Document 6426835

Prime Research on Medicine (PROM)
th
Vol. 2(2), pp. 81-512, March 20 , 2012
www.primejournal.org/PROM
Full Length Research
Pharmacognostical studies on medicinal plants of semi
arid region
1
Santosh Sharma* and 2Ashwani Kumar
1
Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
2
S.S. Jain Subodh Girls College Sanganer, Jaipur.
Accepted 1st March, 2012
The Jaipur district is situated between 75-77°E longitudes and 26-28° latitudes in the North eastern part of
Rajasthan. It is bisected lengthwise by 76°E and across its width by 27° latitude. Topographically, the area
consists of hilly regions, plains, depressions, rivulets and reservoirs. The Aravallis lie in the North EastSouthwest direction in the state and traverse the district in the form of two parallel series, the Samod hillocks
being the highest, and altitude 864m. There is no perennial river. However, the seasonal ‘nalas’ have some
perennial water source at depressions or ‘bunds’. Ethnobotanical and biodiversity study of the medicinal plants
of Jaipur were carried out and some of the results are presented here.
Key words: Pharmacognostical studies, Medicinal plants, Semi-arid regions, Biodiversity.
INTRODUCTION
Presently, the Indian system of medicine uses over 1100
medicinal plants and most of them are collected from the
wild regularly, of which, over five dozen species are in
great demand. The tribal belt of India is rich in these
plants and local tribes mainly depend, for their livelihood,
on their collection and trade. Since these plants are
collected from the wild in large quantities, adulterants are
alleged to be widely used. Some of the medicinal plants
growing in the wild are becoming extinct on account of
destructive collection techniques, particularly when the
whole plant is uprooted. It is necessary to undertake in
situ preservation of these plants (Kumar, 1999; Kumar,
2000, Kotia and Kumar, 2000, Kumar, 2008; Kumar and
Shekahwat,
Kumar and Sopory, 2008, Kumar and Sopory 2010). It
is necessary to make studies on the method of
propagation, phamacognostical characters, growth and
productivity of medicinal plants to enable their large scale
cultivation.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has emphasized
the need for better utilization of the indigenous system of
medicine, based on the locally available medicinal plants
in the developing countries. In USA and UK, plant-based
drugs are being used in recent years on a considerable
scale. The former USSR countries, East European
countries and China have adopted an integrated system
of allopathic, traditional and folk system of medicine.
During the last two decades, there has been a
tremendous transformation of medical systems in the
world. Medicinal plants and their derivatives will
continue to play a major role in medical therapy inspite of
advances in chemical technology and the appearance of
cheap, synthesized, complex molecules from simple ones
through highly specific reaction mechanisms. Harvesting
of medicinal plants is less costly than artificial drug
synthesis.
India is one of the few developing countries which has
initiated institutions like the Centre for Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), the Regional Research
Laboratories (RRL) at Jammu, Bhubaneshwar and
Jorhat, the All India Co-ordinated Project on the
Improvement of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the
ICAR, National Botanical Gardens, Forest Research
Institutes, State Cinchona Directorates in Tamil Nadu and
West Bengal, and in addition, many Agricultural Universities
have been working on the technological advancement of
this group of crops. However, except for CIMAP and few
other centres under ICAR who have taken over a few
selected crops for improvement, the replenishment of
renewable inputs like quality planting material of improved
varieties, developing extension literature, organizing
training and quality testing, are very limited.
Sharma and Kumar 82
Table 1: Some Important Medicinal Plants used in Rajasthan in Traditional Medicines
S/N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Botanical Name
Abrus precatorius Linn.
Abutilon nilotica (L.) Sweet
Achyranthes aspera Linn.
Argemone mexicana Linn.
Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile
Azadirachta indica A. Juss.
Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile
Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.
Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub
Cassia fistula Linn.
Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br.
Cassia occidentalis Linn.
Cassia tora Linn.
Catharanthus roseus (L.) Don
Citrullus colocynthis Schrad.
Cleome gynandra Linn.
Croton roxburghii Balak.
Cocculus pendulus (Forst.) Diels
Convolvulus microphyllous Sieb.
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.
