Sahadevi (Vernonia cinerea) and Kajroti (Clitoria ternetea) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India : Natural Occurrence, Traditional Medicinal Knowledge and Trade

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

Although Sahadevi is under cultivation in many parts of India but in Chhattisgarh fortunately it occur as wasteland herb. Many reputed pharmaceutical companies of India are cultivating this herb in their own fields in order to fulfil their requirement to manufacture the drugs. This is really surprising that very few traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of its occurrence in Chhattisgarh and I have noted that only fifteen healers are aware of its medicinal uses and they are practising or using this herb in their routine treatment. By Agricultural scientists, Sahadevi is considered as harmful weed and through their extensive research, they are recommending many agrochemicals to eradicate this weed. As farmers are not aware of its uses, they are following the recommendations and using agrochemicals to manage Sahadevi. To aware the farmers, I am planning to start a campaign under the banner of SOPAM. Although fifteen is not a big number, but these fifteen traditional healers specialised in use of Sahadevi, have enough knowledge and they can play a vital role in our campaign. We are planning to publish literatures on Vernonia in simple regional language and with the help of regular workshops and meetings, trying to aware the common person about its utility. According to these traditional healers, Sahadevi is useful in treatment of many common diseases and the method of using Sahadevi is very simple. As it occur as wasteland plant, the patients have not to pay the cost of herb. This is the reason the traditional healers have declared it as "Garibo Ki booti (Poor man’s herb)" and when I explained the content of campaign, they accepted my proposal and are ready to disclose their secret formulas for the benefit of poor natives of Chhattisgarh. In reference literatures, only one species of Sahadevi is described in detail but during my surveys I have noted over five species of Sahadevi. According to traditional healers, there are only three species that can be utilised for the preparation of medicines. According to them, one species occur throughout the year whereas remaining two occur in Autumn. Out of these two Autumn species, one possess yellow flowers and other possess purple flowers. Both of these species occur as crop weeds in fields. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, use purple flowered species in their treatment. The herb is used fresh. The healers never prefer the dried herb. This strict rule prevents its use in off season. According to the traditional healers the mother nature has fixed the time of Autumn for Sahadevi because it is useful in treatment of diseases common in Autumn in Chhattisgarh. One Season utilisation as medicine is able to cure all troubles. In this article. I am describing some important ethnomedico uses of Sahadevi, I have collected through my ethnomedico surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh.

Common and popular names of Sahadevi (Vernonia cinerea) around the world
Language/region/countries	Name
1) Bengal	Kalajira, Kukshim, Kuksim
2) English	Ash coloured Fleabane
3) French	Ayapana sauvage
4) Gujarati	Sadadi, Sadeori, Sedardi, Shedardi
5) Hindi	Dandotpala, Sahadevi, Sadodi, Sahadevi
6) Malyalam	Puvankuruntal
7) Marathi	Sadodi, Sahadevi, Osari
8) Sanskrit	Dandotpala, Devasasha, Devi, Derika, Gandhavalli, Govandani, Vishvadeva, Vishamajvaranashini
9) Sinhalese	Monarakudumbia, Monerakudimbeya
10) Tamil	Puvamkurundal, Sahadevi
11) Telugu	Garitikamma, Gharitikamini

