The Biobrio 12(1 & 2), 2025

Ethnobotanical and phytochemical analysis of Martynia annua L. in certain areas of Jharkhand

Satyanarayan Oraon & Jyoti Kumar

ABSTRACT:

India has been the store house of herbal medicinal plants due to varied climatic since ages. Ayurvedic, Unani and siddha many more folklore used by the indigenous people. Jharkhand state has a rich diversity of medicinal plants. The present paper deals with the ethnomedicinal plant Martynia annua L. which is used in certain areas of Jharkhand. Firsthand information was gathered by tribal Vaidya and knowledgeable persons regarding the medicinal plants, their uses and method of medicine preparation, doses, and duration of treatment. Jharkhand is one of the notable tribal populaces. Among its various natural endowment's vegetation is the most essential resource for mankind. The tribal and non-tribal, local people depend on indigenous and traditional medicine to cure different ailments. M. annua L. is a wild weed herbaceous annual plant belongs to family Martyniaceae. It is commonly known as cat's claw or Devil's claw. Jharkhand is well recognized due to presence of a great biodiversity of ethnomedicinal plants. In Jharkhand traditional practitioner are called as "Vaidya" or “kaburaja” use this plant in treatment of epilepsy, inflammation, sore throat, skin infection, burns, itching and tuberculosis and wound healing. This is due to presence of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, anthocyanins, steroids, and cardiac glycosides.

Keywords:    

Martynia annua L., Vaidya, folklore, ethnomedicinal, Martyniaceae, kaburaja and Phytochemical analysis

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