat the defective sperms and to increase the quantity of the healthy sperms, but during those six months the patient should eat only rice and milk and must not consume any salted food; (iii) consumption of equal quantities of powdered fruits of Embelia ribes Burm.

f.

(vidanga) and Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn. (hijjala) mixed with honey and oil (seasame? ) makes the sperms effective; (iv) consumption of sundried and powdered roots of white variety of Boerhavia diffusa L. (punarnava) along with milk for a period of one month, makes the sperm healthy.

(b) Tribal sources

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TRADITIONAL USE OF PLANTS IN INDIA IN FAMILY WELFARE

5

for 20 days to concentrate the semen; and (ii) to treat the nocturnal pollution, they consume the flowers of Bombax ceiba L. (salmali).

3.3 Treating leucorrhoea and menorrhagia

(a) Textual sources

According to the Agni Purana a lady should consume (i) white or red flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Gapa) for treatment of the white or red discharge; (ii) Mimosa pudica L. (samanga), flowers of Grislea tomentosa Roxb. (dhataki), Symplocos racemosa Roxb. (lodhra), and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (nilotpala) with milk.

The Prayoga Cintamani prescribes the following herbal medicines for the treatment of leucorrhoea: (i) the paste of root bark of Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) Parker (rohitaka) or the seeds of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (amalaki) should be consumed along with sugar and honey; (ii) consumption of fruits of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. along with honey stops the white discharge; (iii) consumption of roots of Gossypium herbaceum L. (karpasa) along with the water, in which sun-dried rice has been washed, cures the disease; (iv) the sap of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers. (guduchi) or the extract of roots and leaves of Adhatoda zeylanica Medic. (vasaka) along with honey make a good medicine for this disease; and (v) a good medicine is obtained by pasting the roots of Eragrostis cynosuroides Beauv. (kusa) in the water in which sundried rice has been washed.

(b) Tribal sources

In leucorrhoea the Bhils give the stem-bark extract of MitragtJna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. (dhulikadamba) with sugar to ladies till cure (Maheshwari, Kalakoti & Lal, 1986). The Santal women take root-powder of Smilax perfoliata Lour. with rice powder in the form of cake to cure white and blood discharge with urine (Mudgal & Pal, 1980). Bodding (pp.359-362) records a long list of medicines used by the Santals for treatment of menorrhagia. The herbal ones are as follows : (i) the flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Gapa), Nymphaea lotus L. (kamal), Erythrina indica Lam. (paribhadra), Pterospermum acerifolius Willd. (karnikara), the roots of Helianthus annuus L. (survyyamukhi), the flesh of the fruits of Diospyros embryopteris Pers. (tinduka), the flowers and leaf or bark of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (sephalika), should be boiled together, and the liquid thus obtained should be given to the patient to drink daily till the discharge gradually ceases; (ii) the flowers of Nymphaea lotus L. (kambala), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Gapa), Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. (Karanikara), the roots of Helianthus annnus L. (suryyamukhi), and the wood of Pterocarpus santalinus L.

f

(raktacandana) should be pestled together, and pills made from this paste should be consumed daily by the patient till cure; (iii) pills made from the paste obtained by grinding the flowers of Abutilon indicum (L.) Sw. (atibala), barks of Holarrhena pubescens (Buch.-Ham.) Wall. ex G. Don (kutaja) and Streblus asper Lour. (sakhotaka) along with some opium should be consumed by the patient with the juice of roots of Ficus glomerata Roxb. (udumbara) daily; (iv) twenty one pills should be made from the paste obtained by grinding the flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Gapa), Nymphaea lotus L. (kambala), flesh of the fruits of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Sw.

