Ethnomedicinal survey of Uri, Kashmir Himalaya - NOPR

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Ethnomedicinal survey of Uri, Kashmir Himalaya. Z S Khan, A A Khuroo* and G H Dar. Centre of Plant Taxonomy (COPT), University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 ...
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 3(4), October 2004, pp. 351-357

Ethnomedicinal survey of Uri, Kashmir Himalaya Z S Khan, A A Khuroo* and G H Dar Centre of Plant Taxonomy (COPT), University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, Jammu & Kashmir E-mail: [email protected] Received 6 October 2003; revised 15 April 2004 In the contemporary global milieu, the documentation of the biological resources and the associated indigenous knowledge existing within a country has assumed highest priority. The present paper records ethnomedicinal value of 27 plant species belonging to 20 families, in vogue, from the study area. Each plant species included, contains information regarding crude drug preparation and its method of use. Such documentation would be helpful in terms of commercial production of drugs, readily accessible health care to larger population, sustainable use and above all, safeguard from bio-piracy. Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, Medicinal plants, Ethnomedicine, Kashmir. IPC Int. Cl.7: A61K35/78, A61P1/04, A61P1/10, A61P11/10, A61P13/00, A61P13/02, A61P15/06, A61P15/14, A61P17/02, A61P17/10, A61P19/02, A61P27/02, A61P27/12, A61P33/10.

From the very earliest days of civilization, mankind has turned to plants for healing, a tradition that has survived the arrival of modern medicine and found new strength at the end of 20th century1. Even today, 80% of the world’s population relies on traditional plant medicine2. As elsewhere, in India too, the medicinal use of plants has been practiced from aeons by various rural and tribal communities through the systems of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani3. Need has been felt for the speedy documentation of the prized indigenous knowledge from the emerging threats of the destructive over-harvesting, habitat degradation and bio-piracy4,5. —————— *Correspondent author

About 70% of the identified medicinal plants of Indian Himalaya are exposed to destructive harvesting6. Recently our country enacted a number of legislations7-9, in compliance with CBD and WTO, in order to prevent the unfair exploitation of biological wealth of the nation. These legislations, inter alia, enjoin for immediate chronicling of the country’s biodiversity and the associated indigenous knowledge. Kashmir Himalaya in our country harbours a treasure house of the medicinal plants10. Many studies have been carried out from time to time to document ethnobotanical information from different areas of this region11-23. Since no such study has been carried out in the present study area

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Fig. 1—Map showing the location of Uri, Jammu and Kashmir

till now, an attempt has been made to document the ethnomedicinal uses of plants. Uri tehsil in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir is about 100 km to the north-west of Srinagar and lies at 34° 5´ N latitude and 74° 5´E longitude24. Altitude of the study area ranges from 1380 to 3300 masl. The areas at higher elevation being hilly, display an uneven topography with interspersed side valleys (Fig. 1). In comparison to rest of the Kashmir valley, there are 4 well-defined seasons a year; however the winters are shorter and relatively milder. Summers are longer, hot and dry. Most of the precipitation occurs during winter and in the early spring25. Methodology During the course of present study,

field trips were carried out to the study area during 2001-2003 (Plate 1). Standard methodology was used to elicit the ethnomedicinal knowledge of plants from the local people26-28. Mostly, local herbalists called “Hakims” and other experienced people were taken to the field for identification of medicinal plants used in folklore. All the relevant information, in particular the method of use, of each medicinal plant species was recorded in a field notebook. To bring an element of accuracy, the information was crosschecked with elderly people. Specimens of medicinal plants collected from each locality were provided with a collection number for future reference. The plant specimens collected were processed at the laboratory of COPT, and identified with the help of available literature29-31. The identified plant species have been depo-

