American Journal of Ethnomedicine, 2014, Vol. 1, No.

4, 260-265
Available online at http://www.ajethno.com
American Journal of Ethnomedicine

Potential Medicinal Plants of Odisha Used in

Rheumatism and Conservation
S.P. Panda*1, H.K. Sahoo2, H.N. Subudhi3 and A.K. Sahu4
1

Odisha Biodiversity Board, RPRC Campus, Bhubaneswar-15, India

Vasundhara, Bhubaneswar, India
3
Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, India
4
SPMU, ICZMP Odisha, 108 Surya Nagar, Bhubaneswar, India
2

ABSTRACT
Odisha, one of the coastal states of Indian sub-continent is endowed with potential
medicinal plants owing to its peculiar topography and geographically distributed
various microclimatic locations. But due attention was not paid to explore these
life forms and alkaloids present in them having need specific chemical
constituents. These natural resources are neither being properly exploited and nor
even utilized their economic benefits from these Godly life forms. Due to
anthropogenic over exploitation, many of such life forms are on the verge of
being extinct or rare or vulnerable etc. It is high time to get rid of this ignorance
and to plan for an optimal utilization of our nature given resources. To take such
an endeavour, this paper deals with 68 medicinal plant species having significant
role in curing rheumatism under 62 genera and belonging to 37 families collected
from various parts of the state. The species are arranged alphabetically with their
family, vernacular name, usable part (in table -1). Concurrently some
conservational strategies have also been suggested before it becomes endanger or
rare or extinct.
Keywords- Medicinal plants, Odisha, Rheumatism, Conservation.

INTRODUCTION

Odisha is situated in the east coast of the

Bay of Bengal of the Indian sub-continent
and lies in between 17 48-22 94N
latitude and 8124 - 8729 E longitude. It
is the treasure house of healing herbs, which
are being used in Indian system of medicine
viz., Auyrveda, Siddha and Unani. However,
owing to complex topography and variety of
microclimatic parameters, several life forms
are not coming to the forefront of common

people, out of which the plants of immense

medicinal significance deserve special
mention.
The mountainous forests of the
Deomali hills, Gandhamardan hill range,
Mahendragiri hills, Niyamagiri hill range,
Malyagiri hills, Similipal Biosphere Reserve
and coastal forests including the mangroves
and their associates have high degree of
biological diversity as well as grand
repository of potential medicinal plants.
These forests have been the source of

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American Journal of Ethnomedicine ________________________________________ ISSN: 2348-9502

invaluable medicinal plants since the time

human being realized the preventive and
curative properties of plants and started
using them for health care for them as well
as for their pets. Many of these areas are
ethnobotanically
resourceful.
The
aboriginals depend on the forests as well as
forest resources to cater their needs like
food, cloth, shelter and medicine. The tribal
people are not very willing to disclose their
knowledge about the uses of the plant/ plant
parts being important curative resources
except for some commonly useful medicinal
properties. In general, they maintain secrecy
about the use of certain medicinal plants
with a belief that the medicines will lose
their healing power, if too many heads know
about them.
About 400 plants are used in usual
preparation of Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha
and tribal medicine. As far as the
information available, these preparations are
about 75% from tropical and 25% from
temperate forests. Out of which, 30% of
these preparations are from roots, 14% from
bark, 16% whole plants, 5% from flowers,
10% from fruits, 6% from leaves, 7% from
seeds, 3% from wood, 4% from rhizomes
and 6% from stems but only less than 20%
(including spices) such plants are
cultivated1,2.
In spite of such a resourceful utility,
very limited study have been done by Sahoo,
Saxena et Dutta, Subudhi et Choudhury on
the ethnobotany and ethnomedicine of the
state6,8,10.
METHODOLOGY
Regular field trips were carried out
to different resourceful areas of important
forests of the state in order to collect
information regarding the distribution
pattern and flowering time of the plants.
Considering the important medicinal utility,
the plants were collected and identified in
consultation with the regional floras4,7 and
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monographs and preserved in the herbarium

