Sitaphal (Annona squamosa, family annonaceae) as medicinal herb in Chhattisgarh, India
Sitaphal (Annona squamosa, family annonaceae) as medicinal herb in
Chhattisgarh, India
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
The yellowish - green heart shaped edible fruits of Sitaphal are covered with rounded, fleshy tubercles representing loosely cohering carpels. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, these fruit coverings resemble the blisters of small-pox and this is the reason, the healers use the Sitaphal fruits as preventive to small pox. It is also used in treatment of small pox both internally and externally. Sitaphal is a native to South America and West Indies. It is introduced for delicious fruits and now it is under cultivation as popular fruit crop in India. About eight species of Annona have been reported in India. In Chhattisgarh, two species A. squamosa and A. reticulata are found commonly. In Chhattisgarh, Sitaphal occur as wasteland plant. The natives never prefer to plant this herb in home gardens. As it grows spontaneously in Shamshan (grave yards), the natives ovoid its plantation in home gardens. If it occurs spontaneously in home gardens, they never cut it and to nullify its so called harmful effects they plant fruiting species of Aonla (Emblica officinalis) and Anar (Punicaa granatum). I am trying to find the scientific explanation that how Aonla and Anar herbs are capable of nullifying the harmful effects of Sitaphal in any home garden . Our forefathers have informed their future generation out this treatment, so there must be some scientific reasons. Many fruits growers are growing Sitaphal as fruit crop but the local fruit markets their heavy demand from other Indian states like Maharashtra. Not much work has been done by the region research organizations for promotion of this beneficial crop in Chhattisgarh. The scientists and researchers of South India have done significant work on this crop. They have found that farmers can grow Sitaphal crop successfully with groundnut, pearlmillet, gingely, jowar, castor etc. It can be grown successfully in coconut plantations also. Unfortunately, such recommendations are not available for the Sitaphal growers of Chhattisgarh. Most of the natives are not aware of medicinal and industrial uses of Sitaphal. In reference literatures, a lot has been written on various industrial uses of Sitaphal. For the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Sitaphal is a valuable medicinal herb and they use its different parts in treatment of over 75 common and complicated diseases both internally and externally. To list out these traditional uses, I conducted a separate Ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh and collected many valuable and rare information. Although the use of Sitaphal as medicinal herb is decreasing in urban areas but in rural and forest areas, the healers are still using this herb in their routine practice. It is good sign. Before describing these uses, I am describing the botany and reported medicinal and industrial uses of Sitaphal, I have noted from reference literatures. Botanically , Sitaphal is a large, evergreen, straggling shrub or small tree having height upto 7 meters; Bark thin and grey; Leaf oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, pellucid - dotted, scented, 5.0-15.0 cm x 1.9 - 3.8 cm; Flower grayish, fleshy, 1-4, drooping, extra axillary, more on the leafy shoot than on older wood, tending to open as shoot elongates; Fruits- carpels many, lozenge-shaped, on a central torus, fused into on irregularly globose or heart shaped, tubercled, yellowish-green,syncarp,5-10cm in diameter; Seeds oblong, deep brownish black, axil shining, covered with whitish pulp; 2cm long, 2800-4500 per kilogram, viability upto 7 years, germination 80 percent. As medicine, roots , barks, leaves, fruits and seeds are used. According to Ayurveda, fruit is sweet, tasty, good tonic, blood enricher, cooling sedative to heart. It relieves vomiting and lessens burning. According to Unani system of medicine, roots are cathartic whereas fruits are sweet, flavoury, stimulant, expectorant seeds are difficult to digest, causes fever and furunculosis , abortifacient, produces ulcers in the eye, good to destroy lice in hair. From delicious fruits of