INTRODUCTION:

In past few decades pioneer work in traditional medicine has been done in India. Traditional medicines are recognized by WHO as essential building block for primary healthcare, especially in developing and vast country like India. Medicinal plants play a vital role in providing health care to humans since the dawn of civilization. It is evident that the Indian people have tremendous passion for medicinal plants and they use them for wide range of health related applications. Medicinal plants have been used since ancient times for the treatment of human ailments (Ganesan et. al., 2006). Traditional medicine practice is an important part of health care delivery system in most of the developing world (Sheldon et. al., 1997, Bodeker 1994), and is a primary source of health care to about 80% of the world population (Alves and Rosa 2005).

Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve was declared as Biosphere Reserve by Government of India with notification no. 9/16/99 CS/BR dated 30^th March. It is situated on a plateau at 22^°15’ to 22^°58’ N latitudes and 81^°25’ to 82^°5’ E longitudes; with an average altitude ranging between 800-1100 m. above sea level. Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve parts of Anuppur and Dindori district of M.P. and Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh covering an area of 3835.51 sq. km. out of total area of 1224.98 sq.km falls in Madhya Pradesh and the remaining area of 2610.53 sq.km falls in Chhattisgarh state. The entire area of 551.55 sq.km of Achanakmar Sanctuary falling in Chhattisgarh state will form the core zone and remaining area of 3283.96 sq.km. surrounding the core zone will form buffer zone. The vegetation of the area is of subtropical type dominated mainly by sal trees. The mean annual temperature ranges is from 16.1°C in winter to 31°C in summer and the average annual rainfall range 1336.97 mm. The highest mean relative humidity recorded 70.33% in the month of December. In the study site there are inhabited tribalsare Gond, Baiga, Panika, Bharia, Kanwar, Pao, Kol, Pradhan and Agariya.

Jaundice is not a disease but rather a sign that can occur in many different diseases. Jaundice is the yellowish staining of the skin and sclera (the whites of the eyes) that is caused by high levels in blood of the chemical bilirubin. The colour of the skin and scleravary depending on the level is mildly elevated, they are yellowish. When the bilirubin level is high they tend to be brown (Wahebet.al., 2004). The manifestation of liver diseases such as hepatitis-B including jaundice, characterized by Hippocrates was found to be infectious as early as the eighth century. Thus, viral hepatitis was known to mankind as Kavil (Jaundice) for more than 1,200years. Yellowing of eyes and vomiting yellowish fluid are the initial external symptoms of hepatitis (Bernard et.al.,1996;White et.al., 1994).Many plants and minerals are being used by tribal communities as a source of herbal remedy for jaundice. However, so much work has been done in AABR. Now a days, there are many conventional drugs to treat and cure jaundice. Brijlal and Dubey, 1992; Saxena, 1970; Prasad and Pandey, 1987; SikarwarandMaheshwari 1992; Tiwari et al.,1995 have carried out ethnomedicinal studies of Achanakmar- Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. However, no attention has yet been paid to the used specifically for the treatment of jaundice.

METHODOLOGY:

The ethnobotanical survey was conducted in different tribal localities in the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve during the year 2013-2014. Several field trips were organized to administer questionnaires and interviews to traditional healers, medicine men, experienced people, village headman etc. These people have been using various plants for the treatment of jaundice especially in rural areas of BR. The information regarding mode of use, parts used, amount and periodicity of dosage and local name was collected from them. The information was cross checked by the other informants in the same locality or in the other locality for verification of medicinal claims by the tribal and other folk people.

