Ethnobotanical Leaflets 14: 361-65, 2010.

 

 

 

Phytotherapeutical Methods Used by Traditional Healers of Eturnagaram Mandal, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India

 

*K. Rajendar, D. Raju, M. Tirupathi and K. Jaganmohan Reddy

 

Department of Botany, Kakatiya University,

Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India 506 009

*Corresponding author : [email protected]

 

Issued: March 01, 2010

 

Abstract

 

The indigenous traditional practices of Koyas (Dorasattamu) of Tupakulagudem, Bhupathipuram and Devadula villages which are on the south of Godavari river, Eturnagaram mandal warangal District, Andhrapradesh, India are being here reported. They use different parts of medicinal plants for curing common ailments. The ethnomedicinal information includes 32 plant species, useful parts of plants and mode of administration.

 

Keywords: Phytocure, Ethnomedicine, Koyas, Warangal District, Andhrapradesh.

 

 

Introduction

Now a days, a trend in study of medicinal plants and their use in traditional medicine has been drawing the attention of different medical practitioners throughout world. People have become health cautious, the phytotherapy is more safe and effective in curing ailments without any side effects. It is for this reason the study of ethnomedicine and its restoration have been taking place.

Ethnic groups of various regions of the world are the real custodians of natures1 wealth and experts in herbal medicine. The traditional indigenous knowledge transferred orally for centuries is fast disappearing because of the technological developments and changing culture of ethnic groups ( Ganesan, et al 2004 ). Inspite of all these disturbances, the indigenous phytocure methods are restored amongst tribes, as it is a part of their culture. Moreever, the people in ethnic tribes are averse to change the mode of their life and traditions. But this traditional medical knowledge is slowly diminishing, so it is to be procured and preserved in variours forms for future generations ( Burmol & Naidu, 2007 ).

 

Materials and Methods

The ethnobotanical study on Koyas living in Tupakulagudem, Bhupathipuram and Devadula villages have been surveyed. The information on ethnomedicine was collected during AprilNovember 2009. The Koyas are the only tribal community residing in these villages which are in the tropical forest region of Eturnagaram forest division. This ethnic group of people are the settled agriculturists, besides herds-keepers, hunters and also depend upon non- timbers products of forest.

The ethnomedical information was collected from knowledgeable local aged people, herdsmen and local healers. These people are reluctant to reveal secrecy of phytotherapy for various diseases. The repeated visits to the villages helped in developing intimacy with the local people. The phytocure information was collected from Koyas through interviews and discussions. The collected information includes useful plant species with local names, parts of the plant used for curing different diseases. The plant specimens collected with the help of the inhabitants of surveyed villages. The scientific names of plant species their families were identified with the help of forest flora of Hyderabad state (Sharfuddin Khan, M. 1959) and floras (Gamble & Fischer 1915 1935). The data collected from different sources of ethnic community consists of 32 plant species whose different parts are used for curing different diseases.

 

Results and Discussion

The present study includes 32 number of plant species of Angiosperms belonging to 24 families are reported. The alphabetical order of scientific name of the plants, their families local names, diseases, parts used, mode of administration with duration and doses are furnished in (Table 1). The information provided in the table is collected from local healers through interviews and discussions. They have good knowledge about the use of plants for curing various ailments and also believe in supernatural powers which is also a part of their healing methods. The diagnosis of different pathologies is the first step in phytocure treatment which can be known by ones1 nose, ear, hands, eyes and is interesting. The tribal healers preparations are either based on single plant part or combination of several plant species parts. The mode of ethnomedicine usage for different diseases is in various forms, such as aqueous extract, paste and oil. In addition, milk, ginger, pepper, oil, turmeric and jaggery etc are used as ingredients in administration of ethnomedicine (Sdhakar Reddy et al, 2008 ). The ethnic tribe ( Koya ) of these villages are healthy and not suffering from common problems like depression, blood pressure and diabetes which are common in urban people ( Ishwari Prasad et al, 2009 ).

 

Table 1: List of medicinal plants used by Koyas of Eturnagaram mandal, Warangal District, Andhrapradesh, India.

 

S.No

Botanical name with Family

Local name

Useful part

Medicinal use and mode of Administration

1

Acacia intsia W. & A.

(Mimoseae).

Korinta

Root

The aqueous extract of root is

used for curing cough.

2

Aeschynomene

aspera L.

(Papilionaceae).

Jilugu

Root

Roots are boiled in less quantity of water and made into paste applied on mumps.

3

Aegle marmelos corr.

(Rutaceae).

Maredu

Leaf

Leaf extract is poured in nostrils for curing cold.

4

Anogeissus latifolia Wall.;

(Combretaceae).

Chiriman

Gum

The gum is eaten for improve

Potency.

5

Bassia latifolia

Roxb. Cor. Pl.

(Sapotaceae).

Ippa

Seed & Bark

The oil from seeds is applied on head as refrigirent and also for bark extract is applied for vipers bite.

6

Borassus flabellifer Linn.; (palmaceae).

Tadi

Root

The extract of roots are orally

given for krite bite.

7

Calycopteris

floribunda Lamk.

( Combretaceae).

Bandi murududu

Young leaf

The paste of leaves are applied for healing wounds of soaked legs.

8

Celastrus paniculata

Willd.;

(Celastraceae).

Maner tiga

Seed

The oil of seed is rubbed on part of nambness.

