Need for sustainable harvesting and conservation of medicinal flora in Badalkhole wildlife sanctuary at northern hill region of Chhattisgarh state

Sajiwan Kumar¹, Pratap Toppo², Gunjan Patil² and Pratap Rathiya²

¹SOS in Forestry and Wildlife, Bastar Vishwavidyalaya, Jagdalpur (CG)

²Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture, IGKV, Raipur (CG)

ABSTRACT:

The present investigation was carried out with the findings of Phyto-sociological survey conducted in Badalkhole wildlife sanctuary located at Northern Hill region of Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh. In the survey, a number of plant species has been identified. The floristic diversity consists of 44 families; among these, 22 trees, 16 herbs and 7 are in climbers nature. In the present study the frequency of Shorea robusta is maximum as compared to other common species in an upper story flora. Whereas vegetation in under story frequency of Woodfordia fruticosa was noticed maximum followed by Ziziphus numularia, Gardenea turgida, Grewia hirsute and Caloytropis procera. Further the study also revealed that the tribal Pahari Kornwa which was lived in the studied wildlife sanctuary had the vast knowledge of utilizing the floristic diversity as therapeutic uses

KEYWORDS: Badalkhole Wildlife Sanctuary, In-situ, Ex-situ conservation, Shorea robusta etc.

INTRODUCTION:

The medicinal wealth of the forest is depleting at a faster rate due to indiscriminate overexploitation of valuable herbs, without conservation measures. Some of the valuable and most common medicinal plant has become extinct due to their usefulness in common disease and overexploitation useful manner. The rate of extinction of species has been particularly fast during the last 50 years. Consequently a large number of plant species are becoming rare or endangered and gradually getting extinct from their natural habitats. Therefore it is needed to protect for their sustainable utilization through identification, proper documentation, and In-situ, Ex-situ conservation for export purposes.

In-situ conservation: This is the conservation of genetic resources through their maintenance within natural ecosystem in which they occur.

Ex-situ conservation: This is the conservation outside their habitats;

The state Chhattisgarh has distinguish identity in the nation for having about 44% of forest cover of the total geographical area, and most floristic and cultural diversity which bears numerous medicinal and food plant for exploitation. The forest type of Chhattisgarh is tropical moist and tropical dry deciduous which favour to undergrowth of many plants and herbs includes medicinal and aromatic plants also. Many of these plants herbs drug has become gathered from forest and market by Chhattisgarh Laghu Vanopaj Sangh; and thus, population of the valuable medicinal plant wealth is fast depleting. The forest having large number of medicinal herb and multipurpose tree species, which needs systematic documentation and conservation.

S.N.	Scientific names	Local names	Family	Parts	Used
Large tree Species
1	Aegle marmelos	Bel	Rutaceae	Fruits, leaves	The fruit is taken in dysentery and constipation stomaching.
2.	Albizia lebbeck	Kala siris	Mimosacea	Bark seed,Flower	Flower are useful in cough, bark is as trigent
3.	Albizia procera	Sajed siris	Mimosacea	Bark, seed	Bark is astringent, Flower are useful in cough. Seeds are used in inflammation.
4.	Azadirachta indica	Neem	Meliaceae	All parts	Leaf paste is useful in skin disease seeds are insecticide
5.	Diospyros melanoxylon	Tendu	Ebenaceae	Barks, fruits	Bark is used in stomach disorders, diarrhoea piles. Fruits are used as germicidal
6.	Emblica officinalis	Amla	Euphorbiaceae	Fruits	Fruits are useful in diabetes, anemia jaundice It issuance of vitamin C
7.	Gmelina arborea	Khamer	Verbenaceae	Bark roots.	It is astringent, digestive cardio tonic
8.	Madhuca indica	Mahua	Sapotaceae	Bark, Flower	Bark is used for ulcers, flowers are taken as tonic.
9.	Pangamia pinnata	Karanj	Papilionaceae	Seed and leaves	It is useful in skin disease and sores.
10.	Semecarpus anacordium	Bhilwa	Anacardiaceae	Fruits seed	The seed oil is used in pain in joints. Fruits contain a vesicant juice which has medicinal value.
11.	Sterculia urens	Kullu	Sterculiaceae	Gum	Gum is used as laxative
12.	Syzygium cumini	Jamun	Myrtaceae	Fruits	Fruits are used in stomach disorder
13.	Terminalia bellerica	Bahera	Combretaceae	Fruits	Fruits powder is component of triphala, useful in piles and feller
14.	T. Chebula	Harra	Combretaceae	Fruits	The fruits powder is taken in constipation, fruits are useful in cough
15.	T. arjuna	Arjun	Combretaceae	Bark	Bark is taken in cordiac disorders.
16.	Butea monosperma	Palas	Papilio naceae	Seed, bark	Seed is used in skin diseases, bark is aphrodiac and anthelmintic
17.	Acacia nilotica	Babul	Mimosaceare	Bark	Bark is useful in diarrhoea dysentery.
18.	Bauhania varigata	Kachnar	Caesalpiniaceae	Leaves barks	The bark is taken in Tuberculosis useful in diarrhorua and worms.
19.	Buchnania lanzan	Char	Anacatdiaceae	Seed	Seeds are used in cardiac tonic
Small tree like shrubs
20	Soymida febrijuga	Arohan	Euphorbiaceae	Bark	To in hence the blood
21.	Embelica ribes	Bybidang	Myrsinaceae	Seed	Seeds are useful in worm and stomach disorders
22.	Cassia fistula	Amaltash	Caesal piniaceae	Bark root seed	It is used to cure stomach disorders

