Keywords

Medicinal plants, Herbal treatment, Folklore, Aliments.

Introduction

Majority of world population relies on traditional medicines for primary healthcare, most of which involves use of locally available plants. In India all most 95% of the prescription are plant based in the traditional systems of Unani, ayurveda, Homeopathy and Siddha [1]. Ancient ethnic communities around the world have learnt to utilize their neighborhood herbal wealth for curative as well as offensive purposes [2]. Due to lake of literacy, their knowledge on plants developed often at the cost of their dear life through centuries old experience could be perfectly documented and it had rather descend from one generation to another as a domestic culture heritage [3].

Modern medicinal facilities are now making a rapid penetration into the areas which have been centers of herbal use as medicines for ages as their tradition. Such activites may result in disappearance of traditional use and knowledge herbal wealth. It is therefore important (as bioethical mater) that the valuable knowledge from locally folklore, in particular, of the medicinal uses of locally available plants to treat different diseases be recorded [4].

Many attempts have been made on inventarisation of medicinal plants currently being used for treatment of ailments in different parts of India such as Nayar [5] reported medicinal plants of Eastern Ghats, Nagaraju and Rao [6] enlisted medicinal plants of Tirumala Hills and the plants crude drug of Rayalaseema (A.P.). Similarly Jain et el. from Raipur [7], Kumar et al., from Bikaner [8], Bondya et al., and Chandra et al. from Ranchi [9,10] have studied on medicinal plants and their traditional uses.

Ranchi district of Jharkhand state is immensely rich in biodiversity and ethnomedicinal information. Ranchi the capital of Jharkhand lies between 22° 30, N - 23° 30, N latitude and 85° E-86° E longitude. It is located at an altitude of 654 m above sea level. The annual average rainfall in Ranchi district is about 1530 mm. The whole district is covered by red sandy soil. Jharkhand state is immensely rich in biological diversity and traditional knowledge with about 23,605 sq km forest area, which is 29% of the total geographic area. It is also rich in ethnomedicine and about 80%people live in rural are [10]. The population compromising various ethnic groups and indigenous mass making it hub of horopaths, Pahans, Vidhya and other having traditional knowledge about medicinal uses of various plants found in ambience. The current trend of life style is resulting in gradual loss of valuable indigenous therapeutic knowledge (Homeopathy) associated with ethnic culture in the area in particular [3].

The present communication records documentation and compilation of fragmentary ethnic knowledge about the medicinal and nutritional indigenous plants. In the paper, attempt has been made to document the folklore formulation so that in near future it may lead to the discovery of new medicines and help in protecting their IPR.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ethnomedicinal survey was conducted during Mar 2009 – Sep 2010 in 5 different blocks of Ranchi district namely, Kanke, Ratu, Mander, Bero and Lapung. The requisite ehnomedicinal properties of different plants were recorded through direct interview with the local people and practitioners on the basis of their traditional knowledge and the folklore formulation, which they were prescribed to their patients. After documentation, use of formulation was cross checked and confirmed. The plants were identified with the herbaria of Ranchi University and Department of Forestry of Birsa Agriculture University, Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Scientific botanical identification of the collected plants was done by referring to Haines [11], Hembrom [12], Prasad [3] and Chandra [10]. Queries were asked on the basis of readymade questionnaire13 to know the traditional knowledge used in practice by local people. All collected specimen were deposited in the herbarium of Department of Botany, Marwari College, Ranchi, Ranchi University for future references.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

The documentation has been done on the basis of information extracted from the knowledgeable local practitioners, the patients who have cured and the plant collectors of the area. A list of 74 plants and their uses has been presented in Table 1 in alphabetical order giving their Botanical name, followed by local name, family and medicinal uses.