of the P.G. Department of Botany, Utkal
University, Bhubaneswar. The part of the
plants used to treat rheumatism and over all
information of uses was gathered by the
method of ethnobotanical investigation. The
authenticity of the medicinal importance of
the species were carefully examined by the
standard literatures1,3,5,8,9,11.
During the present exploration, only
medicinal plant species having broad
spectrum of use in healing rheumatism were
considered. In the present treatment, habit,
species under genera along with their
family, vernacular name, where ever
available and usable parts with medicinal
utility etc. were given. The families are
arranged alphabetically and the species are
also represented alphabetically under each
family. Besides, some conservational
strategies have also been provided for the
medicinal plants for posterity.
Systematic analysis
A total of 68 angiosperms having
rheumatism healing properties and used by
the local inhabitants especially the tribals of
the forest fringe villages were collected
belonging to 62 genera under 37 families
(table-1). Acanthaceae is the first dominant
family followed by Caesalpiniaceae,
Fabaceae and Malvaceae (Fig-1). It indicates
that maximum species of Acanthaceae have
been utilized in healing rheumatism. Out of
37 families, 25 are monotypic i.e.
represented by both single genus and species
and 35 are dicot families representing 66
dicot species whereas 2 monocot species
under 2 monocot families.
CONSERVATION
From the time immemorial, Odisha
was endowed with potential medicinal
plants. Recently due to the increasing
popularity of Ayurvedic drugs a large
number of drug manufacturing companies

American Journal of Ethnomedicine ________________________________________ ISSN: 2348-9502

have been established in the country. As it is

found in the practice, many of the medicinal
plant collectors supply a large scale of
plants/plant parts from the remote forests to
the factories without knowing the status and
economic importance of these plants. Now,
the pressure on the forests in general and
medicinal plants found in the forests in
particular has been increased significantly.
So, the plants are over-exploited leading in
to extinction of the species. Shifting
cultivation, establishment of industries, clear
off of forest lands for human settlement and
illegal cutting of tree species to cater various
needs have accelerated the process of
dwindling of many rare and endangered
species.
Odisha state has a great potential to
produce large quantity of medicinal products
as it has wide range of eco-climatic regions.
Although quite a good number of medicinal
plants have been wiped away from the state
due to the operation of various biotic factors
coupled with other abiotic reasons, still
Odisha is a grand repository of many
indigenous medicinal plants. Hence,
appropriate protection and conservational
steps are the need of the hour. To conserve
the medicinal and aromatic plants, the first
step would to prepare a status report on
different aspects related to medicinal plant
resources in Odisha. These life forms can be
conserved by developing medicinal gardens
in educational and research institutions in
general and Ayurvedic Hospitals in
particular. Many indigenous as well as
exotic species that were brought from
various regions need to be conserved in the
herbal gardens by government sponsorship.
Modern technology can be utilized such as
cryo-preservation along with traditional field
gene bank process both in in-situ and ex-situ
preservation practices.
In order to promote the cultivation
and judicious utilization of medicinal plants,
farmers as well as the tribals needs to be
trained, educated with the various agroPage 260-265

techniques, processing and marketing of

medicinal and aromatic plants. It is quite
certain that with a whole hearted effort from
the government sector, this may be
successful in tribal areas, which are still
depending on the collection and selling of
non-timber minor forest products for their
livelihood.
CONCLUSION
In India, the country people have
their own traditional medical knowledge to
cure different diseases. Furthermore we
found that rheumatism is linked with old age
people and this age group is quite
experienced in due course of time and each
have their method of preparation relating to
their traditional origin. The traditional
wisdom, embedded with strong cultural
relations with nature and natural resources
reconcile between conservation and
medicinal plant extractions.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Indebted thanks are due to the Prof.
and Head, P.G. Department of Botany, Utkal
University, Bhubaneswar for providing
necessary library and laboratory facilities to
carry out the work.
REFERENCES
1. Agarwal YS, Ghosh B. Drug plants of India
(Root Drugs). New Delhi; Kalyani
Publishers, 1985.
2. Annomymous. Amruth. FRLHT, Bangalore;
August 1977; 10.
3. Chopra RN, Nayar SL, Chopra IC. Glossary
of Indian Medicinal Plants. CSIR, New
Delhi; 1956.
4. Haines HH. The Botany of Bihar and Orissa.
6 parts, Landon; 1921-25.
5. Kirtikar KR, Basu BD. Indian Medicinal
Plants. Vol (1-2). ICMR, New Delhi; 1935.
6. Sahoo AK. Plant Resources of Kandhamal
district (Odisha) some suggestion to develop

American Journal of Ethnomedicine ________________________________________ ISSN: 2348-9502

cottage industries in tribal locatlities. Orissa
Review 1986; 43 (4) 39-44.
7. Saxena HO, Brahman M. The Flora of
Orissa. Vol. (1-4), Odisha Forest
Development Corporation; Bhubaneswar;
1994-96.
8. Saxena HO, Dutta PK. Studies on the
ethnobotany of Orissa. Bull. Bot. Surv. India
1975; 17 (1-4) 124-131.