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study was carried out in the Badalkhole wildlife sanctuary of Chhattisgarh. The sanctuary is situated in northern hill region of state and it extended 22.52 to 230.30 m south latitude and 8344 to 8357 m west longitude, 2593 m from sea level, maximum temperature 35⁰C to minimum 12.4⁰C and annual rainfall 364 mm. The total area of the sanctuary is 104.45 km. The arrangements of plateau vary in altitude from 340-800 meters. The plateau is characterized by scattered flat topped trap hillocks, plains and valleys. The biodiversity specially, the high value medicinal plants which were found in abundance about a decade ago have been over exploited and most of these are at the age of extinction. The biodiversity survey was carried out through phytosociological exercise in the forest during the years 2008-2009. The plant species were observed during these periods and identified through field survey questionnaire and interaction with local vaidhyas of villages in the vicinity of forest area, forest officers i.e. beat guards and plant identifiers of local area. During the study it was found that main cause of distinction was human interference with cattle grazing and unsustainable harvesting of medicinal plants for industrial purpose. The present study was made to gather information about species with high demand, their status and uses in that area, so that a sight can be put for these valuable lives giving plant for their conservation and sustainable harvesting.

RESULTS AND DUSCUSSION:

The study covers some of the important medicinal plants utilized in sanctuary area which is situated in northern hill region of Chhattisgarh state, with their present status and uses. It is an effort for knowing the traditional system of harvesting, their uses in order to highlight the conservation priorities and sustainable management of these valuable flora in the region

The survey revealed that the medicinal flora comprised of 43 Trees species and 16 herbs species with 7 climbers belonging to different families (Show Table No. 1 and 2) in the Budal khole sanctuary.

Table 2: Important medicinal herbs species found in sanctuary and their uses.

S.N.	Scientific names	Local names	Family	Parts	Used
1	Achyranthes aspera	Chirchitta	Amaranthacase	Roots, leave	Roots are used in stomaching, delivery and diuretic.
2.	Aole vera	Gwarbhatha	Liliaceae	Leave	Used in burn, stomach troubles and piles.
3.	Andrographis paniculata	Kalmegh	Acanthaceae	Whole plants	Herb is useful in malaria and liver disorders.
4.	Asparagus resemosus	Satavar	Liliaceae	Tuber	-
5.	Boerhavia diffusa	Punarava	Myctanginaceae	Roots and leaves	Roots and leaves juice is taken in jaundice, bronchitis and in kidney stone.
6.	Cassia tora	Charota	Caesalpiniaceae	Seeds and leaves	Seed paste is applied on skin disease and head-ache and fiver
7.	Centella asiatica	Manddok parni	Hydrocoty laceae	Leave	The leave are used as herbal tonic carminative and diuretic
8.	Chlorophytum borivillianum	Safed musli	Liliaceae	Roots	Roots are used as tonic aphrodisiac.
9.	Costus speciosus	Keokand	Zingiberaceae	Tuber	Rhizome is taken in stomach pain, with oil of occimum and terpene
10.	Curculigo orchiodes	Kalimusli	Amaryllidaceae	Roots	Roots are used as tonic, aphrodisiac
11.	Curcuma amada	Ama haldi	Zingiberacease	Tube	Rhizome is taken in stomach pain
12.	Curcuma angustifolia	Tikhur	Zingiberaceae	Tuber	Rhizome is used as tonic, aphrodiasiac useful in bronchitis fever and asthma
13.	Daturametal	Dhatura	Solanaceae	Leaves fruits	Leaves are used in swelling and rheumatism
14.	Evolvulus alsinoides	Shankpushpi	Canvolvulaceae	Whole plants	Plants are useful in bronchitis, asthma epilepsy and improving memory
15.	Gymhema sylvestic	Gudmar	Asclepiadiaceae	Leaves	Leaves are useful in diabetes, liver disorder and jaundice
16.	Ocimum basilicume	Ram tulsi	Labiatae	Leaves seed	Diuretic, stimulant and seed is used in gonorrhea
17.	Sida ocuta	Bala	Malvaceae	Whole herb	It is used in fever and urinary disorder
18.	Dida cordifolia	Atibala	Malvaceae	Whole herb	It is used in diabetes and neurological disorders.
19.	Solanum nigrum	Makoy	Solanaceae	Fruits leaves	It is useful in jaundice, cough, bronchitis asthma few ulcers.
20	Tephrosia purpurea	Sarponkha	Papilionaceae	Plants	The plants is useful in constipation worms and diarrhoea
21.	Urginea indica	Jangli pyaj	Liliaceae	Bulb	It is used in heart trouble, cough bronchitis
22.	Tinospora cordifolia	Godhmar	-	Leave roots	Leave and roots are used to case dieobiles.

