Introduction

We call our country the Botanical garden of the world because there is a huge wealth of herbal medicines. India has a rich diversity of animal and plants due to its wide range of topographic and climatic diversity (Bhattacharya, 1997)¹. People used medicinal plants from ancient times. “From around1500 B.C. Rig Veda is one of the important earliest available documents which emphasize herbal medicinal knowledge”. (Choudhury, et.al. 2012; Dutta & Dutta, 2005; Farnsworth, 1988; Ignacimuthu, Ayyanar & Sankarasivaraman, 2006 &2008) ^2-6. Indian Herbalists like Maharshi Charaka and Sushruta continued their research on different medicinal plants to cure many ailments of human body (Jain, et.al. 2010; Jeyaprakash, et.al. 2011; Jain, 1981; Jagtap, Deokule & Bhosle, 2006; Kala, 2005; Mahishi, Srinivasa & Shivanna, 2005; Prain, 1963; Rajendran, Chandrasekar & Sundaresan, 2002; Singh, &Lahiri, 2010)^7-15. Thereafter, it is stated that “traditional healers use near about 2500 plant species and 100 species of plants serve as regular sources of medicine” (Pei, 2001).¹⁶

The World Health Organization (WHO, 2005)¹⁷ has declared that 80% of the world’s population depends on conventional medicine for its prime health care and has become essential for its continued existence. In view of the fact that times immemorial, plants have been put to remedial use by the habitual medicine man (meaning of each), Hakims, Vaidays, Ayurvedic specialist and the common man. For the period of the past one century, there has been a speedy expansion of allopathic medicinal treatment in India but still now the use of natural products as medicine; particularly products from plants are extensively used among different tribal people; predominantly in the isolated areas of West Bengal with few health conveniences. The information connecting to the medicinally functional species and their uses along with conventional understanding and practices are very fragmentary. Actually this study is thus an effort to essay of various plant species of South 24 Parganas district used by the local medicine man to make well diverse ailments.  

Materials and Methods

Intensive field work has been carried out among tribal people of 12 villages of four blocks (Gosaba, Basanti, Kultali, PatharPratima) and adjoining forest area during 2016-2019 covering throughout whole year. Standard approaches and methodologies are used for collection of information on ethno-medico-botanical aspects. Key Informants of the study are village chiefs (Burahs), medicine men, Ojha, local old women, who have the practical knowledge and experience of utilizing medicinal plants to cure ailments of human body. Munda, Bediya, Oraon provided information about the use of plants, preparation of herbal medicine and information of particular plants and particular diseases. To identify authentically various fauna and flora help has been taken from department of Botany and Microbiology of Acharya Prafulla Chandra College, New Barrackpore, Kolkata 700131, West Bengal, India.The Vivekananda Institute of Biotechnology departments (Nimpith, Ramkrishna Mission.)^18-19 also have supported the identification of different kinds of chemicals of different parts of plants. A chart was made for the use of medicinal plants according to their use for different disease maintaining correct nomenclature followed by the vernacular names and their ethno medicinal uses by these three above mentioned communities.

Keora fruits (Sonneratiaapetala) and Dhundul Fruits (Xylocurpusgranatum) are two important species, associated with mangrove forest, and are reasonably used by this tribal populace. They mainly use the fruits juice and dust to control problems of dysentery and indigestion. Bacterial infection along with other factors of the abdomen leads to indigestion. We have tried to explore the justification of the use of this species for the beneficial effect of ailing tribal populace. Our sole objective is to establish the scientific validity of traditional use of this species by indigenous people in Indian Sundarban. Some established authentic methods have been taken into consideration to clarify indigenous knowledge regarding its uses.

Sample collection

We have collected different parts of Keora fruits from the fishermen and wood cutters who go to Sundarban for fishing and collecting wood for their sustenance. During fishing and collecting wood, they also collect different parts of these two plants as it becomes more useful medicinal plants for their community. We have collected fruits of this species from them as these are authentic and genuine medicinal sources during our field investigations. Then   we preserved those following standard methods and techniques.

 Sample preparation

First of all, fruits of Keora (Sonneratiaapetala) are taken. Then the fruits are cleaned with fresh water. Next these are rubbed and rinsed with distilled water. After that these are boiled in the fresh container for 30 minutes. Then boiled sample was mixed with purified water in a container and then sieve the mixture in a clean kitchen to get a fine liquid. Next the liquid is stored in a sealed container. Thus, it is preserved it is preserved for future use.

Preparation of stock solution  

A mixture of 200mg/mL is prepared by dissolving 5grams Keora liquid into 10mL water or ethanol.

 Test for extract

A lower layer of mixture is formed with components like 1mL solvent, equal volume of chloroform and 3 drops of concentrated sulphuric acid.

Antibacterial activity analysis

Escherichia coli AG100, Shigellaflexneri 2a, Shigelladysenteriae 1 were used in this study. These bacterial culturewere obtained fromDepartment of Microbiologyat Acharya Prafulla Chandra College, New Barrackpore, Kolkata -700131,West Bengal, India. For the antibacterial activity analysis, bacterial culture with OD₇₀₀ = 0.6 was spread on nutrient agar plate (Peptone= 6 gm, Beef extract = 3 gm, Nacl= 1.5 gm, Agar= 18 gm in 1000 ml, pH= 7.5). 10 µl spot from the extract was given on that plate. All the plates were incubated in BOD at 37° C for 24 hrs. The Result was observed thereafter.

