Jatropha as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India : Natural occurrence, Traditional medicinal knowledge and Cultivation

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

In many parts of Chhattisgarh, the natives particularly farmers are using this useful herb for crop protection. It is planted around the crop fields or farm lands in order to prevent the access of wild animals (in villages nearer to forests) and to reduce the insect and disease infestation. It is common belief in Chhattisgarh that plantation of Jatropha is beneficial to keep the environment disease and insect free. It is planted preferably in home gardens but away from the reach of small children because the seeds are harmful and poisonous. During my ethnomedico surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have noted that the use of Jatropha as fence crop is decreasing and it is limited to rural areas. Many exotic species and commonly available indigenous species are taking the place of Jatropha. Ipomoea carnea (Beshram) and Thura (Euphorbia sp.) are among these new fence crops. In Bagbahera region, the use of Ipomoea is increasing. According to the natives, the dense growth of Ipomoea carnea prevents the entry of wild animals like wild bear successfully. I have observed that these Ipomoea plants are good shelter place for Blister beetles. These blister causing beetles feed on Ipomoea flowers. When any intruder try to enter the field disturbing this plant, the blister beetles start releasing lethal chemicals on them and intruder never attempt to enter in this field in future. Some farmers told me that the Sona keeda feeding on Ipomoea leaves are also toxic to cattle and wild animals. These insects Sona Keeda (Sona-Gold; Keeda-insects) are Fool’s gold beetle or Tortoise beetle (Aspidomorpha miliaris). I have reared these useful insects in my home laboratory but not found these creatures harmful. The accidental intake of these beetles may cause some lethal effects on animals. In Chhattisgarh, you will find, heavy infestation of both species in Ipomoea plants. Tortoise beetle are harmful pest of Shakarkand (Ipomoea batata) and fortunately this crop is not under cultivation in Chhattisgarh. The feeding of this crop pest on Ipomoea carnea, a problematic weed, in absence of host species is helping a lot in biological control of Ipomoea carnea. In Rajnandgaon and nearby forest areas, natives prefer Jatropha in place of Ipomoea. According to them plantation of Ipomoea requires no special effort but once established, it became trouble sum and requires special attention in order to prevent its entry into crop fields. They are aware of poisonous insects of Ipomoea that play active and effective role in crop protection but weedy growth of Ipomoea force them to reject it.

Major Jatropha species with botanical differences
Characteristics	Jatropha	Jatropha	Jatropha	Jatropha
	curcas	glandulifera	gossypifolia	glauca
1) Habit	A rapid growing shrub upto 3-4 meters	Often confused with Jatropha gossypifolia	A bushy, gregarious shrub upto 1.8 meters.	Small tree or bush.
2) Leaves	Alternate, 10-15 cmx7.5-12.5 cm, broadly ovate, usually palmately 3 or 5 lobed.	Leaves about the extremities of the branchlets, alternate, petioled, generally palmate, lobes from 3-5, oblong, serrate, with each serrature ending in a short, green, glandular-headed bristle.	3-5 lobed, palmately, 20 cm long and wide leaves having a long petiole, covered with glandular hairs.	Leaves 3-5 lobed, mucronote, serrate toothed.
3) Flowers	Yellowish green, in loose panicles of cymes: July-August.	Panicles terminal, about as long as the leaves. Male flowers numerous and terminal, small, of a pale greenish yellow colour, Female flowers few and subsessile in the divisions of the panicle.	Red-crimson or purplish flowers in corymbs	------------
4) Fruits and seeds	Orbid, black, seeds ovoid-oblong, dull brownish black, 2000/kg, germination 70-100%.	---------------	Greenish seeds in capsule.	--------------------
5) Place of origin	Tropical America	East Indies.	Brazil	Arabia felir.

