POISONOUS HERB & HERBAL REMEDIES USED IN GARHWAL HIMALAYA

ABSTRACT

The present communication provides information about the highly poisonous plant species belonging to the family ranunculaceae having ethno- medico – botanical values commonly used by the tribal communities of Garhwal Himalayas. Uses of other plant species to reduce the toxicity of poisonous content in folk medicines have also been incorporated.

[Key words: Araceae, ranunculaceae, eleaegnaceae, sanctuary, poison.]

INTRODUCTION

While considering the role of individual discipline of plant sciences in socio – economic development and environmental management, we feel that virtually no single discipline can be ascribed to be solely responsible for it. There should be an interdisciplinary approach to achieve the goal of balanced environment for the society. One must start with traditional beliefs and uses associated with the plants, i.e., ethno-botany (Badoni et al., 1989).

In India ethno botanical studies have been carried out by several workers through different approaches (Jain, 1987). A popular and widely followed approach is to study a particular group from ethno botanical point of view (Borthakur, 1976; Joshi, 1982; Anderson, 1986), while the other to a particular geographical region, irrespective of number of inhabiting populations (Rao & Neogi, 1980; Maheshwari et al., 1981). Studies on particular group of plants based on their utility like medicinal plants, wild food, fibre, timber etc., are also not uncommon (Shah & Gopal, 1986; Bist et al., 1988).

During the last two decades, a new impetus has been added to study a single plant genus or family (Jain & Banerjee, 1974; Shah, 1977; Gaur et al., 1986).

The present communication is devoted to the poisonous plant species growing in Garhwal Himalayas. As far as their uses and harm ness are concerned, these are economically/ ethno-botanically of paramount value.There use range from edible to medicinal, etc. Perusal through literature revealed that the uses mentioned in this communication are unknown or less known (Chopra et al., 1956, 1969, Kirtikar & Basu, 1935).

STUDY AREA

Uttarkashi district of Garhwal Himalaya is quite rich and diverse which can be divided into evergreen, semi evergreen, deciduous, sub tropical pine forests and temperate types. The temperature of the hills varies from 2.7 to 23.5 C and in lower ranges from 4.3 to 35 C. Heavy snow fall occurs above 2500 m and comes down to about 1500 M.

The present study carried out during the year 2000 to 2006 in the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in Uttarkashi district. It spreads over an area of 957.969 sq. km. and altitude varies from 1300 mts. to 6323 mts. The average annual precipitation varies from 1000 to 1500 mm, most of which occurs as monsoon rains (July to Sept.).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Various ethno-medico-botanical tours to the several pockets of sanctuary area have been undertaken and the data are collected in the field by interviewing reliable persons from tribal communities.

First hand information on these plants was gathered from shepherds, local Vaidyas (medicinal practitioners), Gugars and other experienced persons of the communities. The plant specimens were properly identified from Forest Research Institute (FRI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Dehra Dun.

In the observation, the scientific binomials have been given first, followed by vernacular name (s).

OBSERVATIONS

POISONOUS HERBS

Aconitum atrox Bruehl

Family : Ranunculaceae

Vern. : Meetha bish, Sans. - Vatsnabh, Eng. – Indian Aconite.

Fl. & Fr. : Aug. – Nov.

Poisonous Part: The whole plant, but mainly the tuberous root of it.

Erect herb, biennial; fusiform, tuberous roots; stem branched and simple 2 to 2.5 m. in height, leaves stalk is short in upper and long in lower, palmate leaves deeply three lobed, Raceme inflorescence up to 45 cm. high, helmet shaped sepals, blue pubescent and 05 in number. Two uppermost petals are hooded and glabrous enclosed in the helmet.

Occurrence in open grassy slopes, up to 3000 m.

Secondary metabolites, alkaloids 1.2% and 0.4% a highly poisonous element seudo- aconitine is found in the tuberous roots of Aconitum atrox.

Poisonous effect:

I. The largest amount of poisonous elements is formed in the new roots (daughter tubers) which spring up in the plant parts after April and that remains there up to August.

II. The animal and human beings with the effect of this poison, becomes senseless and the quantum of senselessness depends on the quantity of poison that reaches into the body. (If one scratches or rub the root by hand and than slashes by the tongue the senselessness will continue for approximately one to two hours)

III. Generally the animals does not graze this plant but at the time of grazing, if the root or its parts taken up by the animals.