(23)

(nagaranga), along with twelve black peppercorns, the patient should swallow the pills three times a day with about an ounce of spirit; (v) the patient should daily consume a pill made from the paste obtained by grinding together the flowers of Nymphaea lotus L. (kambala), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Gapa), Nerium indicum Mill. (karavira), Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. (karanikara), roots of Abutilon indicum (L.) Sw. (atibala), Helianthus annuus L. (suryyamukhi), and little opium; (vi) a liquid medicine is prepared by boiling the paste of the roots of Michelia champaca L. (campaka), Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz. (dhataki), flesh of the fruit of Diospyros embryopteris Pers. (tinduka), and the wood of Pterocaropus santalinus Lf. (raktacandana), a mixture of saltpetre and Anthemis pyrethrum should be added, and then the patient should drink it; (vii) the roots of Indigofera pulcheUa Roxb., Desmodium triflorum DC. (tripadi), and Commelina suffruticosa Bl. should be grinded with the rice made from sundried grain of a variety of black paddy, this paste should be mixed with the refuse of molasses-the same should be consumed by the patient; (viii) the patient should drink for fifteen days the medicine obtained by boiling in water the paste of the roots of Michelia champaca L. (campaka), flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Gapa), Nymphaea lotus L. (kambala), and a little wood of Pterocarpus santalinus Lf. (raktacandana), (ix) the patient should consume daily the pill made with the bulb and flower of Nymphaea lotus

L. (kambala), flower of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Gapa), roots of Helianthus annuus L.

(suryyamukhi), and a little opium; (x) pills made with the roots of Abutilon indicum (L.)

Sw. (kankatika), Holarrhena pubescens (Buch.-Ham.) Wall. ex G.Don (kutaja), Bombax ceiba L. (salmali), bark of Streblus asper Lour. (sakhotaka), and a little of opium should be taken regularly by the patient.

3.4 Infertility of Woman

(a) Textual sources

The Agni Purana states that if the lady, who often suffers from miscarriage, consumes the root of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (padma), Sesamum orientale L. (ilia), Madhuca longifolia (Koenig) Mcbride (madhuka) and sugar the conception becomes secure.

For treating the infertility of women, the Garuda Purana states that (i) plant of Vernonia cineria (L.) Less. (sahadevi) along with its roots should be collected on some particular day; the same should be dried in shade and powdered, this powder should be consumed twice daily with milk of one-coloured cow for few days.

According to the Indrajala Tantra, a sterile lady should consume the root of Clitoria ternatea L. (aparajita) with goat's milk for a few days.

The Prayoga cintamani prescribes the following herbal medicines for the treatment of a barren lady. The patient should consume (i) the paste of young leaves of Cardiospermum helicacabum L. Gyotismati) with ghee, or (ii) flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Gapa), with stale rice, or (iii) the roots of red variety of Gossypium herbaceum L. (rakta-karpasa) and Artemisia nilagirica (C.B.Clarke) Pamp. (nagadamani) specially during the period of menstruation, or (iv) equal quantities of paste of roots of Sida cordifolia L. (bala) and Piper nigrum L. (marica) for three days, and (v) a medicine obtained by pestling

(24)

TRADmONAL USE OF PLANTS IN INDIA IN FAMILY WELFARE 7

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (asvagantha), roots or Mandragora officinarum Berlt. (ll}kamana), and the young prop roots of Ficus benghalensis L. (vatavyala) along with milk-consumption of this medicine for seven consecutive nights would surely make a women fertile.

(b) Tribal sources

The Santals have some medicines to treat the barrenness in women-but they are not purely herbal in nature. These are complex mixtures of chemicals, plants and animals (Bodding, p.357).

3.5 Ensuring Easy Delivery

(a) Textual sources

The Bhats (La! and Lata, 1980) give the ladies to consume (i) the leaves of Lycium barbatum L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (yastimadhu), roots of Sida spinosa L. (nagabala), anthers of Mesua forrea L. (nagakesara), and galls of Pistacia integerrima L. (karkatasmgi), mixed with honey, cow's milk and ghee daily; (i) powdered leaves of Ficus arnottiana (Miq.) Miq. (plaksa) and fruits of Cuminum ClJminum L. Giraka) with water after menstruation; (iii) young leaves of Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub. (palasa) homogenously mixed with cow's

milk as a slow sterilizer; (iv) the decoction of equal quantity of fruits of Cleorodendron indicum (L.) Kuntze (bharangi), Sesamum orientale L. (tila), Moringa oleifera Lamk. (sigru), Piper nigrum L. (marica) and molasses for 20 days; (v) the powdered seeds of Citrus medica

L. (matulunga) along with the milk of a cow having recent male offspring as a strong sterilizer; (vi) decoction of leaves of Sphaeranthus africans L. (mundi), fruits of Xanthium strumarium L. (sankhapuspi) and Tinospora malabarica Lamk. (amrta) in the morning for 14 days.

