Medicinal Plants of Chhindwara

In this article, it is aimed to discuss the ethnomedicinal importance of more that 100 urban medicinal plants which are being used by native people of this area.

Chhindwara, in the South-West of Jabalpur Revenue Division, is situated on the Satpura Plateau in the South-Central part of the Madhya Pradesh State (the Central State of India) and lies between latitudes 21°23' and 22°49' North and the longitudes 78°10' and 79°24' East. Chhindwara district is gifted with abundance in natural resources, especially minerals, forests and agriculture.

A Complete Picture

The Headquarter town of the district, Chhindwara is situated on the Bodri Stream, a tributary of the Kulbehra River. It stands picturesquely on the open Satpura plateau at an elevation of about 677 meters, flanked by ranges of low hills. With a comparatively light rainfall, the climate is very salubrious and pleasant. The name of the place is derived from the Chhind or date-palm tree.

The Nagpur road that separates the Civil Lines from the rest of the town traverses Chhindwara. Another main road, running from the district office to the railway station, similarly traverses the town. A circular road runs round it passing by the hill of Dharamtekri. With several beautiful roads in the civil line area, the Chhindwara-Nagpur road is picturesque. One road radiates from it and reaches the Collectors bungalow. It is extremely beautiful, shaded by huge old banyan trees on both sides; this region is known as Badwan today. Near about is another road, lined by old and bulky tamarind trees on two sides. Yet another road is bordered by Shisham trees (Dalbergia Sisso). In part the area is well wooded.
Since time immemorial, people have gathered plant and animal resources for their needs. Examples include edible nuts, mushrooms, fruits, herbs, spices, gums, game, fodder, fibres Used for construction of shelter and housing, clothing or utensils, and plant or animal products for medicinal, cosmetic or cultural Uses. Even today, hundreds of millions of people, mostly in developing countries, derive a significant part of their subsistence needs and income from gathered plant and animal products. Gathering of high value products such as mushrooms (morels, matsutake, truffles), medicinal plants also continues in developed countries for cultural and economic reasons .

Among these uses, medicinal plants play a central role as traditional medicines used in many cultures and tribes.

Central India is known for its richness of medicinal flora. Plants, shrubs, roots of immense medicinal value are abundantly found in Satpuda, Vindhyachal, Aravali ranges, Bailadilla Hills, Abhujmar, Khurchel valleys, Kanger Reserve, Amarkantak, Pachmarhi and Patalkot areas.
Central India is covered with tropical forests, which are supposed to be rich in biodiversity. However subtropical hill forests are found in few areas. About 500 species of medicinal plants are found. Some of the economically medicinal plants are on the verge of extinction. The endemic and rare flora is also found in the region. The other areas of unique plant diversity are Chandanbagh, Patalkot valley, Supkhar chir pine, plant fossils of Maldla, Trap (Basalt) dykes of Pipri, Machna teak forest reserve, Bori nature reserve, Rukhad nature reserve, Sitanadi Sal nature reserve, bamboo forests of Lanji.
Over-exploitation of plants like safed musli, chironji, sarpagandha and bach has made them endangered species. Some plants like psilotum are found in Pachamarhi only.

Methedology

Surveys were carried out during Sep’ 03- Jan’ 04. List of plants belonging to various families found in Chhindwara town is prepared in alphabetical order. Medicinal importance of the plants have been described after gathering information from local people and consulting literature. Plants collected during the surveys have been deposited in the Department of Botany.

1. Acacia arabica (Lamk.) Willd.
Local Name: Babulr
Family: Mimosaceaer
Use: The leaves are astringent and beneficial to the eye.
Fruit of the plant is Coagulant.Gum is astringent, cooling and healing. It stops bleeding. It cures dysentery and diarrhea. Extract of the bark is mixed with honey is applied in the eyes to relieve conjunctivitis and to stop lacrimination. Bark is goof for gums, heals and ulcers. It is a sedative.

2. Achranthes aspera Linn.
Family: Amaranthaceaer
Local Name: Chirchitar
Use: It cures eye disorders. Good for cough, worms and indigestion. Good in snake bite.

