Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 12: 846-50. 2008. An
Ethno-Medico-Botanical Study of Bolangir, S.P. Mohapatra* and H.P. Sahoo** *Department
of Botany, **
Department of Botany, Correspondence
Address: C/O P.K.Mohapatra Plot No. 820,
Mahanadivihar P.O. Nayabazar, Orissa, 753004. E-mail
S.P_Moha@Sify.Com Issued ABSTRACT The present paper enumerates 33 plant species belonging to
24 families used by the tribal of Bolangir District of Orissa for the cure of
Gynaecological diseases. Tribal generally collect these plants from the
nearby forest and prepare the medicine under the guidance of vaidya or
village medicine man in a traditional way. These medicinal plants are
becoming extinct day by day by heavy use of such plants and transport to
urban areas for commercial purposes. These plants definitely help the pharma
industry for developing medicines in a hygienic way. Key Words: Yunani, Vaidya, Siddha, Ethno-Medico-Botany, Gynaecological diseases, Bolangir. INTRODUCTION So the people
of rural METHODOLOGY The district of Bolangir is
flanked in the Ethno- botanical surveys were
conducted in the eleven tribal villages (randomly selected) of three
panchayat namely Chikalbahal, Kudasingha and Bhutiyarbahal of Bolangir Dist.
of Orissa. Out of 6 million tribal about 62 notified tribes are seen in
Orissa ( Mohapatra, 1993 ).Bolangir is dominated by tribal like Sangara,
Kondha, Mahar, Gond etc. First hand information regarding the therapeutic
properties of wild plants was recorded from these areas. Frequent visits were
made to collect plants from the forest. The ethno-medico-botanical
information was collected on the basis of interviews and cross examination of
the inhabitant and village medicine man commonly known as Vaidya or Kabiraj
during field trips. Information was collected in respect of 33 ethno
medicinal plants belonging to 24 families used by the tribal of Bolangir of
Orissa to cure various gynaecological diseases. Voucher specimen were
collected and preserved as herbarium specimen and deposited in the department
of Botany, ENUMERATION The plant
species are arranged in alphabetical order. The description follows binomial,
family name, local name, name in Hindi and name in Sanskrit, name of locality
and voucher specimen number. This is followed with details such as the
part(s) used singly or in combination with other plants, methods of
preparation and dosage. The following is the list of 33 plants belonging to
24 families. 1. Abutilon indicum(L.)
Sweet. (Malvaceae) ‘Pedipedica’(O) ‘Petari’ (H) ‘Atibala’ (S)
Bhutiyarbahal-101 The bread prepared from the mixture
of leaf powder (10 gm.) and wheat flour (200gm.) is taken daily during night
for about one month for the cure of uterus displacement. 2.. Aloe
vera Mill.(liliaceae)
‘Gheekuanri’( O ) ‘Ghneekuanri’ ( H ) ‘Grutkumari (S ) Chikalbahal-187 Leaf juice (5
gm.) along with turmeric & black salt is taken twice daily in empty
stomach to cure irregular
periods. 3. Alstonia
scholaris(L.) R.Br. (Apocynaceae)
‘Chatiana’(O)
‘Chatiwan’(H) ‘Saptaparni’(S)
Chikalbahal-177 The powder of the bark with equal amount of
sunthi powder (one spoon) is taken along with cow’s milk (one cup) twice to
cure post-pregnancy fever. 4. Amaranthus spinosus (L) (Amaranthaceae) ‘Kantamarisha’(O)
‘Choulai’(H) ‘Meghanad’(S) Chikalbahal-111 The paste of Amaranthus root (10gm.) along with rice washed water is taken
twice daily for three- four days to cure menorrhoea. 5. Azadirachta indica
A.Juss. (Meliaceae) ‘Limba’ (O)
‘Neem’(H) ‘Nimba’(S)
Chikalbahal-474 The bark of the tree (20gm) &
bark of Acacia nelotica (20gm.) is
boiled in three glasses of water and filtered. The filtrate (one glass) is
taken in the morning in empty stomach for one week to cure white discharge. 6. Basella alba(L.)
(Chenopodiaceae) ‘Poi’(O) ‘Poi’(H) ‘Upodika’ (S) Nuniadhipa-115 The paste of root of red Basella (10gm.) along with rice washed water is taken in the morning in empty stomach for one month to cure irregular periods. 7. Bombax ceiba (L.)
(Bombaceae) ‘Semel’(O) ‘Semel’(H)
‘Mocha’(S) Chikalbahal-602 The petals of the flower fried in
desi-ghee, is taken with black salt for one week to cure menorrhoea. 8. Butea monosperma(Lam.) Taub. (Fabaceae)
‘Palsa’(O) ‘Dhak’(H) ‘Palasa’(S) Kudasingha-76 The
powder of the dry leaf (one spoon) is taken twice daily for one month to cure
white discharge and menorrhoea. 9.