The tribals use the plants for curing the various diseases viz., rheumatism, fever, dyscentery, jaundice, epilepsy, paralapsy etc. There are found most forest village in the sanctuary of Pahari korwah, known as primitive tribe in the sanctuary and in the Indian history. They have the vast knowledge of the herbal drugs. The folk healers using the plants in various diseases Due to depletion of forest area and habitat destruction, the availability of the medicinal plant material is becoming more deficient for then. The In-situ conservation of the remaining valuable species is essential and to start commercial cultivation or to selected important medicinal plant species.

There are greater opportunities for cultivation of Terminalia chebula T. ballarica, Aegle marmelos, Asparagus racemosus, Chlorophytom boribillianum Andrographic paniculata etc. This study also suggests the need of sustainable harvesting practices in respect to collection of plants parts (Root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit etc.) and time of collection, so that there will be a minimum loss to the valuable resources. During field survey, it was found that the local vaidhyas are the main resource persons who actually known the traditional harvesting techniques and sustainable utilization of these lives supporting plant. Discussion with Vaidhyas for

method of using these plants, dosage and period, gives some idea about the utilization of these plants like Chlorophytum and Puerari tuberosa powder mixture with raw milk in general debility, Andrographis leaves infusion in fever Gmelina arborea bark gives for cardio tonic and blood related problem as a blood purifier. During the discussion it was found that each vaidhyas had their own method of making these medicines from the plants and they suggest the appropriate doses and time period according to the type of disorder and level of sickness. Besides this information it was also noticed that these Vaidhyas prescribe appropriate uses of these medicinal plants and they have different collection and utilization procedures.

Collection and Harvesting Pattern among Vaidhyas:

At the time of collection most of the Vaidhyas suggested that some portion of harvested plants must be leave in its natural habitat for, its further regeneration and conservation while in case of plant having many rhizome they take only 5-6 rhizomes and left few in the same area. Similarly their collection pattern also includes selection of area on the availability of richness of species and diseases free collection. In case of leave they used to collect it in morning hours and collection of adult and disease free twig is done, they avoid afternoon and rainy day collection as the plants gets infection.

CONCLUSION:

During the present study it was found that habitat destruction and overexploitation and causing major threat to important medicinal plants. Since these valuable flora of the region are dwindling so, some conservation strategies must be developed to save these life supporting resources. For critically endangered species an In-situ, Ex-situ conservation and propagation, regular monitoring and evaluation for at least 10 years needs to be carried out. Some awareness and conservation programme by involving local people should also be required.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The authors gratefully acknowledge to chief of sanctuary DFO and SDO, for greeting permission to visit sanctuary area. The authors are also thankful to local Vaidhyas, collectors and other villagers concerned for their kind co-operation and assistance during the visit and study.

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Jain, S.K. (1991) Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and Ethnobotany, Deep Publications, New Delhi.

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Received on 30.03.2012

Modified on 28.03.2012

Accepted on 06.4.2012

Research J. Science and Tech. 4(2): March-April 2012: 74-77

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Large tree Species

Used