The Santals and some other tribes of Mayurbhanj (Mudgal and Pal, 1980) use the following to prevent pregnancy : (i) stem-bark decoction of Bridelia crenulata Roxb. with country liquor is given after menstruation; (li powdered seeds of Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub. (palasa) mixed with country liquor is given for three days after menstruation; (iii) powdered stem-bark (or decoction of the same) of Dendrophthoe falcata (Lf) Etting (vrksadani with liquor of Madhuca longifolia (Koen.) Macbr. (madhuka) after three days of menstruation, and (iv) flower-paste of Thysanolaena maxima (Retz.) Kuntze Guma) is given with country liquor after menstruation.

3.7 Termination of Pregnancy

(a) Textural sources

No information could be obtained from the texts under study. (b) Tribal sources

The Bhat women (Lal and Lata, 1980) consume anyone of the following as abortifacient: (a) equal quantity of leaves of Ficus religiosa L. (asvattha), fruits of Embelia ribes Burro.

J.

(vidanga), borax with cow's milk, (b) ash of seeds of Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub. (palasa) with latex of Ferula alliacea Boiss. (bahlikam) and cow's milk.

(26)

TRADITIONAL USE OF PLANTS IN INDIA IN FAMILY WELFARE 9

The Bhils (Maheshwari, Kolakoti and Lal, 1986) with pulp of heartwood of Borassus flabellifer L. (tala) to ladies one or two times only.

The Santals (a) use fresh roots (about 3 cm long) of Achyranthes aspera L. (apamarga) as mechanical means for causing abortion, (b) apply bruised roots and nuts of Semecarpus anacardium L.

f

(bhallataka) to uterus of 3 to 5 months pregnant woman for abortion, and (c) give seed-powder of Annona reticulata L. (ramphala) with that of Piper nigrum L. (marica) for causing termination of pregnancy upto 3 to 4 months.

4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The number of plants, mentioned in the texts and used by the tribes for each purpose, vary to a considerable extent (Table-I). This deviation may be an index of the extent of knowledge of the sources studied with regard to the use of plants for these purposes.

The textual sources, studied for the present work, do not reveal any information on the use of plants in preventing and terminating pregnancy (Table-II). It may be mentioned in this connection that Ayurvedic works like Caraka Samhita and Susruta Samhita also do not throw light on these aspects, but they contain instructions about better sexual life, treatment of penis, semen, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, menstrual disorders, etc. (Appendix-A). All these texts were prepared either in ancient or in medieval ages. During those period the problem of population control did not arise, rather in those periods every clan could get greater dominance and influence with its numerical increase. This idea derives strength even by analyzing the studies made on the tribals at different decades of the twentieth century; as for example, the Santal Medicine and connected folklore (1925, 1927, 1940) monumental contribution of Bodding, who spent nearly thirty years amongst the Santals earlier, do not contain much information in this regard, while most of the modem studies of the tribes bring out some information on this important aspect. And some of the later Ayurvedic works mention about the use of vegetal materials in preventing and terminating pregnancy (Appendix-B). In this connection it must be admitted that the information regarding the use of plants by the Bhats is incomplete, the community which uses a large number of plants for prevention and termination of pregnancy must be utilizing some plants of for other purpose of family welfare too.

Amongst the textural sources, the Agni Purana mentions maximum number of plants for all aspects of conjugal life, while the Garud Purana, Prayoga Cintamani, and Indrajala Tantra concentrate only on the ailments of females. Should it be imagined that those texts were ignorant/ indifferent about the ailments of the males, or ailments among the males were comparatively less then? More investigations are required to get the appropriate answer.