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Plate 1

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sited in the Kashmir University Herbarium (KASH). Medicinal plant species of the area have been enumerated below in an alphabetical order. Each plant species is provided with its scientific name, followed sequentially by author citation, synonyms (if any), family name, specimen examined, local name, crude drug preparation (wherever available) and its use. 1. Achillea millefolium Linn. (Asteraceae), Shahdad 200, “Bergeur” Fresh leaves are chewed for 5-10 minutes to palliate the toothache, and also as mouth-freshener. 2. Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle (Ranunculaceae), Shahdad 307, “Patris” Roots are used for curing abdominal disorders. Extracts of roots are blended with water or milk. Two spoons of the decoction made are sipped at bed time daily for two weeks. 3. Ajuga parviflora Benth. (Lamiaceae), Shahdad 366, “Ratijadi” Administration of about 1-2 spoons of whole plant aqueous extract daily for a fortnight serves as diuretic and purgative. 4. Allium sativum Linn. (Liliaceae), Shahdad 505, “Rohun” Bulbs are used for curing skin diseases. Fresh bulbs are ground into a poultice, and rubbed along the affected part of the body for a month. 5. Androsace rotundifolia Hardw. (Primulaceae), Shahdad 105, ‘Uzm posh’ Extract of rhizome added to a diluted solution of common salt is used as eye drops for curing a number of ophthalmic diseases such as cataract, etc.

6. Arisaema jacquemontii Blume, syn. A. cornutum Schott, (Araceae), Shahdad 506, “Happat-makai” (Plate 1). Rhizome ground with edible oil forms a paste, which is used for massage purposes in order to regain muscular strength and in skin problems such as blisters, pimples, etc. 7. Arnebia benthamii (Wall. ex G. Don) I. M. Johnston, syn. Echium benthami Wall., Macrotomia benthami (Wall. ex G. Don) DC., (Boraginaceae), Shahdad 502, “Kah-zaban” (Plate 1). Whole plant is used for increasing lactation. Lukewarm extract, obtained after boiling the whole plant in water is given to nursing mothers to enhance their milk production. Also the root extract stirred up with hair oil is useful in checking the hair fall. 8. Asparagus filicinus Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don (Liliaceae) Shahdad 259, “Haleon” Liquid extract derived by boiling the seeds in water is given to expecting women for ease in delivery. 9. Cannabis sativa Linn., syn. C. indica Lamk., (Cannabinaceae), Shahdad 367, ‘Bhang’ Dried leaf powder is mixed with eggyolk and then cooked to form an omlette. The latter is taken to regulate the erratic menstrual cycle in women, and also to check the night urination in children. 10. Cichorium intybus Linn. (Asteraceae), Shahdad 268, “Jugli-hand” Root extract combined with sugary water is given 2 spoons daily at bedtime for 15-20 days for curing typhoid.

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11. Euphorbia helioscopia Linn. (Euphorbiaceae), Shahdad 367, ‘Guri sochol’ Leaves and stem latex are used against ringworm infection. 12. Fragaria nubicola Lindely ex Lacaita, syn. F. vesca var. nubicola Lindl. ex Hook. f. (Rosaceae), Shahdad 59, ‘Budmew’ Rhizomes are used to cure tonsillitis. Fresh rhizome ground to a fine powder and mixed with sugar (2-5 mg daily) for a month. 13. Geranium wallichianum D. Don ex Sweet (Geraniaceae), Shahdad 229, “Ratanjog” Roots are used for general weakness. Roots ground to a powder are mixed with cooked rice, and/or maize bread, with two to three spoons, serve as an effective tonic. The practice is continued for 2-3 weeks, until normal health is regained. 14. Hyoscyamus niger Linn. (Solanaceae), Shahdad 144 “Bazar bang”. An earthen cup coated with mustard oil on the inner side is kept inverted on the burning seeds of the plant. After 2-5 minutes, the smoke is taken in and allowed to remain inside the mouth, without swallowing for half a minute and then expelled. The process is repeated 3-5 times for relieving toothache. 15. Jurinea ceratocarpa (DC.) Benth., syn. Saussurea ceratocarpa Dcne., (Asteraceae), Shahdad 507, “Dhupa”. Dried roots are crushed to derive a black powder, which is mixed with ghee for use as “Kajal” for better eye vision. 16. Mentha arvensis Linn. (Lamiaceae), Shahdad 317, “Pudina”

