Botanical.com Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses XI Chironji or Char (Buchanania lanzan, family : Anacardiaceae)

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
 © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

When I deliver any lecture on scientific exploitation of herbs, I always quote the mass destruction of Chironji trees in Chhattisgarh. Few decades back, when the demand of Chironji plant parts increased, the greedy herb traders and collectors (mostly from outside the state), destroyed the whole trees for the collection of useful fruits. The standard method, is to collect the fallen fruits but the greedy herb traders and collectors cut down the trees completely without waiting for the fruits to fall. This non-scientific exploitation has decreased the natural population of Chironji tree drastically in Chhattisgarh. Although at present, this type of act is not in practice in case of Chironji as government claims but during my ethnobotanical surveys I noted and observed this mass destruction still in progress by the greedy traders in case of other herbs like Satavar, Sarpgandha etc.

Common Indian Names of Chironji
Languages Names
(1) Bengali Chironji
(2) Gujarati and Marathi Charoli, Pyalchar
(3) Hindi Achar, Char, Paira, Piyal
(4) Kanarese Murkali, Charpoppu
(5) Malyalam Mungaper
(6) Oriya Charu
(7) Sanskrit Priyalam, Char, Dhanu, Rajadana, Tapaspriya
(8) Tamil Morala
(9) Telugu Saara chettu, Morichettu

In my previous article on Satavar (Asparagus sp.), I have mentioned that after collecting roots, the traditional healers refill the empty ground with fertile soil, leaving few roots, so that it can give the birth to new plant. On the other hand the greedy traders do not follow this practice. One can clearly distinguish the spots and identify whether the roots are colleted by the traders or healers simply by seeing its filling pattern. The fruits of Buchanania lanzan are known as Char whereas the seeds are known as Chironji. Char is one of the major non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh. Due to its mass destruction, and poor regeneration, as the propagation material i.e. seeds is of economic importance, its population is decreasing. The increasing human population pressure and demand are also responsible for this. The forest experts frequently quote the example of Chironji in their attractive looking lectures but nothing has been done to promote the artificial regeneration of this valuable herb.

The is good sign that many non-governmental organizations have focused their attentions on this important aspect. Kondagaon based organization SAMPDA (Samagra Adivasi Medicinal Plants Development Association) is among these organizations. The scientists of this organization have developed special method and by adopting this special method they have propagated over one lakh Chironji seedlings. The work is progress. The village names like Char bhata clearly proves that Chironji (or Char) is present in Chhattisgarh since generations. Every year herb collectors collect this nature's gift during April to June. The fallen fruits are collected. Also collectors spread the gunny bags or similar material under the trees and by shaking the branches, fruits are collected. Fruits are kept for drying for sometime and after drying, through breaking the seeds are collected. During this process, special care is taken to avoid the damage to seeds as the damaged seeds give less rates. On the basis of size of seeds and damaged seeds, the produce can be divided into many grades. From experience, the collectors can identify the matured fruits and they avoid the collection of immature fruits. Chironji (B. lanzan syn B. latifolia), common English name Cudapah almond or Almondette Tree is distributed in the dried parts of India.

In Chhattisgarh, it is common tree in dry deciduous forests. The Chironji fruits are considered as one of the delicious wild fruits. The seeds are also eaten. The seeds are regarded as substitute for almonds. Chironji tree produces gum benzoin similar but inferior to that from Styrax benezoin. Bark yields tannin (upto 13 percent) and used in tannin industries. As mentioned earlier, the seed is substitute to almond, the natives extract oil for seed and use it as almond oil. According to reference literatures, it is also good substitute to olive-oil. It is used for coating tablets for delayed action. For the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Chironji is a valuable herb. The natives use seeds for the preparation of sweets. A sweet dish called "Chironji Ki Barfi" is much popular among them both for delicious taste and nutritional properties. It is specially recommended for newly wed couples. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh informed me that in early days the use of wooden bowls made of Chironji wood was popular. According to them , the water kept in this bowl overnight is considered nutritious for the patients having sexual illness. During my surveys, I have seen many such bowls but now these bowls are not in use. I am trying to find out the reasons responsible for this. Although before mass destruction, the forests were full of Chironji tree but this is really surprising that the natives and traditional healers are not much aware of its medicinal uses and properties. The known traditional uses are loosing its popularity among the young generations. Through present article, I am trying to write about some traditional medicinal uses of Chironji in Chhattisgarh. At first I am describing its botany and reported medicinal uses, I have noted from reference literatures. Chironanji is an almost evergreen, moderate sized tree, with straight, cylindrical trunk, upto 15 meters and tomentose branches. Bark rough dark grey or black, fissured into prominent squares, 1.25-1.75 cm thick, reddish inside. Leaf thickly coriaceous, broadly oblong, obtuse, base rounded. Flower small, greenish -white, in axillary or terminal panicles. Calyx 3-5 lobed, 1mm long, ovate , apex obtuse, petals 4-5, 3mm long, ovate, subacute. Disc fleshy, 5-lobed, stamens 10, inserted at the base of the disc, filaments linear. Ovary of 5-6 free carpels , situated inside the disc, only 1 carpel fertile. Drupe 8-12 in diameter. Seed hard stone, 4300-5300/Kg. According to reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, as medicine, roots, leaves, fruit, seeds and gum are used. According to Ayurveda, it removes biliousness, and cures blood disorders, fevers, thirst, ulcers, burning sensation of body. It is fattening, laxative, binding, cooling, aphrodisiac, cardio-tonic, astringent to bowels etc. According to Unani system of medicine, leaf juice is digestive, expectorant,aphrodisiac, purgative, blood purifier and allays thirst. Seeds are tonic to body and brain and useful in treatment of gleet, urinary concretions, fevers etc.

The natives of Chhattisgarh use the seeds in face care. The seed powder is mixed in cow milk and paste in prepared. This paste is applied externally. According to them it improves the complexion and also removes the black spots. The leading beauty-parlours of Chhattisgarh are using the herb for this purpose. In case of Chhappaki (Urticaria), along with other treatments the traditional healers of Bastar region, apply the paste prepared by mixing seeds in cow milk, in whole body. In case of dysentery, the Chironji bark is given with milk as promising treatment.

Like other herbs , the Chironji based industries have yet not been established in Chhattisgarh. These industries are situated in other states. The natives are supplying this herb to neighbouring states at low rates and purchasing the value added products from them at very high rates. I personally feel that there is a need to encourage the entrepreneurs to start such industries in the state. The traders at national and international levels are aware of Chironji of Chhattisgarh and they realise without any hesitation that they are getting this valuable produce in very cheap rates from Chhattisgarh. The increasing demand is not providing any monetary gain to natives and destroying the natural population. This is really very sad. Frankly speaking , no one have any constructive plan or reason for worry. The responsible officers are getting regular salaries without any tension, then why they will ever think on this problem. I am expecting that my articles will motivate the world community to come forward to protect this part of earth.

Thank you very much for reading the article.