The Jaipur district is situated between 75-77°E longitudes
and 26-28° latitudes in the North eastern part of
Rajasthan. It is bisected lengthwise by 76°E and across
its width by 27° latitude. Topographically, the area
consists of hilly regions, plains, depressions, rivulets and
reservoirs. The Aravallis lie in the North East-Southwest
direction in the state and traverse the district in the form
of two parallel series, the Samod hillocks being the
highest, altitude 864 m. There is no perennial river.
However, the seasonal ‘nalas’ have some perennial water
source at depressions or ‘bunds’ (Joshi, 1957 and Verma,
1967). Ethnobotanical and biodiversity study of the
medicinal plants of Jaipur were carried out and some of
the results are presented here.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
During the present investigations, information on
ethanobotanical data was collected from old literature
and consultation with tribal and traditional people.
A number of literatures on ‘Traditional medicine’ both
‘folk medicine’ as well as on ‘Ayurvedic/Siddha/Yunani
medicine’ was consulted.
Local survey of medicinal plants
Local survey and identification of plants of medicinal
value growing in our locality in Jaipur was done. The
plants were collected, identified and preserved. Plants
were identified using floras of Herbarium of Department of
Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
Crude herbal drugs (dried specimens of plant parts – roots,
stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds) were also collected
from the crude drug dealers (Pansarias, Attars and so on.)
of Jaipur located in the Johri Bazar market and deposited
in herbarium. Comparative details were recorded.
Local Name
Chirmi
Tara-Kanchi
Latjeera/Aandhyara
Pili Kaleli/Satayanasi
Babul
Neem
Hingota
Punarnava
Palash/Dhak
Amaltas
Akra
Kasondi
Chakra mard
Sadhabahar
Tumba
Hulhul
Croton
Pilwan
Sankhpushpi
Dhubghas
Family
Fabaceae
Malvaceae
Amaranthaceae
Papaveraceae
Fabaceae
Meliaceae
Simaroubaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Asclepiadaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Apocynaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Capparaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Menispermaceae
Convolvulaceae
Poaceae
Meeting the Vaidyas and Hakim, folk people taking
medicine for healthcare
In order to verify the efficacy of the traditional herbal
medicine, the small information was collected from folk or
tribal people. Besides this, many Vaidyas and Hakims
practising traditional system of medicine like Ayurveda,
Siddha and Yunani were consulted.
RESULTS
In the rural areas of Jaipur people have greater faith in
traditional herbal medicine and often visit a village elder
or other folk healer for any kind of health problems, cough
and cold; wounds and injuries; pains and sprains; indigestion
and constipation; vomiting; jaundice and liver complaints. It
was observed that people, whether in the cities or villages
often turn to traditional medicine, for some old and
chronic problems like old cough, old wounds and old
pains.
Rajasthan ecosystem possesses some more highly
reputed and valuable medicinal plants which are currently
involved in million dollar trade and others show potential
of high economic gains if properly and sustainably
exploited, both from the wild and through cultivation.
Ethnobotanical and biodiversity study of the medicinal
plants of Jaipur used in traditional medicine made some
interesting revelations. List of some medicinal plants
commonly used in Rajasthan are given in table 1.
Some imported medicinal plants which are found
especially in Rajasthan including Jaipur are as follows:
1. Abrus precatorius Linn.
Local Name - Chirmi
Family - Fabaceae
83 Prime Research on Medicine
Table 1 continues: Some Important Medicinal Plants used in Rajasthan in Traditional Medicines
S/N
21
22
23
24
25
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
Botanical Name
Datura inoxia Mill.
Digera muricata (L.) Mart.
Echinops echinatus Roxb.
Euphorbia hirta Linn.
Ficus bengalensis Linn.
Ficus religiosa L.
Ipomoea pestigridis Linn.
Launea procumbens (Roxb.) Ramayya & Rajgopa.
Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forsk.) Decne.
Leucas aspera (Willd.) Spreng.
Mortynia annua Linn.
Maytenus emarginata (Willd.) Ding.
Ocimum canum Sime.
Pedalium murex Linn.
Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Chiov.
Polycarpaea corymbosa (L.) Lamk.
Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce
Ricinus communis Linn.
Sida cordifolia Linn.
Solanum nigrum Linn.
