Ethno-medicinal studies on some important medicinal plants used by the tribals of North- Kashmir

The present ethno medicinal study had been conducted in the northern region of Kashmir Himalayas. The area lies between 330- 22'& 370 – 06' N and 720 -30' & 770 – 03' E. During the course of floristic survey ethno-medicinal observations was recorded form the tribal areas of the region. Some interesting and highly efficacies claims have emerged as the lone and dependable resource of healthcare among the hill communities, folk claims covering important 80 medicinal plant species representing 43 families and distributed over 72 genera had been identified with their distinguishing characters viz. botanical name, local name, family and ethno-medicinal data. The documentation and inventorisation of these folk claims need to popularize and develop medicines on scientific lines.
Introduction

Human culture has been augmented by plants and plant products since time immemorial. The ancient Indians were acquainted with larger number of plants than the natives of any other country. This is evident from the ancient Indian treatise such as Materia Medica, Nighantus and Koshas. According to Ayurvedic Materia Media there is no plant on earth which does not gave medicinal value. India is amongst the most important medicinal plant collection centers of world. Over 500 million people receive the benefits of traditional knowledge with nearly 460,000 practitioners of traditional system of medicine therefore; it occupies a premier position in the use of herbal drugs utilizing nearly 2500 plant species of different formulations. Over 7,500 species of plants are estimated to be used by 4,635 ethnic communities for human and veterinary health care across the various ecosystems from trans Himalayas to southern tips and from the West-cost to four corners of the North-Eastern of India. Kashmir valley being the part of Himalayan mountains reveals a wide diversity of medicinal plants which are using since ages. The region has been regarded as veritable emporium of plant genetic resources especially the medicinal and aromatic plants. Although some work has already been conducted on the ethno-botanical aspect of the region [Sharma and Jamwal, 1988 (Lidder valley); Battacharyya, 1989 (ladakh); Ara and Naqshi, 1992 (Guraz valley); Kual et al., 1994 (Doda); Singh, 1995 (Kashmir Himalayas); Kapur, 1995 (Bhaderwah hills); Sharma, 2002 (Little Tibet); Lone, 2003 (Uri sector)]. There has been no comprehensive inventory of medicinal plants used by ethnic tribals and caste communities of north Kashmir. The study exclusively aimed the documentation of folk lore of northern region of Kashmir valley. The study resulted in the regeneration of data regarding the use of some important medicinal plants against the ailments prevailing in the area along with mode of administration.
Material and Methods

The Himalaya is known for its loftiest and longest mountain ranges in the world. Kashmir is one of the provinces of Jammu & Kashmir State in the laps of Himalaya decorated with snow covered, silver-headed mountains, magical halcyon lakes and green grass lands. The study area falls in North Kashmir lies between 330- 22'& 370 – 06' N and 720 -30' & 770 – 03' E and comprises of district Baramulla and Kupwara. The ethno-medicinally important areas were selected for the study in both districts (Table 1.)


Table 1. The sites selected for ethno-medicinal studies in North Kashmir.

Baramulla	Kupwara
1	Tangmerg	Kalaroce
2	Yarikheh	Khurhama
3	Buniyar	Tangdhar
4	Shadara	Keran
5	Bonakote	Jumgund
6	Wanpora	Budnamel

The areas/sites were visited regularly for one year with special emphasis to the period of collection/extraction of plants from forests. Professional herbalists, occasional practitioners and experienced established prescribers were approached, brought into confidence and interviewed. The herbalists helped to collect the desired herbal materials from their respective forests. The common name of the plant, medicinal use, part used and mode of administration were recorded for each claim. Each specimen were identified and deposited in Herbarium.

Results and Discussion

The north Kashmir harbors a rich variety of ethnically valuable plants. During the survey 80 folk claims were recorded representing 43 families and distributed over 72 genera with some cultivated medicinal plants at local level. (Table 2.).


Table 2: Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used in tribal areas of North-Kashmir.