9

Cissus quadrangularis Linn.

(Vitaceae).

Nalleru

Stem with

Leaves

The paste of stem with leaves is applied for healing fractures.

10

Cleistanthus collinus

Banth.;

(Euphorbiaceae).

Wodesha

Bark

The bark extract is used for

Suicide.

11

Cassia occidentalis Linn.

(caesalpinaceae).

Chennangi, Cashanda

Young leaf

The paste of young leaves

Applied for curing glictocal abesis.

12

Clerodendron

phlomoides Willd.

( Verbenaceae).

Takali

Leaf

Boiled leaf paste is applied on head for headache relief.

13

Careya arborea

Roxb. Cor. Pl.

(Lecythidaceae).

Buda dhermi, Gadava

Bark

The extract of bark is applied for soothing of cracked heals.

14

Coldenia procumbence

Linn.;

(Boraginaceae).

Cheppattu

Leaf

Leaf paste is applied on wounds for twice or trice.

15

Chloroxylon

swetenia DC.;

( Rutaceae).

Billu

Bark

The extract of bark in combination with pepper and cloves are orally administered for asthma with a doses of 1to 2 teaspoons per once.

16

Dichrostachys

cinerea W. & A (Mimoseae).

Velturu

Bark

A teaspoonful of aqueous extract of bark given as doses for cough.

17

Evolvulus alsinoides

Linn.;

(Convolvulaceae).

Vishnu krantha

Root

The root extract is taken orally for impotency.

18

Euphorbia hirta

Linn.;

(Euphorbiaceae).

Pacha botlu

Whole

Plant

Plant decoction said to be used for branchial infection and asthma.

19

Feronia elephantum

Corr.;

( Rutaceae).

Velaga

Bark

The aqueous extract of bark

pepper,cordomom is taken orally with a doses of 1 or 2 teaspoonful per a day for 3 days for curing fever.

20

Ficus glomerata

Roxb. Cor.Pl.

(Moraceae).

Medi, Atti

Bark

The aqueous extract of bark,

pepper and cardmom with a

doses of a teaspoonful per day is given orally for 3 to 4 times for consuption.

21

Hiptage madablota

Gaertn.;

( Malpighiaceae).

Peddadara

Root

Roots are boiled and made into paste is applied on mumps.

22

Holoptelea integrifolia

Planch.;

( Ulmaceae).

Nauli, Thapasi

Leaf

The extract of leaf and garlic is poured in ear to cure teeth decay.

23

Ixora parviflora Vahl.; (Rubiaceae).

Korivi, Kori & Ponna

Root

The roots paste with groundnut oil is applied for scabis.

24

Lagenaria vulgaris

Ser.in. men

( Cucurbitaceae).

Sorakaya

Leaf

For earache leaf extract in combination with coconut oil is poured in ear.

25

Momordica charantia Linn.;

(Cucurbitaceae).

Kakara chettu

Leaf

The leaf extract is poured into nostril for curing migraine.

26

Semecarpus

anacadium Linn.f.;

( Anacardiaceae).

Jiri

Seed

The burnt seed coat is made into paste and applied on little fingure of a leg for hydrocoel.

27

Sphaeranthus indicus

Linn.;

(Asteraceae).

Bodasaram

Leaf

The leaves are grinded with

pepper and a dose of spoon

extract is orally taken for sexual stimulation.

28

Soymida febrifuga

A. Juss.

( Meliaceae).

Somi

Bark

The bark soaked water is used for head bath to cure diarrhea.

29

Solanum

xanthocarpus

Schard. & Wendl.

( Solanaceae).

Nelamulaka

Root

The aqueous extract of root with a doses of 1 spoon per day is orally taken for curing fever for 2 to 3 days.

30

Streblus asper Lour.;

( Moraceae).

Barinka, Pakki

Latex

The latex in combination with turmeric applied on head for cold relief.

31

Tectona grandis Linn.f.; (Varbanaceae).

Teak

Bark

A piece of bark is kept in mouth for cough relief.

32

Zizyphus xylopyrus

Willd.

(Rhamnaceae).

Enukapariki, Got

Bark

The bark is boiled in water and the water is used for bathing in curing skin rashes.

 

Acknowledgements

We are highly greatful to Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) UGC for Financial Assistance. We thank the Tribal people of Tupakulagudem, Devadula and Bhupathipuram villages for providing ethnomedical information.

 

References

Ganesan S, Suresh N and Kesavan L. 2004. Ethnomedicinal survey of Lower palani Hills of Tamilanadu. 1. J. Trad. knowledge. 3 ( 3 ): 299- 304.

Burmol, K.S and Naidu, T. S. 2007. National seminar on Tribal medicinal system and its contemporary relevanceAlluri Seetharama Raju centre for tribal studies and Research.

Sharfuddin Khan, M. 1959 . Forest flora of Hyderabad state.

 

Gamble, J.S and C.E.C. Fischer. 1915 1935. Flora of the Presidency of Madras, Landon.

Sudhakar Reddy, C, Gopala Krishna. P and Raju, V. S. 2008. Phytotherapy at Rural communities: A case study from the Gonds of Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Ishwari Prasad Gupta, H.B. Sahu and Sharma, H.P. 2009. Studies on ethnomedicinal uses of plant resources in Ormanjhi block of Jharkhand state, India, Internal. J. pl. sci. 4(2).