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use all parts of Sahavdevi as medicine but the whole herb juice is used most frequently. In case of eye troubles, the healers extract the fresh juice from herb collected before flowering and apply one to two drops of juice. According to the healers, this application reduces the inflammation and make the eyes healthy. In general the healers advise the natives to take the juice of whole herb twice a month with milk. This dose helps the natives to remain disease free in odd days. This is also considered as good tonic for body. In case of poisonous bite by venomous insects, scorpion or snake, the healers apply the juice of Sahadevi in affected part as first aid measure. Beside applying the juice, the patients are advised to take juice internally to get quick relief from intense pain. According to the traditional healers it is good remedy against venomous insect bite but not much effective against scorpion and snake bites but they told me that as first aid measure, it is promising one. In case of skin troubles, particularly in ringworm, the healers advise the patients to apply the juice in affected part and take juice with milk. It is good blood purifier. According to the healers, it is good remedy for all types of fevers including typhoid, malaria, Tijari fever etc. Many healers informed me that it is one of the best remedies for the treatment of Typhoid. In case of female diseases particularly in Leucorrhoea (Safed Pani), the healers use its juice and give it to the patients with gud (Jaggery). The traditional healers of Dhamtari region informed me that three regular doses of Sahadevi can cure any type of patients suffering from Leucorrhoea. The juice of Sahadevi is good remedy for intestinal worms also. The traditional healers suggest the patients to take juice without asking them about diseases. According to them, Sahadevi juice is having capacity to treat many common troubles, and this juice is capable of detecting and healing diseased parts. I personally feel that there is a strong need to evaluate the efficacy of this juice in different diseases. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, regular use of this juice develops a typical smell in body and this smell repel away the snakes. The healers informed me that they regularly use this herb and always keep the dried roots with them during their visits to dense forests in order to repel away the snakes. The natives are not aware of this fact. In Chhattisgarh, natives use Gumma bhaji (Leucas aspera) for this purpose. Not much has been written on medicinal properties of Sahadevi in reference literatures. According to Ayurveda, the herb is sweet, cold, tonic, stomachic, astringent and cures consumption, asthma, bronchitis and fevers. I am not agree that this herb is sweet. I have tasted this herb several times and found it bitter in taste. The scientific name of Sahadevi is Vernonia cinerea (family Compositae). Botanically, it is annual, erect herb having 15-75 cm height; stem stiff, striate, pubescent; Leaves simple alternate, variable in shape (upper smaller), broadly elliptic or lanceolate, irregularly toothed or crenate-serrate; Flowers pinkish violet; heads small, about twenty flowered in divaricate terminal corymbs; involucral bracts linear-lanceolate, awned, silky on the book; pappus white; Fruits achene, oblong, clothed with white hairs. Both blue and white flowered Kajroti (Clitoria ternatea) holds a reputed position in different literatures related to Indian systems of medicine including Ayurveda. It is one of the frequently used herb in popular combinations, in India. According to Ayurveda, Kajroti is cooling, acrid, purgative, diuretic, laxative, alexiteric, anthelmintic and tonic to the brain. It is useful in treatment of eye-diseases, ulcers of the cornea, tuberculous glands, elephantiasis, headache, ascites, leucoderma, burning sensation, pains, biliousness and ulcers Kajroti occurs as roadside herb in different parts of Chhattisgarh. It is one of the popular garden plants also. The traditional healers and natives both use this herb in treatment of many common disease. Most of this ethnomedico uses are well described in reference literatures. I am describing some important uses in this article.

Common and popular names of Clitoria ternatea around the world.
Languages/Regions/Countries	Names
1) Arabic	Bazr-ul-mazari yunehindi, Mozari yunehindi
2) Bengal	Aparajita, Aparajita, Uparajita
3) Myanmar	Bukiyu, Oung mai phyu, Pai noung ni
4) Kanarese	Girikarniballi, Gokarna mul, Kirgunna
5) SriLanka	Karuttuppu
6) English	Blue Pea, Mussel-shell Creeper
7) Hindi	Aparajita, Aparajit, Kajina, Kalina, Kalizer, Khagin, Kowa, Shabanjan, Vishnukaranti
8) Gujarati	Garani, Koyala
9) Gold Coast	Blue Pea
10) Madagascar	Vahintsikomba, Vahitsikomba
11) Malyalam	Aral, Kakavalli, Kakkanam Koti, Shankhapushpam
12) Marathi	Gokarni, Kajli, Sholongakuspi
13) Persian	Darakhte-bikhe-hayat, Tukhme-bikhe-hayat
14) Porto Rico	Rejuco de Conchitas
15) Portuguese	Fula criqua
16) Sanskrit	Aparajita, Bhumilagna, Gokurnika, Kinihi, Vishnukantri
17) Sinhalese	Katotolu, Kaltarodu, Nilkatar
18) Spanish	Capa de la Reina
19) Tamil	Kakkarum, Kakkanankodi, Kakkuttan, Minni, Uyavai
20) Telugu	Dintana, Dintena, Niladintana
21) Urdu	Mazerigunihindi
22) Uriya	Onasi, Oporajita

