Publication Ref No.

: IJPRD/2009/PUB/ARTI/VOL-8/OCT/008 ISSN 0974 – 9446

(SURVEY ARTICLE)
ETHNO-MEDICO BOTANY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIABETIC
ACTIVITY IN KRISHNA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH
Phani Ratna Prasanth .G*, Ashok Kumar.D

Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry,

Dr.H.L.Thimme Gowda College of Pharmacy, Kengal, Channapatna, Ramanagaram District, Karnataka –
571502.

ABSTRACT

Around 70% of population in India relies on these systems for primary health care. Ayurveda and Indian
System of Medicine (ISM) utilize a vast number of plants. The traditional Indian system of medicine
includes many natural plants used for the treatment of diabetic activity. In the present study, the herbal
remedies used for diabetic treatment in Krishna district, which is located in coastal region of Andhra
Pradesh, India are discussed. A total number of around twenty-five plants such as Eugenia jambolana,
Ocimum sanctum, Phyllanthus amarus, Pterocarpus marsupium, Tinospora cordifolia, Curcuma longa
and Trigonella foenum graecum etc. from various families used therapeutically against diabetes and
related disorders are being covered, which includes Biological source, family, parts of the plant used,
regional name, local use and therapeutic action (traditional use) for all the natural plants. This detailed
information will be helpful for the pharmacognosist, botanist, phytochemist and pharmacologist for the
collection and identification of the plant for their research work.

Key words: Ethno-medico botany, Herbal drugs, Anti-diabetic, Krishna district

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INTRODUCTION AND MATERIALS AND METHODS

INTRODUCTION

The art of herbal treatment has very deep roots in Indian culture. Even today in most of the rural areas
people are depending on herbal drug systems for primary health care. The present paper deals with the
first hand information of the traditional medicinal claims referring to treat diabetes in the district of Krishna
in Andhra Pradesh. So far no systematic medical ethno survey has been made in this area. The goal of
this ethno medico botanical survey is to gather information on Biological source, family, parts of the plant
used, regional name, local use and therapeutic uses (traditional use) along with chemical constituents
and such survey is to know about the use of drugs from natural medicinal plants for the treatment of
Diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Area
Krishna district is one of the 23 districts in the state and one of the nine districts in the costal region of
state Andhra Pradesh located in central area of this region. The elevation above the mean sea level
ranges from 45 mts. The climate is tropical with three different seasons in a year such as summer
(march-mid June), rainy (mid June- Sep), winter (Oct – Feb). October and March constitute that transition
months between the rainy and winter seasons and winter and summer seasons respectively.

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Fig. 1 & 2: Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh

The present study is based on the intensive field of the area during the period of Feb-July 2008. Regular
field studies were made in the study area during the period. The information about the plants used for
diabetes was gathered through interviews and discussion with the elderly people and traditional medical
practitioners were also consulted. Herbal plants referred by these people were authentically identified
with the help of pharmacognosist and botanist (Fig 1 & 2).

RESULTS
All together plants belonging to different families have been documented for their therapeutic properties
and diabetes. The collected information’s are arranged in the alphabetic order of the plant botanical
name with the local (or) common name, vernacular names, parts used, local use, active constituents and
therapeutic action for each plant1, 2, 3, and 4(Table I).

DISCUSSION
Among the plants used for the diabetes, “Eugenia jambolana, Curcuma longa and Trigonella foenum
graecum” seems to be most common plants used to treat diabetes and is available everywhere. Along
with these Triphala and Momordica charantia listed which are the major traditional drugs for treating this
diseases. The detailed natural plants not only used for the treatment of diabetes but also treated for other
ailments also. The information collected from the people of that area was reexamined by consulting
important works pertaining to Indian Medicinal plants and Ethnobotany such as Wealth of India
(Anonymous, 1992), Indian Medicinal Plants (Kithikar and Basu, 1975), Indian Material Medica
(Nadkarni, 2002) and Indigenous Drugs of India (Dey, 1973) 5,6,7,8.

