Ethnobotanical bioresources of crop weeds from Walwa in Sangli

district (M.S.), India

Keywords:
Ethnobotany, Crop weeds, Walwa, Sangli district, Maharashtra.
ABSTRACT:

The present work deals with the crop weeds used in traditional medicine
from Walwa taluka of Sangli district of Maharashtra, India. A field investigation was
conducted from June, 2009 to November 2012 for the medicinal value of crop weeds
and was put on records through periodic interviews with farmers and farm laborers.
Present study revealed that, the total 28 weed species belonging to 26 genera and
17 families were, useful in the treatment of human afflictions. It is hoped that the
crop weeds are one of the most important bioresource focused from the studied
region.
160-166 | JRPS | 2013 | Vol 2 | No 1

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www.plantsciences.info
Author:
Ilahi Mujawar.

Institution:
Department of Botany,
K.R.P. Kanya
Mahavidyalaya, Islampur
District Sangli.

Corresponding author:
Ilahi Mujawar.
Email:
milahi10@gmail.com



















Web Address:
http://www.plantsciences.info
documents/PS0043.pdf.


Dates:
Received: 05 Nov 2012 Accepted: 19 Nov 2012 Published: 09 Jan 2013
Article Citation:
Ilahi Mujawar.
Ethnobotanical bioresources of crop weeds from Walwa in Sangli district (M.S.), India
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 160-166
Original Research
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences
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An International Scientific Research Journal
Journal of Research in
Plant Sciences
An International Scientific
Research Journal


INTRODUCTION
Weeds are no strangers to man and judged it to
be not used and undesirable at a place and time. They
create the problems from the beginning of crop
cultivation and become negative value. They are
troublesome due to interference with the agricultural
practices. Man has always endeavourer to find out
bioresources in his ambience to his benefit (Patil et al.,
2010). Several weeds have been beneficial and used for
food, fodder, medicine and other miscellaneous purposes
(Kshirsagar et al., 2012; Nayak et al., 2009 Patil et al.,
2007; Tahir, 2012 and Thomas et al., 2000). There are
some publications on traditional medicinal plants from
Sangli district including (Deokar and Kamble, 2012;
Ilahi Mujawar, 2012; Magdum and Gejage, 2004 and
Sandeep et al., 2009, 2011). There are some weed
species used for the treatment of different diseases.
Further, the knowledge of traditional use of medicinal
plants including weed species by the local people is
likely to be lost in near future, and for this it is necessary
to document the existing available information. Such
study may also lead to the development of potential
bio-product in the treatment of diseases. Further, it is
helpful in mass awareness of people to conserve the
traditional medicinal knowledge particularly crop weeds
within the region. Present study gathered total 28 weed
species belonging to 26 genera and 17 families, used in
traditional medicine by local people. Medicinal utility
and their recipe with doses are mentioned.
Study area
The area lies between 16

57 26.75 North and
74 18 13.60 East Elevation 2472 Feet of Walwa
taluka of Sangli District. The average rain fall is
56-65 cm. (550-650 mm) with hot and dry climate while
temperature ranges between 25C to 40C. Major crop is
sugarcane followed by jowar, maize, wheat, rice and the
pulses including groundnut, soybean, chick pea, arher
and mungo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The plant collections were carried out in different
seasons round the year from June, 2009 to November
2012 to investigate the medicinal value of crop weeds.
The interviews were conducted and informations were
collected from local farmers, farm laborers and
agriculturist about the weed species. The field data
was entered in the field note book. The specimens
were identified in the Laboratory with the aid of
taxonomic literature from regional, state and local floras
including, Bentham and Hooker (1862-1883); T. Cooke,
1958; Sharma et al., 1996; Singh and Karthikeyan, 2000;
Singh et al., 2001, Yadav and Sardesai, 2002. The
collected and identified specimens were pressed and
prepared into herbarium, following the drying method of
Jain and Rao, 1960; Rao and Sharma, 1990. All
specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of
Department of Botany, K.R.P. Kanya Mahavidyalaya,
Islampur, District Sangli.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Present study gather ethnobotanical information
on total 28 species of weeds belonging to 26 genera
under 17 families are useful as traditional medicine. All
the species are herbaceous. There are 26 species
(92.85%) from are dicotyledones and only 2 species
(7.14%) from monocotyledones. Eleven families has
been recognized and represents only one species of each
(Capparidaceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae,
Malvaceae, Papaveraceae, Portulacaceae, Poaceae,
Sapindaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Tiliaceae). Three
species (10.51%) represents only one family
Euphorbiaceae. Family Caesalpinaceae, Oxalidaceae and
Solanaceae have only 2 species (7.14%) of each. Family
Amaranthaceae and Asteraceae contribute total 4 species
(14.28%) of each and have great value in ethnomedicine.
Various plant parts like root, stem, leaves, bark,
fruit and seeds are employed in the preparation of
medicinal recipes. They are used in the form of paste,
Ilahi Mujawar, 2013
161 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 160-166

