International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 3(10), 6-12, October (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 6 Studies on Traditional Knowledge of Ethnomedicinal Plants in Jawalamukhi, Himachal Pradesh, IndiaSharma Arti1*, Santvan Virender Kumar, Sharma Pooja1 and Chandel Sangeeta3 Singhania University, Rajasthan, INDIA Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies (UGC Centre of excellence), Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, INDIA DFO (HQ) o/o CF, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 2nd April 2014, revised 16th June 2014, accepted 9th August 2014Abstract Himachal Pradesh, a western Himalayan state is a rich store house of medicinal plants. The people of the state have great faith in effectiveness of medicinal herbs. This traditional system of medicine is fast disappearing due to relatively low income in this tradition and scarcity of written documents. The present study was carried out to explore traditional medicinal knowledge of plants of Jawalamukhi shakti peeth, Himachal Pradesh. It was found that 25 different plants belonging to 20 families are used to treat various diseases. Keywords: Traditional knowledge, Medicinal plants, JawalamukhiIntroductionEthnobotany is the study of relationship between plants and people. Since prehistoric times medicinal plants have been used virtually in all cultures as a source of medicine. The main traditional medicinal system includes ayurveda, sidha and unani. The rigveda, dating between 3500B.C. to 1800B.C, is the earliest recorded information on medicinal plants. India is one of the 17 mega biodiversity countries in the world. It has 45000 plant species, out of which 15000-20000 plants have medicinal values. In India, plants have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient time, as mentioned in Ayurveda. The luxurious and diverse flora of India represents an invaluable repository of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants have served as the main source of medicine in India. Medicinal plants are used for preventive, promotive and curative purposes. Medicinal plants have been preliminary selected on the basis of local traditional knowledge. The traditional system of medicine along with folklore tradition continues to benefit a large section of the population, especially in rural areas, despite the arrival of the modern medicine. The traditional knowledge of herbs is famous among the indigenous and local people. The traditional healers are the main source of information on medicinal importance of plants. The rural population has immense faith for traditional and magical herbs. The rural people have traditional indigenous knowledge about the use of medicinal plants to cure various diseases. Traditional indigenous knowledge comprises practices based on observations10. During the last few decades, there has been an increasing interest in the study of medicinal plants and their indigenous uses in different parts of the world. Medicinal plants have been used for research in both systematic and advanced field of plant sciences11. Documentation of such indigenous knowledge is essential for conservation and utilization of biological resources12. The Himalaya have great wealth of medicinal flora and traditional folklore medicinal knowledge. Himachal Pradesh, a Western Himalayan state is a reservoir of medicinal plants. Himachal Pradesh is also well known medicinal plant hot spot in the western Himalaya that has rich diversity of flora13-14. Ethnobotanical work in Himachal Pradesh was done by several workers14-20. Jawalamukhi, is a temple town located in tehsil Jawalamukhi of district kangra, Himachal Pardesh. It lies between 76°32 East longitude and 31°88 North latitude. This holy place is one of the Shakti peeths of India and is famous for temple dedicated to goddess Jawalamukhi, the deity with flaming mouth. The track is covered by Kalidhar range and the elevation is 500-650meters above sea level. This region is rich in diverse flora and suitable for ethnobotanical exploration. Keeping in mind, the medicinal importance of plants among local people, the present study was undertaken to study Ethnobotany of Jwalamukhi, District Kangra. Methodology The study area, Jawalamukhi is situated in the Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh (figure-1). Ethnomedicinal data was collected according to the methodology suggested by Jain and Goel21. Several ethnobotanical survey was conducted during the period of 2012-2013. Local healers called vaids, gujjar community, native people and resource persons mainly woman, using medicinal plants for curing various diseases were interviewed for documenting the information in their local dialect (Kangari). International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(10), 6-12, October (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 7 The collected specimens were identified taxonomically with the help of Flora Simlensis22 and Flowers of the Himalaya23. The Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University (Shimla), Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies, Himachal Pradesh University (Shimla) and Forest Research Institute, Shimla were also visited for verification of identified plants. Data was tabulated with plant name, Family, local name, part used and folk use (table 1). Results and Discussion In the present study, 30 plants species belonging to 22 families were reported after undertaking the survey and having conversation with elder persons of various age groups (figure 4 and 5). It was found that dominated medicinal plants of this region are main source of primary health care (table 1). Majority of the elder persons have sound knowledge of medicinal plants and use these plants in their daily life. These plants are used in the forms of decoction, juice, powder, paste and whole plant extract. Plants of family Euphorbiaceae were largely represented (5 sp.) followed by Asteraceae, Solanaceae, and Menispermaceae (2 sp. each). The rest of the families recorded one species only (figure 2). These medicinal plants are mainly used for the treatment of mouth ulcer, body pain, cough, bronchitis, piles, asthma, flatulence, pimples, dysentery, constipation, headache, stomache, leucoderma, gum problem, knee pain, tetanus and wounds healing. Leaf was the most widely used plant part accounting for 14 species in a total of 30 