S. No.	Botanical name	Local Name	Family		Ethno-medicinal data
					Indication	Part (s) used	Mode of administration
1	Acorus calamus	Vai	Araceae	C	Stomach pain, diarrhoea, fever, rheumatism, liver and kidney trouble, insecticide	RS	Root is used in the powdered form. A paste of the powdered is also made in ghee.
2	Aconitum heterophyllum	Patris	Ranunculaceae	W	Diarrhoea, dysentery, high fever, throat swelling, vomitting, cough, stomach, abdominal pain	RS	The root is used in the form of pieces or powder or as an extract.
3	Adiantum capillusveneris	Geutheer	Adiantaceae	W	Expectorant, hair tonic, stomach pains	WP	Paste or extract. The paste is made in ghee and is applied externally on affected parts.
4	Ajuga bracteosa	Jain-i-adam	Lamiaceae	W	Blood purifier, fever, rheumatism, hair-tonic, abdominal pain, wounds	WP	The extract of herb and paste is used. The dried powder and ghee is mixed to make paste.
5	Amaranthus caudatus	Leesa	Amaranthaceae	C	Expectorant, high fever	WP	The extract of leaves and inflorescence are used. The herb is used as a vegetable.
6	Anagallis arvensis	Chaire seben	Primulaceae	W	Allergy	WP	Extract of the herb is mixed with ghee and applied for killing lice. The extract is also used against the allergy.
7	Angelica glauca	Chorche	Apiaceae	W	Expectorant, dysentery, vomitting, influenza, asthma.	RS	The root is dried and made into a powder. Also used as a spice.
8	Althaea rosa	Saze posh	Malvaceae	W&C	Throat swelling and infection, asthma, cough, uninary irritation	FL RS	The dried flowers are kept closed in a tin for 10-40 days and made into a "Khambir". The root is crushed to make powder. The paste of flower also made by mixing it with ghee.
9	Asplenium falcatum	Dade	Filicinae	W	Burn, expectorant, headache, sterility in women	WP	The herb is dried and crushed into powder; the powder is mixed with ghee to make the paste. The whole herb is boiled in water and then the water is used as extract.
10	Atropa acuminata	Brand	Solanaceae	W	Asthma, Rheumatic pain, eye disease, cough	RS & LE	The root is dried and powdered and mixed with oil or ghee to make paste. The extract of leaves is also used.
11	Berberis aristata	Dandleder	Berberidaceae	W	Jaundices, back pain, weakness, fractures	BR	The bark of the root is dried and crushed to make powder. The powder is taken orally.
12	Bergenia Ciliata	Pulfort/ Zakhmi hayat	Saxifragaceae	W&C	Wounds, internal injury, acidity, dysentery, cough, fever, headache	RS	The root is dried and crushed to make powder. The powder and oil or ghee is mixed to make it paste.
13	Chenopodium botrys	Kulkuli akh	Chenopodiaceae	W	Asthma, expectorant, stomach diseases, antihelmintic weakness, vomiting	WP	The extract is prepared.
14	Cuscuta reflexa	Kul kuli pot	Cuscutaceae	W	Fever, skin disease, swelling of testicles, falling of hairs, sores, headache	WP	The herb is dried and crushed into powder and mixed with ghee or oil to make paste. An extract is prepared from the crushed herb.
15	Protulaca oleracea	Nuneer	Protulacaceae	W&C	Ulcers, liver, heart, kidney and bladder diseases, cough	WP	Taken as a vegetable. Also the juice is extracted from herb.
16	Datura stramonium	Datur	Solanaceae	W	Intoxicating, asthma, teeth pain, loss of hairs and dandruff, anti-septic, narcotic	WP	The leaves and seeds are dried for making powder. The whole plant is crushed and extract is prepared, the powder is mixed with oil or ghee to make paste.
17	Arnebia benthamii	Kah zaban	Boraginaceae	W	Diseases of tongue throat and heart, fever, expectorant	LE	The decoction of leaves is used.
18	Anaphalis nubigena	Daderi Dawa	Asteraceae	W	Skin eruptions, wounds.	WP	The herb is dried and crushed into powder mixed with ghee or oil to make paste.
19	Artemisia absinthium	Teethwan	Asteraceae	W&C	Abdominal pain, chronic fever	WP	The plant is crushed and extract is obtained.
20	Adiantum venustum	Kackyew	Filicinae	W	Diarrhoea, digestive, stomach pain, diuretic, expectorant	F	The whole fern is crushed and extract is obtained for subsequent use.
21	Allium stoliczka	Schothach	Liliaceae	W	Hepatitis-B, abdominal gas, stomach pain, hypertension and hypotension	WP	The plant is crushed and extract made out of it.
22	Cannabis sativa	Bang or charis	Cannabinaceae	W	Diarrhoea, cholera, rheumatism, wormicide, skin disease, narcotic	WP	The leaves are bruised and smoked by people. The leaves and stem are crushed and made into a powder, mixed with ghee to make paste and extract is also obtained from it.
23	Hypericum perforatum	Therma	Hypericaceae	W	General weakness, rheumatism, urinary irritation	WP	The herb is dried and crushed to make tea.
24	Iris nepalensis	Mazermund	Iridaceae	C	Rheumatic pain, expectorant, swelling in throat	RS	The root is dried, crushed to make powder. The powder and ghee is to make paste. The root is also cut into small pieces and dried.
25	Lamium album	Zakhmi Dawa	Lamiaceae	W	Wounds, burns, bleeding of nose	WP	The whole plant is crushed and extract is obtained. The herb is also dried and powdered. The powder is mixed with oil to make a paste.