9. Stayavati GV, Gupta AK, Tandon N.

Medicinal plants of India. Vol. (1-2), ICMR,
New Delhi; 1987.
10. Subudhi
HN,
Choudhury
BP.
Ethnobotanical studies in the district of
Kandhamal (Orissa-1). Bio-Sci. Res. Bull.
1985; 1 (1-2): 26-32.
11. Warrier PK, Nambiar VPK, Ramankutty C.
Indian Medicinal Plants (Vol.1-5), Madras;
Orient Longman Ltd.; 1994-96.

Table 1. Ethnomedicinal plants used to treat rheumatism

S. No.

Name of the species

1.
2.

Acanthus ilicifolius L.
Achyranthes aspera L.
Hygrophila auriculata
(Schum.) Heine
Justicia adhatoda L.
Thunbergia fragrans Roxb.
Cerbera odollam Gaertn.
Holarrhena pubescens
(Buch-Ham.) Wall. ex G.
Don
Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.)
R. Br.
Calotropis gigantea R. Br.
Cryptolepis buchananii
Roem. & Schult.
Pergularia daemia (Forssk.)
Chiov.
Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.)
Cass.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Bombax ceiba L.

Parts
used
Lv
Rt, S
Lv, Rt, S,
WH
Rt
Rt, Lv
Fr
Bk

Family

Habit

Vernacular name

Acanthaceae
Acanthaceae

Under-shrub
Herb

Harkach
Apamaranga

Acanthaceae

Herb / Sub-shrub

Koilekha/Katathua

Acanthaceae
Acanthaceae
Apocyanaceae

Shrub
Twiner
Tree

Basanga
Chakrakedar
Paniamba

Apocyanaceae

Shrub

Pitakorwa

Rt, Lv,
WH
Lv
Rt, Lv,
WH

Apocyanaceae

Climbing shrub

Soyamnoi/syamalata

Ascelpiadaceae

Shrub

Arakha

Asclepiadaceae

Twining shrub

Dudhimal/Karanta

Lv

Ascelpiadaceae

Climber

Hunturi/Phala Kantaka

S oil

Asteraceae

Herb

Tilo

Rt, Lv
HW

Bombacaceae

Tree

Semeli

Trichodesma indicum (L.) R.

Br.
Bauhinia purpurea L.
Caesalpinia bonduc (L.)
Roxb.

WP

Boraginaceae

Herb

Raktokoi

Lv, Rt

Caesalpiniaceae

Tree

Barada

Caesalpiniaceae

Climber

Gilogila

17.

Caesalpinia crista L.

Fr

Caesalpiniceae

18.
19.
20.

Cassia fistula L.
Cassia tora L.
Celastrus paniculatus Willd.
Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R.
Br.

Fr
Lv
S, Lv
Tb

14.
15.
16.

21.

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Caesalpiniaceae
Caesalpiniaceae
Celastraceae

Climber/ Thorny
scrambling shrub
Deciduous Tree
Under-shrub
Climbing shrub

Sunari
Chakunda
Karsano/Malkangni

Convolvulaceae

Creeping herb

Kansarinata

Putikaranja

American Journal of Ethnomedicine ________________________________________ ISSN: 2348-9502

Rt

Convolvulaceae

23.

Operculina turpethum (L.)

Silva-mano
Momordica charantia L.

Fr, S

Cucurbitaceae

Climber/ Large
climbing shrub
Climber

24.

Dioscorea pentaphylla L.

Tb

Dioscoreaceae

Twining herb

Pittalokanda/Kantaalu

25.
26.
27.
28.
29.

Acalypha indica L.
Jatropha curcas L.
Jatropha glandulifera Roxb.
Jatropha gossypifolia L.
Abrus precatorius L.
Derris scandens (Roxb.)
Benth.
Derris trifoliata Lour.
Pongamia pinnata (L.)
Pierre

WP
Oil
S
Oil
Rt, S

Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Fabaceae

Herb
Shrub
Shrub
Shrub
Twining shrub

Koilekha
Bamprigada/Chandrajyoti
Jalijalika
Baigoba
Kaincha

Lv

Fabaceae

Climbing shrub

Mohagano

S oil

Fabaceae

Climbing shrub

Swanlata

Lv, S , Bk

Fabaceae

Tree

Karanja

Rt

Fabaceae

Climber / Liana
with large
tuberous root

Bhuinkakharu

22.

30.
31.
32.
33.

Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.)

DC.

Dudholoma/Nisoth
Kalara

Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.)

