Decreasing availability of medicinal herbs in Korur range, Southern Chhattisgarh, India

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

In the year 1993-94, forest range officer Shri O.P. Dubey and his team conducted detailed survey in Korur Range, Southern Chhattisgarh. He has written in his field diary that they have observed over 1500 species of herbs and most of the species were not identified. He has listed 124 medicinal species of economic importance at that time. (See Table - I).

Table - 1 :- Some useful medicinal herbs of Korur Range, Southern Chhattisgarh, India.
S.no.	Local Names	Botanical Names	Useful parts	Traditional uses in Korur region
1	Sarpgandha*	Rauvolfia serpentina	Root	Blood pressure
2	Van Tulsa	Hyptis sauveolens	Seed oil	Earache
3	Bach*	Acorus calamus	Root	Vomiting, Stammering
4	Balraj	Alpinia spp.	Root	As coolant
5	Reetha	Sapindus emarginatus	Bark	Heart, Pain, Asthma, Epilepsy
6	Nagar Motha	Cyperus rotundus	Root	Constipation and Thirst
7	Patal Kumhda	Pueraria tuberosa	Root	Gout
8	Tikhur*	Curcuma angustifolia	Root	As coolant
9	Satavar*	Asparagus racemosus	Root	Piles, Epistaxis, liver troubles
10	Chitavar*	Plumbago zeylenica	Root	Abortion
11	Aithi	Helicteres isora	Fruit	Stomachache, Lumbago
12	Lajwanti	Mimosa pudica	Seed	Sterlity
13	Kali Musli	Curculigo orchioides	Root	Bone setting, Tonic
14	Safed Musli*	Chlorophytum sp.	Root	Tonic
15	Aonla	Phyllanthus emblica	Fruit	Sex Tonic
16	Baheda	Phyllanthus bellirica	Fruit	Respiratory troubles
17	Chirchira	Achyranthes aspera	Seed and Plant	Malaria, Itch, Gonorhoea, Hair dyeing
18	Bhuiaonla	Phyllanthus simplex	Whole plant	Fever, Gonorrhoea, Burning in Urine
19	Punarnava	Boerhaavia diffusa	Root	Anaemia, Swelling, Cough, Heart troubles
20	Bringraj	Eclipta alba	Whole plant	Blood purifier, Jaundice
21	Tindi Phool	Vicoa indica	Root	Jaundice, cough
22	Chiraiyata	Andrographis paniculata	Plant	Fever, Anthelmintic
23	Bhatkatiya	Solanum xanthocarpum	Seed & Fruit	Toothache, as anti-sterlity
24	Kamraj*	Glossogyne pinnatifida	Root	Gynaecological troubles
25	Khamt Bedal	Indigofera sp.	Whole plant	Dog-bite
26	Safed Dhatura	Datura stramonium	Fruit	Fever, Cough, Bodyache
27	Kala Dhatura	Datura metal	Seed & leaves	Bone setting
28	Gud Sukdi	Grewia asiastica	Roots	Cancer
29	Van Bhindi	Hibiscus sp.	Roots & leaves	Snake bite, migraine
30	Jangli Haldi	Curcuma sp.	Root	Gynaecological troubles
31	Jangli piaz	Urgenea-indica	Root	Earache, Toothache
32	Indrayan	Citrullus colocynthis	Fruit & Root	Cancer, Leprosy, Fever
33	Dhan Baher	Cassia fistula	Fruit	Stomach disorders
34	Bel	Aegle marmelos	Fruit	Abortion
35	Safed Gumchi	Abrus precatorius	Root	Respiratory troubles, Toothache
36	Badi Elaichi	Amomaum sabulatum	Root	Asthma, Cough, Coryza
37	Adusa	Adhatoda vasica	Leaves	Blood purifier, fever, inflammations
38	Giloi	Tinospora cordifolia	Branch	Anti-cough
39	Jal Rakti	Justica gendarussa	Root
40	Nagar Reja		Whole herb	High blood pressure, Hysteria
41	Bramhi	Centella asiatica	Whole herb	Hysteria, Epilepsy
42	Musk dana	Abelmoschus moschantus	Whole herb	Bone-setting, diarrhoea
43	Hadjod	Cissus quadrangularis	Root	Leprosy
44	Keu kand	Costus speciosus	Bark	heart beating, Chronic cough
45	Koha	Terminalia arjuna	Whole herb	Epilepsy, Toothache
46	Madar	Calotropis gigantea	Root	Dog-bite
47	Anant mool	Hemidesmus indicum	Fruit	Cough