26	Matricaria chamomilla	Fuck gass	Asteraceae	W	Insecticide and fungicide	WP	The whole plant is crushed or ground and extract is obtained.
27	Parrotiopsis jaequemontiana	Poh	Hamameli daceae	W	Skin infection and eruptions; general body pain	ST	The stem is pressed by hot iron, and the oil is extracted from it.
28	Rumex acetosa	Abjie	Polygonaceae	W	Chest involvement, astringent and hardness of muscles, asthma, skin disease	WP	As a vegetable in juvenile stage. The plant is dried and crushed to make powder, which is mixed with oil, or ghee to make paste, sometimes the herb is crushed and extract is obtained.
29	Valeriana jatamansi	Mushkbala/ Budjeeth	Valerianaceae	W&C	Abdominal pain, wormicide, heart disease, diarrhea, dysentery	RS	Either the extract or the powder of the root is used
30	Robina pseudoacacia	Kekar	Papilionaceae	C	Wounds, digestive disorders, poison	LE	The leaves are crushed and made into a paste. Sometimes juice is extracted from leaves; the leaves are poisonous to poultry.
31	Salvia moorcroftiana	Gankual	Lamiaceae	W	Cough, stomach pain, dewormis, wounds, chronic infection of skin, dysentry, high fever	WP	The root is dried, then crushed and made into a powder. Extract of the whole plant is also used.
32	Sonchrus oleraceus	Dudije	Asteraceae	W&C	Internal ulcer, high fever, indigestion, infection	WP	It is used as vegetable by women after delivery. In addition an extract is prepared out of the plant.
33	Salvia sclarea	Buder tunde	Lamiaceae	W	Wounds, burns	WP	The whole plant is crushed into a powder which is mixed with ghee or oil to make paste.
34	Solanum nigrum	Kumb kual.	Solancceae	W	Abdominal pain, narcotic, heart diseases, antiperiodic, hepatitis	WP	The seeds and leaves are crushed and decoction is made. The extract is also prepared from it.
35	Cichorium intybus	Saze hand/ Kaw hand	Asteraceae	W	Rheumatic pain, high fever. Internal ulcer, stomach diseases , blood purifier	WH	The whole plant is crushed and made into a powder or decoction. The leaves are also used as vegetables to women after delivery.
36	Equisetum arvense	Sategandie/ Gandum Gud	Equisetaceae	W	Acidity, weakness, kidney infection. Scabies, toothaches	WH	An extract is made and also used in powder.
37	Foeniculum vulgare	Jangli bodian	Apiaceae	W	Disease of chest, spleen and kidney, vormicide	SE	The seeds are ground to make powder or used as such. The powder is mixed with warm water.
38	Fragaria vesca	Maw kual	Rosaceae	W	Rheumatism, General weakness	RS	The root is dried and cut into pieces.
39	Geranium wallichianum	Rathen joth	Geraniaceae	W	Weakness, Rheumatism, diarrhoea, infection of throat, toothache. It is applied externally on the eyelids to remove black scars around eyelids.	RS	The root is ground or crushed and an extract prepared with warm water. The root is also made into tea.
40	Malva neglecta	Sochal	Malvaceae	W&C	Stomach cramps, nerve tonic, wounds, swellings, cough and ulcer, appetizer	LE	The leaves are used as vegetables. They are also made into decoction, or paste by crushing and mixing with ghee or oil. The leaves are also crushed and extract is made out of them.
41	Malva sylvestris	Gur sachal	Malvaceae	W	Stomach cramps, diarrhoea, dysentery	WP	The root is made into powder or extract of whole plant is used.
42	Mentha arvensis	Pudina	Lamiaceae	W& C	Asthma, cough, rheumatism, indigestion, diarrhoea	WP	An extract, decoction or paste of the herb is used.
43	Nepeta cataria	Gand soi	Lamiaceae	C	High fever, worms, wounds, abdominal pain, dysentery	WP	The whole plant is crushed and extract is collected. A paste is also made from it. The leaves are chewed.
44	Plectranthus rugosus	Solie	Lamiaceae	W& C	Snake bites, insect bite, abdominal pain, and ophthalmic disease	LE	Leaves are taken orally, leaves are also crushed and then extract is collected and used.
45	Podophyllum hexandrum	Wan wagun	Podophyllaceae	W	Acidity, diarrhoea, tumor, heart abnormalities and chronic constipation	RS & FR	The juice of fruit and seed extract is used. The root is also crushed, mixed with warm water and filtered. The filtrate is then used.
46	Polygonum amplexicaulis	Machrum chaay	Polygonaceae	W	Rheumatism, headache, whitening of tongue, high fever, coldness, stomach pain, indigestion	RS	Tea is made out of its roots or shoots.
47	Potentilla fruiticosa	Jangli saban	Rosaceae	W	High fever, antibacterial, allergy	WP	Extract of whole plant is used. It is also made into a paste by mixing with ghee.
48	Phytolacca acinosa	Hapat Chuiri	Phytolaccaceae	W	Diarrhaoea, stomach cramps, dysentery, wounds	RS	The root is cut into small pieces and then dried.
49	Plantago lanceolata	Gull	Plantaginaceae	W&C	Heart disease, cough, asthma, urinary irritation, boils, wounds	WH	Paste of the herb is used. The young leaves are used as vegetable.
50	Plantago major	Bud gull	Plantaginaceae	W	Fever, dysentery, back pain, rheumatism, cough, urinary irritation	WP	An extract of whole herb is employed.
