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MEDICO BOTANICAL SURVEY OF POHRA FOREST (AMARAVATI DISTRICT)
Shubhangi Nagorao Ingole
Department of Botany,
Bar. R.D.I.K. and N.K.D. College Badnera-Amravati, Maharashtra (India)
ABSTRACT
Nature has provided a complete store house of remedies to cure all ailments of mankind. In recent times, there has
been a global trend towards herbal medicines as they are safe and effective. Hence the expanding domestic and
global demand of herbal products has put the native medicinal plant resources under significant stress. Wild
populations of many medicinal plant species those growing inside the forests as well as outside forests have
depleted to such an extent that their survival has become a cause of concern. In this context, it is mandatory to
explore the medicinal plant species and know them and their status which are occurring in our areas. The
unscientific methodology and knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses have been verbally passed by rustic and
tribals from generation to generation and not well documented. Hence it is essential to make documentation of such
important information on medicinal plants and to focus the study on the medicinal properties of different plant
species during visit of Pohra forest of Amravati district of Maharashtra in the present attempt.
KEYWORDS: Amravati, medicinal plants, Pohra.
INTRODUCTION
Nature has provided a complete store-house of remedies to cure all ailments of mankind. The history of herbal
medicines is as old as human civilization. In recent times, there has been a global trend towards herbal medicines,
because synthetic drugs are causing hazardous side effects and the herbal drugs are proved to be safe, balanced and
effective. In this context, it is mandatory to explore the medicinal plants species and know them which are occurring in
our areas. There is rich knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses with tribals and villagers but it is not well
documented and only verbally passed from one generation to other. Hence, it is essential to make a documentation of
such important information on medicinal plants. Therefore, present study is focused on documentation of medicinal
plants and their medicinal properties during the survey of some part of Pohra Forest of Amravati district. Amravati
district is a part of Vidarbha in Maharashtra State (India) located in its north region. Pohra forest is located in Amravati
district. Amravati city situated between latitude 200 56’ and 200 93’ north and 770 47’ and 770 75’ East longitude. This
is biodiversitywise rich area having number of angiospermic plant species and diverse grasses.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A preliminary survey was made in concern region for important medicinal plants. The plant survey trips were
undertaken in such a way that all the seasons of the year could be covered. The plants were preserved by usual
standard methods or rare plants were photographed and proceeded for further identification, nomenclature and
confirmation by referring standard and renowned floras and herbaria viz., Flora of British India (1883), Cooke (1908),
Flora of Amravati district (1986), Flora of Maharashtra (2001). Queries were made to local people, villagers and tribals
for their local names and medicinal uses. Medicinal uses of important plants also searched from literature concerning to
medicinal plants such as Chopra et al. (1956), Kirtikar and Basu (1993), Daniel et al. (2007).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In the present study, the total number of 31 prevalent medicinal plants belonging to different angiospermic families
have been recorded (Table 1 and Figure 1 to 30). In enumeration, taxa are arranged alphabetically. Besides botanical
names, common and local names, habit, uses and phenology have also been given for almost each taxon. The data
shows that the informers have sound information. It is sure that plants of this area are definitely having medicinal
properties and this region represents rich flora but due to various threats, natural resources are bound to diminish.
Utilization of medicinal plants in Indian system of medicine needs scientific inputs for conservation and sustainable
utilization of this heritage and can contribute significantly to India’s own healthcare needs. This would require both in
situ and ex-situ conservation strategies.
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Table 1. Showed medicinal plants belonging to different angiospermic families
S.
N.
1
Botanical
Name
Achyranthus
aspera L.
Common
Name
Pricklychaff
flower
Local
Name
Aghada
Family
Uses
Amaranthaceae
2
Aegle
marmelos (L.)
Corr.
Azadirachta
indica A. Juss.
Bambusa
arundinacea
(Ritz.) Willd.
Wood
apple
Bel
Rutaceae
Prennial,
much
branched
erect herb
Tree
Margosa
Meliaceae
Cane
Kadunim
ba
Bamboo,
Kalak,
Kashti
Offered to Lord Ganesha; against
piles, dog bite, leaves extract and ash for
toothache, leaves decoction for kidney,
stem for cleaning teeth.
Decoction of bark of ‘Bel’ and
‘Jambhul’ given as remedy for
menstrual irregularities.
Antiseptic, bark paste on wounds.
Poaceae
In worms, tonsils.
Tall grass
5
Biophytum
sensitivum DC
Biophytum
---
Oxalidaceae
Annual herb
up to 10 cm.
6
Butea
monosprma
(Lam.) Taub.
Flame
Forest
Palas
Fabaceae
7
Caesalpinia
bonduc (L.)
Roxb.
Capparis
zeylanica L.
---
Sagargota
Caesalpiniaceae
Tonic & nervous stimulant. Fresh
juice given to children to induce
sleep. Plant ash mixed with citrus
juice for curing stomachache, in
chest complaints, inflammatory
tumours, cramps and convulsions.
Root smear for eye diseases, floral
extract for veneral, skin diseases,
young roasted leaves for abdominal
pain.
Leaf juice on Haemorrhage and
Leprosy.
---
Waghati
Capparaceae
Commiphora
wightii (Arn.)
Bhandari syn.
C.
mukul
(Hook.
Ex
stocks) Engl.
Crotalaria
leptoscachya
Bth.
---
Guggal
Burscraceae
---
Khulkhuli
, Tag
Fabaceae
Cynodon
dactylon (L.)
Pers
Cyperus
esculentus L.