48	Harra	Terminalia chebula	Root	Blood impurity
49	Baichandi	Dioscorea hispida	Root	Cancer & TB
50	Sadasuhagan	Vinca rosea	Root
51	Jal Dhania	Ranunculus sceleratus	Leaves	Plague, Fever
52	Duddhi	Euphorbia hirta	Leaves	Diarrhoea, Gynaecological troubles
53	Musakarni	Ipomoea reniformis	Whole plant	Fistula, Leprosy, Urinary troubles
54	Harshingar	Nycthanthes arbor-tristis	Whole plant	Bone-setting
55	Lathwa or Latkana	Bixa orellena	Fruit	Eye troubles
56	Ram Dataun	Smilax zeylanica	Root	Sexual troubles
57	Sar phonk	Tephrosia purpurea	Leaves	Leprosy
58	Raotan Jyot*	Jatropha curcas	Fruit	Gout & blood impurity
59	Gajala, Rasna, Daj Lakdi	Pluchea lanceolata	Root	Leprosy
60	Thuhar	Euphorbia nerifolia	Whole herb	Purgative
61	Dulli, Baibirang	Embelia roburta	Whole herb	Anthelmintic, TB
62	Malkangni	Celastrus paniculata	Whole herb	Gout, Memory tonic, Leprosy
63	Chota Gokhru	Tribulus terrestris	Whole herb	Rena calculi
64	Makoi	Solanum nigrum	Fruit	Piles, Leprosy
65	Caronda	Carissa carandus	Root	Paralysis
66	Belladonna	Atropa belladona	Whole herb	Eye troubles
67	Korea	Wrghtia tinctoria	Bark	TB
68	Ulatkambal	Abroma angusti	Whole herb	Gynaecological troubles
69	Kachur	Curcuma zeodoria	Root	Piles, cough, Gonorrhoea
70	Kadva Parval	Trichosanthes cucumerina	Root & leaves	Fever, Purgative
71	Kevatch	Mucuna pruriens	Seed and Pulp	Leucorrhoea
72	Guarpatha	Aloe vera	Gel	Swelling, constipation
73	Pudina	Mentha virdis	Whole herb	Skin troubles
74	Gokhru		Whole herb	Gonorrhoea, sterlity
75	Van fasha	Viola odorata	Root & Flower	Fever, Intestinal disorder
76	Van Methi	Melilotus sp.	Whole herb
77	Bichu Buti	Girardinia palmata	Whole herb
78	Bramhadandi	Tricholepis glaberrima	Leaves	Skin toubles
79	Andi	Ricinus communis	Whole herb	Piles, Leprosy
80	Satyanashi	Argemone mexicana	Whole herb	Purgative, Fever
81	Barosun	Crotolaria juncea	Whole herb	Purgative
82	Tejpatti	Cinnemomum spp	Whole herb	Gonorrhoea, Gout
83	Akar kara	Spilanthes acmella	Whole herb	Epilepsy, Paralusis
84	Kaner	Nerium odorum	Whole herb	Abortion
85	Dronpushpi	Leucas cephalotus	Whole herb	Snake-bite, Jaundice
86	Tandulja	Amaranthus spinosus	Whole herb
87	Nagphani	Opuntia sp.	Leaf pulp	Heart trouble sterility
88	Ankol	Alangium sp.	Whole herb	Piles, Pepti Ulcer
89	Patharchatta	Coleus aromaticus	Leaves	Piles, Epilepsy
90	Piper	Piper longum	Root	Fever
91	Phas		Bark	Asthma
92	Sunjduli		Root	As tonic
93	Paljadi		Root	Fever
94	Semar	Bombax malabricum	Whole herb	Gonorrhoea
95	Bhaisa Khudhar		Flower & Gond	dry Cough
96	Langer	Vitex negundo	Pulp & bark	Headache, Fever
97	Bhurau kand		Leaves	Tonic
98	Kalihari	Gloriosa superpa	Roots	Piles
99	Paraspipal	Ficus religiosa	Roots	Ulcer
100	Mokhla	Asteracantha longifolia	Seed	Spermatorrhoea
101	Ganji kand		Seed	Swelling, Fever
102	Teliakand*		Roots	Piles
103	Van churia		Roots	Tonic
104	Vajradanti	Barleria sp.	Roots	Snake bite
105	Kukronda	Blumea lacera	Leaf & Root	Digestive disorder
106	Kachnar	Bauhinia acuminata	Root	Urinary troubles
107	Kutli		Root	Jaundice
108	Dauna	Artimesia indica	Whole herb	Bile related troubles
109	Van dei		Root	Snake-bite
110	Dhuldhula		Bark	Bleeding Piles
111	Amerbela	Cuscuta reflexa	Bark	Jaundice
112	Suakand		Root	Stomache, Abortion
113	Kaina	Commelina benghalensis	Leaf	Syphilis
114	Masnakand		Root	TB, Tonic
115	Dekarbela	Cissus repanda	Root	Skin troubles