In reference literatures, both varieties (white flowered) and blue flowered) are described as varieties having same medicinal properties but according to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh both varieties possess different medicinal properties. White flowered Kajroti is considered as superior as compared to blue flowered variety. The natives use the roots of blue flowered variety for the treatment of Bavasir (Piles). The roots are collected and Herbal mala is prepared. The patients are advised to wear this herbal mala till relief. In many parts, this mala is wrapped around waist for early relief. For preparation of mala, white coloured stripe is used. In case of earache, the healers advise the patients to apply the root juice of blue flowered variety in affected ear. The traditional healers of Durg region, suggests the patients suffering from Hydrocele to apply the aqueous paste of Kajroti seeds in affected part in order to reduce the pain. In case of hiccup, the patients are advised to burn the seeds and inhale the fumes. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, this fumes are good remedy for chronic asthma also. In order to hasten the process of delivery, the natives use the twining branches of Kajroti. The branch is wrapped around the waist and according to natives this old age practice helps in hastening the delivery process. The traditional healers informed me that white flowered variety is more effective in this case. Now I am describing some existing ethnomedico uses of White flowered variety of Kajroti. The ash from roots is used for face care by the natives of Chhattisgarh. The healers use the roots in many common troubles. The root powder is used to treat Pelea (Jaundice). In case of Pathri (Renal Calculi), the traditional healers use the roots with boiled rice. The traditional healer of Mudpar, uses the fresh juice of roots to treat migraine. The juice is applied in to the nose, in order to reduce the intense pain of migraine. To treat the painful boils, the healer mix the root juice in sirka (vinegar) and apply it externally on boils. Few days after starting this treatment, the boils start reducing in size. In forest areas, the natives plant this herb in home gardens in order to repel away the venomous creatures. During rainy season, they burn the dried herb to repel away the mosquitoes and houseflies. In many parts of Chhattisgarh, farmers use this herb to prepare organic manure. According to them, the use of this herb as organic manure repel away the termites from fields. As the details of Kajroti are coming for the first time in my articles, I am describing its botany in short. According to reference literatures, Kajroti is a slender, twinning, perennial climber with a few trailing branches; Leaves 5-12 cm long, imparipinnate, five-foliate; leaflets elliptic , obtuse or emarginate; stipules persistent, lanceolate, striate; Flowers solitary on axillary peduncles; bracteoles two, foliaceous, obtuse; Corolla 4-5 cm, long, blue or white; Standard spoon shaped, longer than wings and keel; pods linear, flat, 5-10cm long, 8-10 seeded.

Botanical differences between major species of Vernonia.
Characteristics	Vernonia anthelmintica	Varnonia cinerea
1) Habit	Annual, robust, erect, leafy herb, stem 60-90 cm high.	Annual, erect herb, 15-75 cm high, stem stiff, striate, pubescent.
2) Leaves	Alternate, 5-9x2.5-3.2 cm, lanceolate, coursely serrate, hairy on both rides.	Simple, alternate, variable in shape, broadly elliptic or lanceolate, irregularly toothed, or crenate-serrate.
3) Flowers	Heads subcorymbose, about 40 flowered, with a linear bract near the top of the peduncle, involucre bracts linear, inermost the longest, with purple tips, pappus reddish.	Pinkish violet, heads small, about 20 flowered in divaricate terminal corymbs, involucral bracts linear-lanceolate, awned, silky on the back, pappus white.
4) Fruits	Achene, oblong cylindric, 10-ribbed, hairy	Achene, oblong, clothed with white hairs.
5) Flowering time	December-February	January-February

Although both herbs are common in Chhattisgarh, but not much have been written on ethnomedical uses of these common herbs in reference literatures by previous workers. As I am writing these articles both in Hindi and English, these are reaching to wide group of researchers and herb lovers. on the basis of their suggestions and comments, I am improving the methodologies adopted for these important surveys. Thanks a lot for reading this article sincerely.