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Fresh leaves of the plant are crushed to yield an extract, which in small quantity is sipped with tea daily for 1-2 week’s time for curing gastroenteritis. 17. Plectranthus rugosus Wall., syn. Isodon plectranthoides Benth., (Lamiaceae), Shahdad 175, ‘Sloi’ Leaf extract is mixed with hot water or milk to form bitter syrup, which is administered orally as an antidote in snake bite. 18. Rorippa sylvestris (Linn.) Besser, syn. Sisymbrium sylvestris Linn., (Brassicaceae), Shahdad 160, ‘Van telgugal’ Seeds are used for curing headache and common cold. Poultice derived from the crushed seeds is rubbed externally to get relief instantly. 19. Rumex dentatus Linn., syn. R. halacsyi Rech., (Polygonaceae), Shahdad 56, ‘Abuj’ Extract of roots taken in the quantity of two spoons in a cup of tea, two times daily for 15-30 days, for curing constipation. 20. Saussurea costus (C. B. Clarke) Lipsch., syn. S. lappa C. B. Clarke, (Asteraceae), Shahdad 500, “Kouth”. Extract obtained by crushing of roots is mixed with edible oil, the paste is applied for two to three months regularly on weekly basis for curing arthritis. 21. Skimmia arborescens T. Anders. ex Gamble, syn. S. laureola Hook. f. in part non Sieb. & Zucc., (Rutaceae), Shahdad 297, “Naer” (Plate 1). Fresh leaves are crushed to produce an extract, which is taken along with milk to get relief from urinary infections. Smoke of the dried leaves is also used as insect repellent.

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22. Solena amplexicaulis (Lamk.) Gandhi, syn. S. heterophylla (Lour.) Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae,), Shahdad 504, “Khakri” A decoction of rhizomes is used to treat diarrhoea. 23. Urtica dioica Linn. (Urticaceae), Shahdad 375, “Soi” Roots made into a paste in oil are applied to cure rheumatoid pains; and also to heal up minor wounds. 24. Viburnum grandiflorum Wall. ex DC., syn. V. foetens Dcne., (Caprifoliaceae), Shahdad 34, “Kulmanch” Dried seeds are crushed to produce an extract, which is used against whooping cough and other chronic respiratory disorders. 25. Viola odorata Linn. (Violaceae), Shahdad 303, “Bunufsha” Dry flowers are ground with sugar to form a mixture, 2 to 5 gm of such a mixture is taken orally at bedtime for a week to cure respiratory infections. 26. Viscum album Linn. (Loranthaceae), Shahdad 136, “Aal” A decoction made by grinding the whole plant with small quantity of common salt is taken orally as an efficient laxative. Poultice made from the dried parts of the plant is rubbed to heal up the fracture. 27. Ziziphus jujuba Mill., syn. Z. sativa Gaertn., (Rhamnaceae), Shahdad 503, “Singli” Decoction prepared by grinding the seeds in salty water is taken orally, with a dosage of two spoons thrice a day, for two months duration, to recover from jaundice.

Discussion In this paper, 27 angiosperm plant species, belonging to 20 families with currently practiced ethnomedicinal value are listed. A multiple of home remedies are employed for the treatment of common ailments such as fever, headache, dysentery, constipation, and minor injuries. Mostly, the drugs are prepared in the form of paste, powder, poultice, latex, decoction, extracts, smoke, and even as herbal tea. Both fresh and dried parts of plants are used for making drugs in crude form. The methods of use, the dosage and the duration, differ from one herbalist to another, and also from one locality to another. In recent times, serious threats of biopiracy and intellectual property rights (IPRs), with huge economy at stake, have necessitated the early bio-prospecting of the potential medicinal plants used in the folklore32,33. In this process, the first and foremost step would be the documentation of the ethnomedicinal uses of plants, as attempted in the present study, throughout the country. Simultaneously, this indigenous knowledge could be translated into commercial products on industrial scale, and benefit sharing with all stakeholders. Such a strategy would ensure that our bioresources are not pirated. References 1 Sullivan K & Shealy C N, Complete Natural Home Remedies, (Element Books Limited, Shaftesbury, UK), 1997, 3. 2 Singh J S, The biodiversity crisis: A multifaceted review, Curr Sci, 82(6) (2002) 638. 3 Gadgil M, Documenting diversity: An experiment, Curr Sci, 70(1) (1996) 36. 4 Singh J S, Raghubanshi A S & Varshney C K, Integrated biodiversity research in India, Curr Sci, 66(2) (1994) 109.