116	Laicha		Root	Skin troubles
117	Beejband	Sida acuta	Root	Sex tonic
118	Doodh Mongra		Root	Increases flow of milk in mammary glands
119	Maida*	Litsea glutinosa	Whole herb	Headache
120	Kurru*	Sterculia urens	Leaves	Tonic
121	Hirmisi	Randia dumetorum	Root	Cattle troubles
122	Van Kundra		Root
123	Amti		Fruit
124	Vem		Fruit	TB
	* Herbs found in very less number in recent survey.

I came in contact with Shri O.P. Dubey in the year 2001 when we were associated with private herbal firm as herb experts. Seeing my interest in herbs and documentation, he has handed over his field diaries detailing the detailed survey. Due to severe malarial attack, unfortunately Shri Dubey passed away few months back at the age of 42 years. It is not wrong to mention that he was the pioneer worker who has prepared the list of native flora in Korur range after independence of India. Unfortunately, he has not published this list in form of scientific paper. To pay tribute to his work, I decided to visit the Korur range, few months back. For the natives of Korur range, it was very sad news. During my stay at this part of Chhattisgarh, I decided to verify the present status of herbs; Shri Dubey was listed as economical important. The short survey revealed that out of 124 important medicinal herbs, the populations of over 10 herbs have decreased drastically. Sarpgandha, Safed Musli, Satavar, Chitavar, Tikkur, Bach, Kamraj, Ratanjot, Bichu buti etc. are among these herbs. During my field survey, I have not observed even a single plant of Sarpgandha (Rauvolfia serpentine). The local traders and herb collectors informed me that from past few years the demand of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum species) has increased many folds. Besides its demand by national buyers, the Safed Musli growers are also purchasing it in bulk to sell it in the name of Chlorophytum borivilianum. The announcement of Indian government to promote the Petro crop Jatropha has created problems for the natural population of Jatropha, locally known as Ranijada. They further informed me that it will become endangered in the region in coming years, if proper steps are not taken by the forest officials. The valuable herb Kamraj is not in list of non-wood forest produces having regular demand in national and international drug markets. The decreasing population of Kamraj in Korur range is surprising. It indicates the pressure of secret collection and market activities of this rare herb. Like Kamraj, the population of Teliakand is also decreasing. The local traders informed that they are not getting the herb Aloe vera from last five years and according to them, it is an indication that now it is not present in the region. I also visited the forest nursery where Shri Dubey was planted these valuable species during his service period. Ten years after his job in Korur range, today there is no nursery. His juniors have taken no interest in this great work. Like other sincere workers, Shri Dubey was also not recognized and honored by our so called educated society. To present his survey work to the world community I am writing this article, with hope that we can learn lesson to honor such dedicated workers before their departure. Thank you very much for reading the article.