Exotic medicinal plants from West Vidarbha region VIth

ABSTRACT

Exotic plants may be introduce or arrived there by human activity either deliberately or accidentally, where they do not naturally occur these are consider as non native, non indigenous or simply aliens to a particular area, a survey of such plants were made into West Vidarbha region of Maharashtra State. The present paper deals with study of 36 exotic medicinal plants used regularly by the tribal or villagers where there is no facility of primary health, sometimes the peoples living nearby the forest areas believe on plant medicine than standard allopathic medicine. Some of them may cause harm to the indigenous species or they may be harmful to the human health, these are considered as the invasive species. Many times farmers and villagers try to eradicate out these species from the region. The present work is in addition to the previous reports

 References

1. Indigofera trita L.f.The plant is used as anti-tumour. (Nadkarni et.al.2000)
2.  Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers.It grows in fish ponds which help to keep the water sweet. Petiole and leaves are edible. Leaves are applied to treat the hemorrhoid and have excellent aroma used as vegetable. Plant extract used for tuberculosis.
3. Chenopodium murale L.Plant is nutritive, diuretic, mild purgative, emollient, antihelmintic, tranquilizer, tonic for liver. Leaves are edible.
4.  Lathyrus aphaeca L.Seeds contain toxic amino acids which in large quantities can cause a serious disease of the nervous system known as Lathyrism. In small quantity seeds are safe and very nutritious.
5.  Sonchus oleraceus L.It is used medicinally to treat diarrhoea, menstrual problems, fever, inflammation and warts. As abortifacient as a cathartic, a sedative, cancer treatment, a vermizides aid for toothache.
6.  Gomphrena globosa L.Leaves used as syrup as expectorant, flowers an infusion against used as hypertensive.
7.  Ageratum conyzoides L.It contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, causes liverless and rare tumourogenic.
8. Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch   Latex of plant used to treat fever, stimulate breast milk production and cause an abortion,  also taken for killing bacteria, pain and cause vomiting. Latex used directly to the skin to remove hair, treat warts and other skin disorders, tooth ache. Decoction of the bracts and flowers are taken as galactogogue by nursing woman to increase milk flow although the practice is said to be very dangerous. Red bracts used to treat skin issues, warts and toothache.
9. Rivina humilis L.Plant is toxic. Red fruits have been used for cosmetics hence the name rouge plant. Fruits and leaves are toxic if ingested. In folk medicine the plant tea used to treat cold diarrhoea, difficult urination, flatulence, gonorrhea, jaundice and ovarian pain. At one time plant was grown to use fruit juice as a dye and an ink.
10.  Martynia annua L.Root decoction is administered for snake bite, leaf juice for epilepsy, tuberculosis and sore throat. Ash of fruit mixed with coconut oil is applied on burn. Seed oil applied on abscesses.