Ilahi Mujawar, 2013
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 160-166 162
Table 1 Medico-ethnobotanical data of weed species.
Sr. No. Botanical Name Family Local Name Alignment
1. Achyranthes aspera Linn. Amaranthaceae Aghada Stem is used to cure tooth ache,
Leaves are used to cure piles.

2 Abutilon indicum Linn. Malvaceae Mudra Leaves are crushed on hand and
taken orally to cure bleeding
pile.

3. Ageratum conyzoides L. Asteraceae Osadi Leaves are useful in wound
healing.

4. Alternanthera tenella colla Amaranthaceae Pandari phuli Extract of leaves, about 2-3
drops are applied once daily on
the injuries or cuts till it cure

5. Amaranthus spinosus Linn. Amaranthaceae Kate math Extract of leaves, about 2-3
drops are applied once daily on
the injuries or cuts till it cure.

6. Argemone mexicana Linn. Papaveraceae Piwala dhotra Leaves are cocked without oil
and consumed with jawar roti
for 15 days to regain weight
loss.

7. Bacopa monnieri (L.)Penn. Scrophulariaceae Jalbrahmi Whole plant is warmed and
wrapped around swelling of
joint up to cure.

8. Biophytum sensitivum (L.) D.C. Oxalidaceae Ljari Root extract is made into water,
one tablespoon extract is taken
orally twice in a day to treat
diphtheria for a week.

9. Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Sapindaceae Kapalphodi Leaves are used to cure
rheumatic pains and reduce
inflammation.

10. Cassia auriculata Linn. Caesalpinaceae Tarwad Leaves are crushed and paste is
tied on joints to cure joints-ache.
Leaves wrapped in a cloth
are tied at night on legs to
getrelief from rheumatism for a
week.

11. Cassia tora Linn. Caesalpinaceae Takala Leaves are used as vegetable to
cure fever. Leaf paste is applied
on joints to minimize the
rheumatic pains.

12. Celosia argentia Linn. Amaranthaceae Kurdu 5grams of seed powder mixed in
a cup of milk and taken orally
daily to cure kidney stone.
Root extract in water, 2-3
tablespoon given orally 2-3 time
in a day to cure sun- stroke.




Ilahi Mujawar, 2013
163 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 160-166
14. Corchorus olitorius Linn. Tiliaceae Harankhuri Leaf crushed or rubbed in
curd and consumed for 7 days
before meal at morning to cure
sun-stroke. Leaves also useful to
check bleeding in urination

15. Cullen corylifolia (L.) Medik. Fabaceae Bavachi Seeds are soaked in ethanol
overnight, past is made and
apply on whitening of skin to
change the skin coloure.

16. Cynodon dactylon Pres.

Poaceae Harali Roots and stolons mixed with
rhizome of Zingiber officnale in
1:1 ratio then powdered it and
filtered through fine cloth; a
tablespoon powder in glass of
milk is used to increased
strength.

17. Cyperus rotundus Linn.

Cyperaceae Lavhala Leaf extract in water mix with a
cup of milk to control acidity.

18. Euphorbia hirta Linn. Euphorbiaceae Dudhani Leaves crushed in water and
extract is taken orally to cure
dysentery. Whole plant is
crushed in water on stone add a
jiggery and taken orally to cure
pile.

