Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses. XX Laung Lata (Quisqualis indica, family : Combretaceae).
Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known
traditional uses. XX Laung Lata (Quisqualis indica, family :
Combretaceae).
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
Laung Lata is a climbing shrub, native to Java and Malaysia. In Chhattisgarh, it is well known and one of the most liked ornamental shrubs in home gardens. In ancient Indian literature, very less information is available about this shrub. The natives consider it as a plant that can bring prosperity and happiness for them. Like the Sadasuhagan (Vinca rosea) herb, it flowers round the year. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh informed me that the presence of this shrub in any place, repel away harmful insects and other organisms. This is the reason, the natives are planting this shrub in home gardens. The natives have named a sweet dish as Laung Lata, based on appearance of the flowers in branches. In my allelopathic studies, I have found different parts of this shrub specially the leaves useful in suppressing the growth of many weeds common in paddy fields. The extracts and leachates of different parts of Laung Lata are safe for paddy crop. My studies have shown that preventive spray of Laung Lata plant part solution on standing paddy crop, not only suppresses the growth of common weeds particularly Sawa (Echinochloa colonum) but also repels away the harmful insects specially Green Leaf hopper, efficiently. Through my Ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I observed that the natives of Chhattisgarh plains are much aware about its medicinal and other uses, as compared to the natives of other parts. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are not much aware of its medicinal uses but they informed me that in many cases, there is no substitute to Laung Lata. Botanically, Laung Lata is woody climber. Young shoots pubescent. Leaves opposite or sub-opposite, 5-13x2.5-6.5 cm, ovate elliptic or elliptic - oblanceolate, papyraceous, tomentose or glabrous, apex acuminate, base rounded or sub-cordate. Flowers white turning to red or orange, showy, fragrant , in terminal and axillary upto 6cm long spikes, bracts leafy. Fruits dark brown, ovate-elliptic. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the black ants feeding on Laung Lata flowers in powder form, in treatment of gynaecological disorders. The flowers are not used for this purpose. The ants are collected after feeding on flowers. The use of black ants feeding on Laung flowers, as medicine has yet not been reported. The traditional healers of Bastar region informed me about this use. I have s its practical use. I have mentioned in my previous articles, that the natives and traditional healers of Bastar region have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about uses of insects. After collection of fresh ants, the aqueous paste is prepared. The healers use it in both aqueous paste and powder forms. In normal days, it is recommended for all women in order to prevent the attack of common gynaecological troubles. It is given as medicine in treatment of dysmenorrhoea. The natives prepare curry from tender shoots and eat it with taste. The traditional healer of Mudpar village informed me that the seeds can be used successfully to flush out the intestinal worms. He further informed that the roosted seeds in combination with other herbs are given in treatment of malarial fevers. The innovative herb growers of Chhattisgarh are taking keen interest in this plant. They are eager to use it in organic cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops. After getting encouraging results in paddy crop, I am trying it on other crops. The medicinal uses of black ant is not reported in countries from where Laung Lata is originated. This is the discovery of the natives and healers of Chhattisgarh. This discovery indicates that like other exotic species, the natives have welcomed this species and using it more efficiently as compared to the natives of countries from which it has came. Thank you very much for reading the article.
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
Laung Lata is a climbing shrub, native to Java and Malaysia. In Chhattisgarh, it is well known and one of the most liked ornamental shrubs in home gardens. In ancient Indian literature, very less information is available about this shrub. The natives consider it as a plant that can bring prosperity and happiness for them. Like the Sadasuhagan (Vinca rosea) herb, it flowers round the year. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh informed me that the presence of this shrub in any place, repel away harmful insects and other organisms. This is the reason, the natives are planting this shrub in home gardens. The natives have named a sweet dish as Laung Lata, based on appearance of the flowers in branches. In my allelopathic studies, I have found different parts of this shrub specially the leaves useful in suppressing the growth of many weeds common in paddy fields. The extracts and leachates of different parts of Laung Lata are safe for paddy crop. My studies have shown that preventive spray of Laung Lata plant part solution on standing paddy crop, not only suppresses the growth of common weeds particularly Sawa (Echinochloa colonum) but also repels away the harmful insects specially Green Leaf hopper, efficiently. Through my Ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I observed that the natives of Chhattisgarh plains are much aware about its medicinal and other uses, as compared to the natives of other parts. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are not much aware of its medicinal uses but they informed me that in many cases, there is no substitute to Laung Lata. Botanically, Laung Lata is woody climber. Young shoots pubescent. Leaves opposite or sub-opposite, 5-13x2.5-6.5 cm, ovate elliptic or elliptic - oblanceolate, papyraceous, tomentose or glabrous, apex acuminate, base rounded or sub-cordate. Flowers white turning to red or orange, showy, fragrant , in terminal and axillary upto 6cm long spikes, bracts leafy. Fruits dark brown, ovate-elliptic. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the black ants feeding on Laung Lata flowers in powder form, in treatment of gynaecological disorders. The flowers are not used for this purpose. The ants are collected after feeding on flowers. The use of black ants feeding on Laung flowers, as medicine has yet not been reported. The traditional healers of Bastar region informed me about this use. I have s its practical use. I have mentioned in my previous articles, that the natives and traditional healers of Bastar region have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about uses of insects. After collection of fresh ants, the aqueous paste is prepared. The healers use it in both aqueous paste and powder forms. In normal days, it is recommended for all women in order to prevent the attack of common gynaecological troubles. It is given as medicine in treatment of dysmenorrhoea. The natives prepare curry from tender shoots and eat it with taste. The traditional healer of Mudpar village informed me that the seeds can be used successfully to flush out the intestinal worms. He further informed that the roosted seeds in combination with other herbs are given in treatment of malarial fevers. The innovative herb growers of Chhattisgarh are taking keen interest in this plant. They are eager to use it in organic cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops. After getting encouraging results in paddy crop, I am trying it on other crops. The medicinal uses of black ant is not reported in countries from where Laung Lata is originated. This is the discovery of the natives and healers of Chhattisgarh. This discovery indicates that like other exotic species, the natives have welcomed this species and using it more efficiently as compared to the natives of countries from which it has came. Thank you very much for reading the article.
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