Ethnobotanical studies on plants used in folk medicines in cure of Diabetes in Gondwana Region of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Ethnobotany started off as an appendage to classical taxonomy and systematic biology essentially listing species collected from wild and used by ethnic communities. Many indigenous communities have accumulated lot of empirical knowledge on the basis of their experience while dealing with nature and natural resources. The present study has been conducted on Gond Tribes in Gondwana region in state of Madhya Pradesh. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in the endocrine system. It is defined as a state in which homeostasis of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism is improperly regulated by insulin. Diabetes is regarded as a group of disorder associated with high blood sugar levels which leads to several complications as increase in blood pressure, complications in vision through eyes, heart, kidney. The symptoms are observed by various age group with loss in weight, increase in thirst, increase in frequency of urination and in excretion of sweet urine. The information was documented through rapid roving survey method for selection of Gond localities in Gondwana belts for recording floristic diversity and their ethno-medicinal uses. During the visits a rapport was made with a number of elderly person of tribal communities and traditional herbal healers who were contacted to collect the information and interviewed. The discussion revealed local name of species, plant part used, formulation and dosages of herbal drug used by traditional healers and tribal communities. The specimens were collected, processed and identified with help of flora. The results of the study as documented from traditional healers conducted in districts of Hoshangabad and Seoni district revealed that the traditional healers found out of 500 persons suffered from Diabetes who were tested and examined for infestation in tribal pockets of Madhya Pradesh state were administered different herbal plant formulation based on availability of medicinal plants in their habitat. About 29% of tribals patients were benefitted from diabetes by use by use of leaf extract of Gymnera sylvestris, 18% of tribals patients were benefitted from diabetes by use of leaf juice of Ocimum sanctum, 16% of tribals patients were benefitted from diabetes by use of bark gum resins of Petrocarus marsupium, whereas 15% of tribals patients were benefitted by use fruit/leaf juice of Aegle marmelo, 13% of tribals patients were benefitted from diabetes by use of whole plant of Convolvulus arvensis and 21% of tribals patients were benefitted from diabetes by use leaf juice of Azadirachta indica, whereas 4% of tribals could not be benefitted by any herbal medicine found in their localities. Similarly traditional healers in Gondwana region of Jabalpur district revealed formulations prepared as seed powder of Abrus precatorius Linn., leaf mesh Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa, bark powder of Ailanthus excelsa (Roxb), leaf powder of Andrographic lineate Wall Ex Nees Azadiracta indica A.Juss., leaf powder of Caesalpinia bonduc Linn, root powder of Coccina grandis (L.)Voight, tuber extract or decoction Caralluma adscendes (Roxb.) R.Br, leaf powder of Costus specious (Koen) Smith, leaf powder of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd) Hook. F. and Th., and stem bark of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. had been found effective in controlling blood sugar of patients suffering from Diabetes. The study concludes a number of promising plants with different plant parts and formulations are prevalent in cure of diabetes used by tribal communities in Gondwana region to cure patients from diabetes among Gond tribes of Madhya Pradesh