CONCLUSION
The claims emanating from the present survey need to be subjected to pharmacochemical studies in
order to discover their true potential, as it is very difficult to judge the effectiveness of herbal medicine.
The main purpose is not to prescribe any remedies for any of the diseases but to document the uses and
draw the attention of pharmacognosist, botanist, phytochemist and pharmacologist for further scientific
research in this area.

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Table 1: List of medicinal plants used for the treatment of Diabetic activity

S. No Biological Common Local Part Used Active Local Use Therapeutic

Source Name Name Constituents Action
01 Abroma Devils cotton Perita Root, Root Alkaloids, Uterine tonic, Demulcent,
augusta bark, Fixed oil Dysmenorrhoe Emmenagogue
(Sterculiaceae) Stems, a
Leaves
02 Aconitum ferox Bachnag Vasanubhi Tuberous Alkaloids- Decreasing Antidiabetic,
(Ranunculaceae) root Hampnapelline, quantity of Paralyses the
Napelline urine and sugar respiratory
center
03 Andrographis Kalmegh Nelavemu Dried or Bitter Stomachic, Febrifuge,
paniculata fresh entire principles- Anthelmentic Chologogue.
(Acanthaceae) aerial part Andrographolid
e Flavonoids-
Echidinin
04 Cassia auriculata Tanner’s Tangedu Roots, Emodin, Chylous urine Diabetes,
(Caesalpiniaceae cassia Barks, Rubiadin Purulent
) Leaves, opthalmia
Flowers,
Seeds
05 Cassia fistula Purging Kondrakaya Pulp, Root Glutin, Rhein, Fever, Root-Tonic,
(Cagesalpiniacea cassia bark, Roots, Glucoside- Diseases of Febrifuge, Fruit-
e) Flowers, Barbaloin, heart, Cathartic
Pods, Phlobaphenes Antidiabetic,
Leaves Mild Laxative
06 Cassia sophora Senna Paidi Bark, Emodin, Diabetes, Cathartic,
(Caesalpiniaceae purpurea tangedu Leaves, Chrysophanic diminishes Expectorant.
) Seeds, acid urine
Root, Root

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bark
07 Cephalandra Vimbaja Dondatiga Leaves, Resins, Diabetics, Antispasmodic,
indica Root, Fruit, Alkaloids Glycosuria, Glucokenin-
(Cucurbitaceae) Bark Skin diseases reduces sugar in
blood

08 Citrus aurantum Common Gaja nimma Fresh and 3 Glycosides- Diabetics, Stomachic,
(Rutaceae) orange Outer parts Hesperidin, Blood purifier Tonic,
of Pericarp, Aurantiamarin Astringent,
Flowers Antispasmodic,
Anodyne
09 Cocculs cardifolia Guduchi Tippatego Stem, Berberine, Acidity of urine Bitter tonic,
(Menispermacea Leaves, Sesquiterpene and Urinary Aphrodisiac,
e) Roots, diseases Hepatic stimulant
Fecula
10 Cocculus villosus Jamtike Chipurutige Root, Resins, Billous Root-Bitter,
(Menispermacea Leaves Alkaloids dyspepsia, Acrid, Anti
e) Fever periodic, Tonic
Aromatics
11 Curcuma longa Turmeric Pasupu Tubers and Curcuminoids, Coloring agent, Antiarthritic,
(Zingiberaceae) Rhizomes Desmethoxy Ointment, Antilipidemic
curcumin Creams
12 Emblica Indian goose Usirikaya, Fruit, Seed Niacin, Anaemia, Fruit-Sour and
officinalis berry, Usiri (or) Nut, Embellic acid, Jaundice, Astringent,
(Euphorbiaceae) Amla Leaf, Bark, Dyspepsia Flowers-Cooling
Flowers
13 Eriodendron White silk Buruyasaun Gum, Triglycerides of Diabetes, Dried Juice-
anfractuosum cotton tree a Unripe Oleic acid, Styptic in Aphrodisiac and
(Bombaceae) Fruits, Linoleic acids. Diarrohea and laxative and
Seeds, Gallic acids Dysentry Unripe fruit-
Flowers demulcent
Roots,

