Traditional medicinal knowledge about less known herbs of Chhattisgarh, India.XXXIII. Tejraj (Peucedanum nagpurensis family : Umbelliferae)

Traditional medicinal knowledge about less known herbs of Chhattisgarh, India.XXXIII. Tejraj (Peucedanum nagpurensis family : Umbelliferae) 

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Although the surveyors have kept Tejraj as endangered herb but according to the natives and traditional healers of Tejraj rich areas in Chhatt much population is still present. Through my ethno botanical surveys I have observed this herb in almost every corner of the state. Its spread is isolated and in patches. For the traditional healers it is valuable herb but this is really surprising that it is not in the list of non-wood forest produces having regular high demand. The traders simply explain that the herbs useful in sex related troubles, skin diseases and hair problems are always in high demand. Tejraj is not used for these purposes. This is the reason it is safe in Chhattisgarh. I have noted its occurrence in dense forests far from human interference. In general, the floristic surveys are conducted by assessing the roadside flora and the surveyors avoid to enter in dense forests. This is the reason they have declared it endangered. Botanically, Tejraj is erect perennial herb; leaves 1-3 pinnate, ultimate, segments lanceolate or ovate; Umbels compounds with 12-16 rays; bracts absent; bracteoles 4-7. Fruits truncate emarginated at the narrowed base. Flowering and fruiting times October to January in Chhattisgarh conditions. During visit to forest areas in surrounding of Nagpur city, I got many plants of Tejraj, the real nagpurensis species (P. Glaucum var. Nagpurensis) but it was different to the plant found in Chhattisgarh. I personally feel that there is a need to rename the species found in Chhattisgarh. I am fident that the botanists reading this article will take necessary action in this regard. Prof. R. K. S. Tiwari has surveyed the Bilaspur and Sarguja region for this herb. He is well known researcher in Chhattisgarh. He informed the participants at TAMP workshop held last month in Bhopal, focused on medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, that Tejraj is known as Bhojraj in Southern parts of Chhattisgarh. I have identified Bhojraj as another related species of Peucedanum i.e. P. dhana. Later an eminent herb researcher Dr. S.S. Bisen confirmed it. In reference literatures, the natural occurrence of P. dhana is not reported in Chhattisgarh. According to these literatures, it is a natural herb of Western Himalaya and N. Bengal. Tejraj is not under cultivation as medicinal crop in Chhattisgarh. I have also not observed it in herbal nurseries. The native and traditional healers of Tejraj rich areas of Chhattisgarh mainly use it as stomach tonic. It is used as home remedy to stomach ache. The healers use it in different herbal combinations used in treatment of diseases of digestive systems. Through my surveys, I am trying hard to list out more traditional uses of this herb. I am sure that the detailed listing of these uses will help us to establish Tejraj as potential medicinal crop. Thank you very much for reading the article.