A farmer from Chowki informed me that the blister beetle living in Ipomoea plants also like the flowers of Jason (Hibiscus rosasinensis) and Jason ( Gudhal) is an essential part of home garden. It is also known as Devi (Devi-Goddess, Phool-flower) phool. The small experiments conducted at home laboratory on preference and host specificity of Orange banded blister beetles (Zonabris pustulata) revealed that these beetles prefer Hibiscus flower as compared to Ipomoea flower. This experiment clearly explained the fact behind one more reason for not adopting the Ipomoea as fence crop in many parts of Chhattisgarh. I have yet not observed the harmful and poisonous insects on Jatropha plants. For the farmers of the region where Jatropha is planted as fence crop, Jatropha is very useful plant for them. They told me that even if it only act as fence crop and give no beneficial effects then also it is the best option for them. Beside protection from entry of cattle and animals, during hot summer when temperature goes up to 46-47 degree centigrades, these plants act as barrier against hot winds and play vital role in reducing the evapotranspiration rates. Only because of this plant they grow the vegetables in hot summer. Like the leaves of Eucalyptus, Acacia mangium, Poplar, its leaves are not harmful to their crops. The harmful effects of these tree species on many agricultural crops have been reported. The senior allelopath Dr. C.S. Hunshal of University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad (India) is conducting many laboratory and field experiments (at farmers field) in order to evaluate the harmful effects of trees planted at bunds on growth and development of agricultural crops. Two years back I got an opportunity to visit his experimental sites in nearby villages of Dharwad city. He showed me the harmful effects of Eucalyptus trees on Moong and Urd crop (Green and black gram). In his experiment, he used many treatments. He planted the crops at various distance from tree trunk in order to decide the effective peripheri in terms of allelochemicals. I observed the effective peripheri of Eucalyptus was highest among the effective peripheries of other trees. Possibly, many of the scientists recommending these exotic trees in field bunds of Chhattisgarh are not aware of research findings of Dr. Hunshel. According to the natives of Jatropha region, the leaves and plants are not harmful to their crops. To verify it, I conducted pot and field experiments using the methodology of Dr. Hunshel. I have not found any positive (inhibitory) allelopathic effects of any part of Jatropha on selected crops.

Uses of Jatropha curcas : A petrocrop
Whole plant	Roots	Leaves	Latex	Seeds	Bark	Twig
*Planted to prevent water erosion and for conservation	* Used as ethnomedicine	* Used as ethnomedicine	*Resembles shellac	*Source of oil (30-40%) suitable as fuel for diesel engine	*Yields tannins (37%)	*Used as medicine
*Promising live fence		*Yield a dye used to give tan & brown	*Used for making ink	*Useful as illumitant, lubricant, in soap and candle making		*Used as Dataun (Herbal tooth brush)
*useful as green manure		*Useful as botanical	*Used as ethnomedicine	*Used as medicine both internally and externally		*Young one cooked and eaten
*useful in controlling sand drift
*possess Allelopathic properties

This experiments helped me to focus my work on negative (stimulatory) allelopathic effects of Jatropha because in pot experiments many extracts, when used as pre-sowing soaking treatment of Jatropha seeds, showed stimulatory effects on germination and initial seedling vigour. If I get the promising extracts in future and able to standardize the dose for practical field use, then I will be fortunate to add one more benefit of Jatropha plantation in the existing useful list of natives. The natives are well aware of medicinal properties of Jatropha. The traditional healers are also having rich traditional medicinal knowledge about Jatropha. They recommend the Dataun prepared from Jatropha twigs to patients suffering from dental problems. According to them it is specially useful for gum boils and gum bleeding. The matured stems are collected, put on fire and ash is collected. This ash is used by the natives as herbal tooth powder. In many parts of Chhattisgarh, the traditional healers also add other herbs mostly local herbs, in this herbal tooth powder in order increase its efficacy. The traditional healer of Raipur region, mix ash of Blumea roots in Jatropha stem ash and recommend it to his patients. According to him this mixture is useful in many other diseases (not related to teeth). In case of bleeding piles, this mixture is applied on piles externally in order to get relief. In case of skin troubles, the traditional healer recommend this mixture to apply externally with oil, preferably mustard oil (Sarson Ka Tel). This mixture is also applied on male genitals before intercourse and organs are kept wrapped in betle vine (Pan) leaves for half an hour. In case of rheumatism, the traditional healer advise his patients to apply this mixture on affected part after adding oil in it. He informed me about its use in over 30 (more) common diseases. The natives used this mixture in case of skin troubles of cattle. I have yet not found any such mixture having properties to cure many different diseases. For preparing the mixture, Jatropha and Blumea plants at vegetative stage (before flowering) are preferred. I am not satisfied with these uses, possibly this is reason, I have recently started an experiment to evaluate the efficacy of this mixture against crop pest. I am hoping encouraging results because both species have well known insecticidal properties and combination of these may result in Synergestic effect. In initial experiments. I have noted harmful effects of this mixture on weed seeds. The natives use seed oil as illuminant and lubricant. It is also used as medicinal oil by the natives. The natives of Durg region told me that the fumes of dried leaves are beneficial to repell away the houseflies. When I asked about its effect on respiratory system, they replied they have not tested it scientifically but in general they have observed no harmful effects. I personally feel that there is a need of scientific attention and evaluation.