Table 1. List of important medicinal plants in Jharkhand and their uses

S. No.	Latin Name	Local Name	Uses
1	Abrus precatorius	Karjani	Seed -	Purgative, emetic, aphrodisiac, poultice of seeds used as suppository for abortion
			Root   -	Emetic, alexiteric
			Leaves -	Juice from fresh leaves in said to remove   spots of leucoderma
2	Acacia arabica	Babul	Fruit -	Ground fruit mixed with sugar is given him  weakness by tribal
			Bark   -	Astringent, demulcent
			Gum    -	In dry cough, diarrhea, dysentery and diabetes mellitus
3	Acacia catechu	Khair	Bark	Astringent Kath
4	Achyranthes aspera	Apamarg	Plant  -	Purgative and diuretic, used in dropsy, Piles, Boils, Skin eruptions, Colic, Snake-bite etc.
			Root   -	Astringent, used in Pyorrhea
			Seed   -	Emetic
5	Adina cordifolia	Karam	Bark   -	Febrifuge, Antiseptic, also used to kill worms in sores
6	Ailanthus excelsa	Ghorkaranj	Bark   -	Aromatic, Tonic, Febrifuge, Expectorant, Antispasmodic and Astringent; used in Rheumatism also.
7	Aegle marmelos	Bel	Fruit -	Pulp of ripe fruit aromatic, cooling and laxative while half ripe fruit Astringent, Digestive and Stomachic
			Root   -	Used in intermittent fevers, and as bark fish poison.
8	Alangium Lamarckii	Dhela	Leaves -	As poultice in rheumatic pain
			Bark&root	In Jaundice
			Root Bark	Purgative, anthelmintic and useful in fever and skin diseases.
9	Albizzia lebbek	Siris	Plant  -	In snake-bite and scorpion sting, infusion given in anemia and for curing itch.
			Bark&See d	Astringent, tonic and restorative, given in piles and diarrhea
			Root bark	In Powder form used to strengthen gums in night-blindness.
10	Albizzia procera	Safed Siris	Leaves -	Used as insecticide, made into poultice and applied to ulcer
11	Alstonia scholaris	Chatni	Bark   -	Tonic, alternative, febrifuge, useful in diarrhea dysentery and snake- bite Milky
			juice -	Applied to ulcer
12	Audrographis	Kalmegh	Plant  -	Tonic febrifuge, alternative anthelmintic paniculata
13	Artocarpus lakoocha	Barhar	Seed   -	Ground and given to children as purgative
14	Asparagus racemosa	Satawar	Root   -	Decoction used by tribal in fever, refrigerant, demulcent, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, alterative, galactagogue.
15	Azadirachta indica	Neem	Leaves -	Carminative, expectorant, anthelmintic, antidotal, diuretic and insecticidal; externally applied in skin diseases as antiseptic and stimulant.
			Bark   -	Bitter tonic, astringent, alterative, anthelmintic,
			Roots & Trunk	Antispasmodic and stimulant
			Gum    -	Stimulant and demulcent
			Fruit -	Used in urinary diseases, piles, leprosy,  intestinal worms etc.
			Seed oil-	Antiseptic dressing in skin diseases
16	Bauhinia purpurea	Koenar	Bark   -	Astringent
			Root   -
			Flowers-	Laxative
17	Bauhinia retusa	Kathal	Gum    -	Emmenagogue, diuretic
18	Bombax ceiba	Semal	Root   -	Tonic, stimulant emetic, aphrodisiac
			Leaves -	Boiled and given with sugar in case of weakness
			Gum    -	Aphrodisiac, demulcent, haemo- static, astringent, tonic alterative.
19	Boswellia serrata	Salai	Gum    -	Diaphoretic, diuretic, astringent, emmenagogue, tonic
20	Buchanania lanzan	Piar	Oil     -	Tonic a substitute for almond oil in native medical preparations
			Gum    -	Used in diarrhea
21	Butea frondosa	Palas	Leaf  -	Astringent, tonic
			Seed   -	Anthelmintic
			Gum    -	Astringent
22	Calotropis gigantea	Akaon	Leaves -	Used in dropsy and enlargement of abdominal viscera, smoked or smoke inhaled in asthma & cough, decoction for extracting guinea worms.
			Root bark	Cholagogue, diaphoretic, emetic, alterative and diuretic.
			Flower -	Tonic, stomachic, digestive and expectorant.
			Latex -	Abortifacient as well as used in leprosy, dropsy, rheumatism, etc.
23	Carissa carandas	Kanwar	Fruit -	Appetizer, ground green fruit with salt taken in dysentery
24	Cassia fistula	Amaltas	Leaves-	Laxative, tonic, febrifuge, purgative
			Seeds & Root Bark Root   -	Astringent, tonic, febrifuge, purgative.
			Flower -	Purgative
			Fruit -	Cathartic also applied in rheumatism
			Seeds -	Emetic.
25	Chloroxylon	Bharhul	Leave  -	Used for cure of sores in cattle swietenia
26	Clerodendron infortunatum	Bhant	Leaves -	Tonic, antiperiodic, febrifuge, vermifuge, also used in skin diseases and as substitute for chireta
