Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses XXV. Sonpatha (Oroxylum indicum,family: {Bignoniaceae)
Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses
XXV. Sonpatha (Oroxylum indicum,family: {Bignoniaceae)
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003
Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved Sonpatha (Oroxylum indicum syn. Calosanthes indica) roots are much esteemed being an ingredient of the Dashmula (Das- Ten; Mula - Roots). In Dashmula, the roots of ten different herbs are used viz. Aegle marmelos, Oroxylum indicum, Stereospermum suaveolens, Gmelina arborea, Clerodendron phlomoidis, Pseudarthria viscida, Uraria picta, Solanum indicum, Solanum xanthocarpum and Tribulus terrestris. Sonpatha is one of the major ingredients of Dashmul. Sonpatha is a common herb found in Chhattisgarh. Although it is not in the list of non-wood forest produces having routine demand but many herb traders informed me that they supply this herb very frequently to some leading pharmaceutical companies of India. They further informed me that the adulteration in this root is common practice and buyers at national levels are aware of this malpractice. The forests of Chhattisgarh, rich in bio-diversity, supply almost all major ingredients of Dashmula but it is a bitter fact that not a single pharmaceutical unit is active in preparation of Dashmula in Chhattisgarh. There is a tremendous scope in this field. This is positive sign that the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of use of Dashmula and they prepare it and use it in routine treatment. Through my Ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I collected many valuable information on traditional uses of Sonpatha. I have noted that the experts using Sonpatha are less in number and the valuable information is ending with these experts. The young generation is not taking interest in these information. In present article, I am describing some traditional uses of Sonpatha as medicine. Botanically Sonpatha is a small to medium sized deciduous tree found throughout the greater part of India. Bark grayish brown with corky lenticles; Leaves very large, 0.5 1.5 metre in length, 2-3 pinnate, leaflets 12 cm long and 8cm broad; Flowers reddish. Purple outside, pale pinkish yellow within ; Fruits flat capsu upto one metre long, 5-10cm broad, sword-shaped. Seeds numerous, flat and winged all around except at the base. As mentioned earlier, Sonpatha holds a reputed position as medicine in different systems of medicine in India. As medicine, roots and fruits are used most frequently. According to Ayurveda, root bark is acrid, astringent to bowels, cooling, aphrodisiac, tonic, appetiser and useful in biliousness, bronchitis, fevers, intestinal worms, vomiting, dysentery, leucoderma, asthma, inflammations, and troubles etc. fruits are acrid, stomachic, anthelmintic, good in heart and throat diseases, piles, bronchitis etc. According to Unani system of medicine fruits are expectora improves appetite and useful in leucoderma. Industrially, the bark and fruits are used in dyeing and tanning. The natives of Chhattisgarh eat the young shoots and unripe fruits with taste. The thin light seeds are also edible. In ancient times, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh were using the thin light seeds to prepare special hats in order to treat the Adhasisi (Migraine). The traditional healers of northern hilly regions of Chhattisgarh informed me about this use during my survey. This is really unique use and not reported in available literatures. I personally feel that there is a need for detailed scientific investigation. In case of rheumatic pain, the traditional healers use the Sonpatha roots. They prepare a decoction and give it internally. Also they suggest the patients to expose the affected parts to the fumes coming from decoction to get relief. The aqueous paste of root bark is used externally in treatment of urinary system diseases. The healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use this herb in treatment of diarrhoea internally. They take precaution during this treatment as over-dose can cause constipation. It is also as veterinary medicine. Due to these limited traditional medicinal uses, I have kept this herb in the category of less known herb but through my on-going surveys, I trying to get more information on Sonpatha. 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 Sonpatha (Oroxylum indicum syn. Calosanthes indica) roots are much esteemed being an ingredient of the Dashmula (Das- Ten; Mula - Roots). In Dashmula, the roots of ten different herbs are used viz. Aegle marmelos, Oroxylum indicum, Stereospermum suaveolens, Gmelina arborea, Clerodendron phlomoidis, Pseudarthria viscida, Uraria picta, Solanum indicum, Solanum xanthocarpum and Tribulus terrestris. Sonpatha is one of the major ingredients of Dashmul. Sonpatha is a common herb found in Chhattisgarh. Although it is not in the list of non-wood forest produces having routine demand but many herb traders informed me that they supply this herb very frequently to some leading pharmaceutical companies of India. They further informed me that the adulteration in this root is common practice and buyers at national levels are aware of this malpractice. The forests of Chhattisgarh, rich in bio-diversity, supply almost all major ingredients of Dashmula but it is a bitter fact that not a single pharmaceutical unit is active in preparation of Dashmula in Chhattisgarh. There is a tremendous scope in this field. This is positive sign that the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of use of Dashmula and they prepare it and use it in routine treatment. Through my Ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh, I collected many valuable information on traditional uses of Sonpatha. I have noted that the experts using Sonpatha are less in number and the valuable information is ending with these experts. The young generation is not taking interest in these information. In present article, I am describing some traditional uses of Sonpatha as medicine. Botanically Sonpatha is a small to medium sized deciduous tree found throughout the greater part of India. Bark grayish brown with corky lenticles; Leaves very large, 0.5 1.5 metre in length, 2-3 pinnate, leaflets 12 cm long and 8cm broad; Flowers reddish. Purple outside, pale pinkish yellow within ; Fruits flat capsu upto one metre long, 5-10cm broad, sword-shaped. Seeds numerous, flat and winged all around except at the base. As mentioned earlier, Sonpatha holds a reputed position as medicine in different systems of medicine in India. As medicine, roots and fruits are used most frequently. According to Ayurveda, root bark is acrid, astringent to bowels, cooling, aphrodisiac, tonic, appetiser and useful in biliousness, bronchitis, fevers, intestinal worms, vomiting, dysentery, leucoderma, asthma, inflammations, and troubles etc. fruits are acrid, stomachic, anthelmintic, good in heart and throat diseases, piles, bronchitis etc. According to Unani system of medicine fruits are expectora improves appetite and useful in leucoderma. Industrially, the bark and fruits are used in dyeing and tanning. The natives of Chhattisgarh eat the young shoots and unripe fruits with taste. The thin light seeds are also edible. In ancient times, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh were using the thin light seeds to prepare special hats in order to treat the Adhasisi (Migraine). The traditional healers of northern hilly regions of Chhattisgarh informed me about this use during my survey. This is really unique use and not reported in available literatures. I personally feel that there is a need for detailed scientific investigation. In case of rheumatic pain, the traditional healers use the Sonpatha roots. They prepare a decoction and give it internally. Also they suggest the patients to expose the affected parts to the fumes coming from decoction to get relief. The aqueous paste of root bark is used externally in treatment of urinary system diseases. The healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use this herb in treatment of diarrhoea internally. They take precaution during this treatment as over-dose can cause constipation. It is also as veterinary medicine. Due to these limited traditional medicinal uses, I have kept this herb in the category of less known herb but through my on-going surveys, I trying to get more information on Sonpatha. Thank you very much for reading the article.
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