Studies on ethnomedicinal plants conserved by Garasia...

Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources

Vol. 1(4), December 2010, pp. 500-506

Studies on ethnomedicinal plants conserved by Garasia tribes of Sirohi district,

Rajasthan, India

K L Meena* and B L Yadav

Department of Botany

M L V Government College, Bhilwara - 311 001, Rajasthan, India

Received 29 December 2009; Accepted 20 July 2010

An extensive survey of Garasia tribe dominated area of Sirohi district, Rajasthan has been made to document the

information about uses and conservation of ethnomedicinal plants by them. 34 plant species belonging to 34 genera and 27

families have been recorded and enumerated. Species like Anogeissus sericea Brandis var. nummularia King ex Duthie,

Ceropegia vincaefolia Hook. and Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand., included in the red data book of India and

species like Ensete superba Cheesman, Habenaria marginata Colebr., Viscum articulatum Burm.f., etc. restricted in this

region of Rajasthan require conservation. The tradition of conservation of nature by way of dedicating forests to some

deities and sprits was observed in the Garasia tribe.

Keywords: Ethnomedicinal plants, Conservation, Garasia tribes, Sirohi district, Rajasthan.

IPC code; Int. cl.8 A61K 36/00

Introduction

India is a land of diverse natural resources. It has

good traditions for conservation of nature. Since time

immemorial, conservation of natural resources has

been the integral part of many indigenous

communities all over the world, especially in India. It

is true for Rajasthan which has suffered an almost

unabated devastation of its natural biological heritage

and much of what remains has been preserved

through the ages because of fast conservation-oriented

socio-cultural and religious traditions. One such

significant tradition for conservation of nature is the

dedication of patches of forests to some deities and

spirits by Garasia tribes (Plate 1a).

The district is situated in the south-west part of

Rajasthan in between 24°20′N and 25°17′N latitude

and 72°16′E and 73°10′E longitude. It has an area of

5136 sq. km. It is bounded on the west by Jalore

district, on the north by Pali district, on the east by

Udaipur district, and on the south by Banas Kantha

district of Gujarat (Fig. 1). The area is inhabited by

various ethnic groups namely Bhil, Damor, Damriya,

Garasia, Kathodi, Kokna, Kolidhor, Meena, Patelia

and Seharia. Of these, Garasia is the main dweller of

the forests of this area. Garasia derive their name

from Sanskrit word Gras which means a morsel or

subsistence. In Rajasthan, the population of these

tribes is 2.91%, of the total scheduled tribe

population. These tribes are more or less illiterate and

traditionally living in the remote forest areas. They

have commendable knowledge of medicinal

properties of plants that grow around them. This

knowledge has been passing on orally from

generation to generation.

Fig. 1 Location Map of District Sirohi

_______________________

*Correspondent author: E-mail: [email protected]

MEENA & YADAV: ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIROHI DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN

501

Plate 1 a: View of Bhakar hill with Bhakar Bavasi-the God of Garasia, the matlok surrounded by trees of Anogeissus latfolia, Ficus

benghalensis, Lannea coromandelica, etc.; b: Anogeissus serisea var. mummularia; c: Ceropegia vincaefolia; d: Viscum articulatum.

INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, DECEMBER 2010

502

A perusal of literature revealed that significant

contribution has been made by several workers on

ethnobotany in India1-6

. Ethnobotanical studies and

ethnomedicinal aspects of Rajasthan have been

studied by several workers7-22

. The protection of a

large number of medicinal plants in different parts

of the India are well documented23-27

. In Rajasthan,

an account on rare, threatened and endemic

angiospermic species has been provided by several

workers28-31

. But the conservational aspect about

the medicinal plants through traditional practices is

very rare. Therefore, an attempt has been made to

document the knowledge of herbal medicinal as

well as the recent information about conservation of

medicinal plants by Garasia tribes in their

traditional mode of life. The study is based on

interviews with these tribal people living in this

region who are entirely dependent on plants around

their habitation.

Materials and Methods Extensive ethnobotanical survey was carried out

among the tribal people of different tribal pockets of

the district. Normally tribal people are very

conservative regarding providing information because

of their common belief that, if they disclose the

property of the plant to a person outside of their clan

then the property of that plant will be lost forever.

However, during this field study information gathered

from medicine men and women, from bhopa, elderly

birth attendants, wood cutters, shepherds and

headman of the community. Collected informations

were cross examined at different places through

different informants in different seasons.

