Traditional medicinal knowledge about Psilogramma menephron Cr. feeding on Aparajita (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) in Chhattisgarh, India. Updated Version.

Traditional medicinal knowledge about Psilogramma menephron Cr. feeding on Aparajita (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) in Chhattisgarh, India. Updated Version.

Pankaj Oudhia

Introduction

Entomophagy and Entomotherapy are well known in Asia since generations. Unfortunately not much work has been done to document valuable Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about Insects. Pankaj Oudhia is documenting this knowledge since year 1990. The present note is updated version of his previously published online research document available through pankajoudhia.com.

Keywords: Entomophagy; Entomotherapy; Medicinal Insects; Ayurveda; Chhattisgarh;

According to the reference literatures, Aparajita is a large shrub or small tree, grown as an ornamental. An orange-coloured dye, obtained from the flowers, is used for colouring silk and cotton. Maharshi Patanjali refers to cloth dyed of this flower as Sephalika. The flowers are strong and worn as hair ornaments and necklaces. Aparajita is a well known shrub in Chhattisgarh. For the traditional healers, it is a valuable folk medicine. They use its all parts as medicine both internally as well as externally in treatment of many diseases. Psilogramma menephron caterpillars feed on the leaves of Aparajita. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the full fed caterpillars as medicine. Through the Ethno-entomological surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I have collected many valuable information on this important aspect. The traditional healers use the full fed caterpillars after purification. The objective of purification is to eliminate toxic material from the caterpillars. For purification, the caterpillars are dipped for specific period in herbal solution. The healers do not disclose the contents of the herbal solution. Many healers aware of my on-going documentation work claimed that many bitter herbs and its aqueous extracts are added in the solution as main ingredients. Through the on-going Ethno-entomological surveys I am trying my best to gather more details on this aspect. After purification, the caterpillars are dried and in form of powder stored for future use. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh specialized in treatment of different types of fever use the caterpillar powder alone and in combination with medicinal herbs in treatment. In treatment of Malarial fever, at initial phase, the traditional healers of Nagri-Sihawa region give the caterpillar powder with Shahad (Honey). In advanced stage, the caterpillar powder is given internally in combination with medicinal herbs. Many times the healers use the insect powder in form of decoction.

[New comments added on April, 2014: Through recent surveys I have collected information about over 500 Traditional Formulations for fever in which Psilogramma collected from Aparajita is added as important ingredient.  In Tinospora based Formulations it is added as secondary ingredient where as in Mucuna based Formulations for old cases of Malaria it is added as tertiary ingredient. In Cissus based Formulations for new cases of Malarial fever it is added as septenary ingredient.  In Cynodon based Formulations for unexplained fever it is added as secondary ingredient. The patients having Bleeding Piles with such fever are not given these Formulations having Psilogramma. In Shorea based Formulations for Typhoid fever it is added as nonary ingredient. In Dalbergia based Formulations for old fever it is added as octonary ingredient. Many of these Formulations are considered incomplete without Psilogramma. The Healers have many herbal alternatives to Psilogramma but they prefer Psilogramma from all alternatives available. In Blumea based Formulations for puerperal fever it is added as quinary ingredient. In Sterculia based Formulations the Healers add it as senary ingredient. In over 125 Traditional Formulations used for malaria prevention it is added as quaternary ingredient and many times as secondary ingredient. For complete formulations and dosage please visit pankajoudhia.com ]

The traditional healers of Rajnandgaon region informed that the caterpillar powder can be used successfully to flush out the intestinal worms effectively in very less time. As other promising alternatives are available, it is used less commonly. From documentation point of view it is an important information. Although Aparajita and this caterpillar are common in many parts of Chhattisgarh but the healers of other regions are not aware of its medicinal uses. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains are not aware of its other traditional uses. 

[New comments added on April, 2014: Through recent surveys I have collected information about over 55 Formulations for Vitiligo in which Psilogramma is added as important ingredient. These Formulations are used both internally as well as externally but the internal use is popular among the Healers. In Wattakaka based Formulations for Vitiligo it is added as nonary ingredient whereas in Wood Mushroom, collected from old Tendu trees, based Formulations it is added as tertiary ingredient. ]

In reference literatures, Psilogramma menephron feeding on Aparajita is not mentioned as medicinal insect. The matter of appreciation is that the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains are not only aware of its traditional medicinal uses but also using it in their routine practice. This is good sign. 

Related References

Oudhia, Pankaj and Thakur, B.S. (1996) New record of the leaf beetle on a weed. Current Research 25: 218.

Oudhia, P. (1997) Evaluation of host specificity of Blumea leaf beetle (Chrysolina sp. nr. madrasae Jackoby). Insect Environment. 3 (3): 80.

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Oudhia, P. (1999) Effect of some botanicals on hatchability of Blumea leaf beetle eggs. Insect Environment. 4(4): 154

Oudhia, P. (1999) Blumea leaf beetle in Chhattisgarh Plains. Insect Environment. 5 (1): 22.

Oudhia, P. and Ganguli, J. (1999). Outbreak of Tortoise beetle Aspidomorpha miliaris F. (Coleoptera ; Chrysomelidae) in Chhattisgarh plains. Insect Environment 5(3): 110-111.

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Oudhia P., Pandey N. and Tripathi R.S. (1999). Allelopathic effects of obnoxious weeds on germination and seedling vigour of hybrid rice. Internaitonal Rice Research Notes (IRRI). 24(2) : 36.

Oudhia P, Pandey N, Ganguli RN & Tripathi RS (1999) Gall midge (Orseolia oryzae) infestation in hybrid rice as affected by agronomical practices. Insect Environment 4: 123–124.

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Oudhia P, Pandey N, Tripathi RS & Ganguli RN (1999) Reaction of hybrid rice varieties to gall midge (Orseolia oryzae).. Insect Environment 4 (4): 134.

Oudhia P, Pandey N, Tripathi RS & Ganguli RN (1999) Effect of different fertility levels on the gall midge (Orseolia oryzae) infestation.. Insect Environment 4 (3): 66-67.

Oudhia, P. (2000). Studies on host specificity and preference of the metallic coloured Tortoise beetle (Aspidomorpha miliaris F.) Ecol. Env. And Cons. 6(3):357-359.

Oudhia, P. (2000). Effects of leaf extracts on Metallic Coloured Tortoise beetle Aspidomorpha miliaris F. Insect Environment 5(4): 165.

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Oudhia, P. and Ganguli, R. N. (1999) Chrysolina madrassae: A potential bio-control agent for Blumea lacera. VIII Biennial Conference of Indian Society of Weed Science held at BHU, Varanasi 5-7 Feb. p 134.

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Oudhia,P.(2000).Record of Orange Banded Blister Beetle Zonabris pustulata Thunb.(Coleoptera: Meloidae) on Safed Moosli(Chlorophytum borivilianum).Insect Environment.6(3):138

Oudhia,P.(2000).Effect of some leaf leachates on hatchability of Blumea leaf beetle(Chrysolina madrasae Jackoby) Eggs.Indian J. Weed Sci. 32(3&4):206-207.

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Citation

Oudhia, Pankaj (2014). Traditional medicinal knowledge about Psilogramma menephron Cr. feeding on Aparajita (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) in Chhattisgarh, India.  Updated Version. pankajoudhia.com