Keywords

Medicinal plants, Traditional treatment, Ethno medicine.

INTRODUCTION

Sub-Himalayan West Bengal is falling under the International Union for Conservation of Nature recognized ‘Himalaya’ Biodiversity Hotspot, Conservational International [1] and is very important from environmental and view of social aspects. The areas harbor a large number of tropical and sub-tropical forests and quite a few Protected Areas has been established following IUCN guideline such as; Gorumara National Park, Jaldapara National Park, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary etc. Much favorable climatic make-up of these areas coupled with high and broadly distributed precipitation supports a large number of seasonal wetlands, which are inhabited by wide diversity of wetland plants, some of those are ethno-medicinally important, (Panda and Misra 2011). Most of the regions of Terai & Duars are very remote and the people of these areas are mostly dependent on vegetation for their daily need. In modern civilized world, the demand of medicinal plants as pharmaceutical raw materials, herbal remedies and other natural products has greatly increased globally [2-7].

Medicinal plants have always been an imperative constituent of healthcare throughout the human history [8]. From the origin of human beings, indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants played fundamental role in the disease diagnosis as well as health care practices. With the beginning of human civilization, many plant based therapy systems have been developed such as; Ayurveda, Sidda, Unani, Homeopathy, etc. It is estimated that 70-80 % of people worldwide rely chiefly on traditional method, largely herbal medicine to meet their primary health-care needs [9-11]. It has further been observed that a number of modern pharmaceutical industry have been derived from plants used by indigenous people [12]. The traditional medical systems continue to provide the primary health care to more than three-quarters of the world’s populations. In India many modern medicines are also based on plant based traditional system. The substantial amount of foreign money can be earned by exporting medicinal plants to other countries. In this way traditional medicinal plants play important role on economy of a country. Among the traditional medical system, Kaviraji treatment is one of the major reliable systems. The Kavirajes rely exclusively on medicinal plants or plant parts as their medicament when treating patients for various ailments.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Study area

The present study was conducted in Terai & Duars of West Bengal, India which is actually situated under the foothills of Himalayan Hotspot. We conducted several interviews with 26 traditional medical practitioners, 341 ethnic people from 36 remote villages in two district namely Jalpaiguri & Darjeeling (foot hills). We are also interacted with the medicinal plants collector for the practitioners.

Data collection

The present data were collected from suffered and cured ethnic people and from kavirajes. We also visited kaviraji medical shops in villages and towns during February 2009 to December 2012. At the same time field visits were undertaken with the help of cured patients. During the field survey a large number of interactions have been done with the patient who is cured by Kaviraj or Hakim or Boidya. Collected plants were processed and herbarium specimens were prepared following standard herbarium techniques by Jain and Rao (1977) [13]. Identification has been done by matching at Central National Herbarium and North Bengal University Herbarium.

RESULT

During the field survey, a total of 52 wetland medicinal plants belonging to 44 genera covering 33 families were recognized. The recorded plants were also summarized with their scientific name, family, local name, voucher number, parts used, used for and dosage (Table 1). The present survey revealed that, Asteraceae is dominating with 4 species followed by Hydrocharitaceae (3 species) and Nymphaeaceae (3 species) etc.

Table 1: Medico herbal treatment by using wetlwnd plants (All the informations are collected from Traditional practioners and plants collector)

In the study area 10 – 15 % peoples are directly involved in medico herbal treatment by wetland plants. Different plant parts such as rhizome used in the treatment of more than 11 diseases, roots in 18 diseases, leaves in 29 diseases and the whole plant in 12 diseases. Most of the recorded plants were wild.

More than 12 diseases were treated with the wetland medicinal plants. Plants were used to cure of 20 % cough and cold, 16 % dysentery, 13 %, orthopedic problems, 11 %, toxic fever and 7 % in urinary complications in a year. During field survey several anthropogenic stress were found to destroy the wetland biodiversity such as; rapid expansion of civilization, construction of road, rail, increase in population and rapid extension of crop field were the major ones. To save wetland biological resources, conservation of wetland and its plant diversity is very much essential.

DISCUSSION

The medicinal plants prescribed by the Kavirajes of this area are reported in the traditional medicinal systems to be effective against cough and cold, dysentery, toxic fever, orthopaedic problems, urinary complications, gynaecological problems, peptic ulcer, leprosy, asthma, jaundice, bronchitis, diarrhoea, skin diseases, cuts and wounds, digestive problems, skin burns, diabetes, sexual disorders, etc. Acorus calamus, Aeschenomene aspera, Monochoria hastata, Marsilea minuta, Colocasia esculenta, Monochoria vaginalis, Nelumbo nucifera, Nymphaea nouchali, Nymphaea pubescens, Pistia stratiotes, Ipomoea aquatica, Spilanthus calva, Hygroryza aristata, Hydrolea zeylanica, Ranunculus scleratus, Eclipta prostrate, Enydra fluctuens, Centella asiatica, etc. are commonly used in various diseases. Leaves, roots, shoot apex are used more frequently by traditional healers.

Finally, it can be concluded that this type of Ethnopharmacological research will helpful to pharmaceutical industry and provide much information useful for framing and/or finalizing strategies for conservation of our indigenous medical knowledge through sustainable utilization of our biological resources.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Authors are thankful to the people of ethnic community and traditional medical practitioners. We are also thankful to the Director, Botanical Survey of India and Additional director of Central National Herbarium, Calcutta for their all possible assistance. University Grant Commission is highly acknowledged for the financial support during the survey which helps to fulfill the said work.

Figure 1: A. Signboard of a kaviraji centre B. Interaction with plant collector C. Interview with practitioner D. Medicine preparing centre E. Roots of Acorus calamus F. Fruits of Trapa natans G. Colocasia esculenta H. Typha latifolia I. Hygrorhiza aristata J. Nymphaea rubra K. Alternanthera philoxeroides L. Hydrolea zeylanica M. Pistia stratoites N. Monochoria hastata O. Hygrophila auriculata

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