Kalihari (Gloriosa superba) and Panphooti (Bryophyllum pinnatum) as medicinal herbs in Chhattisgarh, India : Traditional Medicinal Knowledge Natural Occurrence, Cultivation and Trade

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

In Chhattisgarh, Kalihari is under cultivation from 1996. It is planted as Kharif season crop. The area under this herb has not much increased because lack of market infrastructure in the state. The farmers are cultivating this herb only with the aim to provide planting material to the beginners. It is commercially propagated through its ‘V’ shaped underground tubers. Most of the farmers are adopting organic farming practices for commercial cultivation of Kalihari. Although natural occurrence of Kalihari in natural forests of Chhattisgarh has not been reported by the early workers but during my ethnomedico surveys I have seen isolated patches of Kalihari. In the list of herbs from the buyers of nearby big cities, you can get information that the buyers are well aware of natural occurrence of Kalihari in Chhattisgarh. I have noted its natural occurrence in Pendra and Bastar region. As many other states of India including Tamilnadu fulfil the demand of national and international markets there is no pressure on Kalihari herb in Chhattisgarh.

Common Indian Names of Kalihari
Languages/Regions	Names
1) Gujarati	Dudhia vachhonag
2) Hindi	Kalihari, Kathari, Kulhari, Languli
3) Kanarese	Akkitang hall, Huliyaguru, Nangulika, Sivasaktibalb
4) Malyalam	Indai, Karianag, Khadyanag
5) Sanskrit	Agnimukhi, Garbhapatani, Kalikari

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are well aware of medicinal properties of Kalihari. They use Kalihari for the treatment of over 50 common diseases. In reference literatures it is mentioned that the roots of Kalihari are poisonous in nature and one must take care while using it. But according to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, the root is not so poisonous. During my visits to Bastar region, I have seen some practical uses of Kalihari roots. At the time of delivery, like roots of Echinops, Kalihari roots are also used to ease this process. It is common practice to apply the aqueous paste of Kalihari roots on the sole of both hand and legs and sometimes in lower abdomen, in order to hasten the process. Many healers advise the woman to put a piece of Kalihari roots in hair knot and to tie it in waist for same purpose. The traditional healers remove the paste and root pieces just after the delivery in order to avoid harmful effects. In Chhattisgarh, the traditional healers use roots for the treatment of Leucoderma. The aqueous paste of roots is applied externally on spots. In many places, it is used as remedy to reduce pain resulting from bites of poisonous insects. In reference literatures, many medicinal properties of Kalihari have been mentioned. According to Ayurveda, tubers are pungent, bitter, acrid, heating, anthelmintic, laxative, alexiteric, abortifacient, and useful in chronic ulcers, leprosy, inflammations, piles, abdominal pains, itching and thirst. In other parts of India, the native and traditional healers, use this herb very frequently both internally and externally. I would like to give some details regarding its botany. It is herbaceous, tall, branching climber root-stock of arched, solid, fleshy-white cylenderic tubers, stems annual, given off from young tubers; leaves sessile, scattered or opposite, sometimes whorled, ovate lanceolate, tip ending in a tendril-like spiral; Flowers large, solitary, axillary, perianth segments reaching 6.3-7.0 cm, linear-lanceolate, margins wavy, changing colours from greenish yellow, orange, scarlet and crimson from blooming to fading; filaments long spreading, fruits capsule linear oblong. Flowering time in Chhattisgarh conditions varies between July to September.

