Therapeutic validation of <i style="">Ipomoea digitata</i> tuber (<i>Ksheervidari</i>)<i style=""> </i>for its effect on cardio-vascular risk parameters

617-623Ipomoea digitata Linn. (Ksheervidari) is a well known medicinal plant used in Ayurveda for its health promoting effects in human beings. Its tuber powder was evaluated first time in a single blinded, placebo controlled study for its antihypertensive potential and its effect on lipid profile, fibrinolytic activity and total antioxidant status in individuals with stage 1 hypertension. Administration of 3 gm tuber powder significantly (p<0.001) decreased systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, increased fibrinolytic activity and total antioxidant status with a significant reduction (p<0.05) in serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index at the end of 12 weeks. It was tolerated well without any significant side effect. In the placebo group, there were no significant alterations in any of the parameters at the end of study

Indigenous animal healthcare practices from Udaipur district, Rajasthan

583-588Livestock economy forms a major part of our agricultural economics. Tribals in far-flung rural areas still depend upon plants and household remedies for curing various veterinary ailments. The folk knowledge of ethnoveterinary significance has been identified by tribals through a process of experience over hundreds of years. The study throws light on folk ethnoveterinary practices of Udaipur district of Rajasthan. The paper deals with 30 diseases of domestic animals and their treatment by 62 plant species found in close vicinity of the rural people of the area

Myths, traditions and fate of multipurpose <i>Bombax ceiba</i> L.<i> </i>- An appraisal

638-644 Plants form an integral part of many rites, rituals, folk tales, customs and traditions. Silk cotton tree (Bombax ceiba L.), locally known as semal, is one such tree species, quite popular among various tribal communities. The plant is being exploited largely for medicinal and commercial purposes but traditional burning of this tree in Holika-dahan, which is an important festival of North India, is jeopardizing its survival in the tribal dominated Udaipur district of Rajasthan. An ethnobotanical survey carried out revealed that about 1,500-2,000 trees or branches of B. ceiba were cut and burnt during Holi festival in the villages around the city. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop some sustainable conservation strategies and create awareness among rural and urban communities in order to preserve such a tree of immense medicinal value.</smarttagtype

Poisonous plants of the southern Aravalli hills of Rajasthan

269-272Of about 18-20 thousand flowering plants present in our country, many plant species are utilized as food, fodder, medicine and fibre. Quite a few flowering plant species are poisonous. Knowledge on poisonous plants is important as some of them are used in medicine. The poisonous properties are due to toxic substances such as alkaloids, glucosides, saponins, amines, tannins, resins, etc. An account of 32 poisonous plants occurring on the Aravalli hills of Rajasthan has been presented. The information on the poisonous plant species has been gathered from the tribals during ethnobotanical field survey. The study suggests that the tribal people are not only aware of such poisonous plants and their harmful effects, but also use them judiciously for control of insect-pests, bugs, mosquitoes and many other harmful organisms

Animal healthcare practices by livestock owners at Pushkar animal fair, Rajasthan

581-584Pushkar animal fair is organized every year near Ajmer, Rajasthan in the month of Kartik (October or November). The fair attracts people not only from India but also from all over the world as a tourist destination. This is one of the largest animal fair, where livestock owners of Rajasthan bring their animals to sell and purchase animals. During the festival, interviews with knowledgeable livestock owners were conducted to document the use of herbs for the treatment of ailments of animals. The study revealed 43 plant species of ethnoveterinary medicinal uses which are used to treat 30 diseases of animals

Snakelore and indigenous snakebite remedies practiced by some tribals of Rajasthan

258-268An ethnomedicinal survey of plants, which are especially used for the treatment of snakebite in the tribal (Bhil, Meena, Garasia, Sahariya, Damor, Kathodia) dominated areas of Rajasthan, was conducted to access the potentiality of herbs treating snakebite cases for modern therapeutic treatment of snakebites. The information is based on exhaustive interviews with specialist (doctor) and non-specialist person (village headman, priest and tribal folks) practicing snakebite cases. The people belonging to primitive or aboriginal culture possess a good deal of information about medicinal utility of plant diversity. Of 44 plant species used to treat snakebite victims, 39 belong to dicotyledonous group, while 5 species belongs to monocotyledons. Plant species along with part/s used and the mode of administration for treatment of venomous snakebite incidences are given. Besides, several myths related to snakes prevalent among the tribal and rural people of the study area are also discussed