Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge

Vol. 5(2), April 2006, pp. 263-267

Ethnomedicinal plants used by Bhil tribe of Bibdod, Madhya Pradesh

Dinesh Jadhav
8, Daulat Ganj, Ratlam 457 001, Madhya Pradesh;
E-mail: dinj2ad@yahoo.com

Received 4 March 2005; revised 23 June 2005

The paper provides information on the use of plant crude drugs for various diseases prevalent in Bhil tribe of Bibdod
village of Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh. The paper deals with 62 plant species belonging to 57 genera of 40 families used
for different diseases by the tribe. For each species, the information regarding botanical names, local names, parts used and
ethnomedicinal uses have been provided.

Keywords: Bhil tribe, Medicinal plants, Madhya Pradesh, Ethnomedicine

IPC Int. Cl8: A61K36/00, A61P1/12, A61P7/00, A61P13/04, A61P15/08, A61P17/00, A61P19/02, A61P257/08,
A61P33/14

Ratlam district is situated on Malwa plateau at
493.62 m above the mean sea level. The district lies
between 23º 18´N–75º06´E. Bibdod is situated at
Bajna road about 5 km away from Ratlam. Bhils are
the main inhabitants of the village, these villagers still
practice herbal medicines. The knowledge of these
medicines is age old. For them, use of herbs is the
cheapest way to cure various health disorders. So far,
there is no Government clinic in the village. A review
of literature reveals that though much work has been
done on ethnomedicinal plants but still there are some
tribal pockets, which could be surveyed for the search
of new traditional medicines. A report on the
Ethnomedicinal plants used by villagers of Bibdod is
being presented.
Methodology
Periodical surveys were conducted during October
2004 to August 2005 in Bibdod village of Ratlam
district. Indigenous knowledge of local inhabitants
about the use of native plants was collected during
field trips through questionnaire. The plants were
identified and deposited in the herbarium of the
Botany Department, Government Arts and Science
College, Ratlam (Figs.1-7).
Results and discussion
The Bhil tribe of Bibdod uses about 62 plants for
various ailments. The tribal people depend totally on
herbal medicines of the surroundings, as there is no
clinic in the village. The plants are generally used for
stomach disorders, skin diseases, fever, dog bite,
respiratory disease, leucorrhoea, eye-disease, cough,
cold, piles, sore throat, toothache, night blindness,
jaundice, headache, swelling, itching, kidney stone
problem, boils, epilepsy, small pox and other gynae-
cological problems. The benefit of indigenous
knowledge can be harnessed and improved upon by
its appropriate use, establishing validity of such
knowledge and integrating it with health care
programmes.
Acknowledgement
Author is thankful to Dr Milind Dange, Head,
Department of Microbiology, Government Arts &
Science College, Ratlam, Dr Swati Samvatsar,
Independent Consultant (Botany), Indore, and Dr
Ratnadeep Nigam, Ratlam for their keen interest in
the work.
References
1 Jain S K, A Manual of Ethnobotany, (Scientific publishers,
Jodhpur), 2002, 1-193.
2 Jain S K, Glimpses of Indian Ethnobotany (Oxford
University Press, New Delhi), 1981, 272-294.
3 Jain S K & Tarafdar C R, Medicinal plant lore of Santhals,
Econ Bot, 24 (1970) 241-278.
4 Jain S K, Medicinal plant lore of the tribals of Bustar, Econ
Bot, 19 (1965) 236-250.
5 Jain S K, On the prospectus of some new or less known
medicinal plant resources, Indian Med J, 59 (1965), 270-272.
264 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 5, No. 2, APRIL 2006
 JADHAV: MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY BHIL TRIBE, MADHYA PRADESH 265