3. Adhatoda vasica Linn.
Family: Acanthaceaer
Local Name: Adusar
Use: It is used in asthma, diarrhea and dysentery. It checks bleeding. Good for throat emollient, flowers are used in eye disorders, extract of root is used in stiffness of neck.

4. Aegle marmelos Correa.
Family: Rutaceaer
Local Name: Belr
Use: Used in dysentery and diarrhea.Root checks vomitting. Leaves cure fever, dysentery, diarrhea and piles. Fruits are good tonic for brain. Leaves are good in diabetes.

5. Ageratum conyzoides Linn.
Family: Asteraceaer
Local Name: Ajgadhar
Use: It is good in stomach disorders. Used as a tonic.

6. Allium sativum Linn.
Family: Liliaceaer
Local Name: Lahsunr
Use: It is laxative, strength promoter, aphrodisiac and carminative. It cures cough, skin troubles and chronic fever. Relieves breathing problems, heart troubles. It is good in piles. It helps the union of fractured bones.

7. Amaranthus virdis Linn.
Family: Amaranthaceaer
Local Name: Choulaeer
Use: It is said to be good blood purifier. Used in piles. Taken as digesting agent.

8. Argemone mexicana Linn.
Local Name: Pili Katerir
Family: Papaveraceaer
Use: The root-powder is mixed with sugar and taken orally with water when affected with skin diseases.

9. Asparagus racemosus Willd.
Local Name: Naarbodr
Family: Liliaceaer
Use: root-powder is Used to increase vigour and strength.

10. Azadirachta indica Juss. syn. Melia azadirachta L.
Local Name: Neemr
Family: Meliaceae
Use: Seeds are Used in skin diseases, and in rheumatism. Bark is Useful in malarial fever. Dry fruits are Used as tonic and stomachic. Tender twigs are Used as tooth-brush.

11. Berberis aristata Linn. DC.
Local Name: Daru Haridrar
Family: Berberidaceaer
Use: Used in inflammation. Root-bark extract is Used to heal the ulcer.

12. Butea frondosa Roxb.
Local Name: Palaasr
Family: Papilionaceaer
Use: Seeds are Used to cure ringworm. Petioles are chewed during heat in urination.

13. Caesalpinia bonducella (L.) Roxb.
Local Name: Gatranr
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Use: For the preparation of the powder for digestion.

14. Calotropis procera R. Br.
Local Name: Madaarr
Family: Asclepiadaceaer
Use: Used in boils, and also to remove the thorn from the body.

15. Carica papaya Linn.
Family: Caricaceaer
Local Name: Papeetar
Use: It is used as digestant. It anthelmintic, laxative, tonic, nutritive and diuretic.Latex acts as anthelmintic.
Unripe fruit is good for excretory troubles in children. It is a good aphrodisiac. It has wormicidal activity and it is good in cough.

16. Cassia fistula Linn.
Family: Caesalpiniaceaer
Local Name: Amaltasr
Use: Leaves and flowers are used in ringworms and other skin infections. Roots cure fever. Pulp is purgative and used in all intestinal disorders.Bark is laxative and astringent.

17. Cassia tora Linn.
Local Name: Titir
Family: Fabaceaer
Use: Powder of the the dry seeds is Used in Asthma. The powder is mixed with Gud (2-3-year old) and about 7 small balls are prepared. One ball is taken every day with water upto 7 days.

18. Citrullus aromatica Salisb.
Local Name: Kachariya
Family: Cucurbitaceaer
Use: The fruits are used in stomach troubles.

19. Cocculus hirsutus Diels. Syn. C. Villosus. DC.
Local Name: Jal Jamanir
Family: Menispermaceaer
Use: The leaves are Useful to cure leucorrhea.

20. Coriandrum sativum Linn.
Family: Umbelliferaer
Local Name: Dhaniar
Use: Seeds are carminative, stomachic. In case of frequency of stools with blood, leaves of this plant is given to remove blood in stool. Leaves are appetizer. Extract is used as antidysentric. Extract is useful in conjunctivitis.

21. Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.
Local Name: Amarbelr
Family: Convolvulaceaer
Use: The extract of the plant is applied to get rid of dandruff.