Standardization and Experiment

These solvents were isolated and sub-cultured another fresh plate. There was no bacterial growth seen during 24-72 hours in room temperature (37^o C).  These method described by “national committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard was used.” (National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard Wayne, 2000). ²¹

Broad Study Area

Figure: 1 Broad Study Area. Click here to view figure

“The largest silt made deltaic region & mangrove forest area of the world lies in the active delta region of Bengal from where begins the Bay of Bengal, India. The Sundarban region is located between 21⁰32’ N and 22⁰40’N latitude & between 88⁰05’E & 89⁰00’E longitude. This region is stretched from the east bank of the river Hooghly to the west bank of the river Meghna in Bangladesh. The total area it covers is 8, 00,000 hectares. Only 1/3^rdpart (40%) of this region is situated in West Bengal, India” (Sardar, et. al. 2016). My study area is basically four blocks of South 24 Parganas namely Gosaba, Basanti, kultali and Patharpratima.

Result and Discussion

A number of villages vizTipligheriPara, NetajiSardarPara, Anpur, ChotoMollakhali, Bangheri etc were contacted. Different tribes residing in the study area helped to gathered sufficient information on medicinal plants. The uses of these plants were carried from generation to generation orally. Harichand Sardar, Nagen Sardar (Table-2) has made a useful study relating to treatment of disease by using herbal plants. They believe that the plants of Sundarban can save our life by means of protection as well as indigenous medicine. It was observed that the tribes used medicinal plants which are all mangrove forest vegetation. There are 11 species identified and their utility is also different. The study exposed that diverse tribes of study area use different plants for cuts & wounds, digestive disorders, diarrhea, dysentery, appetite & Blood pressure diseases etc. 1 species are used for cuts & wounds; 1 species for dysentery; 1 species for Blood pressure diseases; 1 species for stomach trouble; 1 species for lower abdomen pain; 1 species for cough, and as tonic; and the rest of plants (3 species) are used for preparation of vitamins. Experiment has been made on extracts of Keora Fruits to prevent the digestion problem.

It usually happens for the cause of E-Coli (Escherichia Coli) which was discovered by German

bacteriologist Theodore Von Escherich in 1885. Tribal people believe that the

chanting mantras and incantation during use of plants increases the curing power of herbal

plants. These traditional practices enhance the faith and positivity in both the persons who treats

(Kabiraj) and who is treated.  The scientific name, family and their utility are reported

accordingly (Table-1).

 Table 1: Herbal Medicinal Plants and their uses.

Table 2: Name and Address of traditional medicine men and informants.

Figure 2: Proper Study Area (Gosaba,Kultali, Basanti and Pathapratima,S-24 Parganas). Click here to view figure

Conclusion

While the records of our ethno botanical survey provide 11 herbal plant materials used as traditional medicines, our focus on keora fruits for scientific experiment. Some informants gave special importance for use of some specific medicinal plants. Particularly, this is very effective but not easy to access. By interviewing the key informants, we are able to focus on Keora fruits as herbal medicine to prevent of Dysentery and indigestion.

Those medicinal plants that are commonly used were made by fishermen and also herbalists. They use this type of traditional medicine during fishing. It seems that younger generations give less importance on using traditional medicine. So, if the central government takes responsibility to provide knowledge about traditional medicine, then it would benefit our society.

While the culture of tribal society in Sundarban region has changed during last 100year, community depends almost equally on traditional herbal plants like before. People need not go back to archaic mode of life to use traditional plants but new modern method should be applied for proper utilization of traditional plants that are used to recover the human body from various ailments. This process must be governed by community itself.

As the corresponding author is a tribal person in the birthplace of Sundarban, knowledge has been gathered about traditional medicinal plants from his predecessor. While applying this process the researcher has to face some limitations that can be overcome with the help of modern science and technology. This kind of indigenous research basically concerned with Anthropo-Geographic point of view but it has been proved with help of micro-biological scientific knowledge. So, this research has been carried out both Anthropo-Geographic and Microbiology discipline. 

Figure 3: Antibacterial activity of fruit extract was analyzed by spot test assay. Click here to view figure

Bacterial culture was grown on hard agar plate (1.8%). On the plate, 10 µl spot was given from the crude extract sample. Clear lysis zone on the bacterial culture indicates the growth inhibition property of the extract solution. 3a. Clear spots on Shigelladysenteriae 1 plate 3b. Clear lysis spots on Shigellaflexneri 2a 3c. Clear spots on E.coli AG100.

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge Dr.NabanitaGiri, Assistant Professor of Department of Microbiology of Acharya Prafulla Chandra College, New Barrackpore, West Bengal, India to use the laboratory and provide bacteria (Escherichia Coli) for scientific experiment. Gratitude is also given to Vivekananda Institute of Biotechnology, Nimpith, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India for preparation of solvent of Keora Fruits (Sonneratiaapetala & Lythraceae). We would also like to thank our informants and Fisherman and woodcutter for their unselfish help and support. I am of course grateful to Prof. Sukla Basu for their continuous support and inspiration for research work.

Authors^, contribution

RS carried out the field study, analyzed data and drafted the manuscript. NG revised the manuscript, contributed ideas to discussion and finally approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate 

We followed the ethical guidelines adopted by the international society of Ethno biology (2008). All participants of key informants were asked for their free prior informed consent before interviews were conducted.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding Sources

This work was financially supported by University Grant Commission, New Delhi, India.

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