Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses, VIII. Manjholi Galfulli (Flemingia chappar, family : Leguminoaseae).

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

Last week during interaction with the forest officers and traditional healers of Jashpur region of Chhattisgarh, I got shocking information about decreasing population of Galfulli in this particular region. Galfulli is relatively less known herb and it is not in list non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh having routine demand. This was surprising news for me. After detailed investigation, I got the fact. After formation of new Chhattisgarh state, the forest department started many new programmes fo conservation of medicinal herbs. In each forest
zone, the herb rich areas are identified and demarcated as PPA (People's Protected Area). For the promotion and documentation of traditional knowledge, the potential traditional healers are identified and under their supervision herb dispensaries are established. In theory, every thing was perfect but in practical like other government schemes it failed and now these innovative steps are becoming a curse for the bio-diversity of Chhattisgarh.

Botanical differences among major Flemingia species
Characterstics	F. bracteata	F. chappar	F. fruticulosa	F.grahamiana	F. involucrata	F.lineata	F.macrophyla
Habit	Erect undershrub or shrubs, 0.3-1m. high, with densely pubescent branches.	Erect shrubs, 1-3 m. high, with cylindrical appressedly hairy branches.	Undershrubs with trailing striate, grey tomentose branches.	Small erect shrubs, with slender tomentose branches when young	Erect shrubs, 0.5-1.5 m high stem cylindrical, branch pubescent	Erect shrubs upto 1m high with terete pubescent branches	Ferect bushy shrubs, 0.7-2.5m high, with pubescent oungs branches.
Leaves	1-foliolate, petiole 3-1 mm long, stipules 12-25 mm long, linear scarious. Ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 7-18x2.5-7 cm, sub-cordate at base, acute or acuminate at apex, glabescent above pubescent and gland dotted beneath.	Simple, sub-orbicular, cordate at base, acuminate or cuspidate at apex, 5-12 cm long and broad, globrous above, faintly pubescent beneath.	1-foliolate, leaflets elliptic, ovate or suborbicular, 2.5-10 cm long, acute or obtuse at apex, cordate at base, glabrescent above, pubescent and gland dotted beneath	digitately 3-foliolate leaflets obovate obtuse or subacute, 5-8 cm long, plicate, glabrous above, grey silky beneath.	digitately 3 foliolate, leaflets elliptic oblong or lanceolate narrowed at both ends, 4-8 cm long, grey tomentose with dark-brown glands beneath.	digitately 3 foliolate, obovate of oblanceolate, 2-7cm long, glabrescent above, adpressedly hairy beneath, lateral oblique.	Leaves digitately 3-foliolate, leaflets ovate-oblong or lanceolate, acute or obtuse, cuneate at base, glabrous above and faintly silky and black gland dotted beneath.
Flowers	in axiilary and terminal branched 5-15 cm long racemes, arranged in clusteres hidden by distichiously arranged reniform emarginate hairy bracts	Racemes axillary, simple or panicled	Racemes terminal, flowers in clusteres enclosed by reniform folded 2-2.5x 2.5-3 cm bracts.	Racemes axillary, spicate, 2.5-5.0 cm long, often fascicled.	Flowers in dense globose heads surrounded by large bracts, terminal & axillary.	Racemes lax, panicled, 5-12 cm long cm long, bracts subulate.	Flowers in dense axillary racemes or panicled
Pods	7-12 mm pubescent 2-seeded	8-12 mm long, clothed with brightred glands	7-8 mm long pubescent	oblong, 9mm long, pubescent, covered with viscid red glands.	Oblong, 4-mm long, pubescent, one-seeded	obovoid-oblong, 6-10 mm long dotted with red glands, puberculous, 2-seeded.	Pods 10-15mm long, brown pubescent, dotted with black glands, 2-seeded
Floweing & fruiting time	October to December	November- March	February - April	January-May	October - February	December- March	September- May

From the selection of PPA to the potential healers, everything was done in hurry and without taking help of any expert. I have already mentioned in my previous articles, how the traditional healers are pressurised by the officials in the name of documentation. In Chhattisgarh, many non-governmental organizations are working actively since many decades but ignoring this fact, the organizations from outside the state were allowed to document the traditional knowledge in Chhattisgarh. As result, now the healers are afraid to share their knowledge and they are hesitating to talk any person even with me. In the name of traditional healers meeting they organized many seminars and workshops and taken away all the information.