Sitaphal, jelly, jam, conserves, sharbets, syrup, tart and fermented drinks are prepared. The peelings and pulps contain oil that is useful in flavouring. Sitaphal seeds yield an oil (upto 40 percent), neutral resin and non-edible protein. This oil can be used for soap making and as a plasticizer in alkyd manufacture. Refined oil showed encouraging results on edibility, cake can be used as manure, detoxicated cake can be used as feed for cattle and poultry, Bark also contains volatile oil, fibre and tannins. Botanical differences between major Annona species. Characteristics Annona squamosa Annona reticulata 1) Habit A large, evergreen, straggling shrub or small tree, 7 meters. A small, deciduous or semideciduous tree, 10 meters 2) Bark Thin, grey Rough, chocolate brown, with longitudinal tissues. 3) Leaf Oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, pellucid-dotted, scented, 5.0-15.0 cm x 1.9-3.8 cm Oblong-lanceolate, with unpleasant odour. 4) Flower Greenish, fleshy, 1-4 drooping, extra-axillary, more of the leafy shoot than on older wood. Solitary, greenish-white, scattered on branches, fleshy, drooping, leaf opposed 5) Fruit Carpels many, lozenge shaped, tubercled, yellowishgreen, syncarp, 5-10 cm in diameter. Many berries, in heart-shaped syncarp, solid compact, yellowish or brownish red when ripe 7.5-18.0 cm in diameter with pentagonal aeroles. 6) Seed Oblong, deep brownish black, axil shining, covered with whitish pulp, 2 cm long, 2800-4500/kg. Smooth, black. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use medicinal herb Sitaphal for hair care both internally and externally. The healers suggest the natives to eat matured fruits during season, in order to maintain hairs healthy and black. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains, collect the fresh leaves of Sitaphal and boil it in water to prepare special decoction. The patients are advised to wash the hairs with this decoction every day. The traditional healers also prepare special herbal oil by boiling the fresh leaves in Til (Sesamum) oil. After evaporation of watery content, oil is collected and stored for future use. The healers instruct the patients to massage gently the herbal oil at the base of hairs in order to get good effects. They also add other herbs like Bhengra (Eclipta alba), Neem (Azadirachta indica) etc. in this herbal oil to make it more potential. The traditional healer of Mudpar village prepare a special decoction using Sitaphal leaves and suggests the patients to take it internally. In order to manage the problem of hair lice, a common problem in rural areas. The traditional healers suggest the patients to wash the hairs using fresh juice of Sitaphal leaves. They advise the patients to take special care during application and save the eyes from juice, and it can cause harmful effects. The traditional healers also use powdered seeds in treatment of hair lice. The aqueous paste is prepared and applied externally on hairs. The herbal oil prepared by using Neem and Sitaphal leaves is also popular in many parts. For preparation of medicine, the traditional healers prefer the herbs growing in wasteland. They never prefer the use of herbs from cultivated fields. This is a matter of scientific investigation. The traditional healers of Bhopalpatnam region informed me that Sitaphal is a promising tonic for the Children and also for lactating women. They advise the use of fruit pulp as food during growing season. It is also given with pure honey. My biochemist friend in formed me that the fruit pulps are rich source of iron. The traditional healers of Narharpur region, recommend it as heart tonic very frequently. They instruct the patients to never miss the chance of eating fresh fruits during growing season in order to get rid from heart troubles. The fruits are also considered as carminative. The leaves and immature fruits are used externally to mature, the immature boils. The aqueous paste of leaves is applied on immature boils whereas the whole immature fruits are kept on boils as such to suppurate it. The roots is used as purgative and also used in case of depression of spirits and spinal diseases. The natives offer the matured Sitaphal fruits to Goddess Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, specially in Deepawali festival, the festival of