reported plants. This was followed by root and seed (6 species each), stem (3 species), whole plant and flower (2 species each) and inflorescence (1 species) (figure 3). Figure-1 Location Map of Jawalamukhi (District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh) International Research Journal of Biological Sciences __________________________ Vol. 3(10), 6-12, October (2014) International Science Congress Association Family wise distribution of ethnomedicinal plants recorded from Jawalamukhi (H.P.) Use of different plant parts for the treatment of various diseases recorded from 0123456 Plant species (Number)   \n  \r \r\r \r Plant part used International Research Journal of Biological Sciences __________________________ ______________________ International Science Congress Association Figure-2 Family wise distribution of ethnomedicinal plants recorded from Jawalamukhi (H.P.) Figure-3 Use of different plant parts for the treatment of various diseases recorded from Jawalamukhi (H.P.) Family Name     \n  \r \r\r \r Percentages ______________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. 8 Family wise distribution of ethnomedicinal plants recorded from Jawalamukhi (H.P.) Jawalamukhi (H.P.)  International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(10), 6-12, October (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 9 Table-1 List of plant used as traditional medicine recorded from Jawalamukhi (H.P.) Sr. No. Botanical Name Vernacular Name Family Part Used Ethnobotanical uses 1 Achyranthes aspera Linn.Puthkanda Amaranthaceae Leaf Leaves chewed for mouth ulcer 2 Adhatoda vasica Nees Basuti Acanthaceae Leaf Poultice of the leaves used for body pain 3 Boerhavia diffusa Linn. Itsit Nyctaginaceae Root, Leaf Root paste mixed with honey to cure cough. Leaves used as vegetables, useful for body pain 4 Bombax ceiba Linn. Simal Bombacaceae Root Roots used for asthma and piles 5 Bryonopsis laciniosa Linn.Shivlingi Cucurbitaceae Seed Seeds used for fever and flatulence 6 Butea monosperma (Lam.) KuntzePlah Fabaceae Seed Seeds powder given to expel worms 7 Celastrus paniculatus Willd.Sankhiran Celastraceae Seed Powdered seed used in cough and bronchitis 8 Centella asiatica Linn.Brahmi Apiaceae Leaf Powdered leaves with cow’s milk improve memory 9 Cissampelos pareira Linn.Patindu Menispermaceae Leaf Heated leaves applied to cure pimples Leaves useful against dysentery 10 Cordia dichotoma Forst. f.Lasura Cordiaceae Leaf Leaf ashes mixed with honey recommended for constipation 11 Cymbopogon martini Stapf.Makora gha Poaceae Root, Leaves Roots and leaves as an effective remedy for urine blockage 12 Eclipta alba (Linn.)Hassk. Bhringraj Asteraceae Leaf Dry leaves mixed with black pepper used against piles. Leaf paste applied on stomach to cure stomache 13 Euphorbia geniculata Ort. ex Boiss.Badi dudhli Euphorbiaceae Leaf Leaf paste used to cure leucoderma 14 Euphorbia hirta Linn. Choti dudhli Euphorbiaceae Leaf Chewing of leaves used for dysentery 15 Jatropha curcas Linn. Jablota Euphorbiaceae Stem Twig used as a toothbrush, good for dental caries 16 Melia azedarach Linn. Drek Meliaceae Seed Dried seed powder used for bloody piles 17 Mucuna pruriens DC. Gajal bael Fabaceae Seed Seeds fried in cow’s ghee and used for obesity. Seed soup used for bodyache 18 Oroxylum indicum Vent.Tatpalanga Bignoniaceae Root Root decoction prescribed for mouth ulcer 19 Oxalis corniculata Linn.Malori Oxalidaceae Leaf Leaf paste used for gum problems 20 Phyllanthus niruri Linn.Bhumiamla Euphorbiaceae Whole plant Juice of whole plant mixed with doob grass recommended for ulcer 21 Plumbago zeylanica Linn. Chitra Plumbaginaceae Root Root paste used for toothache 22 Portulaca oleracea Linn. Kulfa Portulacaceae Leaf Leaves used as vegetables and good source of VitaminC 23 Putranjiva roxburghii Wall.Patajen Euphorbiaceae Seed Seed paste useful against headache Powdered seed used for knee pain 24 Solanum nigrum Linn. Khatmalu Solanaceae Whole plant Decoction of whole plant used for liver infection and kidney stones 25 Solanum viarum Dun.Jungali bhindi Solanaceae Root Roots used for piles 26 Spilanthes oleracea Linn. Akarkara Asteraceae Inflorescence Inflorescence used for gum inflammation 27 Tinospora cordifolia (Willd) Miers. Giloe Menispermaceae Stem Stem decoction given to treat diabetes and arthritis 28 Verbascum thapsus Linn.Jungali tambakoo Scrophulariaceae Flower, Leaf Smoke of flowers and leaves useful for asthma 29 Vitex negundo Linn. Bana Verbenaceae Leaf Boiled leaves used for body swelling Leaf juice used against tetnus 30 Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz.Dhavi Lythraceae Flower, Stem Flowers powder used against dysentery Stem paste used for healing wounds International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(10), 6-12, October (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 10 Achyranthes aspera Adhatoda vasica Boerhavia diffusa Bombax ceiba Bryonopsis ceiba Celastrus paniculata Centella asiatica Cissampelos pareira Eclipta alba Euphorbia geniculata Jatropha curcas Mucuna pruriens Figure-4 International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(10), 6-12, October (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 11 Oroxylum indicum Oxalis corniculata Phyllanthus niruri Plumbago zeylanica Portulaca oleracea Putranjiva roxburghii Solanum viarumSpilanthes oleracea Tinospora cordifolia Verascum thapsus Vitex negundo Woodfordia fruticosa Figure-5 International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(10), 6-12, October (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 12 ConclusionThe present study shows that Jawalamukhi region is rich with valuable medicinal flora and people are enriched with folk traditional knowledge about these herbs. Though this knowledge is passing orally from one generation to another but it has not been documented yet. So documentation of this knowledge is necessary for safeguarding this valuable information for the well being of future generation. All these plants need to be evaluated through phyto and pharmaco investigation to discover their potentiality as drugs. The present study will provide new incentive to the traditional system of healthcare and also will be helpful for researcher and pharmaceutical industries to find out the other uses of plants which would be helpful to modern healthcare system. 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