MEDICINAL PLANT OF JHARKHAND DAHU,BARHAL

Jharkhand is rich not only below earh but also above earth.If we have largest depostion of ores ,we are also rich in vegetation and forests.Jharkhand especially palamau could have been a hot spot for medical tourism.If govt. give attention by merging tourism with medical treatment.Our todays plant is Artocarpus lakoocha (Moraceae).It is  is a widely used medicinal plant by tribals of Jharkhand, India for the treatment of many diseases. Using DPPH and Ferric Ion Reducing properties investigated the antioxidant activity of the plant.

Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. (Hindi: Dahu, Barhal, Beng. Dahu, Sans. Lokoocha, Eng.: Monkey Jack) tampang and other similar native names in Malaya; as lokhat in Thailand. The tree is 20 to 30 ft (6-9 m) tall with deciduous, large, leathery leaves, downy on the underside. Male and female flowers are borne on the same tree, the former orange-yellow, the latter reddish. The fruits are nearly round or irregular, 2 to 5 in (5-12.5 cm) wide, velvety, dull-yellow tinged with pink, with sweet sour pulp which is occasionally eaten raw but mostly made into curries or chutney. The male flower spike, acid and astringent, is pickled. Reviews of the records in both, traditional and scientific literature, indicated that Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. have many medicinal uses. The bark in powder form is applied to sores to draw out purlement matter. The seed and bark of the plant are reported to be effective in the treatment of stomach and liver disease. The various compounds have been isolated from the plant such as cycloartenone, cycloartenol α- amyrin and leupeol acetate. 

Studies shows that  the heartwood extract of A. lakoocha may have a promising potential for use as an effective and economical skin-whitening agent.IT is also used for spicy perposes in many parts of india like tamarind