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

Medicinal plants of Jharkhand

Betla national park is famous for tigers.tourist across India used to come here to see tigers and many rare animals in open air.Tourist banglow ,tree house has been a attraction for tourist .As the no. of tigers and other animals are decreasing due to poaching and other cause,one more potential of betla national park should be explored i.e. medical tourism like Kerela Betla in Jharkhand could be a hot medical tourist spot.abundance of medicinal plant at every corner is an unexplored resource which could be use for benefit of Indians.This will boost economical status of tribes living in betla national park.These tribes have traditional knowledge about use of these medicinal plant. one rare medicinal plant of forest is harjodwa also known as pani bel . Cissus repanda Vahl. (Syn. C.rosea, Vitis repanda and V. rosea). Family Vitaceae, commonly known as ‘Panivel’ in Hindi,Sanskrit: asthisonhara; vajravalli Hindi: hadjod; hadjora; harsankar,Bengali: hasjora; harbhanga Marathi: chaudhari; kandavela,Gujrati: chadhuri; vedhari,Telugu: nalleru, Tamil: pirandai
Canarese:  a folklore medicinal herb, reputed for the healing properties of its roots and stem. The trible people and Traditional practitioners of Orissa, Gujarat,Jharkhand  Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Karnataka Dist. are found to be prescribing the root powder of this plant in case of bone fractures, cuts, boils and wounds. As yet the roots of plant has not found to bere ported and hence the Roots of this plant was investigated thoroughly as per the pharmacological parameters.Physio-chemical parameters shows high value of acid insoluble ash indicating high polarity, preliminary photo chemical investigations shows the presence of alkaloid, tannin, mucilage and calcium salts.

Botany: Climbing herb, tendrils simple, opposite to the leaves, leaves simple or lobbed, sometimes 3-folialate, dentate. Flowers bisexual, tetramerous, in umbellate cymes, opposite to the leaves, Calyx cup-shaped, obscurely 4-lobed. Fruit globose or obovoid fleshy berries, one seeded, dark purple to black; seeds ellipsoid or pyriform. Flowering and fruiting time May-June.
Medicinal Properties and Uses: It is mainly used as healer of bone fractures. It is one of the very frequently used herb by traditional bone setters of India. (In Hindi Hadj=bone; Jod=to fix). It is also used for piles, asthma, digestive troubles, cough, and loss of appetite.
Ayurvedic formulations: Asthisamharaka juice, powder and decoction of dried stalks.
Chemical Constituents: Stem isolates include 3- keto steroids, onocer-7-en-3a, 21b-diol (I) and onecer-7-en-3a, 21a-diol (II).
Other Uses: Stems and roots yield strong fiber. Young shoots are used in curries.