Though more than one hundred plants have been referred to' in this article, only seven plants viz. Achyranthes aspera L., Asparagus racemosus Willd., Embelia ribes Burm.

f,

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., Holarrhena pubescens Buch.-Ham.) Wall. ex G. Don, Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., and Sesamum orientale L., are common in the lists of plants in the texts

(27)

and tribes; all these seven plants are also not used for the same purpose in the texts and by the tribes (Table-Ill). Generally speaking, the method of using plants by the tribes differs from the same mentioned in the texts. It may be argued that since the tribals represent the Laukika culture and the texts belong to the Sastriya culture (Saraswari, 1970), the difference is only natural. But this hypothesis does not hold good, as divergence in use of the plants exists among the tribes themselves, and in between the textual sources too (Table -IT). These differences among the tribes may be caused by ecological factors, at least to some extent ; the Bhils live in Madhya Pradesh, the Bhats in Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, while the Santals live in Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal. There may be other contributing factors. To assess the nature, extent, and reason (s) of these differences ethnobotanists need the cooperation of phytoanthropologists (Sensarma and Ghosh, 1995). It appears that a through probe into these divergences by competent investigators may bring out new information about the history of utilization of plant vis-a-vis the socio-cultural evolution from the plant perspective.

It is interesting to note that most of the plants mentioned in this article are recognized by the Ayurveda and Allopathy system as medicinal plants, while the Yunani and Homeopathy systems acknowledge the therapeutic properties of many of them. All these systems utilize the plants as medicines for purposes other than those mentioned in this article, and seldom use of the plants in the physiology of reproduction is met with. The therapeutic uses prescribed by different systems of medicine of the seven species of plants, common in the lists of texts and tribes, along with the chemical contents of the same have been shown in Table- IV. Information regarding the use of the species of plants, mentioned in this article, as could be gathered from investigations conducted by different scholars on some ethnic communities and literary sources of India, has been separately enumerated (Table -Y). This observation brings out clearly the necessity of verification of the textual and tribals information, as stated earlier, by both the methods, viz., phytochemical and pharmaceutical analysis, and proving. It may, however, be said on the basis of the information mentioned in this paper that the ethnobotanical studies of texts and tribes may help in finding out the utilities of easily available herbal materials with efficacy for various aspects of family welfare.

Any ethnobotanical study not only brings out new information about the man-plant relationship, but the same also indicates new areas of research in man-plant science, and involved socio-cultural history of man. Thus the importance of ethnobotany is not limited to its utilitarian significance, this branch of scientific persuasion also helps to comprehend the progress of human civilization.

5. SUMMARY

The author has shed light on traditional medicinal plants used for family planning in India. The traditional drugs or drug yielding plants have been evaluated comparatively. Textural information from five non-ayurvedic texts viz., Agni purana, Garuda purana, Indrajala Tantra, Prayoga Cintamani and Vajacinatamani Tantra, as well as Indian folklore of three tribes viz., the Bhats, Bhils and Santals have been analyzed critically. The information is also discussed alongwith the data from Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha

(28)

TRADmONAL USE OF PLANTS IN INDIA IN FAMILY WELFARE

11

and Allopathy. The author has pointed out some aspects which are not covered by the monumental works in Ayurveda and causes of divergence in using plants by the tribes studied and the textual sources, apart from new areas of research.

To facilitate the analysis of the materials, four Tables have been prepared; and for the sake of brevity abbreviations used have been used in the Tables

Abbreviation AP GP IT PC VC I II III IV V

VI

VII

MOD Full Denomination Agni Purana Garuda Purana Indrajala Tantra Prayoga Cintamani Vijacintamani Tantra

Increasing vitality and ensuring better sexual life Treatment of semen

Treatment of leucorrhoea and menorrhagia Treatment of infertility of women

Ensuring easy delivery Prevention of pregnancy Termination of pregnancy Medicine for other disease(s)

TABLE 1

Number of species of plants mentioned in the sources for various purposes

Sources PURPOSES I II III IV V VI VII Agni Purana 17 06 05 05 07 Garuda Purana 01 04 Indrajala Tantra 01 03 Prayoga Cintamani 06 09 04 Vijacintamani Tantra 05 Bhat 16 04 Bhil 05 02 01 02 01 Santal 02 22 03 04 04