The traditional healers of Jashpur region were also victimised by these outside organization. Many healers informed me that they tried their best to protect the traditional knowledge but not all the information. The information on traditional medicinal uses of Galfulli is one of these information. After getting this traditional knowledge, the officers make no effort to document it in scientific way and through greedy officers, the knowledge reached to the herb traders and rich natives of the region. As a result, they started collection and non-scientific exploitation of natural population of Galfulli. As result, within two years this forest weed has became rare herb in Jashpur region. The destructive harvesting is still in good progress and this article is first document explaining this destruction. The roots of Galfulli are used as medicine. For the collection of roots, the traders are uprooting whole herb and in this way destroying the herb completely from the collection sites. The miracle healing effects of Galfulli are creating new demand for this herb among herb traders. The traditional healers of Jashpur region informed that many insects feed on this herb, possess valuable medicinal properties and uses. As a result of mass destruction of Galfulli, these medicinal insect species are also destroying. As herb expert, I am aware that how the elimination of any component from any ecosystem, affect the whole ecosystem. During my ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have seen Galfulli in different locations but noted that the natives and healers are not much aware of its medicinal uses. Through this article, I would like to attract the attention of concerned officers and herb lovers to stop the unscientific exploitation of Galfulli in this specific part of Chhattisgarh. The healers of this region, confirmed that two years back it was very easy to find out this herb in its natural habitat, now they have to travel relatively long distance to collect sufficient quantity of herbs. In present article, I am describing some traditional uses of Galfulli, I have noted through my ethnobotanical surveys but at first I am describing its botany, According to reference literatures, Galfulli is erect shrub, 1-3 meters high, with cylindrical appressedly hairy branches. Leaves simple, sub orbicular, cordate at base, acuminate or cuspidate at apex, 5-12 cm long and broad, glabrous above, faintly pubescent beneath, petioles 2-4 cm long, racemes axillary, simple or panicled, bracts 2-2.5 x 3-3.5 cm emarginated, enclosing few flowered small cymes, calyx 4-5mm long, teeth lanceolate, corolla white, 8-12 mm long. Pods 8-12 mm long, clothed with bright red glands. Flowering and fruiting between November to March. In reference literatures, related to different systems of medicine in India. I have not got much information on reported medicinal properties and uses of this common herb. The traditional healers also confirmed this observation that it is used less frequently in popular herbal combinations. The traditional use of Galfulli that has made it popular in Jashpur region, is its use in treatment of acidity and other stomach disorders. The roots are collected and simply chewed. As the juice go inside the body, it starts giving relief from acidity and poor digestion. I have experienced its surprising effects. As the problem of acidity and poor digestion are becoming common problem, this new herb is getting popularity automatically. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh aware of its medicinal uses, informed me that juice in excess, induce steep and it is a boon for the patients having the problem of insomnia. Many healers use it in treatment of epilepsy also. According to the healers, the juice of Gulfulli
roots have no side affects. Recently I got the proceedings of recently organized seminar on herbs in Chhattisgarh. I was surprised to see the research abstract stating that the miracle effect of Galfulli roots is the discovery of specific department. This is not true. This is the discovery of natives and traditional healers of Jashpur region. The patients are getting relief, the traders are getting money, the forest people are getting appreciation, the scientists are getting awards but no one has time to recognize and appreciate the natives and healers, who have developed this use.

The true story of natives and healers associated with this herb was motivated me to write a separate article on Galfulli. I am feeling good that the mother nature has given me opportunity to write on the problems of natives and healers. I will be more happy, if any organization will come forward to protect their rights in true sense.

Thank you very much for reading the article.