19. Euphorbia heyneana Spreng Euphorbiaceae Choti godani Whole plant is crushed in water
and extract is made and taken
orally twice to treat hepatitis.

20. Glossocardia bosvallea (L.)
O. Katz.
Asteraceae Ranshepwa Leaves are crushed in water and
taken orally twice a day to cure
the diarrhea and dysentery.

21. Ocimum americanum Linn. Lamiaceae Rantulas Fresh leaves crushed in water
and make decoction, two
tablespoon is taken orally twice
a day to cure the cough and
fever.

22. Oxalis corniculata L. Oxalidaceae Amboshi Leaves are used in stomach
disorder and in mouth ulcer.

23. Phyllanthus amarus Schumach.
and Thonn.
Euphorbiaceae Bhuiawala The entire plant dry under shad
and made powder, apply two
times to treat tooth-ache.

24. Physalis minima Linn. Solanaceae Phutani Leaves and seeds from ripened
fruits crushed well and made
paste and applied daily on
wounds.

13. Cleome viscosa Linn. Capparidaceae Piwali tilwan Leaf juice is dropped into nose
for three days before sleep at
night to cure influenza.


extracts, decoction, powder and juice. Smoke and fumes
of plant parts are also reported. Some domestic
substances are also added in the recipes like honey,
deshi ghee, oil, milk, curd, sugar, jiggery and salts. Cow
urine, cow milk and goat milk is also reported to add in
recipes for fast and good result as well as to accept
recipe. These domestic substances are probably
to increase the efficacy of the drug. Some plants
have shown same results and reported from other regions
of Maharashtra including, Ahirrao et al., 2009; Badgujar
et al., 2008; Deokar and Kamble, 2012; Ilahi Mujawar
2012; Magdum and Gejge, 2004; Patil et al., 2007;
Patil et al., 2010 and Pawar and Patil, 2006). The local
people reported during the interview that the number of
traditional medicinal practitioners and old men have
declined to only few now-a-days than in the past. Now,
the rural societies are progressing towards
modernization, the knowledge of traditional use of plants
might get lost. Therefore conservation of such heritage
is warranted. Further, modern medicinal facilities
concentrated at big towns and cities are too costly and
time consuming, on this point of view exploration of
traditional medicinal plants and their documentation is an
important task of the ethno botanist. Collected data on
the ethno-medicine of weed species from studied area are
documented in the tabular form. It is followed
alphabetically of weed species, family, local name and
their recipes with doses.

CONCLUSION
Present study revealed that, the total 28 taxa
under 26 genera and 17 families of crop weeds are
investigated as ethno medicinally bioresources and used
in traditional medicine by local people of this region. All
species are herbaceous; of which 26 species are reported
under dicotyledones and 2 are from monocotyledones.
There are 11 families representing only one species,
3 species of family Euphorbiaceae are second most
useful one while Amaranthaceae and Asteraceae have
great importance including 4 species of each, beneficial
to treat against various human affliction.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I express my sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. S.R.
Yadav, Head department of Shivaji University, Kolhapur
for encouragement and help in the present study.
The author is grateful to WRO, Pune, UGC, New Delhi
for providing financial support to minor research project.
Author is also thankful to authority of college and
Principle Dr. Kurlupkar Rajendra for providing
laboratory facilities.

Ilahi Mujawar, 2013
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 160-166 164
27. Tridax procumbens Linn Asteraceae Gudhgemudi
cha pala
Leaves are crushed on hands
and applied on injury or cuts to
avoid septic till it cure.

28.

Xanthium indicum Linn. Asteraceae Landga One leaf crushed with one tunic
of Allium, 1-2 drops of extract is
squeezed in opposite nostril to
cure migraine. b) Leaf juice is
applied on bleeding due to
thorns press.

25. Portulaca oleracea Linn. Portulacaceae Ghol Fresh juice is squeezed from
leaves and dropped into ear to
cure ear-ache.

26. Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae Kamuni A cup of leaf juice with little
sugar is drunk in empty stomach
in morning to cure intestinal
worm.

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