Botanical.com Medicinal weed flora of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) fields in Chhattisgarh (India) region

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
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ABSTRACT

Due to non-availability of any information regarding medicinal weed flora of brinjal fields in Chhattisgarh (India) region, a detailed survey was conducted. The survey was done in selected districts, namely, Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Bastar, Rajnandgaon and Sarguja. The survey was conducted in kharif and rabi seasons. The survey revealed that in kharif more than 40 weeds infested the brinjal fields and created problem for crops. Out of these 42 weeds, more than 37 weeds were identified as useful weeds. In rabi season, out of 21 problematic weeds, 18 weeds were identified as useful weeds. The survey revealed that there was a tremendous scope of utilizing the useful weeds in brinjal fields for providing additional income to farmers besides the recovery of the cost of handweeding.

Key words : Brinjal, medicinal weed flora, Solanum melongena L.

Table 2. Existing uses and valuable parts of 10 potential medicinal weeds in brinjal fields of Chhattisgarh
  Scientific name Existing uses Valuable parts Ramarks
1 Abutilon indicum In rheumatism bleeding piles and fever Seeds N, I
2 Boerhavia diffusa Dropsy, migraine, coryza, cough Roots N, I
3 Cyperus sp. In skin, urinary, digestive and reproductive diseases Dried nuts N, I
4 Eclipta alba In skin and digestive diseases, hair nourishment Whole plant N, I
5 Euphorbia hirta In respiratory troubles Whole plant N, I
6 Leucas aspera In worms, rheumatism Whole plant N
7 Oxalis latifolia In skin troubles Whole plant N
8 Phyllanthus niruri In jaundice Whole plant N, I
9 Sida cordata In skin troubles Whole plant N
10 Achyranthes aspera As styptic, antivenom, in diseases of digestive system Whole plant N, I
 
 
  N-Medicinal weeds having demand in national market.      
  I-Medicinal weeds having demand in international market.

INTRODUCTION

Weeds are the plants, which grow where they are not wanted. They grow in the fields where they compete with crops for water, soil nutrients, light and space and thus reduce crop yields. They also harbour insects, pests and micro-organisms. But all weeds are not unwanted plants (Oudhia et al., 1999a). In ancient Indian literatures, it is clearly mentioned that every plant on this earth is useful for human beings, animals and for other plants (Oudhia, 1999). Allelopathic (Oudhia et al., 1996; Oudhia and Tripathi, 1997a, b; Oudhia and Tripathi 1998a), industrial (Oudhia and Tripathi, 1999a, b) and medicinal (Oudhia and Dixit, 1994; Oudhia and Tripathi, 1998b, c; Oudhia et al., 1998b) uses of many common problematic weeds have been reported. Many studies conducted by Department of Agronomy, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur (India) have revealed that farmers can earn additional income by selling the different valuable parts of useful weeds in national and international drug markets with the help of village level co-operative societies (Oudhia and Tripathi, 1999c). For achieving these targets, the first necessary step is to document the medicinal weed flora of the region in different crops, land situations, etc. In order to identify the existing potential medicinal weed flora of brinjal fields in Chhattisgarh (India) region, a survey was conducted by the Department of Agronomy, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur (India) during 1996-98.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The detailed ethnobotanical survey was done in whole Chhattisgarh region. The study was conducted in purposively selected districts, namely, Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Rajnandgoan, Bastar and Sarguja. From each selected block, a random sample of four villages was taken. A proportionate sample of villagers from each selected village was taken to make the total sample size as 100 respondents. The information was collected with the help of personal interview technique on a well prepared interview schedule. For knowing the medicinal uses of the common weeds in brinjal fields, the help of reference literatures of Ayurved, Homoeopathy, Unani, Allopathy and other systems of medicine was taken. The weeds were collected through intensive visits of the targeted villages at an interval of 15 days. Visual observations both on crop fields and wastelands were made.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Kharif Weeds Heavy weed infestation in brinjal fields was noted in whole Chhattisgarh region. About 42 weeds were identified as problematic weeds in brinjal fields. Out of these 42 problematic weeds, 37 weeds were identified as useful weeds. The medicinal, industrial and allelopathic properties of these 37 weeds have been found well documented in reference literatures (Table 1). The ethnobotanical survey revealed that the villagers of Chhattisgarh were using more than 16 weeds as medicines for treating their health problems. Many unique uses of these medicinal weeds have been noted during the study. Out of total 42 weeds, 10 weeds were identified as potential weeds which can provide additional income to the farmers. These weeds were : Abutilon indicum, Achyranthes aspera, Boerhavia diffusa, Cyperus sp., Eclipta alba, Euphorbia hirta, Leucas aspera, Oxalis latifolia, Phyllanthus niruri and Sida cordata (Table 2). The personal communications made with more than 300 national and international drug dealers revealed that these weeds were having heavy demands in national and international drug markets.