(29)

Table Use of Plants in Family Welfare

Purposes

Sources Better Sexual Life Treatment of Treatment of Infertility Ensuring Easy Prevention Tennination

Semen Leucorrhoea and Delivery of of

Menorrhagia Pregnancy Pregnancy

I II III IV V VI VII

Agni Purana Adansonia digitata, Aganosma Grislea tomentosa, Madhuca Biophytum Nil Nil

Anthocephalus dichotoma, Hibiscus longifolia, sensitivum,

chinensis, Bacopa Asparagus rosasinensis, Nelumbo Cardiospermum

monnieri, Bjophytum racemosus, Butea Mimosa pudica, nucifera, helicacabum,

sensitivum, Hordeum monosperma, Nelumbo nucifera, Sesamum Datura me tel,

vulgare, Limonia Ipomoea Symplocos orientale Gloriosa superba,

acidissima, Madhuca aquatica, racemosa Justicia sp.,

longifolia, Marsilea Santalum album, Solanum nigrum,

quadrifolia, Oryza Vigna radiata Vernonia albicans

sativa, Piper peepuloides, Emblica officinalis, Santalum album, Termiinalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Triticum aestivum, Vigna radiata, Wedelia chinensis

_~

Garuda Nil Nil Nil Vernonia Achyranthes Nil Nil

~

Purana albicans aspera, Gloriosa _tl

superba, >

'"

Holarrhena en _il: pubescens, > Z Stephania elegans _C/l

Prayoga Nil Nil Adhatoda Artemisia Achyranthes Nil Nil rrl

Z

Cintamani zeylanica, nilagirica, aspera, Adhatoda en

>

Aphanamixis Cardiospermum zeylanica,

_'"

~ Contd ... >

(30)

... Contu. ~ _:=

>

I II III IV V VI VII t:j

-

'"'l

Desmostachya helicacabum, Gloriosa superba,

-

0

bipinnata, Ficus Stephania elegans

~

Gossypium bengalensis, r"' _c::

herbaceum, Gossypium CIl

!!'l

Emblica officinalis, herbaceum, 0

Tinospora Hibiscus rosa- "rl

I-d

cordifolia sinensis, r"'

Mandragora

~

officinal is, CIl

diffusa, Cresssa cretica, ;s::

-Embelia ribes, Wedelia _~

chinensis

~

Indrajal Nil Nil Nil _Clitoria Adhatoda Nil Nil _r"'

Tantra ternatea zeylanica, "rl

>

Boerhavia := !!'l

diffusa,

Vernonia albicans

Bhat Nil Nil Nil _Nil Lycium barbatum Butea Butea

monosperma, monosperma, Citrus Embelia medica, ribes, Clerodendrum Ferula indicum, alliacea, Cuminum Ficus Contd ... I-l (,jJ

(31)

I II III IV V VI VII cyminum, religiosa, Ficus Oercxiendrum arnottiana, indicum Gly.cyrrhiza glabra, Lycium barbarum, Mesua ferrea, Moringa oleifera, Piper nigrum, Pistacia chinensis sub sp. integerrima, Sesamum orientale, Sida spinosa, Sphaeranthus africanus, Tinospora sinensis,

:P

Xanthium strumarium

~

Bhil Asparagus racemosus, Bombax ceiba, Mitragyna paruifolia Nil Dillenia Nil Borassus t::l >

Bombax ceiba, Gre111ia pentagyna, flabellifer

'"

CIl

Curculigo orchioides rhamnifolia Echinops ::t:: _>

echinatus. Z

Santal Themeda gigantea, Nil Abutilon indicum, Nil A chyranthes Borassus Achyranthes r:J) ttl

Tragia involucrata Anthemis pyrethrum, aspera, Boerhavia flabellifer, aspera, Z CIl

>

'"

~

(32)

