Sanjeet Kumar
Most of the modern researchers on herbal medicine have hinged around traditional folklore medicine. The modern medicine has brought with it an array of drugs, none of which is non-toxic and quite safer for human consumption. There are hundreds of medicinal plants that have a long history of curative properties against various diseases and ailments. However, screening of plants for their activity is very essential and needs urgent attention in order to know the value of the plant. The screening of the plants for their biological activity is done on the basis of either their chemotaxonomic investigation or ethnobotanical knowledge for a particular disease.
The family Cucurbitaceae includes a large group of plants which are medicinally valuable. It is a family of about 130 genera and about 800 species.
Seeds or fruit parts of some cucurbits are reported to possess purgatives, emetics and antihelmintics properties due to the secondary metabolite cucurbitacin content. A number of compounds of this group have been investigated for their cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular effects. Cucurbitacins constitute a group of diverse triterpenoid substances which are well known for their bitterness and toxicity.
Identification of a particular compound against a specific disease is a challenging long process. Importance of the plant lies in their biologically active principles. There are two types of plant chemicals, primary metabolites such as sugars, proteins, amino acids, chlorophylls, etc. The other category of chemicals is called secondary metabolites, which includes alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins and phenolic compounds. These chemicals exert a significant physiological effect on the mammalian system. Microorganisms have developed resistance to many antibiotics and this has created immense clinical problem in the treatment of infectious diseases (Davis, 1994). The increase in resistance to microorganisms due to indiscri- minate use of antimicrobial drugs forced scientists to search for new antimicrobial substances from various sources including medicinal plants (Karaman et al., 2003). Another driving factor for the renewed interest in past 20 years has been the rapid rate of plant species extinction. Around 12,000 plant secondary metabolites of antimicrobial importance have been isolated. These compounds fall in one of the major groups of compounds like phenols, quinines, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids and other mixtures (Scultes, 1978). Infectious diseases account for high proportion of health problems in the developing countries (Sashi et al., 2003). In India, about 2,500 species of plants are used for medicinal purposes and about 90% of the medicinal plants provide raw materials for the herbal pharmaceuticals, which are collected from wild habitats. The rich knowledge base of countries like India in medicinal plants and healthcare has lead to the keen interest by pharmaceutical companies to use this knowledge as a resource for research and development programs in the pursuit of discovering novel drugs (Rajasekharan and Ganeshan, 2002). However, several plants are used in India in the form of crude extracts without scientific evidence of efficacy (Ahmed et al., 1998). At this juncture it is of interest to determine the scientific basis for the traditional use of these plants.
The use of plants and plant products as medicines could be traced back from human civilization. The herbal wealth of India and the knowledge of their medicinal properties have a long tradition, as referred in Rig Veda and other ancient literature. The topography of India which is in the tropical belt with its varied climatic zones makes it a vast storehouse of medicinal plants. There is a continuous and urgent need to discover new antimicrobial compounds with diverse chemical structures and novel mechanisms of action because there has been an alarming increase in the incidence of new and re-emerging infectious diseases. Another big concern is the development of resistance to the antibiotics in current clinical use (Rojas et al., 2003). Higher plants produce hundreds to thousands of diverse chemical compounds with different biological activities (mer ERT.RK1 et al., 2006). Antimicrobials of plant origin have enormous therapeutic potential. The potential plant antimicrobials are combinations of the secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, steroids, resins, tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, steroids and fatty acids which have a potential effect on the physiological effects on the body.
Some major Wild Cucurbits of Odisha are:
· Coccinia grandis L.
· Cucumis melo L.
· Cucumis hardwickii Royle.
· Diplocyclos palmatus L.
· Luffa acutangula L.
· Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.
· Solina amplexicaulis Lam.
· Mukia maderaspatana L.
· Trichosanthes cucumerina L.
· Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour.
Review of literature
Phytochemical screening of Cucurbits, reported the presence of saponins, cardenolides, flavonoids and polyphenols may be attributed to antibacterial activity. It provides the basis for further investigation on these plants to isolate active constituents and drug development. Phenolic compounds are generally noted for their antimicrobial activities (Evans, 1989). These phenolic constituents present in the exudates could then be responsible for its antibacterial effect. The leaves of the plant possess anti diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and antimicrobial properties (Asolkar et al., 1992; Nadkarni and Nadkarni, 1992). The leaves of the plant possess hepatoprotective effect (Vinoth Kumar et al., 2010).
} Phytochemical screening of Cucurbits, reported the presence of saponins, cardenolides, flavonoids and polyphenols may be attributed to antibacterial activity (Vinoth Kumar et al., 2010).
} The leaves of the cucurbits plant possess hepatoprotective effect (Vinoth Kumar et al., 2010).
} The leaves of the plant possess anti diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and antimicrobial properties (Asolkar et al., 1992; Nadkarni and Nadkarni, 1992).