Cynodon dactylon(L.) (Poaceae) ‘Dub’ (O) ‘Dub’ (H) ‘Durba’(S)
Siris-202 The whole
plant, flower of Hibiscus
rosa-sinensis, old molasses are crushed with rice washed water and taken
once daily in empty stomach to cure menorrhoea. 10. Erythrina variegate(L.) (Fabaceae)
‘Paldhua’(O) ‘Farhad’(H) ‘Paribhadra’(S) Nuapada-271 The leaf juice (four spoon) is taken
twice daily for one-two month to cure irregular periods. 11. Ferronia limonia(L.)Sw.
(Rutaceae) ‘Kaintha’(O) ‘Kavitha’(H) ‘Kapitha’(S)Chikalbahal-39 The paste of the leaf (15gm.) &
leaf of bamboo (15gm.) along with rice washed water is taken twice daily to
cure menorrhoea. 12. Ficus glomerata Roxb.
(Moraceae) ‘Dumer’(O) ‘Gular’(H)
‘Udumbar’(S) Chikalbahal-134 The paste of the bark (10gm.) with
water is taken twice to cure white discharge & menorrhoea. 13. Ficus religiosa(L.)
(Moraceae) ‘Pippala’(O) ‘Pippal’(H) ‘Aswatatha’(S) Kudasingha-307 The paste of the bark (10gm.) is
taken with water (one glass) twice daily for one month to cure white
discharge. 14. Gmelina arborea Roxb.
(verbenaceae) ‘Gambhari(O) ‘Gambhar’(H) ‘Gambhari’(S) Dhanaradadar-444 The root (20gm.) is boiled in water
(one glass) & then filtered. The filtrate (half glass) is taken twice to
cure post-pregnancy weakness. 15. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis(L.)
(Malvaceae) ‘Mandar’(O) ‘Jabakusam’(H) ‘Japapuspa’(S) Rajamunda-313
a. White flower of the plant (five no.) taken in the morning in
empty stomach for about two-three months to cure white discharge. b. Red flower of the plant (four-five no.)
fried with desi-ghee taken in the morning daily to cure irregular periods. 16. Holarrhena
pubescens(Buch-Ham.) Wall.ex.G.Don (Apocynaceae) ‘Kurei’(O) ‘Kuda’(H)
‘Kutaj’(S) Chikalbahal-692 The powder of the bark (one spoon) along
with rice washed water is taken twice for a week to cure menorrhoea. 17. Holoptelea integrifolia(Roxb.)
Planch. (Ulmaceae) ‘Dharanj’(O) ‘Chilbil’(H) ‘Chirabilwa’(S) Kudasingha-511 The paste of the bark (5gm.) with
water (one glass) is taken in the morning in the empty stomach to cure
post-pregnancy fever. 18. Mangifera indica(L.)
(Anacardiaceae) ‘Amba’(O) ‘Aam’(H) ‘Amra’(S) Bhutiyarbahal-12 The skin of unripe mango fried in
desi-ghee is taken daily to cure menorrhoea. 19. Mimosa pudica(L.)
(Mimosaceae) ‘Lajkoli’(O) ‘Lajwanti’(H) ‘Lajjawati’(S) Chikalbahal-223 The powder of Mimosa leaf (5gm.) is
taken daily in empty stomach for one month to cure menorrhoea. 20. Mimusops elengi(L.)
(Sapotaceae) ‘Boula’(O) ‘Malesree’(H) ‘Bakula’(S) Phatkera-806 The powder of the bark (one spoon) is
taken twice daily in empty stomach for four-five days to cure uterus
problems. 21. Musa paradisiaca(L.)
(Musaceae) ‘Kadel’(O) ‘Kela’(H)
‘Kadali’(S) Chikalbahal-379 The stem juice (one cup) is taken
twice daily for one month to cure menorrhoea. 22. Phyllanthes neruri Webst. (
Euphorbiaceae) ‘Badionla’(O) ‘Jharamla’(H)’Bhuamalika’(S) Kuthurla-90 The paste of whole plant or fruit (5gm.)
along with rice washed water is taken twice daily in empty stomach for
three-four days to cure menorrhoea. 23. Ricinus communis(L.)