Brmuda
grass
Durva
Poaceae
Bulb grass,
Tiger nut
---
Cyperaceae
Digra muricata
(L.) Mart. syn.
Digera
arvensis
Forssk.
Enicostema
axillare
(Lam.) Raynal
Euphorbia
thymifolia L.
---
Kunjar
Amaranthaceae
---
Nail
Small
Euphorbia
Laghudud
hika
3
4
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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of
Habit
Tree
Flowers &
Fruits
July –
October
April –
November
April –
May
Once in a life
(After 100 years)
September
–
May
July –
November
Tree
March –
May
Armed
straggler
August –
February
Leaf juice given in morning on
Jaundice, leaves on diarrhoea of
animals.
Rheumatism, headache.
Tree
February –
April
Shrub
March –
May
Mixture of extract of roots and
Withania roots and cow milk on
Leucorrhoea.
Flowers
on
rheumatism.
Decoction is diuretic, rhizomes on
genito-urinary disorders, meningitis,
Hiccup, cooling effect.
Tuber acrid, galactagogue, astringent
has cooling effect and also as an
aphrodisiac.
Shrub
October –
November
Runner
Throughout the
year
September
November
Rheumatism.
Growing to
height of 15
cm in small
clumps
Annual herb
Gentianaceae
On chronic fever.
Herb
July –
November
Euphorbiaceae
For external application for curing
ringworms, leaves are stimulant and
astringent, seeds laxative and
antihelminthic.
Herb
Throughout the
year
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–
July –
December
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Table 1. Continued…..
S.
N.
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Botanical Name
Common
Name
---
Sher
Euphorbiaceae
Skin diseases.
Indigofera tinctoria
L.
Lantana camara L.
---
Nil
Fabaceae
On fever, hair dye.
Wild sage
Raimuni
Verbenaceae
Shrub
Pergularia daemia
(Forssk.) Choiv.
Phoenix sylvestris
(L.) Roxb.
Phyllanthus
amarus Schem &
Thonn
---
Utran
Asclepiadaceae
---
Shindi
Arecacae
Plant
extract
carminative,
antispasmodic,
diaphoretic.
Decoction given in malaria,
rheumatism and tetanus.
Leaf juice externally applied
against skin diseases.
On urine trouble.
Phyllanthus
Lillput amla
Euphorbiaceae
Delicate
annual herb
Physalis angulata
L.
Sonchus oleraceus
L.
---
Fataka
Solanaceae
Sow thistle
Mhatara
Asteraceae
Fresh juice excellent remedy
for bleeding gums. It is diuretic,
astringent and cooling effect on
body, useful in jaundice.
In several Ayurvedic tonic,
stimulate milk secretion.
Roots used in liver disorders,
leaves having tonic properties.
Tectona grandis L.
f.
Tephrosia
purpurea (L.) Pers.
Teak
Sag, Sagwan
Verbenaceae
Snake bite.
Robust annual
herb 50 – 130
cm
Tree
Wild Indigo
Sharapunkha
Fabaceae
Terminalia cuneata
Roth.
syn.
Terminalia arjuna
(Roxb. ex DC.)
Wight Arn.
Terminalia
bellirica (Gaertn.)
Roxb.
Terminalia chebula
Retz.
Vernonia cinerea
(L.) Less.
Xanthium indicum
Koen.
syn.
Xanthium
strumarium L.
---
Arjun, Kahu
Combretaceae
Decoction of plant to kill
intestinal worms. Plant is tonic,
laxative,
deobstruent
and
diuretic, useful in bronchitis.
Hypertension, rheumatism.
Sub-erect
much
branched
shrub
Tree
---
Behada
Combretaceae
Digestiv
disorder,
diphtheria.
Tree
March –
November
---
Hirda
Combretaceae
Digestive disorder, cough.
Tree
---
Sahadevi
Asteraceae
Typhoid, goiter.
Herb
Burweed
Gokharu,
Shankeshvar
Asteraceae
The
plant
is
diuretic,
diaphoretic,
sedative
and
emollient.
Leaf
decoction
useful in chronic malaria and
urinary diseases. Seeds yield
medicinal oil ‘Gokharu’.
Annual herb
up to 130 cm
February –
May
July –
February
January –
May
Euphorbia tirucalli
L.
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Local Name
Family
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Uses
Habit
Phylloclade
articulated
and succulent
Shrub
cough,
Twining under
shrub
Palm
Herb
Flowers &
Fruits
August –
September
August –
February
Throughout
the year
March –
December
January –
October
Throughout
the year
August –
November
September –
May
July –
September
August –
October
February –
November
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PLATE 1 (Figures 1 - 6)
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PLATE 2 (Figures 7 - 12)
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PLATE 3 (Figures 13 - 18)
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PLATE 4 (Figures 19 - 24)
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PLATE 5 (Figures 25 - 30)
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REFERENCES
Bentham G. and Hooker J.D. (1883). Genera plantarum, Vol. 3. London.
Chopra R.N., Nayar S.L. and Chopra I.C. (1956). Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, CSIR, New Delhi.
Cooke T. (1958). The flora of the Presidency of Bombay, Vol. 1 and 2. London.
Daniel M., Arya Arun and Raole V.M. (2007). Herbal Technology Recent Trends and Progress.
Kirtikar K.R. and Basu (1993). Indian Medicinal Plants, 2nd Edition.
Singh N.P. and Karthikeyan S. (2001). Flora of Maharashtra State, Vol. 1, 2, 3. Botanical Survey of India
Publication.
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