} Cucurbitacins constitute a group of diverse triterpenoid substances which are well known for their bitterness and toxicity (Asolkar et al., 1992; Nadkarni and Nadkarni, 1992).
} Raja et al., (2007) reported the effect of leaf-tea of Mukia madraspatana on Blood Pressure
} Ravishankar et al.,(2012) reported anti-bacterial activity of Cucurbita maxima L.
} Studies on the pharmacological activities have shown the presence of anti-inflammatory activity in root tubers and antidiabetic activity in seeds of Trichosanthes cucumerina (Kolte et al., 1996-1997; Kar et al., 2003).
} Velmurugan et al., (2011) reported the phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, tannin, saponnin etc. and biological activity of Luffa cylindrica L.
} Muthumani et al., (2010) reported anti-microbial using MIC test and anti-inflammatory activity of Luffa seeds.
} Hazra et al., (2011) reported the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycmic effects of Luffa cylindrica
} Hussain et al., (2010) reported the anti-bacterial activity of Coccinia indica L.
} Dhanraj and Jegadeeran (2011) reported the phytochemicals such as Phenolic compounds and Flavonoids in Mukia maderaspatana
Study Area
The study was conducted during 2011 to 2012 in Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Forest (SBR) of Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha. SBR is located in the centre part of the district, close to the interstate boundary with West Bengal in the North-East direction and Jharkhand in the North-West. It contains three protected habitats within its precincts, namely Simlipal Tiger Reserve, Sanctuary and National Park. The SBR is having a compact mass of natural forests spread over an area of 5,569 sq. km lying between 21º 10' to 22° 12' N and 85° 58' to 86° 42' E, ranging between 300 m to 1,180 m above sea level with numerous rolling hills with semi-evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous hill forest, Sal forest, grass land and savanna. The core area occupies 845 sq km, which is intensively protected and absolutely undisturbed, secured legally and managed scientifically. The core area includes Simlipal Tiger Reserve and Simlipal National Park. No biotic interference is permitted in the 2,129 sq. km buffer zone that surrounds the core zone. The core and buffer zones of the Biosphere Reserve are under the administrative control of the three forest divisions: Karanjia, Baripada and Rairangpur .There are four villages inside the core area; Jenabil is one of them, having great beauty with Sal (Shorea robusta) forest and rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. The climate of the SBR is warm and humid. Three distinct seasons are felt during the year. Rainy season (mid June till October), winter (mid October to February) and summer (March to mid June). The annual rainfall is varies from 1200 mm to 2000 mm and the temperature ranges from 9.8° to 33.5°C. The southern and western regions are cooler and northern and eastern regions are warmer. Periodic earth tremors, thunder storms with rains and dust storms are felt in late May and early June.The dominant tribes in the district are Kharia, Mankdias, Santhal, Kol, Bhumija, Bhuyan, Mahalis, Sounti and Saharas. Some of the tribes namely Kharia and Mankdias are still in the primitive state of living. These tribes till today depend upon the wild foods available in the forest zones.
Methodology for collecting data
Data collections were made by Christian and Brigitte, (2004) followed field survey, taxonomic characterization and interaction with tribal community.
Collection of Data about Plant
The study was conducted using semi-structural interview, field observation, group discussion and local weekly market survey. Several field trips were undertaken during 2011- 2012. The information was accrued after discussion with several tribal persons of different tribal groups. Repeated interviews through questionnaires were made in different villages such as Gurguria, Kasipani, Ghatkumari, Kukurbhuka, Sanuski, Bangriposi, Astakumar, Nawana and Kolha to authenticate the information. Plants materials were collected and identified by Authors following the Flora Books (Haines, 1921-25, Saxena and Brahmam, 1994-1996).
· Available literature depicts that Cucurbits are good source of Antimicrobial and Bioactive compounds.
· Many of these plants or its parts are used as traditional medicine by the rural and tribal people in different parts of the country. This practice is also not uncommon in Odisha.
· Keeping this in view an attempt has been made in the present study to assess the medicinal values of wild cucurbits commonly used by the tribal of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve forest, and analyse the active bio-active compounds present in them.
· The study will help in conforming the practice of these plants or their products against specific diseases and suggest the possible use of the extracts in preparations of different medicines.
Conclusion
Throughout history aboriginal people have been the custodians of biodiversity while sustaining healthy lifestyles that utilize natural resources. Unfortunately, their basic requirements sometimes force them into activities such as deforestation for monetary gains, or for extending agricultural activities that lead to a loss of biodiversity, which is the very source of their food and medicines. The tribals of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve are an excellent example of a culture that has not exploited a highly diverse area despite the fact that they harvest their food and medicine from the wild for thousands of years. This is the first step toward the recognition of TK in a scientific approach that will enhance society, nutrition, medicine, and resource management, etc. A quantitative approach provides a means of validation and a measure of confidence. Clear methodology allows the research to be repeated and results to be applied at a larger scale to heal common ailments in society-at-large and use TK to understand biodiversity so that we can develop better management strategies and policies.
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