Solanum xanthocarpum Linn.
Tephrosia hamiltonii Drumm.
Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers
Tribulus terrestris Linn.
Trichodesma indicum R.Br.
Tridax procumbens Linn.
Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less.
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.
Xanthium strumarium Linn.
Ziziphus nummularia (Brum f.) Wt.
Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.
Asparagus racemosus Willd.
Asparagus adscendens Roxb.
Bombax ceiba Linn.
Eulophia ochreata Lindl.
Helicteres isora Linn.
Embelia ribes Burn.
Sphaeranthus indicus Linn.
Messua ferra Linn.
Mimosa pudica Linn.
Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.
Terminalia chebula Retz.
Parts used - Whole plant
Traditional uses - It is used to cure skin diseases like
leprosy and leucoderma and as pain killer.
2. Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet
Local Name - Tara-Kanchi
Family - Malvaceae
Parts used - Leaf and seeds
Traditional uses - It is used as cardiac stimulant, for one
sided headache and in scabies.
3. Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Delile
Local Name - Babul
Local Name
Dhatura
Lonaru
Unt Katali
Dudhi
Burgad
Pipal
Wagpadi
Jangli
Khimp
Paniharin
Bagh-ankhi
Kankero
Ramtulsi
Bada Gokhru
Utarni
Zunio
Khejari
Arandi
Bala
Mokoi
Nilikateli
Sarphanko
Neemgiloy
Choota Gokhru
Undhaful
Rukhari
Jaiglidhania
Ashwgandha
Aadha-shishi
Jhari Bor
Shayam Musli
Satavaria
Safed musli
Semal musli
Salab panja
Marorphali
Vidanga
Gorakhmundi
Nagakesar
Lajwanti
Kiwanch
Chotiflar
Family
Solanaceae
Amaranthaceae
Asteraceae
Euphorbiaceae
Moraceae
Moraceae
Convolvulaceae
Asteraceae
Asclepiadaceae
Lamiaceae
Martyniaceae
Celastraceae
Lamiaceae
Pedaliaceae
Asclepiadaceae
Caryophyllaceae
Fabaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Malvaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Fabaceae
Menispermaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Boraginaceae
Asteraceae
Asteraceae
Solanaceae
Asteraceae
Rhamnaceae
Hypoxidaceae
Liliaceae
Liliaceae
Bombaceae
Orchidaceae
Sterculiaceae
Myrinaceae
Asteraceae
Guttiferae
Mimosaceae
Fabaceae
Combretaceae
Family - Fabaceae
Parts used - Stem bark and gum
Traditional uses - It cures dysentery, diarrhoea, tongue
sores and leucoderma. Tribal people use the spines for
designing tatoo marks on body.
4. Achyranthes aspera Linn.
Local Name - Latjeera/Andhijara
Family - Amaranthaceae
Parts used - Dried plant
Traditional uses - The herb is useful in heart diseases,
digestive problems and some mental problems. The use
of seeds can lead to reduction in appetite. It is also
Sharma and Kumar 84
Table 1 continues: Some Important Medicinal Plants used in Rajasthan in Traditional Medicines
S/N
62
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
96
97
98
99
100
101
Botanical Name
Centella asiatica Linn.
Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.
Cocculus villosus (Lamk) DC.
Desmodium gangeticum DC.
Cuscuta chinensis Roxb.
Terminalia bellerica (Gaertn.) Roxb.
Holarrhena antidysenterica (Roth.) A. DC.
Cucumis trigonus Roxb.
Blepharis edulis Pers.
Lepidium sativum Linn.
Bambusa bambos Druce.
Plantago ovata Forsk.
Emblica officinalis Gaertn. f.
Psoralea corylifolia Linn.
Albizzia lebbeck (L.) Benth.
Cinnamomum tamala Nees S. Eberm.
Ocimum sanctum Linn.
Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari
Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.
Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Bentham ex. Kurz.
Phyllanthus niruri Webster.
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.
Acorus calamus Linn.
Justicia adhatoda Nees
Plumbago zeylanica Linn.
Papvar somniferum Linn.
Urginea indica (Roxb.) Kunth.
Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall ex. Nees
Calotropis procera (Ait) R. Br.
