Research Journal of Recent Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 333-336 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci.

Short Communication

Ethnomedicinal Herbal Recipes from Satpura Hill Ranges
of Shirpur Tahsil, Dhule, Maharashtra, India
Patil Sunil J.1 and Patil H.M.2
1

H. R. Patel Kanya Secondary and Higher Secondary School, Shirpur, Dhule, MS, INDIA
2
Department of Botany, V. N. College, Shahada, Nandurbar MS,INDIA

Available online at: www.isca.in
(Received 30th November 2011, revised 1st January 2012, accepted 28th January 2012)

Abstract
During the course of ethnobotanical explorations in the Satpura hill ranges of Shirpur tahsil, a large number of plants species have
been collected which are used by the tribals to cure various ailments. The present paper deals with 23 plant species which are
ethno-medicinally important. The tribals employ different parts of these plants with different method of preparation and mode of
administration of medicine.
Keywords: Ethnomedicine, herbal recipes, Satpura hills, tribals, Shirpur, Dhule.

Introduction
Majority of the world’s population is still dependent on the
traditional herbal medicine for their healthcare1.The
traditional knowledge of these herbal recipes is popular
among the indigenous and local communities. Tribal
communities residing in the hilly areas are solely dependent
on these readily available resources. They have preserved the
wealth of traditional knowledge as a part of their belief and
customs. Shirpur is the tribal dominated tahsil in Dhule
district. Pawara, Barela, Tadvi, Bhil etc are among the
prominent tribal communities residing in the Satpura hill
ranges of Shirpur tahsil. Inspite of rich and diversified plant
wealth there are very few reports of ethnomedicine from this
area.2-3

Material and Methods
The ethnobotanical explorations were carried out during the
2009-10 and 2010-11 to document the traditional
knowledge.The information on medicinal herbal recipes used
by the tribals for curing different ailments is gathered
through interviews with the tribal medicine-men called
Bawa, Vaidu, Maharaj or Bhagats and also from experienced
and elderly people. The plant specimens were collected,
identified and pressed to prepare herbarium as per the
established technique4-7. The voucher specimens are
deposited at Herbarium, Department of Botany, V. N.
College, Shahada, Dist. Nandurbar (Maharashtra)

Results and Discussion
The herbal recipes of medicine for different ailments
involving 23 plant species are presented in table-1.

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The present paper documents 23 plant species of
angiosperms belonging to 18 families and 21 genera. The
plants recorded in the present work are well known medicinal
plants, but here different plant parts of these plants are useful
against different ailments. The observations reveled that the
tribes used stem as the most common crude drug. Stem as a
whole or stem bark or even stem latex is employed to cure
the different ailments.
Then it is followed by leaves, mostly they are eaten as such
or boiled and applied externally or even distilled to obtain
oily suspension. Fruits are next to leaves in their medicinal
applications, they are eaten after ripening or seeds are also
useful in powder or boiled forms. But, incase of Echinops
echinatus Roxb. Spines of inflorescence are burnt to ash and
mixed with ample amount of cow ghee and apply to cure
eczema. The authors have observed such unique features, for
treatment of specific ailments. Hence these plants have to be
pharmacologically analyzed for syntheses of new drugs.

Conclusion
Tribal communities are solely dependent on plants for their
medication; hence they are using them against different
disorders by trial and error method. They are practicing these
methods generation after generation successfully.

Acknowledgements
Authors are thankful to the Principal, V. N. College, Shahada
and S.J.Patil is grateful to the Hon’ President Shri
Amrishbhai Patel (MLA), Hon’Chairman Shri Rajgopalji
Bhandari, Hon’ C.E.O Shri S.N.Patil and Principal
Dr.D.R.Patil, R.C.Patel Sr.College,Shirpur and Principal

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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 333-336 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci
Sau.M.S.Agrawal for providing facilities and kind support
for the research work.

4.

Cook T., The Flora of Presidency of Bombay, (Bishan
Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun) (1965)

References

5.

Patil D.A., Flora of Dhule and Nandurbar Districts,
Maharashtra, Bishan Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra
Dun (2003)

6.

Shah G.L., Flora of Gujrat State, Sardar Patel University
VV Nagar (1978)

7.

Jain S.K. and Rao R.R., A Handbook of Field and
Herbarium Methods, Today and Tomorrow, Printers and
Publishers, New Delhi (1977)

1.