In my allelopathic studies, I have observed harmful allelopathic effects of different parts of Kalihari on germination and seedling vigour of many obnoxious weeds viz. Parthenium, Lantana and Echinocloa crussgalli. The aqueous extracts of Kalihari leaves have showed detrimental effects on eggs of Orange banded blister beetle (Zonabris pustulata) and Tortoise beetle (Aspidomorpha miliaris). Many farmers engaged in organic farming in the state, are using different parts of Kalihari in order to repel away harmful insects. Like Cynodon dactylon, Achyranthes aspera, Tridax procumbens, Blumea lacera, the leaves of Bryophyllum are also used as first aid remedy to stop bleeding. The natives and traditional healers both are well aware of healing properties of Bryophyllum. In Chhattisgarh, the natural occurrence is limited to very small and isolated areas. It is common garden herb and traditional healers always advise the natives to plant this herb in home gardens. The healers grow this herb in their own gardens to fulfil the requirement of herb for the preparation of drugs. According to them it is one of the frequently used valuable herbs for them. In case of severe injuries, the traditional healers prepare an aqueous paste from this herb and apply it on affected parts. In case of septic wounds the healers use specially prepared Bryophyllum oil for external application. They use the powder of Harra (Terminalia chebula) and the leaves of common rice weed Kanghi (Locally known as Raksi, Abutilon indicum), along with the leaf powder of Bryophyllum to prepare oil. The healers use these herbs in different ratio. Many healers add leaf powder of Cynodon dactylon or Blumea lacera in this combination. The traditional healer of Gandai uses 60gms of Harra powder, 250 gms (each) of Kanghi and Bryophyllum leaves. All powders are mixed in oil and burnt the powder in the oil. This oil is used for the treatment of wounds. In case of nose bleed (Epitaxis), it is common practice to apply few drops of Bryophyllum leaf juice in nose to arrest the bleeding. In case of high fever, the tribal of Bastar region, use the fresh juice of Bryophyllum. They apply it on whole body and advise the patient to cover the body to avoid the exposure. In case of headache due to less sleep, the traditional healers advise the patients to apply the juice on head for quick relief.

The natives of Bagbahera region, use the fresh leaf juice to repel away the mosquito. They apply the juice on infant’s body in order to protect him from mosquito bites. In case of scorpion bite, the healer of Tilda region, suggests the patient to apply the fresh leaf juice with common salt in affected apart to alleviate the sharp pain. During hot summer days, the natives use specially prepared Chatni from Bryophyllum leaves to make the body cool and resistance against hot winds ‘Loo". The natives add Coriander leaves, common salt, Cumin and other spices to give special taste to the Chutney. Many healers advise their patients suffering from fever to take this Chutney in order to change the bad taste of mouth and to increase the appetite. In case of dysentery, the natives of Chhattisgarh use the juice of leaves with sugar, internally, to get quick relief. The traditional healer of Mudpar, prepare a special oil using Bryophyllum leaves. He uses the leaf juice of Bryophyllum, Datura, Haldi (Turmeric) and Cynodon (Doobi) for preparation of oil. In case of severe pain in ears, he uses this oil. According to him, this oil is very effective and in most of the cases patients get relief with this simple treatment. In case of urine retention and other related troubles, the traditional healer suggests his patients to take the fresh leaf juice of Bryophyllum with rice water internally. Although Bryophyllum is not a native to India, but the healers have discovered many medicinal uses of Bryophyllum, and I am feeling proud that the natives and traditional healers are still using this herb in the treatment of many common diseases. For natives it is a good veterinary medicine. Once in a month the natives use the Bryophyllum leaf extract to wash their domestic cattle, specially in rainy days to prevent the attack of bloodsucking insects. They mix neem leaves sometimes in order to make the extract more potential and useful. In reference literatures related to indigenous systems of medicine, the details regarding Bryophyllum are mentioned. According to these literatures, both bark and leaves of this herb are useful but the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use only leaves. In many books, it is mentioned that snakes and scorpions avoid the Bryophyllum, but the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are not aware of this fact. In reference literatures, I have found this botanical description of Bryophyllum. It is a succulent glabrous herb having height up to 1.5 meters (Family : Crassulaceae); Stems obtusely four angled, the older one light coloured whereas the younger one reddish, speckled with white; Leaves variable, decussate, lower usually simple, occasionally compound; upper 3-5-7 foliate; leaflets ovate, elliptic, crenate or serrate; Flowers pendant, in large panicles, with opposite branches; Corolla swollen and octagonal at the base, constricted in the middle, reddish purple, lobes triangular; fruits enclosed in the papery calyx and corolla; small, smooth; the leaves often produce on their crenatures. When punctured, buds with root, stem and leaves which drop off and become new-plants (this is the reason it is locally known as Panphooti). Flowering time in Chhattisgarh conditions varies between. December to February.

Bryophyllum is not under cultivation in Chhattisgarh. After knowing its multiple uses and increasing local demand, many herb growers are now planning to cultivate this herb on trial basis. For traders and buyers, it is not a routine non-wood forest produce in Chhattisgarh.