Capparis decidua (Forsk) Edgew
Vitex negundo Linn.
Sida rhombifolia Linn.
Tecomella undulata Seem
Salvadora persica Linn.
Nyctanthes arbortristis Linn.
Barleria prionitis Linn.
Euphorbia neriifolia Linn.
Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa.
diuretic and protective to kidneys. Tribal people wear 3
pieces of root about 0.5 cm long in white threads, on right
arm of men and left arm of women as magical cure for
intermittent fever.
5. Argemone mexicana Linn.
Local Name - Pili Kateli/Satayanasi
Family - Papaveraceae
Parts used - Leaf and seeds
Traditional uses - Seed decoction is used for cure of
palpitation of heart. It is also useful in skin diseases.
6. Azardirachta indica A. Juss
Local Name - Neem
Family - Meliaceae
Parts used - Root bark, stem bark and dried flower
Local Name
Brahmi Buti
Shankpushpi
Jal Jamni
Masparani
Aftimoon/Amarbel
Bahera
Kutaja
Balam Cira
Uttangan
Todri
Banshlochan
Isabgol
Amla
Babchi
Siris
Tejpatra
Tulsi
Guggal
Brahmi
Sarpgandha
Bhuiamla
Ghritkumari
Bach
Vasaka
Chitrak
Opium
Wild onion/Indian squill
Kalmegh
Aak
Ker
Ningand
Atibala
Rohida
Jaal/Pilu
Harsinghar
Brajdanti
Tohar
Bel
Family
Apiaceae
Convolvulaceae
Menispermaceae
Fabaceae
Convolvulaceae
Combretaceae
Apocynaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Acanthaceae
Cruciferae
Gramineae
Plantaginaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Paplionaceae
Mimosaceae
Lauraceae
Lamiaceae
Burseraceae
Scrophulariaceae
Apocynaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Liliaceae
Araceae
Acanthaceae
Plumbaginaceae
Papaveraceae
Liliaceae
Acanthaceae
Asclepiadaceae
Capparaceae
Verbenaceae
Malvaceae
Bignoniaceae
Salvadoraceae
Oleaceae
Acanthaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Rutaceae
Traditional uses - It has been traditionally used for
treating piles and as a barrier contraceptive by people in
rural areas of Rajasthan. It has antifertility activity. Unripe
fruits and seeds have deworming properties, ripe fruits
are useful in cough, eye diseases and as blood purifier.
Neem oil is also highly beneficial for skin diseases and
has antileprotic properties. Tribal believe is that eating of
young fried leaves of Neem act as antidote to pox.
7. Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.
Local Name - Punarnava/Pathar Chatta
Family - Nyctaginaceae
Parts used - Whole plant including seeds and leaves
Traditional uses - It is traditionally used as a strong
diuretic to promote urination in dropsy and also in
jaundice and gonorrhoea. It helps and protects the liver. It
85 Prime Research on Medicine
is also used for patients suffering from kidney troubles.
Tribes wear a piece of root (2-3 cm long) in white thread
on waist, as magical cure of asthma
8. Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub.
Local Name - Palash/Dhak
Family - Fabaceae
Parts used - Stem, flower and seeds
Traditional uses - It cures diarrhoea, dysentery, asthma
and inflammation of testicles. Tribes prescribe paste of
the cotyledons with country liquor (3:1) to women for
three days at the end of menstruation period to check
pregnancy.
9. Calotropis procera (Ait) R. Br.
Local Name - Akra
Family - Asclepiadaceae
Parts used - All parts are useful including latex.
Traditional uses - The leaves of aak are warmed and tied
around any body organ in pain. It is particularly useful in
backache and in joint pains. Warm leaves also relieve from
stomach pain if tied around and inhalation of burnt leaves
cure headache. Leaf latex if applied on fresh cuts, stops
bleeding immediately. Tribes use the latex for fish
poisoning.
10. Cassia tora Linn.
Local Name - Chakra mard
Family - Fabaceae
Parts used - Whole plant
Traditional uses - It is useful in stomach troubles and
reduce body fat. It also cures skin diseases like
leucoderma and leprosy. Some ethnic communities apply
fresh leaf juice like tincture of iodine.