World Health Organization, Traditional Medicine,
Geneva,WHO (1978)

2.

Borse S.C., Bhamre P.B. and Patil D.A., Medicinal
Plantlore of the tribals of Dhule (Maharashtra),
Biojournal, 2(1), 47-54 (1990)

3.

Yadav V.V. and Bhamre P.B., Ethno-medico-botanical
studies of Dhule forests in Maharashtra State,
J.Econ.Tax. Bot, 13(2), 455-460 (1989)

Table – 1(a)
Plant species used by tribal medicine-men of Shirpur tahsil for different ailments
Sr.
No.

Local
Name

Botanical Name
(Family)Voucher specimen
no.

Plant
Part(s)
used

Ailment

1

Amarvel

Cuscuta chinensis Lamk.
(Cuscutaceae) SJP - 409

Stem

Jaundice

2

Bahawa

Cassia fistula L.
(Caesalpiniaceae) SJP - 406

Leaves

Burns

Leaves

Diabetes

Fruit

Flatulenc
e&
abdomina
l pain

3

4

5

6

Bel

Aegle marmelos (L.)
Corr. [Rutaceae] SJP-427

Swelling

Ipomoea carnea Jacq. subsp.
fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy.)
Austin. (Convolvulaceae)SJP423

Leaves

Dhati

Woodfordia fruticosa (L.)
Kurz. (Lythraceae)SJP-408

Stem
bark

Burns

Stem
Bark

Diarrhea

Dhawada

Anogeisuss latifolia (Roxb.
exDC) Wall ex Guill.
(Combretaceae)SJP-422

Stem
Bark

Cough

Besharam

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Scabies

Method of preparation and mode of
administration
The stem is ground to powder and watery paste is
prepared which is used for giving bath to the
patient for about 7 days.
Ground in coconut oil & the paste is applied twice
a day externally for a week.
The leaves of old tree are eaten early in the
morning to control sugar level in diabetes patient.
The fruit is eaten everyday to cure flatulence and
also to reduce abdominal pains, for 3-4 days.
The leaves are boiled and warm leaves are applied
over the affected area at bed time for 2-3 days.
The leaves are boiled to obtain the oily suspension
by distillation.
This suspension is applied over the wet scabies at
night and repeated till cured.
The bark is ground to powder and the watery paste
is prepared.
It is applied on the affected areas till cured.
A piece of stem bark is powdered and spoonful
powder is given to the patient twice a day for 2
days.
Bark powder is mixed with warm water to prepare
a thin paste which is applied over the chest and
back.

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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 333-336 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci
Table – 1(b)
Plant species used by tribal medicine-men of Shirpur tahsil for different ailments

7

8

9

10

11

12

Dukkarsheng

Erand

Gulvel

Hinganbet

Jamun

Jaswand

Cassia tora L.
(Caesalpiniaceae)SJP-416

Root

Epilepsy

Leaves

Swelling in
Abdomen

Leaves

Swelling of
joints

Leaves

Breast
tumor

Leaves

Jaundice

Stem

Abdominal
pains in
ladies

Root

Rheumatism

Seeds

Asthma

Seeds

Abdominal
pains

Stem bark

Diarrhea

Stem bark

Diarrhea

Leaves

Mouth
ulcers

Ricinus communis L.
(Euphorbiaceae)SJP-419

Tinospora cordifolia
(Willd.) Miers.
(Menispermaceae)SJP-405

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.)
Del. (Balanitaceae)SJP-414

Syzgium cumini (L).
Skeels.
(Combretaceace)SJP-404

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.
(Malvaceae)SJP-413

Leaves
Leaves

13

14

15

Khair

Acacia chundra Willd.
(Mimosaceae),SJP-402

Arjuna

Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.)
Wight & Arn.
(Combretaceae)SJP-403

Mahu

Madhuca logifolia (Koen.)
Macbr. var. latifolia
(Roxb.) Chevalier
(Sapotaceae)SJP-407

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Wood
(Khair) +
Bark
(Arjun
Sadada)