22. Datura stramonium Linn.
Family: Solanaceaer
Local Name: Dhaturar
Use: Fruits are used in skin related disorders. It is good in ulcers and worms. When internally used, it stimulates the mind and creates intoxication lastly resulting in fainting. Seeds are employed in headache. Plant is used as antidote for poisons.

23. Delbergia sisoo Roxb.
Family: Fabaceaer
Local Name: Shishamr
Use: Used in gonorrhoea.

24. Emblica officinalis Gaertn. syn. Phyllanthus emblica L.
Local Name: Aonlar
Family: Euphorbiaceaer
Use: To cure dandruff.

25. Euphorbia hirta Linn.
Family: Euphorbiaceaer
Local Name: Dudhir
Use: Used in treatment of cough and asthma. It is aphrodisiac and enriches the blood. Employed in diarrhea, piles and semen debility. It is laxative and astringent.

26. Ficus bengalensis Linn.
Family: Moraceaer
Local Name: Bad, Bargad, Vatr
Use: Latex of the plant is good in curing diarrhea, dysentery, piles, teeth decay, rheumatism, leucorrhoea and other skin related problems.

27. Ficus religiosa Linn.
Family: Moraceaer
Local Name: Peepalr
Use: Good in leucorrhoea. It is used in impotency. It is astringent, expectorant, laxative and conceptive. Taken in asthma, whooping cough and genital-urinary troubles.

28. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Family: Malvaceaer
Local Name: Jason, Gurhalr
Use: It is aphrodisiac. Leaves are good for curing boils. Flowers are laxative.

29. Jatropha curcus Linn.
Family: Euphorbiaceaer
Local Name: Chadrajot, Ratanjotr
Use: Seed are used in cholera, and dysentery. Good in stomach disorders. Cures toothache and gum ache. Seeds are used as antidote for poisoning. It is effective in skin diseases and rheumatism.

30. Launaea acaulis
Family: Asteraceaer
Local Name: Musakanir
Use: It is nutritive, diuretic, stomachic and blood purifier. It is used as antidote for poisoning. Roots relieve jaundice and skin disorders. Leaves and roots are given in leprosy and leucorrhoea.

31. Leucas zeylanicar
Family: Labiataer
Local Name: Gooma, Gatta, Lumba, Dronar
Use: Used in fever. Good in scorpion and snake bite. Taken for curing dysentery. Leaves and flower are good in jaundice.

32. Mangifera indica Linn.
Local Name: Aamr
Family: Anacardiaceaer
Use: The leaves are Used in erruptions of the tongue. Bark of the plant is aphrodisiac, cardiac, appetizer and stringent. Fruits are good in bleeding piles, haemmorrhage from uterus, Lungs and intestine leucorrhoea. Roots relieve jaundice and skin disorders. Leaves and roots are given in leprosy and leucorrhoea. Bark is used in scabies and other cutanious problems. Used in opthalmia ad erruptions.

33. Mentha arvensis Linn.
Family: Labiataer
Local Name: Podinar
Use: Used as carminative and flavoring agent. It is stomachic, diuretic and anthelmintic. It cures bad taste of mouth, indigestion, constipation and worms.

34. Moringa oleifera Lam.
Local Name: Sahjanr
Family: Moringaceae
Use: The juice of the leaves is Used in the eye diseases.
The whole plant is abortifacient, anthelmintic, carminative, digestive, diuretic and stomachic. Fruits and seeds are taken to relieve abscess, asthma, earache, epilepsy and hysteria. Roots are important in curing paralysis and guinea-worm. The whole plant has the ability to cure rheumatism and sore throat. It is a good tonic.

35. Mucuna prurita Hook. Syn. M. pruriens (L.) DC.
Local Name: Kimaachr
Family: Papilionaceaer
Use: Seeds are Used as aphrodisiac.

36. Ocimum sanctum Linn.
Local Name: Tulsir
Family: Labiateaer
Use: The leaves are used against skin diseases.

37. Phyllanthes niruri Linn.
Family: Euphorbiaceaer
Local Name: Bhui-aonlar
Use: The whole plant is diuretic and given in jaundice. Good liver tonic. Cures urino-genital infections.