Table 1⎯ Medicinal plants used by the Bhils of Bibdod village

S No Botanical name Family Local name Uses
1 Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet. Malvaceae Kanghi Root extract is used to cure leucorrhoea
2 Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Delile Mimosaceae Bambool Leaf paste is applied on anus to cure piles
3 Achyranthes aspera Linn. Amranthaceae Lutjiro Root is tied on hand to cure fever
4 Adina cordifolia Benth. & Rubiaceae Haldu Stem bark powder is used to prevent miscarriages
Hook.f
5 Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. Simaroubaceae Aydu Stem bark extract is taken to cure typhoid
6 Anogeissus latifolia Wall. Combretaceae Dhavdo Balls prepared from gum fried in ghee and mixed with
jaggery and safed musli (Chlorophytum borivillianum)
and warmed with ghee are taken everyday after
pregnancy for strength and vigour
7 Argemone mexicana Linn. Papavaraceae Pilo daturo Leaf juice is applied externally to cure ringworm
8 Asparagus racemosus Willd. Liliaceae Motibapji / Root extract is taken to cure typhoid
Hemuri
9 Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Meliaceae Lemdi Leaf juice is used as tonic to cure ascariasis and skin
diseases
10 Barleria prionitis Linn. Acanthaceae Dantudi Root powder is taken to cure fever
11 Bombax ceiba Linn. Bombacaceae Semlo Root extract or flowers are taken to promote conception
12 Brassica nigra (Linn.) Koch. Brassicaceae Raii Seed powder is applied on forehead to cure headache
13 Bryonia laciniosa Linn. Cucurbitaceae Shivlingi Seeds are taken with water to promote conception
14 Butea monosperma O.ktz. Papilionaceae Khankro Seed powder is taken with water to cure bodyache
15 Caesalpinia bonducella Caesalpiniaceae Ghatar A syrup made up of seed powder with jaggery is used to
Roxb. cure stomach trouble
16 Calotropis procera Br. Asclepiadaceae Ankro Latex of leaves is used to cure backache and swelling
17 Cicer arietinum Linn. Fabaceae Chana Roasted seeds are taken with jaggery to cure jaundice
18 Citrus limon (Linn.) Burm.f. Rutaceae Limbu Leaves are warmed with ghee and tied on eyes to cure
swelling
19 Clerodendrum phlomidis Verbenaceae Arni Flower extract is used to prevent miscarriages
Linn. F.
20 Corchorus capsularis Linn. Tiliaceae Rajan Seeds and leaves are used as stomachic
21 Coriandrum sativum Linn. Apiaceae Dhanio Seed powder is taken with sugar to cure headache
22 Crinum defixum Ker.-Gawal. Amaryllidaceae Didigundo Paste of bulb is applied on anus to cure piles
23 Curcuma domestica Zingiberaceae Haldi Powder of rhizome mixed with salt and ajwain
Valeton (Trachyspermum ammi) is taken with water to cure
vomiting
24 Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Convolvulaceae Amarbel Stem extract is used to cure epilepsy
25 Echinops echinatus DC. Asteraceae Ontkato Root powder mixed with clove and jaggery is taken
orally to cure cold. Powder of root is also used to cure
sore throat
26 Enicostemma littorale Blume. Gentianaceae Nau Leaf extract is useful in fever and headache
27 Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. Euphorbiaceae Ghotla Leaf extract is used to cure cough and sore throat
thuwar
28 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Euphorbiaceae Dudi Extract of whole plant is to cure small pox
29 Ferula asafoetida Linn. Apiaceae Heeng Root extract is useful in toothache
30 Ficus Glomerata Roxb. Moraceae Gulri Bark extract is taken with water to cure dysentery
31 Heylandia latebrosa DC. Fabaceae Jungle buti Plant extract is used to cure small pox
32 Ipomea carnea Jacq. subsp. Convolvulaceae Besharam Leaves are warmed with edible oil and tied on wound
Fistulosa (Mart.ex.choisy) and boils
Austin.
33 Jatropha curcus Linn. Euphorbiaceae Ratan jot Twigs are used as toothbrush to cure toothache

(Contd)
266 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 5, No. 2, APRIL 2006