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Leaves
14 Eugenia Black plum, Naeraedu, Fruit, Ellagic acid,Diabetes, Astringent,
jambolana Black berry Racha Leaves, Albumen Diminishes Diuretic,
(Myrtaceae) naeredu Dried quantity of Antidiabetic
seeds, Bark Urine
15 Gymnema Wood Podapathri, Whole plant Gymnemosides Antidiabetic Suppress blood
sylvestre Putla, Podra 1-7,gymnemic drug, Sugar glucose level
(Asclepiadaceae) acid, destroying
Triacotane agent
16 Lodoicea Sea coconut Samudrapu Fruit (or) - Decreases Treatment for
sechellarsum tenkaya Nut Sugar in Urine diabetic activity
(Arecaceae) in Diabetes
mellitus

17 Momordica Bitter gourd Kakara Fruits, Alkaloids, Gout, Leaves-

charantia Seeds, Steroidal Rheumatism, Galactagogue,
(Cucurbitaceae) Leaves saponin- Leprosy Anti bilious
Charantin
18 Ocimum sanctum Tulasi Krushna Leaves, Essential oil- Hypoglycemic Demulcent,
(Labiate) tulasi Seed, Root Eugenol, effect Expectorant,
Caryophylline Febrifuge
19 Phyllanthus niruri Jaramala Nela usirika Whole plant Bitter Jaundice, De-obstruent,
(Euphorbiaceae) niruri substance- Diabetics, Diuretic,
Phyllanthin Dysentery Astringent

20 Pterocarpus Indian kino Peddagi Heartwood, 1-Epicatechin, Diabetic, Astringent

marsupium tree Leaves, Fixed oils- Anthelmentic
(Papilionaceae) Flower, Liquiritigenin, properties,
Gum Catechol Diarrhoea

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21 Rubia cardifolia Indian Tamravalli Roots Resins, Dropsy, Emmenagogue,

(Rubiaceae) madder, Extractive Paralysis, Astringent,
Dyer madder matter, Gum Jaundice Diuretic
22 Terminalia bellirica Belliric Akkam, Fruits Ellagic acid, Reduces sugar Astringent,
(Combretaceae) myrobalan Thani, Chebulagic in blood, Tonic, Antiseptic,
Vibhitkamu acid Diarrhoea Dysentery,
Fixed oils- Anti diabetic
Palmitic acid
23 Terminalia chebula Chebulic Karakkaya Dried Tannins, Chronic ulcers, Astringent,
(Combretaceae) myrobalan, mature and Pyrogallol type- Gargle in Purgative,
Harras immature Chebulinic Stomatitis Alterative,
fruits acid, Chebulic Laxative
acid
24 Tinospora cordifolia Gilo, Guduchi Tippatago, Stem and Alkaloids- Dyspepsia, Immunomodulato
(Menispermeaceae Guduchi Root Berberine, Debilitating r
) Sesquiterpene- diseases, Hepatoprotective
tinocordifolin Intermittent
fever
25 Trigonella foenum Fenu greek Menthulu Seeds, Albuminoids, Dysentery, Mucilaginous,
graeceum Pods and Saponins, Diarrhoea, Demulcent,
(Papilionaceae) Leaves Globulins Flatulence Emmenagogue

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Authors are thankful to the management and staff of Dr.H.L.T.College of Pharmacy for providing the
financial assistance. Acknowledgement is further extended to Traditional medical practitioners, Ayurvedic
doctors and elder people of Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh for exchanging their valuable information

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