Kands of Chhattisgarh, India, III. Bilai kand (Ipomoea digitata; Convolvulaceae)

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

Beginners always feel it difficult to separate Bilaikand from Bidarikand (Peuraria sp.). Many times, the herb collectors also supply wrong material in the name of Bilaikand. Chhattisgarh is one of the leading states in India, that supplies major quantities of Bilaikand in national and international drug markets. It is one of the valuable non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh having high demand.

The natives use this climber as fodder as well as for ornamental purpose. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are well aware of its natural occurrence but they use it as folk medicine less frequently. In general, it is given to the female patients to increase the flow of milk in mammary glands. The roots are used as medicine mainly. Many healers use it in liver complaints in combination with other herbs. The herb collectors and traders supplying the herb at national and international levels are not aware of its end uses. The local pharmaceutical companies are not using this herb in medicinal formulations. It is used as adulterant to Bidarikand. Botanically, Bilaikand (I. Digitata syn. I. mauritiana syn. Batatas paniculata) is perennial herb having large and ovoid roots; stem long, thick and twining; leaves 10-15 cm long, often broader that long, deeply palmately divided lobes 5-7, ovate-lanceolate, entire, pale, glabrous; Flowers in many flowered corymbosely paniculate cymes, peduncle solitary axillary; purple, long; Fruits capsule, four-celled, four-valved, enclosed in fleshy sepals; seeds clothed with brown cotton hairs, Flowering time July to November in Chhattisgarh conditions.

As mentioned earlier, as medicine, roots, leaves and rarely flowers are used. Bilaikand holds a reputed position as medicine in different systems of medicine in India. According to Ayurveda, root is cooling, indigestible, tonic, aphrodisiac, galactagogue, diuretic, stimulant, alterative and useful in leprosy, burning sensation, vomiting, blood disease. It improves voice and complexion. Flowers cause biliousness. According to Unani system of medicine, root is heating, dry, carminative, expectorant, anthelmintic, stomachic, appetiser, and useful in treatment of syphilis, gonorrhoea and inflammation. Leaves enrich the blood. Bilaikand is not under cultivation as medicinal crop. In my allelopathic studies, I have found different parts of Bilaikand specially the leaves, having the negative (Stimulatory) allelopathic effects on germination and seeding vigour of major grain crop rice. I have found it more promising as compared to the leaves of Beshram (Ipomoea carnea). The leaf extract is found effective in case of presowing soaking treatment of rice seeds. Like the leaf extract of Ipomoea carnea, the leaf extract of Bilaikand can be used successfully in management of rats. The chickpea seeds, a favorite food for rats, can be soaked with the extract to make it poisonous for rats. With the help of innovative herb growers, we are trying Bilaikand herb in organic production of medicinal and aromatic crops. As the natural forest of Chhattisgarh are full of this valuable herb, there is a tremendous scope for Bilaikand based drug units in Chhattisgarh. These units will be the boon for all communities from herb collectors to traders. To establish it as promising herb, I am trying hard to collect more information on its ethnobotanical uses in Chhattisgarh.

Thank you very much for reading the article.