ISSN 2169-303X
International Journal of Medicinal Plant Research ISSN: 2169-303X Vol. 4 (2), pp. 324-329, April, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Tribal way to treat diabetes: Potentials of traditional phytotherapy in the ethnic belts of purulia district, India and socio-economic relevance
Amrita Dey1and Abhijit Dey2*
1Research Scholar, Department of Museology, University of Calcutta
2Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Presidency University (Formerly Presidency College), 86/1, College Street, Kolkata-700073, West Bengal, India.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract
Plants have been used by human beings since time immemorial. Purulia, a district located at the western part of the state of West Bengal, India is known for its aboriginal elements with diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. In surveys conducted among the tribal villagers, it was found that, a strong ethnobotanical system prevails in the area for the treatment of various ailments of humans and livestock. Diabetes mellitus is not a very common threat to the people residing here but the increasing tendency to westernization and ever changing food habit may contribute to the disease in the near future. The present survey enlists a number of 32 medicinal plants belonging to 18 plant families with potentials to be used as anti-diabetics. These plants are used in the treatment of other ailments and the knowledge regarding the anti-diabetic principles of certain herbal preparations may be incorporated in the age old tribal practices.
Key words: Diabetes mellitus, ethnobotany, pharmacology, antidiabetic, socio-economic.