Table-1: Plants used for treatment of Jaundice by the tribals of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

Plant Name	Family	Local Name	Habit	Mode of administration	Status
Argemone maxicana Linn.	Papaveraceae	Peelikateri /Ghamoya / Pila dhatura	Herb	1-2 teaspoon fresh root extract is given to treat jaundice	Common
Asteracanta longifolia Nees.	Acanthaceae	Tali-makhana	Herb	Plant extracts and decoction of leaves are used in jaundice.	Common
Boerhavia diffusa Linn.	Nyctaginaceae	Punarnawa /Patharchata	Herb	Whole plant extract mixed with sugar and curd and administered for jaundice	Common
Costus speciosus Smith.	Zingiberaceae	Keokand	Herb	Bark powder used to treat jaundice	Vulnerable
Cyperus rotundus Linn.	Cyperaceae	Nagarmotha	Herb	Tubers ground with triphal (Fruits of Terminalia chebula, T.bellirica,andEmblicaoffcinalis) and the extract administered to jaundice.	Common
Eclipta alba Linn.	Asteraceae	Ghamira /Bhringraj	Herb	Paste of whole plant is mixed with salt and given to cure jaundice.	Common
Lagenaria siceraria Standl.	Cucurbitaceae	Lauki	Climbing herb	The decoction of leaves mixed with sugar is given to treat jaundice	Common
Lawsonia inermis Linn.	Lythraceae	Mehndi	Shrub	Decoction of bark and leaves are taken to cure jaundice	Common
Momordica charantia Linn.	Cucurbitaceae	Karaila /Karela	Climbing herb	Fruit and leaf juice is given to treat jaundice	Common
Spinacia oleacea Linn.	Chenopodiaceae	Palak	Herb	Seed boiled in water and extract is given to cure jaundice	Cultivated
Tinospora cordifolia Miers.	Menispermaceae	Gureech /Giloy	Climbing shrub	The juice of leaves and flower are extracted which is mixed with curd and given orally empty stomach to treat jaundice	Common

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

The plants name, family, local name, habit, mode of administration and status are given in Table1. The present study revealed that totally 11 plant species (9 Dicot and 2 Monocot) belonging to 11 genera and 10 families and different modes of treatment were followed to cure jaundice by the tribal inhabiting in Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, India. During the treatment of the disease, various forms of preparations are used. The plants were used either separately or in combination with other plant parts or either with sugar or salt or curd. Mostly they prefer whole plant or leaves in top priority to cure the disease. Herbs are more dominant (9) followed by shrubs (2). Among the plant part-wise, leaf is more predominant (5 sps) followed by whole plant (3 sps), bark (2 sps), tuber, root, flower, fruit and seed each with one species. Many of the preparations are used orally in the form of decoction, infusion, paste, powder, extract and as such. Although leaves, roots and flowers are the most common parts used in the treatment of jaundice. On the conservational aspects have been categorized of Achanamar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve in the plant species 8 are common, 1 species each vulnerable, and cultivated.

From the account, it is clear that the tribal as in the case of other ancient tribals (Dubey and Bahadur, 1967; Jain, 1988), posses the ability to discern the character of various plants and their beneficial properties for jaundice. It is interesting to note that such a way of life, particularly with respect to health care practices, has hardly undergone any change even to present day. Similarly ethnomedicinal studies have been reported in India (Ahirwarand Sandya,2015; Ahirwar, 2015; Marthupandian et.al., 2011; Bhatt and Mithaliya,1999; Dey and De, 2010;Oommachan and Masih, 1990; Jain, 1963b; Jain 1962).

CONCLUSION:

Use of ethnomedicinal plants as a source of drugs to cure various diseases is as old as humankind itself. Even to the present time, medicinal plants are available as cheap and accessible source of drug for most of developing and also in developed countries. The traditional knowledge of the tribal communities must be properly documented and preserved so that their knowledge could be passed on to the future generations. Such studies and documents provide important and vital role for understanding the complex heritage of tribal people and their association with environment and nature.

The survey also revealed that the ethnomedicinal plants are commonly available and some are cultivated as vegetables or crops. Therefore, they can be taken up for further pharmacological and clinical studies. Thus, such type of study may also bring to light some new sources of drugs for jaundice.

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Received on 11.02.2017 Modified on 15.02.2017

Res. J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics.2017; 9(1): 27-30.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5836.2017.00005.2