... Contd. I II III Bombax ceiba, Borassus flabellifer, Citrus aurantium, Commelina suffruticosa, Desmodium triflorum, Diospyros malabarica, Erythrina indica, Ficus racemosa, He/ianthus annuus, Hibiscus rosasinensis, Holarrhena pubescens, Indigofera cassioides, Michelia champaca, Nelumbo nucifera, Nerium indicum, Nyctanthes arbortristis, Pterospermum acerifolium, Pterocarpus santalinus, Smilax perfoliata, Streblus asper, Woodfordia jruiticosa, Marsilea quardifolia IV V diffusa, Bombax ceiba, Calotropis gigantea, Ocimum sanctum VI VII Bridelia Annona crenulata, reticulata, Butea Gloriosa monosperma, superba Dendrophthoe falcata, Madhuca longifolia

(33)

TABLE 3

Complete list of plants and their uses

Sr. Name of the Plant No.

1. Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet 2. Achyranthes aspera L. 3. Adansonia digitata L. 4. Adhatoda zeylanica Medic

5. Aganosma dichotoma (Roth) K. Schum. 6. Annona reticulata L.

7. Anthemis pyrethrum L.

8. Anthocephalus chinensis (Lam.) Rich. 9. Aphanamyxis polystachya (Wall.) Parker 10. Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) Pamp. 11. Asparagus racemosus Willd. 12. Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. 13. Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn. 14. Biophytum sensitivum L.

15. Boerhavia diffusa L. 16. Bombax ceiba L. 17. Borassus flabellifer L. 18. Bridelia crenulata Roxb.

19. Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub. 20. Calotropis gigantea (L.) R.Br. 21. Cardiospermum helicacabum L. 22. Citrus aurantium L.

23. Citrus medica L.

24. Clerodendron indicum (L.) Ktze. 25. Clitoria tematea L.

26. Commelina suffruticosa B1. 27. Cressa cretica L.

28. Cuminum cyminum L. 29. Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. 30. Datura metel L.

31. Dendrophthoe falcate (Lf.) Etting 32. Desmodium triflorum DC.

33. Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf.

Family Uses prescribed by

Texts Tribes Malvaceae Amaranthaceae GP:V Bombacaceae AP:I Acanthaceae PC:III,Vi Apocynaceae Annonaceae Asteraceae Rubiaceae Meliaceae Asteraceae IT:V APII AP:I PC:III PC:IV Liliaceae AP:II Scrophulariaceae AP:I Myrtaceae VC:II Oxalidaceae Nyctaginaceae Bombacaceae Arecaceae Euphorbiaceae AP:I,Vi IT:V VC:II Fabaceae AP:II Asclepiadaceae Sapindaceae AP:Vi Rutaceae Rutaceae Verbenaceae PC: IV Fabaceae IT:IV Commelinaceae Convolvulaceae VC:II Apiaceae Amaryllidaceae Solanaceae AP:V Loranthaceae Fabaceae Poaceae PC: III Sant:III SantV, VII Sant:VII Sant:III Bhil:I,IIi Sant:III Bhil:VII SantVI Sant:V Sant:III Sant:III Bhat:VII Sant:III Bhat:VI Bhil:I Sant:VI Sant:III Contd ....

(34)

TRADITIONAL USE OF PLANTS IN INDIA IN FAMILY WELFARE 17

... Contd.

Sr. Name of the Plant No.

34. Dillenia pentagyna Roxb.

35. Diospyros malabarica (Descr.) Kost. 36. Echinops echinatus Roxb.

37. Embelia ribes Burm.

f.

38. Erythrina variegata 1. 39. Ferula alliacea Boiss. 40. Ficus amottiana (Miq.) Miq. 41. Ficus benghalensis 1. 42. Ficus racemosa 1. 43. Ficus religiosa 1. 44. Gloriosa superba 1. 45. Glycyrrhiza glabra 1. 46. Gossypium herbaceum 1. 47. Grewia rhamnifolia Heyne 48. Grislea tomentosa Roxb. 49. Helianthus annuus 1. 50. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 1.

51. Holarrhena pubescens (Buch.-Ham.) Wall. ex G. Don

52. Hordeum vulgare 1.

53. Indigofera cassioides RottI. ex DC. 54. Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.

55. Justicia gendarussa Burm.

f.