Table 1⎯ Medicinal plants used by the Bhils of Bibdod village⎯Contd

S No Botanical name Family Local name Uses
34 Jasminum sambac Ait. Oleaceae Mogro Leaves are warmed with ghee and tied on boils
35 Lawsonia inermis Linn. Lythraceae Mendi Leaf paste is applied on anus to cure piles
36 Lippia nodiflora Rich. Syn. Verbenaceae Pattharchatti Paste of whole plant is applied on stomach to cure
Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene. kidney stone problem
37 Madhuca indica J.F. Gmel. Sapotaceae Mauwdo Boiled flowers are tied on injured part of body to cure
wounds
38 Medicago sativa Linn. Fabaceae Rizko Leaves are used to cure night blindness
39 Neptunia oleracea Lour.fl. Mimosaceae Loyadi Root extract is taken with curd to cure dysentery
Cochin
40 Ocimum basilicum Linn. Lamiaceae Maruo Leaf paste with bitter gourd fruit and lime is used to cure
ringworm
41 Ocimum sanctum Linn. Lamiaceae Tulsi Mixture of leaf extract with cloves and jaggery is used
in cough
42 Pandanus odoratissimus Pandanaceae Kevdo Powder of roots is useful to prevent miscarriages
Linn. F. syn. P. tectorius
Auct. non park.
43 Papaver somniferum Linn. Papavaraceae Ammal Leaves are tied on eyes to cure swelling
44 Piper longum Linn. Piperaceae Pipramoor Root powder is taken with tea to cure fever
45 Plumbago zeylanica Linn. Plumbaginaceae Sitawel Root extract is taken with tea to cure headache, cough
and cold
46 Portulaca oleracea Linn. Portulacaceae Ludsio Boiled leaves are tied on injured body part
47 Psidium guajava Linn. Myrtaceae Jaamphal Ripe berry fruit is used after roasting to cure cough &
cold
48 Quisqualis indica Linn. Combretaceae Tameshvar Leaves are tied on throat to cure tonsillitis
49 Ricinus communis Linn. Euphorbiaceae Arandi Seed oil is used for teething trouble in children
50 Sonchus arvensis Linn. Asteraceae Jungli buti Leaf extract is used to cure bodyache
51 Syzygium aromaticum Linn. Myrtaceae Laung Roasted cloves powder mixed with jaggery is used in
the post delivery period
52 Syzygium jambolana Lam. Myrtaceae Jambu Stem bark extract is taken to cure dysentery
53 Terminalia arjuna Combritaceae Kavdo Stem bark extract is taken with curd to cure dysentery
(roxb.ex.dc.) wt & arn.
54 Tinospora cordifolia Miers. Menispermaceae Limbvel Stem juice is used to cure leucorrhoea, snake bite and
leprosy
55 Trachyspermum ammi Linn. Apiaceae Ajwain Balls prepared from seed powder mixed with jaggery
and warm ghee are taken everyday after pregnancy for
strength and vigour
56 Tribulus terrestis L. Zygophyllaceae Bekhrio Extract of whole plant is taken to cure leucorrhoea
57 Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq. Tiliaceae Lapti Root extract is taken to cure urinogenital problem of
male
58 Cayratia auriculata (Roxb.) Vitaceae Choti gudvel Root extract is useful in dog bite
Gamble
59 Cissus quardrangularis Linn. Vitaceae Haadjood Stem extract is used to cure fracture

60 Zingiber officinale Rosc. Zingiberaceae Soonth Balls prepared from powder of dry rhizome mixed with
jaggery, safed musli and ghee are taken everyday after
pregnancy for strength and vigour
61 Ziziphus jujuba Lam. Rhamnaceae Bor Root powder is useful in dysentery
62 Ziziphus nummularia W.&A. Rhamnaceae Boorzari Root powder is useful in dysentery
 JADHAV: MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY BHIL TRIBE, MADHYA PRADESH 267

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1-311