In ancient systems of medicines, Jatropha is mentioned as medicinal herb. Here I am giving its botanical description. It is a large deciduous soft-wooded shrub; juice stickly opalescent; Leaves alternate broadly ovate, cordate, palmately 3 or 5 lobed; Flowers monoecious, yellowish green in loose axillary cymose panicles; male flowers, corolla lobes 5, villous within, longer than calyx; female corolla scarcely exceeding the calyx; Fruits ovoid, black, breaking up into tri-valved cocci; seeds ovoid oblong and dull brownish black. This is a botanical description of Jatropha curcas. During my ethnomedico surveys, I have noted many variations in Jatropha species. I have seen and categorised at least eight variants. When I consulted the reference botanical literatures I have identified Jatropha curcas, Jatropha glandulifera and Jatropha gossypifolia. The search for identification of other species is in progress. This is really surprising that the natives are well aware of presence of these variants and on the basis of medicinal properties, they are able to differentiate these variants. As Jatropha curcas is becoming popular as potential petro crop of future and the Indian government is taking keen interest in commercial cultivation and processing of this plant, now many innovative farmers have started commercial cultivation of Jatropha curcas in main crop fields. Possibly they are not aware of its natural occurrence in Chhattisgarh, this is the reason they are purchasing the planting material at very high rates from adjoining states. I have heard that many international forestry organisations are also funding many institutions for promotion of Jatropha plantation in India. One of my friend informed me that these organisations have instructed clearly to distribute the plants to interested farmers free of cost or after taking very nominal charge but seeing the demand of Jatropha, the scientists are selling it at very high rates to farmers. At present only rich farmers are involved in this project, this is the reason that they are not opposing or saying anything against the high rates. Two years back when I showed this species to farmers in rural region, and advised them to plant it free of cost, they replied that their indigenous species are best and they are not interested in this socalled improved version. It is common observation during planting of Jatropha that the farm labour advise the rich farmer that why you are planting this wasteland plant and also why you have purchased it But the rich farmer ignore these questions and when after the maturity of plant, he make contact to local herb purchasers, they offer very low rates, he get introduced to actual position. This is not the fault of rich farmers because the scientists recommending its commercial plantation are not aware of its presence in the state as natural herb because this is not their fields and another group is working on this aspect. It is bitter fact that we have divided the science in very small sections (to get more information) but lack of co-ordination among these sections is becoming serious problem around the world and valuable funds are going waste. The weed scientists are devoting their lives to eradicate the herbs in fields and wastelands and herb experts of same region are devoting their lives to protect them as these herbs are an integral part of biodiversity and lethal weedicide can impose great threat on them.

I have found the natives of Bilaspur and Pendra region, well aware of utility of Jatropha. In these parts of the state the plants are relatively more heighted and vigrous. According to the herb buyers from Kolkata, the main source of Jatropha seeds is the forests and adjacent area of Pendra. If nature permits me, I want to conduct a detailed survey and field experiments in this region focused on Jatropha and its effect on native flora and fauna. These regions are well known for wild animals and I am eager to document the medicinal knowledge of these animals with reference to Jatropha.

As expert at Arvind Agriculture, Durg, with the herb grower, we conducted many experiments focused on Jatropha. As Jatropha is shrub (or small tree) it is spaced widely in fields when grown as field crop. In order to utilize the space between two shrubs, we have tested many herbal crops and found Asgandh (Withania somnifera) best among these. In presence of Asgandh crop. Jatropha crop showed no negative responses whereas presence of Jatropha crop helped in repelling away the harmful insects from Asgandh crop. In nearby vegetable fields under severe attack of harmful and pesticide resistant insect, we have tried and used aqueous extracts and leachate of different plant parts as repellent successful.

As the experiments and surveys on various aspects of Jatropha are in progress, I will write more on this useful herb as soon as I will get the results and new findings.