56. Limonia acidissima 1. 57. Lycium barbatum 1.

58. Madhuca longifolia (Koenig) Mcbride 59. Mandragora officinalis 1.

60. Marsilea quardrifolia 1. 61. Mesua ferrea 1. 62. Michelia champaca 1. 63. Mimosa pudica 1.

64. Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. 65. Moringa oleifera Lamk.

66. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. 67. Nerium indicum Mill.

Family Uses prescribed by

Dilleniaceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Myrsinaceae Fabaceae Apiaceae Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae Moraceae Liliaceae Fabaceae Malvaceae Tiliaceae Lythraceae Asteraceae Malvaceae Apocynaceae Poaceae Fabaceae Convolvulaceae Acanthacee Rutaceae Solanaceae Sapotaceae Texts VC:II PC:IV AP:V, GP:V, PV:V PC:I1I, IV AP:III AP:III, PC:lV GP:V AP:I AP:II AP:V AP:I AP:I,IV Solanaceae PC:IV Marsileaceae AP:I Clausiaceae Magnoliaceae Mimosaceae AP:I1I Rubiaceace Moringaceae Nelumbonaceae AP:III,IV A pocynaceae Tribes Bhil:V Sant:III Bhat:V Sant:III Bhat:VII Bhat:VI Sant:III Bhat:VII SantVII, Bhat:VI Bhil:II Sant:III Sant:III Sant:III Sant:III Bhat:V Sant:I1I BhatVI Sant:III Bhil:III Bhat:VI Sant:III Sant:III Contd ....

(35)

... Contd.

Sr. Name of the Plant Family Uses prescribed by

No. Texts Tribes

68. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. Oleaceae Sant:III 69. Ocimum sanctum L. Lamiaceae Sant:V 70. Oryza sativa L. Poaceae AP:I

71. Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Euphorbiaceae AP:I, PC: III

72. Piper nigrum L. Piperaceae Bhat:VI 73. Piper peepuloides Roxb. Piperaceae AP:I

74. Pistacia chinensis Bunge subsp. Pistaciaceae BhaT:VI integerrim L. (Stew.) Rech. F.

75. Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. Sterculiaceae Sant:III 76. Pterocarpus santalinus Linn.

f

Fabaceae Sant:III 77. Santalum album L. Santalaceae AP:I, II

78. Semecarpus ana cardium L.f Anacardiaceae Sant:VII 79. Sesamum orientale L. Pedaliaceae AP:IV Bhat:VII 80. Sida cordifolia L. Malvaceae PC:IV

81. Sida spinosa L. Malvaceae Bhat:VI 82. Smilax perfoliata Lour. Smilacaceae . Sant:III 83. Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae AP:V

84. Sphaeranthus africanus L. Asteraceae Bhat:VI

85. Stephania elegana HK.

f

& T. Menispermaceae GP:V, PC:V

86. Streblus asper Lour. Moraceae Sant:II1 87. Symplocos racemosa Roxb. Symplocaceae AP:III

88. Terminalia belllrica (Gaertn.) Roxb. Combretaceae AP:I 89. Terminalia chebula Retz. Combretaceae AP:I

90. Themeda gigantea Hackel Poaceae Sant:I 91. Thysanolaena maxima Ktze. Poaceae Sant:VI 92. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers. Menispermaceae PC:III

93. Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr. Menispermaceae Bhat:VI 94. Tragia involvucrata L. Euphorbiaceae Sant:I 95. Triticum aestivum L. Poaceae AP:I

96. Vernonia albicans DC. Asteraceae GP:IV 97. Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilo Fabaceae AP:I, II 98. Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr. Asteraceae VC:II

99. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal Solanaceae PC:II

100. Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz. Lythraceae Sant:III

(36)

TABLE 4 ~ Therapeutic uses of seven species of plants in different systems of medicine

1::

0

=l

-Sr. Uses Prescribed by Chemical 0

Z No. Name of the Plant Texts Tribes Ayurveda Unani Homoeopathy Allopathy contents of the > _t"'"

plants

_e

[J'l

1. Achyranthes aspera L. GP:V, Santal:V, MOD MOD MOD The plant is rich in tT1

0

(Amaranthaceae) PC:V VII potash 'Tl

~

t"'"