27	Dalbergia latifolia	Kala Sissoo	Leaf  -	Boiled and infusion taken in weakness
28	Emblica officinalis	Amla	Fruit -	Richest source of vitamin `C', refrigerant, antiscorbutic, diuretic, laxative, astringent, stomachic, blood purifier, appetizer.
			Seed  -	Infusion   used as eye-wash  in ophthalmic diseases.
29	Eugenia spp.	Jamun	Bark   -	Astringent, decoction used for gargles, fresh juice used in diarrhea of children
			Fruit -	Juice (fresh as well as vinegar) used as stomachic, carminative, diuretic.
			Seed   -	Used in diabetes.
30	Euphoria hirta	Dudhi	Plant  -	Vermifuge and expectorant
31	Ficus benghalensis	Bar	Leaves -	Poultice applied to abscesses
			Bark   -	Tonic, astringent, used also in diarrhea and diabetes.
			Seed   -	Refrigerant, tonic
			Milky -	Applied externally for pains in rheumatism  juice and lumbago
32	Ficus religiosa	Pipal	Young & Shoots
			leaves -	Purgative
			Bark   -	Astringent, infusion taken internally in scabies
			Fruit -	Laxative
			Seeds -	Cooling and alterative.
33	Flacourtia ramontchi	Katai	Fruit -	In jaundice and enlarged spleen
			Gum    -	Given with other ingredients in cholera.
34	Helicteres isora	Aintha	Root   -	Expectorant, demulcent, astringent, juice in diabetes and stomach affections, topical application for scabies.
			Bark   -	Expectorant, demulcent and astringent, also used in dysentery and diarrhea.
			Fruit -	Demulcent and astringent, useful in gripping of bowels and flatulence of children.
35	Holarrhena antidysentrica	Koreya	Bark   -	Used in dysentery, rubbed in ground form over body in dropsy.
			Seed   -	Astringent, febrifuge, used in dysentery, diarrhea and vermifuge.
36	Holoptelia integrifolia	Chilbil	Bark   -	Juice of boiled bark applied to rheumatic swellings
			Leaves -	Fish poison
37	Hymenodictyon excelsum	Bhurkur	Bark (inner)  -	Astringent and febrifuge
38	Lannea grandis	Genjan	Leaves -	Boiled and applied for local swellings and pains
			Bark   -	astringent, used as lotion in eruption, ulcer, etc., decoction used in toothache
39	Litsaea sebifera	Medh	Bark   -	Crushed and used for curing pain; given to cows to strengthen them
40	Madhuca latifolia	Mahua	Bark   -	Used in rheumatic affection as well as itch and its decoction as astringent and tonic.
			Flower -	Fried flowers eaten in piles; its spirit is astringent, tonic, appetizer and sedative.
41	Melia azedarach	Bakain	Root bark-	Fruit, flower and leaves Deobstruent, resolvent, alexipharmic; juice of leaves anthelmintic, antilithic diuretic and emmenagogue
			Seed Oil -	Used in antiseptic dressing
42	Michelia champaca	Champa	Bark    -	Febrifuge, stimulant, expectorant, astringent, purgative.
			Flowers Seed and fruits-	Stimulant, antispasmodic, tonic, stomachic, carminative and cooling, used in dyspepsia, nausea, fever, renal diseases and applied externally in vertigo with sesamum oil. Oil from flowers cephalagia, opthalmia and gout.
43	Mimosa pudica	Lajwanti	Root   -	Decoction used in gravellish complains
			Leaves -	Used in piles and fistula; paste applied in hydrocoel and scorpion sting.
44	Mucuna prurita	Alkusi	Root   -	Purgative febrifuge, used in cholera and dropsy
			Seed   -	Aphrodisiac and nervine tonic.
45	Nyctanthes arbortristis	Samsihar	Leaves -	Used in fever and rheumatism; warm decoction in sciatica and expressed juice used as laxative, tonic and vermifuge.
46	Oroxylum indicum	Sonapatta	Root bark-	Astringent, diaphoretic, tonic, used in diarrhea and rheumatism
			Leaves -	Burnt leaves taken with wine as a remedy for cough.
			Fruits(Ten der)-	Carminative and stomachic
			Seeds   -	Purgative
47	Ougeinia oojenensis	Sandan	Bark    -	Febrifuge, decoction given in highly colored urine
			Gum     -	Used in dysentery and diarrhea, and also as fish poison
48	Pongamia pinnata	Karanj	Root    -	Juice used in fistulous sores and for cleaning foul ulcers.
			Stem bark (fresh)	Used internally for bleeding piles
			Leaves -	Used as poultice in worm infested ulcers.
			Seed   -	Oil used in coetaneous affections, herpes scabies and rheumatism.
49	Pterocarpus marsupium	Bai,  Paisar	Bark   -	Astringent
			Leaves -	Externally applied in boils sores and skin diseases
