Table Of ContentBULL. BOT. SURV. INDIA
Vol. 43, Nos. 1-4 : pp. 195- 197,2001
ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED AGAINST DIABETES
AT BARGARH DISTRICT IN ORISSA (INDIA)
S. K. SENN, . B. PRADHAANN D L.M.B EHERA*
Department of Botany. Panchayat College. Bargarh
ABSTRACT
This paper deals with 11 plant species of ethnomedicinal value used to
manage diabetes by the people residing in the forests of Barapahad and
Gandhamardan hills in Bargarh district, Orissa. The data presented in this paper
has been collected by personal contact with different medicine men. Voucher
specimens are deposited in the herbarium of Botany Department, Panchayat College,
Bargarh, Orissa.
INTRODUCTION Bargarh district is situated between
latitude 20°40' and 2 1°49' North and longitude
plants play as a me
bebeen 82045' and 83048' East, district
role in human life. Rural people and forest
is enrich with wonderful and .valuable
dwellers are utilizing medicinal plants for
medicinal plants mostly found in the hills of
preventive and curative purpose of various
ailments. Barapahad and Gandhamardan. The
Barapahad is situated towards the north-east
Diabetes is a disease due to
of Bargarh district and is extending over an
physiological disorders, That is why millions
area of 347 km2. Debrigarh Sanctuary is a
of people are suffering from diabetes all over
part of the hills, The Gandhamardan hills
the world. A number of plants or plant parts
extend over an area of 300 km2 and located
are mentioned as antidiabetic agents in
in south-eastern part of the district. In 1963,
various literatures like Indian Medicinal
G. Panigrahi describe Gmdhamardan as the
Plants (Kirtikar and Basu, 198 l), The Useful
Plants oflndia (Ambasta et a[. 1992), realGandhamardanofRamayanaepicfame
Medicinal Plants (Jain, 1994), Glossary of and reporetd to 220 medicinal plants species
Indian Medicinal Plants (Chopra et al. 1996). with their medicinal value from this area.
Date of receipt : 20/10/2000. Date of acceptance : 22/02/2001.
*P. G. Deptt. of Botany, Rajendra College. Bobngir.
BULLETIN OF THE BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA [Val, 43
MATERIALS AND METHODS The seeds (red variety) are crushed in a
iron mortar and pestle. The power (1-2 tea-
Ethnobotanical field studies were con-
spoonful) with lemon juice (112- l teaspoon-
ducted in different villages during 1992-1 996.
hl) is taken with warm water once daily in
The traditional healers, kabirajas and vaidyas
empty stomach for 2 1 days.
belonging to the tribe 'Kondha' and 'Gondl
and other ethnic communi'ties were contacted 5. Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre. (Fabaceae)
for information regarding medicinal uses of .
"Karanj"
the plant species. The plant species collected
during the field studies are preserved in the The flowers (120 gm) are boiled to ob-
herbarium of Botany Department, Panchayat tain a decoction. The decoction (40-60 ml) is
College, Bargarh. taken once daily in empty stomach.
A list of 1 1 plants used to manage diabe-
6. Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R. Br. ex
tes are enumerated here in alphabetical order
Schultz (Asclepiadaceae) "Gudmari".
with their botanical names, families, local
names and uses.
The leaves (12g) of the plant and the
leaves (12g) of Syzygium cumini are boiled
1. Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr, ex Roxb.
together in two cups of water. The decoction
(Rutaceae) "Bel".
(half a cup) with honey (1 teaspoonhl) is
taken in the morning for one month. The leaf
Fresh leaf extract (15 ml) with honey (1
extract (1 teaspoonful) and the fruit powder
teaspoonful) is taken thrice daily for one
(1 teaspoonful) of Trigonella foenum-
month.
graecunz is taken twice daily before meals.
2.Ananus comosus (L.) Merr.
.
(Bromeliaceae) "Sapri" 7. Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae)
"Am".
Ripe h i tj uice (half a cup) is taken daily.
The leaf powder (5g) is taken once daily
in empty stomach.
3. Azadirachta indicrr A. Juss. (Meliaceae)
"Leem"
8. Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae)
Fresh leaf extract (5 to 25 ml) with honey "Mirnga" The root decoction (1 tea-
(5 to 10 ml.) is taken once in the morning. spoonhl) is taken twice daily.
4. Cicer arietinum L. (Fabaceae) 9. Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.
'lTiasicharia". (Fabaceae) "Bija".
20013 SEN, PRADHAN AND BEHERA : ETHNOMEDICMAL PLANTS IN ORISSA
The wood powder (1 kg) is boiled in 16 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
litres of water to obtain a decoction. It is fil-
tered and the filterate is boiled again to get a The authors are thankful to Mr. B. N.
paste. It is dried and powdered. The powder Hota, D.F.O., Afforestation Division,
(250 mg) is taken twice daily. Bolangir and Mr. P. Sahu of Botany Dept.,
Panchayat College, Bargarh for their kind
10. Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels help during the survey, collection of speci-
(Myx-taceae) "Jamu". mens and preparation of herbarium.
The seed powder (3g) is taken thrice a
REFERENCES
day. The fresh leaf extract (6ml) is taken twice
daily.
AMBASTSA.P, ., K. RAMACHANDRKA. KNA, SHYAPA
CHANDT.h e Useful Plants of India. Pub-
11. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers. AND"R.
lication and Information Directorate, CSIR,
(Menispermaceae) "Gulchi".
New Delhi, 1992.
The stem (30g) and the fruit (30g) of
CHOPRAR.,N ., S.L. NAYAR I.C. CHOPRAG.~ os-
PhyIlanthus emblica are boiled together. The AND
sary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Repn. Edn.)
decoction (60 ml) with a pinch of turmeric
National Institute of Science Communication
powder is taken twice daily.
CSIR., New Delhi, 1996.
DISCUSSION
JAM,S .K. Medicinal Plants (Rqn. Edn.) National
The ethnobotanical study of Bargarh dis- Book Trust, India. New Delhi, 1994.
trict reveals that both Barapahad and
Gandhamardan hills are with rare and valu- KIRTIKAKR., R. AND B. D. BASUI.n dian Medicinal
Plants (Repr. Ed.) Vol. 1-4. ~ aOjffs et Press,
able medicinal plant resources and need ad-
Delhi, 1981.
equate conservation (Sen & Pradhan, 1999).
This paper deals with 1 1 plant species used
PANIGRAGH. IG, wharmardan Ptubat bt.i~saP-o~-
in diabetes by the tribals and other ethnic
communities of Bargarh district. The method tential source of imwrtmt indigenous! drug.
Bull. Reg. Res. Lab. Jammu. 1 : 1 i 1 1 16.19 63.
of uses and doses administered reported in
this paper are restricted to the tribals and other
ethnic communities. The'process of extrac- SEN,S .K. AND N.B. PRADHACNo. nservation of
tion of the active principles of these plants Ethnomedicinal Plants of Bargarh District in
should be standarised for safe uses. Orissa. Ad. Plant Sci. 12(1) : 207-2 13, 1999,