Each of the studied plant species has been collected

with the help of informants and photographs were

also taken. The species were identified with the help

of different published state flora32-34

. Identification of

species was done on the basis of spot identification

method and the voucher specimens were deposited in

the Herbarium, BSI, Jodhpur and the Department of

Botany, MLV Government College, Bhilwara.

Results and Discussion

The Garasia tribal community of the district Sirohi

has a tradition of conservation of plants based on

various religious beliefs. In this district Bhakhar

regions is a protected forests zone, where maximum

diversity of medicinal plants have been observed at

one hand and sacred grove, of each village on the

other (Plate 1 a-d). The size of sacred grove

(the patch offered to God) varies from village to

village. They have dedicated some forests patches to

deities and spirits to conserve the area as well as have

imposed ban for a selected plant species that should

not be exploited throughout the year. The decision on

the dedication of forest patches to the deities and

spirits for the purpose of conservation are generally

taken in their annual general body meeting

(Panchayat).

During the present study of three sacred groves of

district Sirohi, a total of 34 species belonging to

34 genera and 27 families of ethnomedicinal plants

covering herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers have been

recorded. Out of these 16 species were found to be

common throughout the district, 7 species were found

restricted to the northern part and 7 species were

common in Bhakhar reserve forests, Abu sanctuary

and Mt. Abu wild life sanctuary and 4 species were

found restricted at the Mt. Abu wild life sanctuary.

The plants are enumerated alphabetically with their

botanical names followed by the name of the family,

voucher specimen number, place of collection, local

name, plant part(s) used and its medicinal uses in

Table 1.

The forest represents a long tradition of

environmental conservation by the tribal of this

region. Therefore, there is an urgent need not only to

protect forest, but also to revive and reinvent such

traditional practices of nature conservation and

environmental management. Initially only two species

namely, Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari and

Rosa involucrata Roxb. were included in the lists of

threatened species from state by Botanical Survey of

India (BSI) but now this list has been increased due to

addition of a number of species in this category28-31

.

The species like Anogeissus sericea Brandis var.

nummularia King ex Duthie (Plate 1b), Ceropegia

vincaefolia Hook. emend. Ansari (Plate 1c) and

Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand are rare

and have included in red data book of Indian plants28

.

Some species like Citrullus colocynthis (Linn.)

Schrad., C. wightii and Tecomella undullata (Sm.)

Seem. are reported as threatened species31

. The gum

of C. wightii is of importance in international trade

and it appears that this species is being extracted at

unsustainable rates, causing decline, therefore,

presently it is included in IUCN Red List of

Threatened Species. These plant species are facing

various threats in this region of Rajasthan.


503

Table 1 Ethnomedicinal plants used by Garasia tribes of Sirohi district, Rajasthan

S. No. Species/Family Herbarium

Voucher

No./Locality

Local

name/Category

of distribution

Part(s) used Ethnomedicinal use

1. Alangium salvifolium

(Linn. f.)

Wang./Alangiaceae

650/MLVGCBH

/Bosa

Ankol/A Stem bark *Stem bark (100 g) crushed to make 1

glass of juice and is given as one dose in

case of snake bite.

2. Amorphophallus

paeoniifolius (Dennst.)

Nicolson/Araceae

4309/MLVGCB

H/ Mt. Abu

Sitari/D Tuber Tuber (5 g) is taken with 1 glass of milk

once a day for seven days to cure piles.

3. Anogeissus sericea

Brandis var. nummularia

King ex

Duthie/Combretaceae

3927/MLVGCB

H/ Bosa

Dhawara/C Wood,

leaves

*Wood is useful in making agricultural

implements. Paste of leaves is applied on

wounds for 3 -5 days.

4. Arisaema tortuosum

(Wall.) Schott/Araceae

3720/MLVGCB

H/Mt. Abu

Halira/A Tuber *Fresh tuber (2 g) is crushed to make 100

ml of juice it is used to cure laryngitis in

children.

5. Bombax ceiba

Linn./Bombacaceae

3782/MLVGCB

H/Upali Bor

Sibal/A Stem bark *Half cup of stem bark juice is taken for 7

days to regenerate the fertility in males.

6. Butea superba

Roxb./Fabaceae

2085/MLVGCB

H/Bhakhar hill

Khankerwel/D Roots *Root extract (25 ml) is used by Garasia

men as aphrodisiac. It has no side effects.

7. Capparis grandis

Linn./Capparaceae

3405/MLVGCB

H/Jamburi

Wathera/B Leaves * Half - one kg leaves are boiled in 1

bucket water and bath is taken for 3 days to

cure swellings.