Merr.
Ocimum gratissimum L.
Allium sativum L.
Asparagus racemosus
Willd.

Lv

Flacourtiaceae

Shrub

Bhainchakoli

Lv
Rb

Lamiaceae
Liliaceae

Shrub
Herb

Bantulsi
Khrubeli

Rt

Liliaceae

Herb

Satabari

38.

Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet

Lv

Malvaceae

39.
40.
41.
42.

Pavonia odorata Willd.

Sida cordifolia L.
Sida rhombifolia L.
Melia azadirach L.

WH
WH
WH
Lv, Fr, S

Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Meliaceae

43.

Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels

Rt , Lv

Menispermaceae

44.
45.

Ficus benghalensis L.
Moringa oleifera Lam.

Bk
Lv, Fr, Oil

Moraceae
Moringaceae

46.

Boerrhavia diffusa L.

WH

Nyctaginaceae

47.

Nyctanthes arbortristis L.
Vanda tessellata (Roxb.)
Hook. ex G. Don
Pandanus fascicularis Lam.
Argemone mexicana L.
Sesamum indicum L.
Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.

Lv, Fl

Oleaceae

Under-shrub/
short pubescent
shrub
Herb
Herb
Herb
Tree
Climber/Scandan
t Shrub
Tree
Tree
Herb / Common
weed of sandy
tracts/ waste
lands
Tree

Rt

Orchidaceae

Herb

Malang

Oil
WP
S
Rt

Pandanaceae
Papaveraceae
Pedaliaceae
Periplocaceae

Shrub
Annual Herb
Herb
Twining / under

Kia
Agara
Rasi
Anantamula

34.
35.
36.
37.

48.
49.
50.
51.
52.

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Pedipedica
Kurubeli
Bisiripi
Bajramuli
Mahalimba
Dahdahiya/Patalagarudi
Bara
Sajana
Goudapuruni/Punarnava
Gangaseoli

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53.
54.

Br.
Piper longum L.
Plumbago zeylancia L.

55.

Ventilago denticulata Willd.

56.

Murraya paniculata (L.)

Jack

57.

Cardiospermum
helicacabum L.

58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.

Fr
Rt
Rt, Fl,
WH, Bk,
St, S

Piperaceae
Plumbaginaceae

shrub
Creeping herb
Under shrub

Pippali
Chitaparu

Rhamnaceae

Woody climber

Pittoli

Lv / Rt Bk

Rutaceae

Shrub/ Small tree

Banamallika

Lv, S

Sapindaceae

Madhuca indica Gmel.

Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.
Smilax perfoliata Lour.
Smilax zeylanica L.
Datura innoxia Mill.
Datura metel L.
Nicotiana tobaccum L.
Solanum virginianum L.
Withania somnifera (L.)
Dunal
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
(L.) Vahl

S
Lv
Rt
Rt
Lv
Lv
Tabacco
Lv

Sapotaceae
Simaroubaceae
Smilacaceae
Smilacaceae
Solanceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae

Climbing herb
with tendrillar
hooks
Tree
Tree
Climbing herb
Climber
Shrub
Shrub
Herb
Herb

Rt, Lv

Solanaceae

Under Shrub

Ashwagandha

WH

Verbenaceae

Herb

Jalijalika

Vitex negundo L.

Lv

Verbenaceae

Shrub
(Quadrangular)

Begunia

68.

Mayajala/Kanphuta
Mahula
Mahalimba
Mothuri
Mutri
Duddura
Kala dudura
Tamaku
Ankaranti

Key to the part used: Lv: Leaves, Rt: Root, S: Seed, WH: Heart wood, Fr: Fruit, Bk: Bark, S.
oil: Seed oil, Tb: Tuber, WP: Whole plant, Fl : Flower, Rb: Bulb, St: Stem

6
5
4
3
2
1

No. of Genera
Acanthaceae
Apocyanaceae
Ascelpiadaceae
Asteraceae
Bombacaceae
Boraginaceae
Caesalpiniaceae
Celastraceae
Convolvulaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Dioscoreaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Fabaceae
Flacourtiaceae
Lamiaceae
Liliaceae
Malvaceae
Menispermaceae
Moraceae
Moringaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Oleaceae
Orchidaceae
Pandanaceae
Papaveraceae
Pedaliaceae
Periplocaceae
Piperaceae
Plumbaginaceae
Rhamnaceae
Rutaceae
Sapindaceae
Sapotaceae
Simaroubaceae
Smilacaceae
Solanaceae
Verbenaceae

Figure 1. Distribution of genera and species under families

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No. of Species