A survey of some medicinally important plants of the Euphorbiaceae family used by the Santhal tribes of Santhal Pargana

Abstract

Plants belonging to Euphorbiaceae family are widely used in rural India since it has important secondary metabolites like flavonoids, phenols, triterpenes, polysterols, etc. The objective of the ethnomedicinal survey was to study the different plants of the Euphorbiaceae family that are used by the Santhal tribe of Santhal Pargana. In this study 10 plants were found to be effective against many human diseases. The different plants surveyed included <em>Jatropha gossypifolia</em>, <em>Euphorbia </em>species<em>, Phyllanthus </em>species, <em>Tragia involucarata</em> and <em>Ricinus communis</em>. These plants are being used for the treatment of various ailments like dental problems, eye infection, cough and cold, cancer, ulcers, wounds, jaundice, etc. <em>Ricinus communis</em> and <em>Jatropha gossypifolia</em> are used for treating rheumatism, <em>Phyllanthus nirurii </em>and <em>P. amarus</em> for diarrhea and jaundice. For treating skin infection and other related diseases <em>Euphorbia neriifolia</em>, <em>E. hirta</em> and <em>E. thymifolia</em> are used by the Santhals. <em>Euphorbia neriifolia</em> is even used for the treatment of their cattle. The various parts used are leaves, stem, flowers, bark, roots, seeds and latex. The medicinal plants used by them can form huge source of therapeutic compounds for different scientific purposes.