100 g dried roots are powdered and 1/2 spoonful
powder is given to the patient twice a day with a
cup of milk.
The leaves are boiled with water and warm
leaves are kept on the affected area at night
time. Repeat it till cured.
The leaves are boiled with water and warm
leaves are kept on the affected area at night
time. Repeat it till cured.
The leaves are boiled with water and kept warm
leaves on the affected area at night time. Repeat
it till cured
The leaf is extract is prepared filtered and half
cup of infusion is given patient twice a day for
6-7 days
The stem piece of 3-5 inches is eaten as such or
ground to powder and administered twice a day
till cured.
The root is rubbed over the stone to prepare the
thin paste. Which is
applied externally over the affected body parts
at bed time and repeated till cured.
The pulp of few seeds is given as single does
once a day for 5-7 days.
The seeds are ground to powder spoonful
powder is administered twice a day with a cup
of milk for 2-3 days.
4-5 cm of bark is powdered and administered
twice day for 3 days.
1/2 spoonful bark powder is administered twice
a day for 3-5 days.

Few leaves are eaten early in the morning for 23 days till cured.
Ample numbers of leaves are eaten early in the
Piles
morning and at bed time for 4-5 days to control
bleeding piles.
Few leaves are eaten in the morning and
Menorrhegia
evening for 5-6 days.

Dry cough

Small piece of wood of khair and bark of Arjun
sadada are ground to powder and spoonful
powder is administered twice a day for 2-3 days.

Root

Asthma

Few roots are soaked overnight in water,
crushed to obtain the juice.
Half cup of juice is administered to the patient
twice a day for two weeks.

Leaves

Post natal
pains in
women

The leaves are boiled in water and kept on the
stomach.

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Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 333-336 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci
Spoonful decoction of stem is given to the
patient at bed time.
Two spoonful stem decoction is given to the
Stem
Abortion
pregnant lady at night (In early stages of
pregnancy)
10-15 cm stem bark is ground to powder. Then
Stem bark Menorrhegia spoonful powder is given to the patient twice a
day for 6-7 days.
Seeds are roasted on hot iron pan to ash. This
ash is mixed with ample amount of coconut oil
Seeds
Scabies
to prepare a paste. It is applied on the affected
area every day, till cured.
The seed are boiled in water, to obtain the oily
Toothache,
suspension which is applied on the affected
Seeds
bleeding
teeth and gums or sometimes fruits are also
gums
eaten as such.
A sample numbers of roots are dried and
Roots
Snake bite
powdered, 1-2 spoonful powder is administered
as a single dose with water, after snake bite.
The leaves are kept for boiling with Sesame oil
Scorpion
Leaves
affected by part is held over the boiling to give
sting
the vapours.
The freshly collected leaves are tied on the chest
Leaves
Epilepsy
and abdomen of the patient, and repeated for 2-3
days at night time.
Equal amount of latex mixed with Brassica
Stem latex
Eczema
juncea L. seed oil and applied on the affected
parts till cured.
Add 2-3 drops of lukewarm seed oil in affected
Seed oil
Ear-ache
ear at night time.
5-7 leaves are crushed and water extract is
Leaves
Migraine
prepared filtered 3-4 drops are added in both
nostrils at night time.
The spoonful leaf extract is orally given to the
Leaves
Rheumatism
patient twice a day for 15 days.
Throat
Stem bark
A piece of stem bark is chewed thrice a day.
infection
Cough,
Few ripen fruits are eaten regularly it leads to
Fruit
Diarrhea
cure cough and diarrhea.
Spines of
Spines are burnt to ash which is mixed in cow
Eczema
Inflorescence
ghee and applied over eczema for few days.
Stem

16

Palas

Butea monosperma
(Lamk.)
Taub. (Papilionaceae)SJP418

17

Pivala
Dhotra

Argemone mexicana L.
(Papaveraceae)SJP-417

18

Ranwange

Solanum virginianum L.
(Solanaceae)SJP-421

19

Rui

Calotropis procera (Ait.)
R.Br.
(Asclepiadaceae)SJP-411

20

Sabarkand
and
Mohari

Euphorbia nerifolia L.
(Euphorbiaceae) SJP-412
Brassica juncea L.
(Brassicaceae)SJP-424

21

Tarota

Cassia obtusifolia L.
(Caesalpiniaceae)SJP-415

22

Tendu

Diospyros melanoxylon
Roxb. (Ebenaceae)SJP420

23

Udkata

Echinops echinatus Roxb.
(Compositae)SJP-410

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Constipation

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