51	Urtica dioica	Soi	Urticaceae	W	Fever, fractures, stomach pain, wounds, dandruff, skin infection, paralyzed limbs, nose bleeding	WH	The whole herb is crushed and extract is obtained from it, sometimes the crushed herb is made into paste.
52	Taraxacum offcinale	Madan hand	Asteraceae	W&C	Chronic cough, asthma, infection, internal ulcer, abdominal swelling, stomach cramps, acidity, urine irritation	WP	At the juvenile stage its leaves are used as vegetables. The herb is also crushed and juice extracted from it.
53	Thymus serpyllum	Jangli Javind	Lamiaceae	W	Skin infection, stomachic, weak vision, antiseptic, carminative cooling effect	WP	The whole herb is crushed and extract is obtained from it.
54	Verbena officinalis	Hutmool	Verbenaceae.	W	Food poisoning, indigestion, antihelmintic, wounds, menstrual disorder, nervous disorder	WP	The whole herb is crushed and then extract prepared
55	Viola odorata	Numposh/ Bunfsha	Violaceae	W&C	Throat infection or swelling, chest involvement	FL	The flowers and sugar are mixed in 1:3 ratios and kept in closed tin for 20-40 days. This is locally called "KHAMBIR".
56	Sorghum halepense	Durhum	Gramineae	W	Antidote, boils, skin infection	RS	The roots are dried and then crushed into a powder. The powder and oil or ghee is mixed to make paste.
57	Morchella esculenta	Guchi	Helvellaceae	W	Back pain, rheumatism	WG	The whole Gushi is dried in sunlight, and then crushed into powder. The powder is mixed with oil or ghee and eggs without yolk to make a paste.
58	Codonopsis rotundifolia	Tunda jaide	Campanulaceae	W	A livestock medicine used against asthma and general weakness	WH	Extract of the herb.
59	Aquilegia vulgaris	Dadue jaid	Ranunculaceae	W	Used against weakness in livestock and for increasing milk yield	WH	Extract of the herb.
60	Bupleurum falcatum	Bormuje	Apiaceae	W	Hepatitis B, Abdominal pain	RS	The extract of root is prepared.
61	Arisaema jacquemontii	Hapat makhe	Araceae	W	Boils	RS	The root is dried then crushed to make powder. The powder is mixed with ghee or oil to make paste. (The plant is poisonous).
62	Stellaria media	Nickhack	Caryophyllaceae	W	High fever, stomach pain, cough, chest involvement, diuretic	WH	The herb is used as vegetable.
63	Sambucus wightiana	Faqual	Caprifoliaceae	W	Polio-myecities, expectorant, diuretic	WH	The extract of root and leaves are prepared, the extract is only used for babies.
64	Skimmia laureola	Butputer	Rutaceae	W	Abdominal pain, wormcide	LE	The leaves are used to prepare the extract.
65	Prunilla vulgaris	Kalyat	Lamiaceae	W&C	Sore throat, diarrhoea, relieving gas, frost bite, Headache, anti-neuralgic, grastic	FL & LE	The extract is obtained from the flower and leaves.
66	Oxalis corniculata	Check chein	Oxalidaceae	W	Antimalaria, hepetatis B, abdominal pain, blood purifier	WH	The extract is a prepared from the herb.
67	Mentha longifolia	Jangli pudina	Lamaiacea	W& C	Fever, asthma, indigestion, appetizer	FL & LE	The extract is obtained from the herb. Leaves are eaten by people and believed to act as a carminative.
68	Prunus persica	Chachen kual/Aru	Rosaceae	W	Insecticidal, vermicidal, wound	LE	The leaves are used to prepare extract and paste.
69	Cardamine	Pahal laish	Brassicaceae	W	High fever, wormicide, diuretic asthma, tumours. Also believed to restore fertility in women	WH	The extract is prepared form it.
70	Chenopodium umbrosum	Zewa Dawda kual	Chenopodiaceae	W	Killing of lice, falling hair, headache	WH	Either the extract or paste is prepared out of the herb.
71	Lychnis coronaria	Shosh gass	Caryophyllaceae	W	Liver and lung troubles	RS & FL	The roots and flowers are used to prepare extract.
72	Indigofera heterantha	Zand	Papilionaceae	W	Toothache	ST	Brush is made out of its one year old branches.
73	Artemisia moorcroftiana	Jangli Teethwan	Asteraceae	W	Abdominal pain, wormicide, high fever	WH	The extract is prepared out of the herb.
74	Bunium persicum	Jangli zeer	Apiaceae	W	Carminative, stomachic, general debility	SE	The seeds are dried in open sun then packed till used.
75	Inula racemosa.	Hasub kual	Asteraceae	W&C	Frequent diarrhoea in children, abdominal pain	RS	An extract prepared from the roots.
76	Saussurea costus	Kuth	Asteraceae	W&C	Cough, asthma, joint pains, insecticide	RS	The extract of root is prepared. The root is also crushed and powdered.
77	Origanum vulgare	Baber	Lamiaceae	W	Promote menstrual flow. Also used in summar for cooling effect, diuretic, fever	SE & LE	The herb is made into infusion; the oil is also prepared from it.
78	Rheum emodi	Pumba chalan	Polygonaceae	W	Rheumatic, pain, wounds	RS	The root is powdered and sometimes paste is also prepared.
79	Viola biflora	Banfsha	Violaceae	W&C	Asthma, cough and cold, diaphoretic, antiseptic, high fever	WH	The extract and paste is prepared from the herb.
80	Nymphaea stellata	Bum posh	Nymphaeaceae	W	Kidney stone	FL	The extract of flowers is prepared and mixed with the root extract of Arnebai benthami in warm water.