Lights. Common and popular names of Sitaphal around the world. Languages/Regions/Countries Names 1) Arabic Ambeberesch, Beresch, Saripha 2) Assam Ata, Katal 3) Bengal Ata, Luna, Meba, Sitaphal 4) Cambodia Tiep srok 5) Myanmar Auza 6) Kanarese Amritaphala, Duranji, Sitaphala 7) Sri Lanka Anoda 8) English Custard Apple, Sweet Apple, Sweet Sop 9) French Ate, Attier, Cachiman, Hattier, Guanabane 10) Gujarati Anan, Anuram, Seetaphul, Sitaphal 11) Hindi At, Ata, Atasitaphal, Sitaphal, Shariphal, Sharifa 12) Nepal Sharifal 13) Persian Kaj, Shatifal 14) Portuguese Ateira, Fructo de Conde 15) Sanskrit Agrimakhya, Atripya, Sitaphala, Subha 16) Sind Sharifa 17) Sinhalese Anoda, Afta 18) Tamil Atta, Sitapalam 19) Telugu Gandagatramu, Sitapandu, Sitaphalamu 20) Uriya Ato, Sitapholo The natives are using the dried leaves of Sitaphal as insect repellent since generations. Like leaves of Neem and Nirgundi, the natives also keep dried leaves with stored grain in order to repel away stored grain pest. It is also common belief that presence of this herb in periphery of crop fields, restricts the entry of harmful insects and diseases. The herb growers of Chhattisgarh are taking advantage from this traditional knowledge. They are planting it around the medicinal crops like Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), Kasturibhendi (Abelmoschus moschatus), Chandrashoor (Lepidium sativum), Sarpgandha (Rauvolfia serpentina) etc. and they are getting encouraging results. The growers also prepare herbal solution using Sitaphal leaves in combination with other herbs and spray it on standing crop as insect repellent. In my allelopathic studies, I have observed the detrimental effects of different parts of Sitaphal on many obnoxious weeds. I have found the roots more harmful as compared to the leaves. The extract was found more effective as compared to leachate. The negative (stimulatory) allelopathic effects of Sitaphal leaves on germination and seedling vigour of agricultural crops like rice, wheat, chickpea, linseed have also been observed in allelopathic studies. The detailed Ethnobotanical surveys focused on Sitaphal are still in progress. I will write more on my future articles. Thank you very much for
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
The yellowish - green heart shaped edible fruits of Sitaphal are covered with rounded, fleshy tubercles representing loosely cohering carpels. According to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, these fruit coverings resemble the blisters of small-pox and this is the reason, the healers use the Sitaphal fruits as preventive to small pox. It is also used in treatment of small pox both internally and externally. Sitaphal is a native to South America and West Indies. It is introduced for delicious fruits and now it is under cultivation as popular fruit crop in India. About eight species of Annona have been reported in India. In Chhattisgarh, two species A. squamosa and A. reticulata are found commonly. In Chhattisgarh, Sitaphal occur as wasteland plant. The natives never prefer to plant this herb in home gardens. As it grows spontaneously in Shamshan (grave yards), the natives ovoid its plantation in home gardens. If it occurs spontaneously in home gardens, they never cut it and to nullify its so called harmful effects they plant fruiting species of Aonla (Emblica officinalis) and Anar (Punicaa granatum). I am trying to find the scientific explanation that how Aonla and Anar herbs are capable of nullifying the harmful effects of Sitaphal in any home garden . Our forefathers have informed their future generation out this treatment, so there must be some scientific reasons. Many fruits growers are growing Sitaphal as fruit crop but the local fruit markets their heavy demand from other Indian states like Maharashtra. Not much work has been done by the region research organizations for promotion of this beneficial crop in Chhattisgarh. The scientists and researchers of South India have done significant work on this crop. They have found that farmers can grow Sitaphal crop successfully with groundnut, pearlmillet, gingely, jowar, castor etc. It can be grown successfully in coconut plantations also. Unfortunately, such recommendations are not available for the Sitaphal growers of Chhattisgarh. Most of the natives are not