Rabi Weeds The survey conducted in rabi season revealed that out of 21 problematic weeds in brinjal fields of Chhattisgarh, 18 weeds possessed valuable medicinal properties. Out of these 18 weeds, about eight weeds were found in use by villagers. Out of total 21 weeds, five weeds were identified as potential weeds for national and international drug markets. These weeds were : Chenopodium album, Sphaeranthus indicus, Cyperus rotundus, Melilotus alba/indica and Blumea lacera. The study indicated that there is a tremendous scope of utilizing these useful weeds of brinjal fields in order to provide an additional income to the farmers. The utilization of this so-called unwanted plant cannot only make the field free from weeds but also helps in generating employment opportunities for unemployed rural youths who daily travel long distance (even more than 20 kms) in search of jobs in nearby cities. Harmful effects of agrochemicals particularly weedicides on human and cattle healthy environment and ground water are well proven (Oudhia et al., 1999b). Utilization of useful weeds after uprooting will check the heavy use of weedicides in brinjal fields.

Reference

Oudhia, P. (1999). Medicinal weed in rice fields of Chhattisgarh (India). Inter. Rice Research Notes 24.1 : 40 Oudhia, P. And Dixit, A. (1994). Weeds in Ambikapur region (Madhya Pradesh) and their traditional use. Weed News 1(2) : 19-21. Oudhia, P., Joshi, B.S. and Kosta, V. K. (1998b). The possibilities of preparing homoeopathic durgs from the obnoxious weeds of Chhattisgarh. Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Patrika 13 : 33-38. Oudhia, P., Kolhe, S.S. and Tripathi , R. S. (1996). Allelopathic effect of Datura stramonium L. On rice and common Kharif weed. Oryza 35 : 175 : 77. Oudhia, P. And Tripathi, R. S. (1997). Allelopathic potential of Calotropis gigantea R. Br. World Weeds 4 : 109-19. Oudhia, P. And Tripati, R. S. (1997b). Germination and seedling vigour of soybean as affected by allelopathy of Ipomoea carnea Jacq. Legume Res. 20 : 227-29. Oudhia, P. And Tripathi, R. S. (1998a). Allelopathic effects of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on kodo, mustard and problematic weeds. In : Proc. First International conference on Parthenium Management, Vol. II, 6-9 Oct. 1997. UAS, Dharwad pp. 136-39. Oudhia, P. And Tripathi, R. S. (1998b) Medicinal weeds in Kharif crops in the plains of Chhattisgarh. Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Patrika 13 : 33-38 Oudhia, P. And Tripathi, R. S. (1998c). The possibilities of utilization of medicinal weeds to increase the income of the farmers In : Abstract, National Seminar on Medicinal Plant Resource Development, 4-5 Oct., Gujrat government and AADAR, Gandhi Labour Insitute, Ahmedabad (India), p 3. Oudhia, P. and Tripathi, R.S. (1999a). Scope of cultivation of important medicinal plants in Chhattisgarh plains. In : Proc National Conference on Health Care and Development of Herbal Medicines, 29-30 Aug, 1997, IGAU, Raipur (India) pp. 215-22 Oudhia, P. ad Tripathi, R.S. (1999b) . Medicinal weeds of Raipur and Durg (Madhya Pradesh) region. In : Pro. National Conference on Health Care and Development of Herbal Medicines, 29-30 Aug., 1997, IGAU, Raipur (India) pp. 71-78. Oudhia, P. and Tripathi, R.S. (1999c). Medicinal weeds : A boon for the farmers of Chhattisgarh In : Abstract. VII Biennial Conference of Indian Society of Weeds Science, 5-7Feb., BHU Varansi (India). Pp 152. Oudhia, P., Tripathi, R. S., Puri, S. And Chandel, D. S. (199a). Traditional knowledge about medicinal weeds in Chhattisgarh Vasundhara The Earth 1 : 12-15. Oudhia, P., Tripathi, R. S. And Katiyar, P. (1999b). Weed management through green allelochemicals - An eco-friendly approach towards sustainable agriculture In : Abstract. National Seminar on Chemistry of Environmental Pollution with Special Emphasis on Pesticides, 28-29 Jan., Dept. Of Chemistry, Govt. D.

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