(Euphorbiaceae) ‘Gaba’(O) ‘Arandi’(H)’Aranda’(S) Siris-32 The stem of Ricinus is cut into pieces and is sun dried and then burnt. The
ash along with equal amount of amla powder is taken (one spoon) twice daily
in empty stomach to cure white discharge and menorrhoea. 24. Saraca asoca(Roxb.)
de.Wilde (Caesalpiniaceae) ‘Ashok’(O)
‘Ashok’(H) ‘Ashoka’(S)Siris-437 The bark of the plant (120gm.) &
black rasi (120gm.) is boiled in one glass of milk and three glasses of water
for sometime. The rest part (milk) is taken thrice daily in empty stomach to
cure white discharge, menorrhoea and irregular periods. 25. Schleichera
oleosa(Lour.) Oken. (Sapindaceae) ‘Kusum’(O) ‘Kusum’(H) ‘Kosamra’(S)
Chikalbahal-702 The paste of the bark (10gm.) along with
water (one cup) is taken twice to cure menorrhoea. 26. Sesbania grandiflora(L.)
Poir. (Fabaceae) ‘Agasthi’ (O) ‘Agasthi’ (H) ‘Agasthya’ (S) Chikalbahal-241 The juice of Sesbania flower (20ml.) is taken daily in the morning to cure
white discharge. 27. Sida cordifolia(L.) (
Malvaceae) ‘Bajramuli’(O) ‘Pitbarela’(H) ‘Bala’(S) Chikalbahal-82 The root powder (5gm.) along with
honey (one spoon) & milk (one cup) is taken twice daily in empty stomach
to cure white discharge. 28. Stereospermum chelonoides(L.F.)DC
(Bignoniaceae) ‘Padhel’(O) ‘Padhar’(H)
‘Patala’(S) Phatkera-333 The bark (20gm.) is boiled in water
(two glasses) and then filtered. The filtrate is taken twice daily for one
month to cure post-pregnancy weakness. 29. Streblus
asper Lour. (Moraceae)
‘Sahadda’(O) ‘Sahoda’(H) ‘Sakhota’(S) Bandhakeda-731 The bark of the root (5gm.) along with rice
washed water is taken twice daily to cure white discharge along with pus and
blood. 30. Syzygium cuminii(L.)
Skeels. (Myrtaceae) ‘Jamu’(O)
‘Jamun’(H) ‘Jambu’(S)
Rajamunda-402 The soft leaf or the bark juice
(10ml.) along with rice washed water is taken twice in empty stomach to cure
menorrhoea. 31. Tamarindus indica(L.)
(Caesalpiniaceae) ‘Tentel’(O) ‘Imli’(H)
‘Tentula’(S) Bandhakeda-86 The seeds are soaked overnight, then the paste of those soaked seed (two spoons) along with milk (one glass) is taken twice daily to cure white discharge. 32. Tinospora cordifolia(L.)
Merr. ( Menispermaceae) ‘Gulchi’ (O) ‘Giloy’ (H) ‘Amruta’(S) Rajamunda-281 About 50 gm. of Gulchi (stem) first
soaked in two glasses of water and then filtered, the filtrate is taken daily
for one month to cure white discharge. 33.
Woodfordia fruticosa(L.) Kurz. (Lythraceae) ‘Dhatuki’(O) ‘Dhaya’(H)
‘Dhataki’(S) Bhutiyarbahal-617 The powder of flower (10gm.) along with
honey is taken thrice daily in empty stomach to cure white discharge and
menorrhoea. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION The ethno-medico-botanical survey of the area revealed that the people of the area are possessing good knowledge of herbal drugs but, as the people of the societies are in progressive exposure to modernization; their knowledge of traditional uses of plants may be lost in due course. So it is important to study and record the uses of the plant by different tribe and sub tribe for future study. Such studies may also provide some information to phyto-chemists and pharmacologists in screening of individual species in rapid accessing of phyto constituents. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are
thankful to the Nagarjun Education Society (a non-profit, Non-Govt.
organization) Bolangir for their valuable information about the medicinal
uses of plants. Sincere thank to the villagers of the tribal panchayat
participating in the survey process. We are also very much obliged to Prof.
G.P.Nayak, H.O.D( Botany) of REFERENCES (1)
Hains H.H , 1921-25 – Botany of Bihar and Orissa
(Ed.1961), Botanical survey of (2) Mohapatra S, 1993 – The tangled web tribal life and culture, Orissa Sahitya Academy Publication, BBSR, 1-148 pp. (3) Panigrahi G, 2002 –
Taxonomy, Nomenclature and Conservation of Biodiversities with special reference to
under explored region of Orissa. In plant resource utilization ( Ed.
Sahoo et al.) Allied Publication, (4) Saxsena H.O. and Brahmam. M ,1994-96 – Flora of Orissa, Forest Development Corporation Ltd., BBSR, Orissa 1-2918 pp. |