			Wood   -	Extract used in diabetes
			Gum    -	Astringent, used in diarrhea pyrosis and toothache.
50	Pueraria tuberosa	Patal Kohra	Root   -	Demulcent, refrigerant, emetic, tonic, lactagogues. paste rubbed in rheumatism.
51	Rauwolfia spp.	Sarpagandha	Root   -	Febrifuge, antidote for bites of snakes, insects, etc.
52	Rubia cordifolia	Jotsingh	Root   -	Astringent, alterative, deobstruent and tonic; decoction used in jaundice paralysis, urinary and menstrual troubles and inflamed chest.
			Stem   -	Used in cobra-bites and scorpion string.
53	Schleichera oleosa	Kusum	Bark   -	Astringent, used with oil in itch
			Seed   -	Power applied to remove maggots
				of animal ulcers,
			Oil     -	Used for cure of itch, ache and scalp and for promoting hair growth.
54	Semecarpus anacardium	Bhelwa	Nut    -	Vermifuge and applied in uterus for abortion
			Oil     -	Used in rheumatism and leprous nodules
			Gum    -	Used in venereal and leprous affections and nervous debility.
55	Shorea robusta	Sal, Sakhua	Resin -	Astringent, detergent, digestive, aphrodisiac and used for fumigation to purify houses
			Leaves & Bark	Burnt powder in linseed oil used for healing burns.
56	Smilax macrophylla	Ramdatwan	Roots -	Used in bloodless dysentery, venereal diseases (as substitute for sarsa-parilla) rheumatism and pains in lower extremities.
57	Prolifera	Ramdatwan	Root   -	Used in blood dysentery and in cases of dark and reddish urine
58	Solanum nigrum	Makoi	Plant  -	Juice used as hydrogogue, cathartic, diuretic, alterative and in chronic enlargement of liver, blood spitting, piles, dysentery etc.
			Leaves -	Decoction used as laxative and diuretic.
			Berries-	Used in fever, diarrhea, eye diseases and hydrophobia.
59	Solanum xanthocarpum	Rengni	Plant   -	Used in diuretic dropsy and gonorrhea
			Root   -	Expectorant, antiemetic.
			Leaves -	Applied locally for pains and juice with pepper taken in rheumatism
			Buds & - flowers	Salt solution used for watery eyes
			Berries-	Carminative and also used in sore- throat
60	Soymida febrifuga	Rohan	Bark   -	Astringent, febrifuge, tonic; used in general debility, intermittent fever, diarrhea and dysentery.
61	Sterculia urens	Gulu, Keonjhi	Leaves & tender branches-	Mucilaginous extract used in pleuro-pneumonia in cattle
			Gum    -	Used in throat affections and as substitute for tragacanth
62	Stereospermum suaveolens	Papar,  Panrar	Root
			Bark   -	Cooling, diuretic, tonic
			Flower -	Used in hiccough and as aphrodisiac
63	Tamarindus indica	Tetar, Imli	Leaves -	Infusion used in eye diseases
			Seed   -	Burnt and used as tooth-powder.
64	Tectona grandis	Teak, Sagwan	Leaves -	Burnt leaves in linseed oil used for curing itch.
65	Tephrosia purpurea	Sarphuka	Plant  -	Tonic, laxative, anthelmintic
			Root   -	Used in tympanitis, dyspepsia and chromic diarrhea fresh root bark used in colic.
66	Terminalia tomentosa	Asan	Bark   -	Astringent, diuretic, cardiotonic; burnt bark mixed with linseed oil used for curing itch.
67	Terminalia arjuna	Arjun	Bark   -	Astringent, febrifuge, cardiotonic, used as antidote to poison
			Kahua Leaves	Fresh juice used in ear-ache
			Fruit -	Tonic and deobstruent
68	Terminalia belerica	Bahera	Fruit -	Astringent, tonic, laxative, antipyretic, purgative (half - ripe ones); also used in piles, dropsy, diarrhea, leprosy, biliousness, dyspepsia and headache.
			Kernel -	Narcotic, vermifuge
69	Terminalia chebula	Hare	Fruit -	Astringent, laxative, alterative; used in carious teeth and bleeding gums, etc.
			Bark   -	Diuretic and cardiotonic.
70	Urginea indica	Jangli	Bulb  -	Expectorant, diuretic and cardiac stimulant piaz, Kandri
71	Vetiveria zizanioides	Khus		Used in tympanitis, dyspepsia and chromic diarrhea fresh root bark used in colic.
72	Vitex negundo	Sinduar	Root   -	Expectorant, febrifuge, tonic
			Leaves -	Tonic, vermifuge and used in acute rheumatism
			Fruit (dried)-	Vermifuge
73	Woodfordia fruiticosa	Phuldhawai	Flowers (dried) -	Astringent, used in dysentery, menorrhagia,disorders of liver and mucous membrane; considered a safe stimulant in pregnancy
74	Zizyphus xylopyrus	Kankar	Leaves -	Ground and applied as poultice for cure of swelling