2. Asparagus racemosus AP:II Bhil:I The root is The root is MOD MOD > _~

Willd. galactagogue, galactogogue, [J'l

and MOD and useful in

-

Z

3. gonorrhoea

-

_Z

Embelia ribes Burm

f

VC:II Bhat:VII Cures urinary MOD MOD MOD The drug contains

-

0

(Myrsinaceae) discharges, embelin, quercitol,

-

>

and MOD christembine, a Z

resinoid, tannins,

~

fatty ingredients,

s::

-and minute ~ quantities of

~

volatile oil. t"'" 'Tl

4. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis AP:III, Santal:III The buds are Some parts The flowers > _::=

L. (Malvaceae) PC:IV used to treat of the plant contain moisture, tT1

uterine and are nitrogen, fat, crude

vaginal demulcent fibre, calcium,

discharges, phosphorus, iron,

seminal thiamine,

weakness, and riboflavin, niacin,

flowers fried and ascorbic acid.

in ghee are The leaves contain

used to check carbotone.

excessive

menstruation. _~

(37)

Sr. Uses Prescribed by Chemical No. Name of the Plant Texts Tribes Ayurveda Unani Homoeopathy Allopathy contents of the

plants 5. Holarrhena pubescens GP:V Santal:1II MOD The bark checks MOD The bark The therapeutic

(Buch.-Ham.) Wall. excessive and seeds value of this lant

ex G. Don menstrual flow; are is due to the

the leaves are antiperiodic, presence of

useful to they are alkaloids which

regulate used after occur as tannate.

menstruation, delivery to The principal

and MOD give proper alkaloid is

tone to conessine; there vagina are seventeen

other alkaloids. In addition to alkaloids it contains gums, resins, tannins, some types of alcohols 6. Nelumbo nucifera AP:III, IV Santal:1II Anthers are The root is good MOD

Gaertn. sedative to to treat

(Nelumbonaceae) the uterus; spermatorrhoea; I-c:I liI:l

seeds are seeds are tonic

~

sedative to to the uterus, 0

>

the pregnant useful in liI:l

til

uterus, and menorrhagia and ::r:

_>

all parts are leucorrhoea, and Z

MOD many parts are C/l ttl

MOD Z til

>

liI:l

Contd ... ₌₌

_>

(38)

•

... Contd. Sr.

No. Name of the Plant

7. Sesamum orientale L. (Pedaliaceae) Texts Tribes AP:IV BhatVI Ayurveda Unani

The roots and The seeds seeds cure galactogogue, menorrhagia, useful in and MOD urinary concretions, and MOD Uses Prescribed by Homoeopathy Allopathy MOD Chemical contents of the plants The seeds yield edible oil and important as a source of protein for human nutrition. The seeds also contain carbohydrates, oxalic acid, calcium, phosphorus, and other mineral matters

Herbal Cures - Patil (Ed) (2008)

HERBAL CURES

TRADITIONAL APPROACH

Editor

Dr. D.A. PatH

Aavishkar Publishers, Distributors

Jaipur

302 003

(Raj.) India

Aavishkar Publishers, Distributors

Printed at

Sheetal Printers

PREFACE

CONTENTS

I.c.

5.1.

CONTRIBUTORS

R.c.

LIST OF COLOUR PLATES

1.

177

2.

177

3.

177

4.

177

5.

177

6.

177

7.

177

8.

177

9.

178

10.

178

11.

178

12.

178

13.

178

14.

178

15.

178

16.

178

17.

179

18.

179

19.

179

20.

179

21.

179

22.

179

179

34:

TRADITIONAL USE OF PLANTS IN

INDIA IN FAMILY WELFARE

1. INTRODUCTION

TRADmONAL USE OF PLANTS IN INDIA IN FAMILY WELFARE

3

2. METHODOLOGY

3.

ENUMERATION OF INFORMATION

3.1

Increasing the vitality and ensuring better sexual life

3.2 Treatment

the Semen

f.

5

3.3 Treating leucorrhoea and menorrhagia

_~

_'"

_e

_>

_>