8. Centella asiatica (Linn.)

Urban/Apiaceae

1265/MLVGCB

H/Guru shikhar

Brahmi/D Leaves *Juice of leaves (1-2 tsp) is given to children

once a day for one month to cure ricketts.

9. Ceropegia vincaefolia

Hook./Asclepiadaceae

1190/MLVGCB

H/ Mt. Abu

Khadul bati/D Leaves *Fresh leaves (5-10) are eaten once a day

to cure stomachache.

10. Chlorophytum

borivilianum Sant. et

Fernand/Liliaceae

4532/MLVGCB

H/Bhakhar hill

Dhori-

musali/A

Roots One tsp powder of dried fasciculated roots

is used for 15 days to improve vitality in

males; fresh ones are eaten by children as

tonic and against indigestion.

11. Cissampelos pareira

Linn./Menispermaceae

1445/MLVGCB

H/Revdar

Padi/A Tuber *Fresh tubers (100 g) are crushed and fried

with mustard oil and applied on joints pain

two times a day for 2 - 3 days.

12. Citrullus colocynthis

(Linn.)

Schrad./Cucurbitaceae

1701/MLVGCB

H/Sirohi

Tumbo/B Fruit &

Seed

*Fruits are used in jaundice. Seed oil is

used in snake bite and scorpion sting.

13. Commiphora wightii

(Arn.)

Bhandari/Burseraceae

2287/MLVGCB

H/Bhakhar hill

Guggal/B Gum

(Guggal)

Guggul has been used to relieve cough and

lung congestion.

14. Curcuma amada

Roxb./Zingiberaceae

2634/MLVGCB

H/Bhakhar hill

Shankariya/A Flowers *Fresh inflorescence is smelled as well as

rubbed on head for 7-8 times to reduce the

headache.

15. Dendrophthoe falcata

(Linn. f.)

Etting./Loranthaceae

4403/MLVGCB

H/Bosa

Dudeli/A Leaves *Fresh leaves (500 g) are tide on fractured

bones for 7 days.

16. Dioscorea pentaphylla

Linn./Dioscoreaceae

2496/MLVGCB

H/Bosa

Jatashankari/

A

Tuber *Fresh tubers (25 - 50 g) are boiled in water.

The boiled tubers are made into curry after

removing the skin or roasted and taken two

times a day for two weeks to treat piles.

17. Ensete superbum

Cheesman/Musaceae

1710/MLVGCB

H/ Bhakhar hill

Jangali kela/A Leaves * Ointment of leaf ash in butter as base is

applied on leucoderma spots three times a

day for 45 days.

18. Eriolaena hookeriana

Wight &

Arn./Sterculiaceae

2497/MLVGCB

H/Upali Bor

Giyari/C Leaves * Fresh leaves are given to cattle for 15

days once a time, it increases fat in milk.

19. Erythrina stricta

Roxb./Fabaceae

2322/MLVGCB

H/ Bosa

Sinduri/A Flowers * Juice (¼ cup) of fresh or dried flowers is

given orally once a time for abortion.

(Contd)


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Table 1 Ethnomedicinal plants used by Garasia tribes of Sirohi district, Rajasthan Contd

S. No. Species/Family Herbarium

Voucher

No./Locality

Local

name/Category

of distribution

Part(s) used Ethnomedicinal use

20. Feronia limonia

Swingle/Rutaceae

2498/MLVGCB

H/Bosa

Kaitha/A Fruits * Mature fruits (2-4) are eaten for 15 days

to keep stomach free from any disease.

21. Grewia asiatica

Linn./Tiliaceae

1279/MLVGCB

H/Mt. Abu

Phalasa/B Root *Root paste (100 g) is applied on

backache.

22. Habenaria marginata

Colebr./ Orchidaceae

2735/MLVGCB

H/Bhakhar hill

Butti/A Tuber Tuber paste is applied externally on

swelling of scrotum.

23. Lavandula bipinnata

(Roth) O. Ktze var.

rothiana O.

Ktze/Lamiaceae

1265/MLVGCB

H/Jamburi

Gond/A Stem *Stem (5 g) is crushed in water and half

glass of water is given orally to kill

stomach germs.

24. Leea indica (Burm. f.)

Merr./Leeaceae

1265/MLVGCB

H/Bhakhar hill

Plashi/A Flowers *Extract of inflorescence (1-2 tsp) is given

two time a day for three days to cure chest

pain.

25. Madhuca indica J.F.

Gmel./Sapotaceae

1401/MLVGCB

H/Jamburi

Mahua/C Laeves,

flower,

seeds

Leaves (5-7) are used as a bandage on

muscular injury for 3 days. Dried corollas

are eaten to cure weakness. The seed oil is

used to relieve constipation as well as oil is

used in itchy skin.

