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New record of white flowered
variety of medicinal weed Asteracantha sp. in Chhattisgarh(India)
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Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights ReservedAbstract
During the floristic surveys of Chhattisgarh region, white flowered variety of medicinal weed Asteracantha longifolia was observed. The occurrence of this rare variety in Chhattisgarh and to list out the traditional medicinal knowledge about this herb, detailed surveys were conducted . The surveys revealed the high density of this herb in Raipur and Durg districts. Some valuable medicinal properties have also been noted during the surveys.
Common Indian Names of Mokhla (Asteracantha sp.) Languages/Regions Names 1) Gujarati Ekhara, Gokhran, Talamkhan 2) Hindi Gokhal Kanta, Gokshura, Talamkhana 3) Kanarese Kalavankabija, Kolavalike 4) Marathi Talimakhana, Vikhara 5) Sanskrit Ikshura, Kak-Kolilaksha, Srigalghant, Vajrakantaka Key-words
Asteracantha longifolia; Hygrophila spinosa; white flowered variety; Medicinal weed; weed;
Introduction
Asteracantha known as Mokhla kanta, is one of the common wasteland weeds in Chhattisgarh. In different Indian languages it is known as Ekharo, Gokhran, Talamkhan (Gujerati), Gokhal Kanta, Gokshura, Talamkhana (Hindi), Kalavanlbija, kolavalike(Canarese),Talimkhana, Vikhara (Marathi), Ikshura,kakkokilaksha,Srigalghant, Vajrokantaka (Sanskrit), Asteracantha longifolia (syn.Hygrophila spinosa) is a stout herb with fasciculate, erect and subquadrangular stem, Leaves are sessile and whorled in verticels of 6 at each node. All leaves are with straight sharp yellow spine in its axil. Flowers are in whorls of 8 (in 4 pairs) at each node. The colour of flower is purple blue (Aghrakar, 1991). During the floristic surveys by the team of Society For Parthenium Management (SOPAM) flowered variety of this useful weed was observed. The occurrence of this rare varity in Chhattisgarh and many parts of India has not been reported in available scientific literatures. Hence, this is a new record of occurrence of white variety of Asteracantha longifolia. To find out the occurrence of this rare variety in different parts of newly born state Chhattisgarh and also to list out the traditional medicinal knowledge about this useful weed, a detailed ethnobotacinal survey was conducted during 2001-2002.
Material and Methods
The detailed ethno-botanical survey was conducted in the Chhattisgarh region. The study was done in selected districts i.e.Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Bastar and Sarguja, From each selected district, two blocks and from each selected block, a random sample of four villages was taken. A proportionate sample of villagers from each selected village was taken to give a total sample size of 1000 respondents. The data were collected with the help of personal interviews according to a well-prepared interview schedule. For knowledge of medicinal uses of Asteracantha, the help of reference literature of Ayurvedic, Homoeopathic, Yunani, Allopathic and other systems of medicine was utilized. The weed was collected during intensive visits to the targeted villages at intervals of 15 days. Visual assessments were made both on crop fields and wastelands.
Results and Discussion
The survey revealed that Asteracantha specially the white flowered variety of Asteracantha is one of the most frequently used herbs in Chhattisgarh for the treatments of many common ailments. In general, the roots, leaves and seeds of common Astracantha are used for the preparation of drug but in Chhattisgarh whole plant is mostly used. The study revealed that the natives of Chhattisgarh are having rich traditional medicinal knowledge about this useful weed. In all selected district, significantly higher frequency was observed in Raipur and Durg districts. In Rajnandgaon and Dhamtari districts rare occurrence was observed. It was noted that the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh prefer white flowered variety of Asteracantha as compared to blue purple flowered variety. According to them, white flowered variety is having higher medicinal properties. The scientific studies for confirmation of these observations by traditional healers, have yet not been conducted in any part of the world. The survey suggested that there is a strong need to conduct studies on this important aspect. Significantly high density of this weed was noted in swampy places. In paddy growing areas, farmers use this weed as first aid measure to stop bleeding from injured parts. According to traditional healers of areas where white flowered variety of Asteracantha occur, the white flowered variety is more effective not only in bleeding but also in healing the wound quickly. In areas where this white variety not occur, the traditional healers are dependent on the areas where it occurs in abundance. The traditional healers of these areas purchase this weed during growing season, dry it and use it round the year. The medicinal properties of this white flowered variety have also not been documented in available scientific literatures. The studies on botany of both of these varieties revealed that morphologically both of the species are identical. Only difference is of the colour of flowers. The detailed studies on different important aspects are in progress.
Reference
Aghrakar, S.P. (1991). Medicinal plants in Bombay Presidency. Pbl.
Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur (India). p.32.