An inventory of potential medicinal plants common in Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts of West Bengal, India to Treat leprosy

Abstract

Present survey reported 66 species (dicots 56, monocots 9 and pteridophyte 01) of medicinal plants under 63 genera (dicots 55, monocots 7 and pteridophyte 01), 38 families (dicots 30, monocots 7 and pteridophyte 01) from different parts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts. In ancient times traditionally drugs were extracted from different parts of the plants like roots, stems, barks, bulbs, seeds, fruits, tubers, wood and as a whole from the all parts of a plant. Besides the above mentioned parts, some drugs are also collected from excretory plant products like gums, seed oil, latex, juice/ plant sap etc. as a novel source of active principles for the preparation of medicine as an antidote for their daily life health care management. Mycobacterium leprae, is a bacteria that causes a chronic disease called Leprosy and consequently damages peripheral nervous system and skin. Present investigation recorded 66 plants bearing medicinally active compounds in their different parts ultimately that can be administered for the treatments of leprosy. The botanical name, Bengali name (s), habit, parts used and mode of applications of these compounds under references are also discussed in this paper.