Arisaema tortuosum ( Wallich) Schott (Vern. – Kauwa ki maki).

Family : Araceae

Vern. – Sanp-Ki-Makki

Fl. & Fr. : May – Jun.

Poisonous Part—The whole plant, but mainly the tuberous root of it.

Spathe green, somewhat glaucous, rarely purple, blade ovate acute 4-12 cm., curved forward. Spadix distinctive with a rather thick up-curved appendage gradually tapering to a long green or some times dark purple erect tail like tip 8-12 cm. A tall plant, often to 150 cm., with usually 02 pedate leaves with 5-7 variable, broadly ovate to oblanceolate abruptly pointed leaflets, and a leaf stalk 5-20 cm. Spadix appendage short.

Poisonous effect:

1 The poisonous element is formed in the roots which spring up in the plant parts after April.

2 The effect of this poison is senseless the mouth and the quantum of senselessness depends on the quantity of poison that reaches into the body.

HERBAL REMEDIES

Some locally growing wild species are used by the shepherds, local Vaidyas (medicinal practitioners), Gugars and other experienced persons of the communities to reduce the poisonous effect of Aconitum atrox. Those species are:

Hippophae rhamnoides L.

Family: Elaeagnaceae

Vern.- Amish, Chuke, Amlich, & Khatta. Sans. - Amlvados. Eng.:- Seabuckthorn.

Fl.: March – May, & Fr.: Oct. – Dec.

Usable Part: Fruits

Sea buckthorn is a dioecious, multi-branched thorny shrub or small tree, reaching 2 to 4 mtr. In hight with stout branches forming a round often symmetrical head a tree like appearance. It has brown or black rough bark and thick grayish-green cover (Rousi 1971).

Leaves are alternate, narrow 4 to 6 cm long, and lanciolate with a silver – gray colour on the upper side, appear from April to November (Synge 1974). Staminate and pollinate flowers are inconspicuous appearing before the leaves in June to July for a week. The fruit is tightly clustered on two year old branches. Female plant bears fruit, from mid August to April, which is sub globous, 6 to 10 mm long and up to 6 mm in diameter, turning yellow to orange when mature in mid September (Akkermans et al.1983).

Method to use:

To reduce the intensity of poison, fruit juice of seabuckthorn is used in a small quantity after adding water in a ratio 1:8 because it has a higher percentage of acetic acid. That liquid is given to the affected human beings and animals after an interval of one or two minute in continuity for long time when that comes out from that effect.

Paris polyphylla Smith

Family: Liliaceae

Vern. Satwa, Eng. Herb Paris

Fl. & Fr.: May – Sept.

Usable Part: Rhizome

Glabrous, erect herb; unbranched 30 – 70 cm. high stem. 4 – 9 stalked leaves whorled at the upper half of the stem, acuminate, lanceolate. Flower short stalked, greenish, terminal, solitary. 10 – 12 stamens, short filaments. Seeds many, ovoid or scarlet.

Common in shady and damp Oak – Forests.

Method to use:

To reduce poisonous effect rhizome of satwa is also utilized after rubbing on the clean stone and that past mixed in water in a ratio 1 :15. That liquid is dropped in the affected animal’s mouth for a long time drop by drop.

Prunus armeniaca L.,

Family: Rosaceae

Vern. : Chulu, Hin. : Khubani, Eng.: Apricot

Fl. : Mar. – Apr.,& Fr. : Apr. – Jun.

Usable Part: Fruit, Seeds & flowers.

Tree, dark brown bark with 20 m height. Elliptic or ovate leaves, acute, glabrous; glandular long petiole. Flowers solitary or sasscicled, while tinged with pink. Calyx 5 lobed; petals 5, Short pedicle white flowers appearing before young leaves, tinged with pink in center. Drupes pale yellow ovoid glabrous fleshy stones smooth.

Commonly cultivated at middle Himalayan regions up to 2000 m.

Method to use:

To reduce the poisonous effect, fruit juice of Chulu is used in a small quantity after adding water in a ratio 1:4 because. That liquid is given to the affected human beings and animals after an interval of one or two minute in continuity for long time when that comes out from that effect.

Local uses: Fruits are edible. Seed oil medicinal used as massage oil to relief body pairs.

Therapeutic use: The apricot is a well know favorite fruit and it is eaten both fresh and dried. The seeds are eaten in the same way as almonds and in fact, form a valuable substitute. The oil extracted from the seeds is largely used for cooking etc.

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