aware of medicinal and industrial uses of Sitaphal. In reference literatures, a lot has been written on various industrial uses of Sitaphal. For the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, Sitaphal is a valuable medicinal herb and they use its different parts in treatment of over 75 common and complicated diseases both internally and externally. To list out these traditional uses, I conducted a separate Ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh and collected many valuable and rare information. Although the use of Sitaphal as medicinal herb is decreasing in urban areas but in rural and forest areas, the healers are still using this herb in their routine practice. It is good sign. Before describing these uses, I am describing the botany and reported medicinal and industrial uses of Sitaphal, I have noted from reference literatures. Botanically , Sitaphal is a large, evergreen, straggling shrub or small tree having height upto 7 meters; Bark thin and grey; Leaf oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, pellucid - dotted, scented, 5.0-15.0 cm x 1.9 - 3.8 cm; Flower grayish, fleshy, 1-4, drooping, extra axillary, more on the leafy shoot than on older wood, tending to open as shoot elongates; Fruits- carpels many, lozenge-shaped, on a central torus, fused into on irregularly globose or heart shaped, tubercled, yellowish-green,syncarp,5-10cm in diameter; Seeds oblong, deep brownish black, axil shining, covered with whitish pulp; 2cm long, 2800-4500 per kilogram, viability upto 7 years, germination 80 percent. As medicine, roots , barks, leaves, fruits and seeds are used. According to Ayurveda, fruit is sweet, tasty, good tonic, blood enricher, cooling sedative to heart. It relieves vomiting and lessens burning. According to Unani system of medicine, roots are cathartic whereas fruits are sweet, flavoury, stimulant, expectorant seeds are difficult to digest, causes fever and furunculosis , abortifacient, produces ulcers in the eye, good to destroy lice in hair. From delicious fruits of Sitaphal, jelly, jam, conserves, sharbets, syrup, tart and fermented drinks are prepared. The peelings and pulps contain oil that is useful in flavouring. Sitaphal seeds yield an oil (upto 40 percent), neutral resin and non-edible protein. This oil can be used for soap making and as a plasticizer in alkyd manufacture. Refined oil showed encouraging results on edibility, cake can be used as manure, detoxicated cake can be used as feed for cattle and poultry, Bark also contains volatile oil, fibre and tannins. Botanical differences between major Annona species. Characteristics Annona squamosa Annona reticulata 1) Habit A large, evergreen, straggling shrub or small tree, 7 meters. A small, deciduous or semideciduous tree, 10 meters 2) Bark Thin, grey Rough, chocolate brown, with longitudinal tissues. 3) Leaf Oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, pellucid-dotted, scented, 5.0-15.0 cm x 1.9-3.8 cm Oblong-lanceolate, with unpleasant odour. 4) Flower Greenish, fleshy, 1-4 drooping, extra-axillary, more of the leafy shoot than on older wood. Solitary, greenish-white, scattered on branches, fleshy, drooping, leaf opposed 5) Fruit Carpels many, lozenge shaped, tubercled, yellowishgreen, syncarp, 5-10 cm in diameter. Many berries, in heart-shaped syncarp, solid compact, yellowish or brownish red when ripe 7.5-18.0 cm in diameter with pentagonal aeroles. 6) Seed Oblong, deep brownish black, axil shining, covered with whitish pulp, 2 cm long, 2800-4500/kg. Smooth, black. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use medicinal herb Sitaphal for hair care both internally and externally. The healers suggest the natives to eat matured fruits during season, in order to maintain hairs healthy and black. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains, collect the fresh leaves of Sitaphal and boil it in water to prepare special decoction. The patients are advised to wash the hairs with this decoction every day. The traditional healers also prepare special herbal oil by boiling the fresh leaves in Til (Sesamum) oil. After evaporation of watery content, oil is collected and stored for future use. The healers instruct the patients to massage gently the herbal oil at the base of hairs in order to get good effects. They also add other herbs like Bhengra (Eclipta alba), Neem (Azadirachta indica) etc. in this herbal oil to make it more potential. The traditional healer of Mudpar village prepare a special decoction using Sitaphal leaves and suggests the patients to take it internally. In order to manage the problem of hair lice, a common problem in rural areas. The traditional healers suggest the patients to wash the hairs using fresh juice of Sitaphal leaves. They advise the patients to take special care during application and save the eyes from juice, and it can cause harmful effects. The traditional healers also use powdered seeds in treatment of hair lice. The aqueous paste is prepared and applied externally on hairs. The herbal oil prepared by using Neem and Sitaphal leaves is also popular in many parts. For preparation of medicine, the traditional healers prefer the herbs growing in wasteland. They never prefer the use of herbs from cultivated fields. This is a matter of scientific investigation. The traditional healers of Bhopalpatnam region informed me that Sitaphal is a promising tonic for the Children and also for lactating women. They advise the use of fruit pulp as food during growing season. It is also given with pure honey. My biochemist friend in formed me that the fruit pulps are rich source of iron. The traditional healers of Narharpur region, recommend it as heart tonic very frequently. They instruct the patients to never miss the chance of eating fresh fruits during growing season in order to get rid from heart troubles. The fruits are also considered as carminative. The leaves and immature fruits are used externally to mature, the immature boils. The aqueous paste of leaves is applied on immature boils whereas the whole immature fruits are kept on boils as such to suppurate it. The roots is used as purgative and also used in case of depression of spirits and spinal diseases. The natives offer the matured Sitaphal fruits to Goddess Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, specially in Deepawali festival, the festival of Lights. Common and popular names of Sitaphal around the world. Languages/Regions/Countries Names 1) Arabic Ambeberesch, Beresch, Saripha 2) Assam Ata, Katal 3) Bengal Ata, Luna, Meba, Sitaphal 4) Cambodia Tiep srok 5) Myanmar Auza 6) Kanarese Amritaphala, Duranji, Sitaphala 7) Sri Lanka Anoda 8) English Custard Apple, Sweet Apple, Sweet Sop 9) French Ate, Attier, Cachiman, Hattier, Guanabane 10) Gujarati Anan, Anuram, Seetaphul, Sitaphal 11) Hindi At, Ata, Atasitaphal, Sitaphal, Shariphal, Sharifa 12) Nepal Sharifal 13) Persian Kaj, Shatifal 14) Portuguese Ateira, Fructo de Conde 15) Sanskrit Agrimakhya, Atripya, Sitaphala, Subha 16) Sind Sharifa 17) Sinhalese Anoda, Afta 18) Tamil Atta, Sitapalam 19) Telugu Gandagatramu, Sitapandu, Sitaphalamu 20) Uriya Ato, Sitapholo The natives are using the dried leaves of Sitaphal as insect repellent since generations. Like leaves of Neem and Nirgundi, the natives also keep dried leaves with stored grain in order to repel away stored grain pest. It is also common belief that presence of this herb in periphery of crop fields, restricts the entry of harmful insects and diseases. The herb growers of Chhattisgarh are taking advantage from this traditional knowledge. They are planting it around the medicinal crops like Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), Kasturibhendi (Abelmoschus moschatus), Chandrashoor (Lepidium sativum), Sarpgandha (Rauvolfia serpentina) etc. and they are getting encouraging results. The growers also prepare herbal solution using Sitaphal leaves in combination with other herbs and spray it on standing crop as insect repellent. In my allelopathic studies, I have observed the detrimental effects of different parts of Sitaphal on many obnoxious weeds. I have found the roots more harmful as compared to the leaves. The extract was found more effective as compared to leachate. The negative (stimulatory) allelopathic effects of Sitaphal leaves on germination and seedling vigour of agricultural crops like rice, wheat, chickpea, linseed have also been observed in allelopathic studies. The detailed Ethnobotanical surveys focused on Sitaphal are still in progress. I will write more on my future articles. Thank you very much for
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