26. Miliusa tomentosa

(Roxb.)

J.Sinclair/Annonaceae

2598/MLVGCB

H/Bosa

-/C Fruits *Mature fruits (5-7) are given once a day

for 7 days to cure weakness among

children.

27. Neuracanthus

sphaerostachys (Nees)

Dalz./Acanthaceae

2081/MLVGCB

H/Bhakhar hill

Ghiyari A Leaves *Fresh leaves (1 kg) is given to cattle for

15 days to increase fat in milk.

28. Plumbago zeylanica

Linn./Plumbaginaceae

2083/MLVGCB

H/Mt. Abu

Chitrak/A Roots Roots (5 g) are crushed and warm with ½

cup of mustered oil. 3-4 drops are applied

in the earache.

29. Pterocarpus marsupium

Roxb./Fabaceae

2675/MLVGCB

H/Bhakhar hill

Biyalakari/C Stem Stem cavity of 1 glass capacity were bored

and fill with water at night, in morning this

water is taken for 7 days to reduce sugar

level.

30. Sauromatum venosum

(Ait.) Kunth/Araceae

3400/MLVGCB

H/Mt. Abu

Samp ki

dawa/A

Tuber Rhizome (5-10 g) is used as stimulating

poultice in snakebite.

31. Soymida febrifuga

(Roxb.) A.

Juss./Meliaceae

2735/MLVGCB

H/Bosa

Rohini/B Bark Fresh bark (1 kg) or dried bark (½ kg) is

boiled in water to make paste. It is tide on

swelling for 3 days.

32. Tecomella undulata

(Sm.)

Seem./Bignoniaceae

4512/MLVGCB

H/Swaroop ganj

Rohira/B Bark * Paste of stem bark is used for 5 days as a

remedy for syphilis.

33. Terminalia catappa

Linn./Combretaceae

1509/

MLVGCBH/

Mean

Ubia/B Stem * The juice of fresh bark is extracted by

crushing with stones and ¼ tsp juice is

sucked through nostril to cure cough and

cold.

34. Viscum articulatum

Burm. f./Loranthaceae

2735/MLVGCB

H/Bosa

Va-hakar/C Whole

plant

* The whole plant is dried and powdered.

1-2 tsp powder is mixed with ½ cup of

water and taken once a day for seven days

to cure rheumatism.

*: New information recorded for the first time.

A: Species widely distributed throughout the district.

B: Species restricted to northern part.

C: Species common in Bhakhar reserve forests, Abu sanctuary and Mt. Abu wild life sanctuary.

Conclusion The Garasia tribe of Rajasthan is having

commendable knowledge of medicinal properties of

plants that grow around them. This knowledge of

tribal and rural people is now fast disappearing due

to modernization and the tendency among younger

generation to discard their traditional life and

gradual migration to the mainstream. There is an


505

urgent need to study and document this precious

knowledge for future generations.

The traditional uses of plants as herbal remedies

has further declined due to scarcity of such plants

which is caused by multifarious human activities

coupled with natural calamities like drought and

overgrazing by livestock, thus threatening the

diversity of herbal medicines.

The danger of extinction of species is ahead;

therefore, it is necessary to ensure the survival of

germplasm by their protection, conservation,

multiplication and maximum aforestation of such

medicinal and economically important plant species.

Because of limited resources of this tribe it is essential

for biotechnologist to come forward for ex-situ

conservation through tissue culture, establishment of

botanical gardens or in-situ conservation by way of

protection the forest region of the state. The political

as well as involvement of NGOs may play an

important role for the protection of this valuable area

of the state.

Acknowledgements

Authors are highly thankful to all the tribal

informants for their cooperation and help during

ethnobotanical study. Help rendered by Shri Jetha

Ram Ji, Laxman Ram Ji, Limba Ram Ji, Modan Ji,

Nana Ram Ji, Ram Chandra Ji, Salira Ram Ji and

Vikram Ji by way of providing traditional knowledge

is thankfully acknowledged. Thanks are also due to

Shri Bhanwar Singh Ji Meena, Additional

Superintendent of Police, Sirohi district for his

cooperation during these studies. Thanks to

Dr. S. L. Meena scientist BSI Jodhpur, for

identification of specimens. Authors are thankful to

Dr. V. K. Vaidya, Principal, Dr. V. K. Dosi

Vice Principal for providing the facilities. Financial

assistance provided by UGC Bhopal is gratefully

acknowledged.

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