11. Catharanthus roseus (Linn.) G. Don.
Local Name - Sadhabahar
Family - Apocynaceae
Parts used - Whole plant including latex.
Traditional uses - The plant leaves have been traditionally
used for long time for the treatment of diabetes. It also cures
leukemia and useful for the treatment of blood pressure,
piles and epilepsy.
12. Croton roxburghii Balak.
Local Name - Croton
Family - Euphorbiaceae
Parts used - Root and root bark
Traditional uses - It is used for the treatment of rheumatic
swellings, scabies and as antidote to snake venom. Root
bark paste applied for the treatment of hydrocele and
cholera. Tribes use fresh root bark as an indicator for
detecting poisoning effects.
13. Euphorbia hirta Linn.
Local Name - Dudhi
Family - Euphorbiaceae
Parts used - Milky latex
Traditional uses - It has beneficial effects on the heart,
cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It also cures
stomach disorders including diarrhoea, dysentery and
urino-genital disorders.
14. Ficus bengalensis Linn.
Local Name - Bargad/Banyan tree
Family - Moraceae
Parts used - Milky latex, leaves and roots
Traditional uses - The plant is useful in cough, arthritis,
pain and sprain, tooth problems, leprosy, skin problems
and venereal diseases. Some tribes believe that the tree
is a abode of Bonga. If anybody fells the tree, he either
will die or will suffer from incurable diseases.
15. Ficus religiosa Linn.
Local Name - Pipal
Family - Moraceae
Parts used - Stem bark and latex
Traditional uses - It is useful in haematuria or bleeding
piles. It is given to women after delivery as contraceptive.
16. Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce.
Local Name - Khejari
Family - Fabaceae
Parts used - Fruits, stem and bark
Traditional uses - The fruits have anabolic properties and
its regular use can increase memory power and intelligence
in children. It is also useful in cough, piles, arthritis,
asthma, respiratory and mental disorders.
17. Ricinus communis Linn.
Local Name - Arandi
Family - Euphorbiaceae
Parts used - Leaves and seeds
Traditional uses - A gel prepared from the oil is useful in
skin diseases particularly dermatitis and eczema. The
castor oil is also used to make contraceptive jellies and
creams.
18. Sida cordifolia Linn.
Local Name - Bala
Family - Malvaceae
Parts used - Whole plant including seeds.
Traditional uses - The seeds are highly aphrodisiac and
used to treat sexual impotency. Root powder is used in
female diseases and in some nervous disorders.
19. Solanum surattense Burm. f.
Local Name - Kateri/Nilikateli
Family - Solanaceae
Parts used - Dried roots
Traditional uses - It cures cough, bronchitis, asthma,
chest pain, muscular pain and as a diuretic especially to
remove bladder stones.
20. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers
Local Name - Neem giloy
Sharma and Kumar 86
Family - Menispermaceae
Parts used - Dried stem with intact bark
Traditional uses - It cures all kinds of fever and for urinary
diseases specially to promote urination and for the
treatment of dyspepsia and flatulence. It is also used for
the treatment of syphilis, gonorrhoea, jaundice, piles and
intestinal worms.
21. Tribulus terrestris Linn.
Local Name - Chota gokshuru
Family - Zygophyllaceae
Parts used - Fruits
Traditional uses - It cures urinary diseases and nervous
disorders. It is used for the treatment of asthma and
bronchitis.
22. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.
Local Name - Ashvagandha
Family - Solanaceae
Parts used - Dried roots and fresh leaves
Traditional uses - It is used for the treatment of general
debility, male sterility, respiratory and urino-genital
disorders, leucorrhoea, rheumatoid arthritis and as an
aphrodisiac.
23. Ziziphus nummularia (Burm. f) Wt. Arn.
Local Name - Ber
Family - Rhamnaceae
Parts used - Dried stem, flower and bark.
Traditional uses - The bark and root is nutritive and
gives vigor. The leaves are useful in asthma and stomach
complaints, while the flowers are beneficial in eye
diseases. The stem is powdered and given with water for
healing bone fractures.
Besides this, some plants have highly potential
importance in different medical systems
(A) Bauhinia variegata Linn.