38. Punica granatum Linn.
Family: Punicaceaer
Local Name: Anaarr
Use: Used as an anthelmintic. Good for improving memory, brain and strength. It cures fever, burning, heart diseases and disease of throat. It is laxative and astringent.

39. Ricinus communis Linn.
Family: Euphorbiaceaer
Local Name: Arandir
Use: It is purgative, carminative, aphrodisiac. It cures cough and headache. Good in rheumatism, fever ad urinary disorders.

40. Rosa damascena Mill.
Family: Rosaceaer
Local Name: Gulabr
Use: Used as purgative. It heals ulcer. Employed in the treatment of conjunctivitis, headache and fainting.

41. Ruta graveolens L.
Local Name: Shitabr
Family: Rutaceaer
Use: The juice of leaves is used as carminative.

42. Semecarpus anacardium Linn.
Local Name: Bhilwar
Family: Anacardiaceae
Use: The oil of seeds is applied on the painful spot.

43. Salmalia malabarica (DC) Schoit and Endl.
Family: Malvaceaer
Local Name: Semur, Semulr
Use: Gum of the plant is good for curing kidney troubles, leucorrhoea and tuberculosis. Flowers and barks have ability to cure conjunctivitis and cutaneous infections. It is expectorant, laxative and suppurative.

44. Solanum anguivi Lam.
Local Name:
Family: Solanaceaer
Use: Used in skin diseases.

45. Solanum xanthocarpum Schard & Wendl.
Family: Solanaceaer
Local Name: Bhat Kataiyanr
Use: It is effective in respiratory diseases, dropsy and throat disorders. It cures gonorrhoea. It is good in snakebites.

46. Syzygium cumini L. (Skeils.) syn. Eugenia jambolana Lamk.
Local Name: Jamunr
Family: Myrtaceaer
Use: Seed- powder is Useful in diarrhoea, dysentry and diabetes. Bark is used for mouth washes.

47. Sonchus arvensis Linn.
Family: Asteraceaer
Local Name: Sahdehir
Use: Good in body pains, diarrhea, dysentery, fever, leucorrhoea, leprosy, white spots of skin and ringworm. It is astringent and diuretic.It is good in snakebites.

48. Tamarindus indica Linn.
Family: Leguminosaer
Local Name: Imli
Use: It is laxative. Dry bark power relieves gastric pain. It is aphrodisiac, tonic and good for hair. Plaster of leaves is applied for curing inflammation, blood disorders and acne. Cures dandruff.

49. Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) W. & A. Syn. Terminalia glabra W. & A.
Local Name: Arjun, Kahuaar
Family: Combretaceaer
Use: The decoction of the bark is Used as tea in heart troubles. The bark gives strength to the heart. Good stomachic.

50. Terminalia bellerica Roxb.
Local Name: Behedar
Family: Combritaceaer
Use: Epicarp of fruit mixed with Harra is Useful in digestion. Seeds mixed with Buchammia seeds are taken in eruption of mouth.

51. Tinospora cordifolia (Lour.) Miers.
Local Name: Gurvailr
Family: Menispermaceaer
Use: Juice with sugar is good after malarial and typhoid fever.

52. Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.
Family: Leguminosaer
Local Name: Methir
Use: Aphrodisiac.
Stomachic, carminative, laxative. It is used in abscess, pigmentation and discoloration of the face.

53. Vernonia cinerea Linn.
Family: Asteraceaer
Local Name: Sahdevir
Use: The whole plant is good in fever.

54. Zizyphus jujuba Lamk.
Family: Rhamnaceaer
Local Name: Berr
Use: Good in diarrhea and fever. It is a good blood purifier.
The survey provides an evidence that the local people of Chhindwara uses about 54 plants in various ailments. The traditional people still depend on herbal medicines. The plants are generally used as stomach disorders, skin diseases, aphrodisiacs, fever, tonic, ulcer, asthma, snake-bite, respiratory diseases, leucorrhoea, dandruff, eye-diseases and diabetes. There is need of training on cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants for the students and innovators. Only plants growing in sandy soils and require less water can be selected for cultivation since the local soil is sandy and there is scarcity of water in the suburbs. There is a greater need to develop a garden of medicinal plants of the area. The nearby tribal people can also be encouraged to take up this job as an income generation activity.