Wild=W, Cultivated=C
Whole herb=WH, Whole Plant= WP, Root stock= RS, Whole Gushi= WG, Bark of roots=BR, Stem= ST, Seeds= SE, Leaves=LE, Flowers= FL, Fronds= F, Fruits=FR


Medicinal plants are now emerging as important bio-resources, since they have been used by specialized herbal healers and rural communities. The tribal communities of this region used these plants for curing ailments like headache, diarrhea, choric fever, general weakness, cough, stomach pain, wounds, abdominal pain, burns, snake bite, swellings, dysentery, boils, eye diseases etc and several other common diseases which are prevalent in this area like "Hasub", asthma and rheumatism. The same trend was reported by Kaul et al., (1995) for Zanaskar region and also by lone (2003) for Uri sector. Ara & Naqashi (1992) concluded the similar documentation of Gurez valley. Although earlier, these herbs were gathered by specialists, but now a day, they are being indiscriminately harvested by unskilled gatherers. (William et al., 2000). Similar trend was observed in the region where in a number of species like Aconitum heterophyllum, Arnebia benthamii, Berberis aristate, Inula racemosa, Morchella esculatum, Podophyllum hexandrum, Saussurea costus etc are found critically endangered. In addition many species like, Angelica glauca, Bergenia ligulata, Heracleum candicaus, Rheum emodi, Viola biflora, Artemisia moorcroftiana, Mentha longifolia etc are reaching towards rarity. These species and being used by tribal communities for curing their ailments in absence of adequate modern healthcare facilities available to them. Consequently, the existence of these species are threatened day by day and their alarming trend need to initiate conservation practices, cultivation programme, scientific harvest and research institutes which leads from folk lore and develop medicines on scientific lines.

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