Local name – Kachnar
Common name – Buddhist bauhinia
Family – Fabaceae
Distribution – (i) Tropical and sub tropical regions of the
world, (ii) Throughout India including sub-Himalayan tract
and outer Himalayas of the Punjab, Rajasthan ascending
to 1300 m from the Indus, eastwards and Kumaon, (iii)
Occurs in forest but not very common.
Description – It is a middle sized deciduous tree. The
bark is dark brown, nearly smooth, young shoots brown
pubescent. Leaves are 10-15 cm long, as broad as or
rather broader than long. Petiole 2.5-3.8 cm long. Flowers
appeared when the tree is leafless. They are large,
fragrant, white or purplish, in axillary or terminal racemes.
Pedicels short or absent and bracteoles minute. All white
or 4 petals pale purple and the fifth darker with dark
purple vein. Stamen 5 fertile, staminodes absent. Ovary
pubescent along the sutures, long stalked, style long and
stigma capitate. Pod 15-30 by 1.8-2.5 cm hard, flat
dehiscent, on a glabrous stipe 2.5 cm long seeds 10-15
in per pod (Plate-3-III).
Phenology – Flowering and fruiting – April to July.
Chemical composition – The seeds consist of 20%
endocarp, and 80% kernels. They yield 16.5% a pale
brown fatty oil on extraction with petroleum ether, but only
about 6.1% when expressed in a hydraulic press.
The wood is greyish brown and moderately hard and is
used for agricultural implements. The calorific value of
moisture free sapwood (ash, 3.02%) is 4, 791 cals.
Parts used – Root and bark
Properties and Uses – The roots and bark are
astringent, acrid, cooling, constipating, depurative,
anthelmintic, vulnery, anti-inflammatory and styptic. They
are useful in vitiated conditions of pitta and kapha,
diarrhoea, dysentery, skin diseases, leprosy, intestinal
worms, tomours, wounds, ulcers, inflammations, scrofula,
proctoptosis,
haemorrhoids,
haemoptysis,
cough,
menorrhagia and diabetes.
Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari
Local Name – Guggal
Common Name – Indian Bedellium tree
Family – Burseraceae
Distribution – (i) It is widely distributed in the tropical
regions of Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, Pacific
Islands, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, (ii) In India, this
species is distributed in the states of Raja(ii) In India, this
species is distributed in the states of Rajasthan, Tamil
Nadu, Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Description – A small tree or shrub upto 3-4 m high, the
branches are crooked, knotty, aromatic and end in sharp
spines. The bark is papery and peels in strips from the
older parts of the stem. The leaves are sessile, alternate
or fascicled, 1-3 foliate, the leaflets are glabrous. The
terminal is sessile or subsessile, obvate, serrate, 1-5 cm
long, 0.5 to 2.5 cm. broad, lateral, when present, sessile,
serrate or entire. The plants are dimorphic, one having
bisexual and male flowers and the other having female
flowers. Flowers are sessile, 3.5 mm long, usually red
and rarely pinkish white. The flowers appear in groups of
2 or 3. The calyx is fused with the disc basally, it is
popular tubular, 1-2 mm long. The petals are refluxed,
acute, 3-5 mm long and 1 mm broad. There are 8
stamens very rarely 10; 3-5 mm long. The disc is
conspicuously toothed. The ovary is 2-loculed with a
sessile 2- lobed stigma. The fruit is ovoid, up to 1cm long
drupe, red when ripe and the mesocarp is yellow. When it
is ripe, it splits into two (Farooqi and Sreeramu, 2001)
(Plate-3-II).
Chemical composition – The oleo-gum-resins are
mixtures of resin (about 61%), gum (about 29.3%),
volatile oil (about 1.45%) and occasionally combined with
other substances, mainly myrecene, dimyrecene and
polymyrecene. It has three sterols-gygglusterols I, II and
III, two sterones and two diterpenes have been isolated
from the drug. Gugglusterone is the major pregnane-type
87 Prime Research on Medicine
compound and exhibits high degree of anticholesterolemic activity (Bhakuni, 1990).
Parts used – Gum resin and bark.