The works of Hippocrates (459–370 BC) contain 300 medicinal plants classified by physiological action: Wormwood and common centaury (Centaurium umbellatum Gilib) were applied against fever; garlic against intestine parasites; opium, henbane, deadly nightshade, and mandrake were used as narcotics; fragrant hellebore and haselwort as emetics; sea onion, celery, parsley, asparagus, and garlic as diuretics; oak and pomegranate as adstringents. Most of these plant species were recorded as folklore formulation with their local names, plant parts used, quantity and mode of application for the treatment of various ailments have been enumerated, this statement was further found in agreement with Ganapaty et al. [14]. The ailments include menstrual cycle disorder, leucoderma, skin disease, blood pressure, diabetes, Malaria, snake bite, tooth ache, infertility, joints pain, contraceptive, rheumatism, jaundice, wound healing, etc. The knowledge from herbal practitioners on the abortifacient, female contraceptives and wound healing is one of the present day situations [15].

CONCLUSION

These traditional medicines of indigenous origin may be integrates with national health care system. Plants have been selected and used empirically as drug for centuries, initially as traditional preparation then as pure active principle. The study is likely to promote a rational use of botanicals and must be continued focusing on isolation and characterizing the active principles of the crude extract, its pharmacological validation, standardization and formulation. It is hoped that such ethnomedicinal study will provide important database of the different folklore formulation used locally of the study area to cure different diseases.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author is grateful to the traditional healers for co-operation and sharing their precious knowledge and information. Author is also thankful to the forest officers of Birsa Agriculture University of Ranchi for identifying the plants and the local people for their information regarding addressing of traditional practitioners. Thanks are due to the principal Dr. J. Ahmed of Marwari College Ranchi, Prof in-charge Dr. R. L. Ram, for proving facilities and giving suggestions.

Conflict of Interest

We have no conflict of interest to declare.

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