KHAN et al: ETHNOMEDICINE OF KASHMIR HIMALAYA 5 Utkarsh G M, Gadgil M & Rao P R S, Intellectual property rights on biological resources: Benefiting from biodiversity and peoples knowledge, Curr Sci, 77(11) (1999), 1418. 6 Dhar U, Rawal R S & Upreti J, Setting priorities for conservation of medicinal plants ─ a case study in the Indian Himalaya, J Biol Conserv, 95 (2000) 57. 7 Indian Biodiversity Act, 2002. 8 Indian Patent (Amendments) Act, 2002. 9 Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Protection (PVP) Act, 2001. 10 Dar G H, Bhagat R C, & Khan M A, Biodiversity of Kashmir Himalaya, (Valley Book House, Srinagar, Kashmir), 2001, 120. 11 Chopra I C, Sobti S N & Handa K L, Cultivation of Medicinal Plants in Jammu and Kashmir, (ICAR, New Delhi), 1956, 33. 12 Kapur S K & Sarin Y K, Useful medicinal ferns of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Drugs, 14(7) (1977) 136. 13 Kak A M, Economic value of some of the aquatic plant species of Kashmir, Corsonat, 1(3&4) (1983) 18. 14 Dar G H, Vir Jee, Kachroo P & Buth G M, Ethnobotany of Kashmir-1 Sind Valley, J Econ Tax Bot, 5 (1984) 668. 15 Kachroo P & Nahvi I M, Ethnobotany of Kashmiris, in: Forest Flora of Srinagar and its Neighbourhood, edited by Singh G & Kachroo P, (Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India), 1987, 239. 16 Kaul M K, Singh V & Sharma P K, Home remedies for arthritis in Kashmir Himalaya, Arogya J Health Sci, 16 (1990) 81. 17 Kaul M K, Singh V, Sharma P K & Bhatia A K, Ethno-botanic studies in Northwest- and Trans-Himalaya -11, Approaches to the study of ethnobotany towards the human welfare in remote northwest- and Trans-Himalaya, J Econ Tax Bot, 14(2) (1990) 271. 18 Ara S & Naqshi A R, Ethnobotanical studies in Gurais Valley, J Econ Tax Bot, 17(3) (1992) 657. 19 Ara S & Naqshi, A R, Ethnobotanical studies in Gurais Valley, J Econ Tax Bot, 10 (1992) 185.

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20 Naqshi A R, Baba M Y & Ara S, Ethnobotanical studies of Kashmir ─ Jhelum Valley, Proceedings of Recent advances in Medicinal, Aromatic, and Spice crops in India, New Delhi, (1992), 371. 21 Navchoo I A & G M Buth, Studies on the medicinal plants used by Gujjar, a backward tribe of Jammu and Kashmir, in: Advances in Plant Science Research, edited by Sahni K C, (Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India), 1, 1994, 191. 22 Kaul M K & Gaur R D, Characteristics of ethnopharmacological resources in Kashmir Himalaya, in: Glimpses of Indian Ethnopharmacology, edited by Pushpangadan P, Neyman U, George V, (TBGRI, Trivandrum, India), 1995 185. 23 Kaul M K, Medicinal Plants of Kashmir and Ladakh, Temperate and Cold Arid Himalaya, (Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi), 1997, 87. 24 Anonymous, Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladakh, New Delhi, 1974, 10. 25 Husain M, Geography of Jammu and Kashmir, (Rajesh Publications, New Delhi), 2001, 15. 26 Jain S K, Ethnobotany: its scope and study, Indian Museum Bull, 2 (1967), 39. 27 Trotter R T, Folk remedies: As indicators of common illness, Examples from the United States Mexico Border, J Ethnopharmacol, 4 (1981), 207. 28 Croom E M, Documenting and evaluating herbal remedies, Econ Bot, 37 (1983) 13. 29 Stewart R R, An Annotated catalogue of the Vascular Plants of West Pakistan and Kashmir, (Fakhri Press, Karachi, Pakistan), 1972. 30 Fascicles, Flora of India, (Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, India), (1996 onwards). 31 Fascicles, Flora of West Pakistan/Pakistan, edited by Nasir E & Ali S I/ Ali S I & Nasir Y/ Ali S I & Qaiser M, (Fakhri Press Karachi/Rawalpindi, Pakistan), (1970 onwards). 32 Utkarsh G, Patenting life? Biodiversity and Intellectual Property Rights, Resonance, (2001) 51. 33 Hariharan G N & Balaji P, Taxonomic research in India: future prospects, Curr Sci, 83(9) (2002) 1068.