Keywords

Traditional, Ethno-veterinary plants, Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, India.

INTRODUCTION

Rajasthan is situated in the North-western part of India between 23° 30′ - 30° 11′ N latitude and 69° 30′- 78° 17′ E longitude and covers an area of 3, 42, 239 sq km which is 10.4% of the country’s total area. Pratapgarh is newest constituted district in Rajasthan state. It came into existence on 26th January 2008 as 33rd district of Rajasthan. It was carved out from Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Banswara district. Pratapgarh is situated in the southeastern part of Rajasthan in Chittorgarh district. The district situated in the junction of the Aravali mountain ranges and the Malwa Plateau area, these geographical area adjoins Udaipur and Chittorgarh districts of Rajasthan and Mandsaur of Madhya Pradesh; hence the characteristics of both prominently feature was noticed in this area. Pratapgarh is located at 24.03° N latitudes and 74.78° E longitudes. It has an average elevation of 491 meters (1610 feet) (Map.1).

Map 1: Study area (courtesy: RGA)

Climate of Pratapgarh districtt is moderate as the district lies in-between dry climate of western part and humid climate of southern part of Rajasthan. Average minimum temperature of the tehsil ranges from 15-17ºC and an average maximum temperature is ranging between 27.5ºC to 30.0ºC. The normal annual rainfall of the tehsil is 74.54 cms, and lasts from July to September. The normal rainy days are about 32 a year. Geologically, the district consists of Banded gneissic complex and Bundelkhand gneiss, Vindhyan, Aravalli and Delhi Systems. The district is rich in minerals, such as mica, soapstone, sandstone, iron ore, beryl, asbestos, calcite and garnet. This area is characterized by the tropical deciduous type of vegetation consisting of Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd., Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del., Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. ex DC.) Wall. ex Guill & Perr., Anogeissus pendula Edgew, Balanites aegyptiaca (Linn.) Delile., Boswellia serrata Roxb., Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb., Madhuca indica J.F. Gmelin, Tectona grandis L. etc. as the important plant species.

The tribals, namely Bhil and Meena residing in this district of Rajasthan. Majority of the tribal population fall below poverty line and are the main dwellers of these forests. The surrounding environment of these people are an integral part of their lifestyle and culture. Knowledge of the medicinal plants as well as cultural system gets passed on from generation to generation through oral talk or folk songs.

In India several workers contributed that significant knowledge on ethnobotany [1-7]. Recently ethno medicinal practices of pteridophytic plants has been studied in the western ghats [8]. Two important plants used in Rajasthan as antimalarial properties has be studied [9].

However, the Indian desert, due to its geographical position, environment, topography and socio-economic conditions, may be credited first which drawn the attention of ethnobotanical workers, who recorded the wild plants which are used as famine food and vegetable products as food in deserted zones of the state [10,11]. Subsequently, some more ethnobotanical information furnished for Ajmer [12]. During recent years, some more workers have added a lot to our knowledge on the ethnobotany of Rajasthan [13-22].

In Rajasthan, ethnobotanical studies have been carried out by several botanical workers from different areas. However, the ethno-veterinary studies on Pratapgarh district are scantier. Therefore, to collect the recent information about ethno-veterinary plants used by tribals in their traditional healthcare system for their animals. The study, regarding animal healthcare is based on interviews, by tribals inhabitant in this area.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Field trips were conducted with the local medicine men. Due to religious faith of tribals, the people who know about the medicinal properties of plant do not want to give all the information because the medicinal plant is disclosed its medicinal properties will be lost forever. For this reason, the information collection from the tribals is an important task. The peoples who can provide information from one locality, were consulted at other localities. It resulted authentic information about medicinal properties of plants and the information collected during fieldwork were verified at different places through different informants and in different seasons.

The plant species belongs to ethnoveterinary value have been collected with the help of the informants, plant specimen was collected and photographs were shooted. The species were identified with the help of reputed literature [23-26]. The voucher specimens were deposited, to the Herbarium, Department of Botany, M. L. V. Government College, Bhilwara.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The data on ethno-veterinary plants documented are locally available and easily accessible is the seasonal availability of certain plants for off-seasonal uses the tribals acquired different ways to preserve them. The sun drying method is the most common way of preserving the plant and the plant product. The plants are used to cure animal diseases are survey during the present study. The ethno-veterinary plants of Pratapgarh district were enumerated as their botanical name, local name, family and the traditional methods of administration in different ailments are being presented in Table 1. In the enumeration, plant species with their botanical names are arranged alphabetically, followed by family, local names and methods of administration.

Table 1: Some traditional ethnoveterinary plants in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, India

During the present study, 24 plant species are belonging to 24 genera and 23 families being used by tribes of Pratapgarh to treat various diseases such as skin, wounds, tumor’s, swelling, lice’s, urinary diseases, mouth, feet, head.

CONCLUSIONS

The study is based on exhaustive interviews with local people, shepherds, tribals and nomads (Traveller with sheep from Marwar region of India). During the study 24 plant species belonging to 23 families as well as some animal products were recorded which are being used to cure various diseases such as feet, head, lices, mouth, neck, placenta, skin, swelling, tumors, urinary diseases and wounds.

The most common cattle diseases and problems include bottleneck, diarrhea, durdi mata, enterotoxaemia, foot and mouth disease, hematuria, obstipation, orf, pneumonia, respiratory diseases and sheep pox were recorded. The commercially liquor is also used to cure indigestion in animals. The different kinds of oils, salt solutions, naphthalene balls or Potassium Permanganate has also been used for animal treatment. Some faith is strictly followed by tribals in this area. Like placenta separation and immediate deposited is an essential part of animal health. It is believed when placenta is eaten/consumed by mother (recently mother), milk production is stop during this delivery tenure.

A list of plant species along with family, local name and methods of administration are enumerated. The present study has added a lot to our knowledge on the ethno-veterinary knowledge from Rajasthan.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Authors are highly thankful to all the tribal informants for their cooperation and help during ethnobotanical study. Help rendered by Shree Bheru Lal Bhil, Bhanwar Lal Meena, Chunni Lal Meena, Limba Ram Ji, Modan Ji, Nana Ram Ji, Ram Chandra Ji, Salira Ram Ji and Vikram Ji by way of providing traditional knowledge is thankfully acknowledged. Thanks are also due to Shri Bhanwar Singh Ji Meena, Additional Superintendent of Police, for his cooperation during these studies. Authors are thankful to Principal, Prof. K. R. Jharoliya, Vice Principals and Dr. B. L. Yadav, head department of botany, MLV Government College, Bhilwara for providing the facilities. Financial assistance provided by UGC Bhopal is gratefully acknowledged.

Plate 1A: Tribal boy extracting the bark of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub

Plate 1B: The leaflets of Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. is serving to cattle

Plate 1C: Tribulus terrestris L. Fruits

Plate 1D: Vitex negundo L.

Photographs: All were shooted during the study by author.

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