Properties and uses – The oleo-resin is used as an
astringent, antiseptic, stomachic, carminative and
digestive. The oleo-resin cause an increase of leucocytes
in the blood and stimulates phagocytosis. It is highly
effective in the treatment of obesity, arthritis, indolent
ulcers, weak and spongy gums, pyorrhoea, chronic
tonsilitis and pharangytis, ulcerated throat and chronic
dyspepsia. Inhalation of the fumes of burnt guggul is
recommended in hay fever.
Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. Syn. E. ligularia Roxb.
Lcoal Name – Snuhi
Common Name – Common milk hedge
Family – Euphorbiaceae
Distribution – It is distributed in (i) Warmer parts of the
world including Peninsula, Ceylon and Baluchistan, (ii)
Greater parts of India, (iii) Frequent found in semi-arid
regions.
Description – A large succulent shrub or a small tree,
upto 20 ft. high, with jointed, cylindrical or obscurely 5
angled branches bearing short and stipular thorns.
Leaves fleshy, deciduous , obovate-oblong, 6-12 inch
long, terminal on the branches. The trunk is covered with
reticulate fleshy peduncle about 3.8 mm long. Anthers
sagittate, apiculate. Fruits tricoccus, compressed, seeds
greenish brown (Plate-3-I).
Phenology - Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Chemical composition - Root has alnus, terpenes, 24methylene
cyclaartenol,
bark-euphol,
euphorbol
hexacosanoate, n-hexacosanol and latex has euphol and
nerifoliol.
Parts used - Latex, root, bark and leaf.
Properties and uses - The latex is acrid, rubefacient,
purgative and expectorant. It is liable to cause dermatitis.
It is used to remove warts and cutaneous eruptions. The
juice is employed in earache, mixed with soot, it is
applied in ophthalmia. The leaves are carminative;
improve the appetite; good for tumours, pains,
inflammations, abdominal swellings. Root is useful in
piles, asthma, bronchitis, dropsy and dyspepsia,
flatulence, fever, gastric disorders, jaundice, rheumatism
and ulcers. Some tribal people use the stem juice to kill or
blind fish. It is a sacred plant for Hindus (Bakshi et al.,
2001).
Asparagus adscendens Roxb.
Local name - Musli
Common name - Satavar
Family - Liliaceae
Distribution : It is distributed in Afghanistan, the Punjab
and in the Himalayas upto an altitude of 5,300 ft. It is also
cultivated in Rajasthan including Udaipur and Dungarpur.
Description - A sub erect prickly shrub, with white
tuberous roots. Stem is tall, stout, sub erect terete,
smooth white and multiple branching. Branchlets
ascending, ashy white, grooved and angled. Spines 1.3-2
cm long, stout and straight. Inflorescence is raceme 2.5-5
cm long. Flowers appear in groups and pedicels jointed
above or below the middle part of flower, bracts are
minute. Flowers are 2.5 cm in diameter, ovules many in
each cell. Berry 6-8 mm in diameter, 1-seeded (Gillet,
1985).
Chemical Composition - Chopra et al. (1958) reported
the
biologically
active
chemicals.
They
areoligospirostanoside (Asparanin C and Asparanin D) and
oligofurostanoside (Asparoside C and Asparoside D); BSitosterol, Diosgenin and Sarasapogenin.
Parts used - Dried tuberous roots
Phenology - Flowering and fruiting (May to December)
Properties and uses - It is used in several combinations
for the treatment of sexual impotency, general debility
and promotion of urination. It is very nutritive health tonic
with cooling and soothing effects on body. Some of them
useful for the treatment of venereal and skin diseases. It
has been found that the plant is ‘galactagogue’ that is, it
increase breast milk in mothers both in humans as well
as in cattles. It cures dysentery and diarrhoea when
boiled with milk and sugar. Some tribal women after
delivery wear a twig in ears and hair for magical guard
against evil eyes.
Thus, a large number of plants from Rajasthan have
medicinal value. Figure 3 shows some of the medicinal
plants of Rajasthan which are Euphorbia neriifolia
growing in forest arboretum (Figure 3I), Commiphora
wightii growing in forest arboretum (Figure 3II), and
Bauhinia variegata growing in forest arboretum (Figure
3III).
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Figure 3: Some of the medicinal plants of Rajasthan
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