Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India, having less known traditional uses. III. Hingot (Balanites roxburghii, family : Balanitaceae

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

The natives of Chhattisgarh use the decoction of Hingot, for bath. It is recommended specially for the patients suffering from small-pox. For natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Hingot is useful herb. For herb collectors and traders also, it is important herb. They do not sell it directly to the buyers at national and international levels. This is bitter fact that they collect the fruits for the purpose of adulteration. It is used as adulterate in myrobalans. It is also mixed in other herbs. The herb collectors and traders try to protect themselves by saying that they are adulterating one medicinal herb in other valuable herb, so it can not cause any harmful effects. The buyers at national and international levels are aware of its use as adulteration. They informed me that Hingot as medicinal herb is purchased by them from other States particularly from Rajasthan. They consider the quality of Hingot from Rajasthan superior to other states. Although Hingot is not found in abundance in Chhattisgarh but still there is a possibility to establish this herb as non-wood forest produce having regular demand. According to reference literatures related to the economic botany, Hingot is having many promising industrial uses. Hingot fruit is excellent erosion-inhibitor for brass and aluminium alloys. It removes stains on silk and cotton-clothes. In old days, the natives of Chhattisgarh were using this fruit to wash the clothes. Many senior natives still remember its use. They informed that the fruits were good for old clothes, but now as new fashion is coming, the clothes are becoming finer and thinner. The use of Hingot on these new fashion clothes reduces its life. Like this use, other uses of Hingot are now becoming obsolete due to similar reasons.

Through this article, I am trying to document the available information on traditional medicinal uses of Hingot in Chhattisgarh . At first, I am describing its botany and reported medicinal uses. Botanically, Hingot is a small tree, having height upto 8 meters, thorny, deciduous, with erect, short trunk and ascending branches. Bark smooth, 5 mm thick, green when young, blackish grey in very old trees of over 80 years. Leaves are in pairs, fleshy or leathery, ashy-green, leaflets 2-5x1-3 cm. Leafless in winters, new foliage appears in March. Sharp, large (up to 9 cm) green thorns are present in the axils of leaves. Thorns bear leaves and flowers. Flowers small, fragrant, white or greenish white in dense axillary clusters. Flowering season is between April-May. Fruit hard, stony drupe full of bitter but edible pulp with an unpleasant odour, turning green to pale yellow when ripe, large, distinctive, ovoid, with five distinct grooves. Fruiting season May-June. Seed usually one, whereas embryo with thick cotyledons. According to Ayurveda, bark is anthelmintic and spasmolytic. Leaf is anthelmintic whereas root is emetic. Fruit is used in treatment of whooping cough and skin diseases. Kernel is used in skin-diseases and burns. Roots (0.2-2.2%) and fruits (0.3-3.8%) contains diosgenin (used in contraceptives). The steroids (Sapogenin) are employed in synthesis of drugs including sex harmone and oral contraceptives.

During my ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have found it very difficult to locate or identify the traditional healers specialized in use of different parts of Hingot as medicine. In general, the traditional healers are more or less aware of its traditional uses but according to them, they use it less frequently in comparison to other herbs. The only reason is, the availability of other promising as well as cheap alternatives. The natives are also less aware of various medicinal uses. The senior natives are aware but with them, the traditional knowledge is also ending. The senior natives of Sarguja region informed me that in early days (before freedom of India i.e. before 1947), when Haija (Cholera) was in peak, they were using the powdered bark of Hingot with fresh curd both as preventive and curative. They further informed that the fruit pulp of Hingot can be used successfully in treatment of cough. This pulp is also beneficial in case of any pain. In treatment of Adhasisi (Migraine), the roots are used both internally and externally. The aqueous paste using roots and water is prepared and given to the patients during attack. It is also applied externally on painful head. According to them, both use together root out the problem in very less time. The traditional healers of Bagbahera region, specialized in treatment of dog bites, use powdered bark with gud (Jaggery). At first gud is given and then powdered bark is given with water as a treatment. With this treatment, they use other herbs and herbal combinations also. In case of eye diseases, the use of Hingot fruit externally, was told by the traditional healers of Narharpur region. In case of painful boils on breast, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains, mix the Hingot roots with warm water and prepare a paste. This hot paste is applied externally. I would like to mention here, that the traditional healers of Mahasamund region use the leaves of Dhatura (Datura sp.) in same manner. The senior natives of Chhattisgarh plains informed that the fruit pulp can be used successfully in face care. Its regular use helps in removing the black spots.

The senior natives informed me about the insecticidal properties of Hingot also. With the help of innovative herb growers, I am trying my best to use this information, in commercial farming of Indian medicinal and aromatic crops.
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