NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: NPR Vol.5(1) [January-February 2006]

Ethnomedicinal wisdom of tribals of Nandurbar district (Maharashtra)

Title: Ethnomedicinal wisdom of tribals of Nandurbar district (Maharashtra)

Authors: Tayade, S K; Patil, D A

Abstract: The results of ethnobotanical survey among tribals of Nandurbar district are presented in this paper. The ancient knowledge of herbal uses, still put into practice by the tribals such as Pawara, Bhil, Mavachi and Kokani have been recorded for 73 angiospermic species belonging to 66 genera and 39 families. The ethnomedicinal uses range in diverse diseases like gonorrhoea, impotency, irregular menstruation, stomach complaints, white discharge, urinary stones, goiter, pimples, ringworm, jaundice, tooth-ache, rheumatism, etc., apart from common diseases/ailments like fever, cold, cough, headache, burns, snake-bite and swellings. The botanical and vernacular name, family, plants part used and preparation are given for each plant.

Page(s): 64-69

**Plants used in folklore medicine by Bangnis of East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh**

Title: Plants used in folklore medicine by Bangnis of East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh

Authors: Gupta, Vishal

Abstract: The state of Arunachal Pradesh has 25 major tribes and many sub-tribes that belong to the Indo-Mongoloid group and comprise 63.66 % of the state’s population. The district of East Kameng is home to the Bangni tribe who practice Jhum, depend on forests for supplementing their daily needs and are now taking to the newer modes of land use and settled agriculture. They have evolved their culture and tradition, myths and folktales in close association with the nature and have an intricate understanding of the forests and natural resources. This paper attempts to describe 74 traditional medicinal and healing plants of this tribe, comprising of 4 Pteridophytes and 70 Angiosperms, belonging to 37 families. These could be screened for the active principles and assessed for their medicinal potential.

Page(s): 52-59

**Propagation prospects of dye yielding plant, Rhinacanthus nasutus (Linn.) Kurz**

Title: Propagation prospects of dye yielding plant, Rhinacanthus nasutus (Linn.) Kurz

Authors: Das, Nilanjana

Abstract: The paper deals with cultivation prospects of an indigenous plant, Rhinacanthus nasutus (Linn.) Kurz syn. R. communis Nees which is co The paper deals with cultivation prospects of an indigenous plant, Rhinacanthus nasutus (Linn.) Kurz syn. R. communis Nees which is commonly used for extracting a dye and for various medicinal purposes. Due to over exploitation this herb is vanishing from natural habitat hence its propagation on commercial scale is recommended. An attempt is made to propagate this plant through stem cuttings; rooting of stem cuttings through application of growth regulators has been undertaken as a protocol for large scale propagation. Maximum rooting percentage (75%) was observed in apical shoot cuttings treated with 2000 ppm of IBA followed by 2000 ppm of IAA.

Page(s): 42-43

**Antimicrobial properties of Heracleum candicans Wall.**

Title: Antimicrobial properties of Heracleum candicans Wall.

Authors: Kaur, Mohinder; Thakur, Yogita; Thakur, Munish; Chand, Romesh

Abstract: Chloroform and methanol extracts of root and shoot of the herb Heracleum candicans Wall. showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas species, while petroleum ether extract of root showed inhibitory activity against Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas species only. Antifungal activity against six species of fungi, viz. Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Phytophthora and Pythium was observed in petroleum ether and chloroform root extracts. Petroleum ether extract of shoot showed antifungal effect against five fungal species, viz. Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Phytophthora and Pythium. Methanol root extracts also showed antifungal activity against Alternaria species. only. Similarly, methanol shoot extract showed inhibitory activity against Aspergillus and Pythium species only. The results suggest significant antimicrobial activity of the extracts against tested fungi and bacteria. The present study justifies the claimed uses of this herb in the traditional system of medicine to treat various diseases.

Page(s): 25-28