Monkey´s favorite seasonal fruit: Holoptelea integrifolia

During our extensive surveys in Patalkot valley of Madhya Pradesh and Dangs in South Gujarat, we came across many important uses of the trees and herbs by the local inhabitants. Tribals in both these remote areas of India use Holoptelia in many herbal practices. It has been used to cure rheumatoid, piles, laryngitis and many more. In an interesting conversation with a village head in Patalkot, we came to know that Monkeys eat Holoptelea fruits after conceiving or delivering babies. It is assumed that it gives strength and immunity. The current article deals with brief information about the tree and its medicinal uses.

The plant belongs to family Urticaceae. It is commonly known as Indian Elm Tree. The flowering time of the tree is January to February, whereas, fruiting is seen in April to May. Holoptelea integrifolia is a large deciduous tree distributed throughout the greater part of India up to an altitude of 2,000 ft. It is sometimes grown on the road side. Bark of the tree remains grey, pustular, exfoliating in somewhat corky scales. Leaves are elliptic-ovate, acuminate, base rounded or subcordate in shape, whereas, flowers greenish yellow, polygamous and found in short racemes or fascicles. Fruits are sub-orbicular with membranous wing. The bark and the leaves and twigs when crushed emit an unpleasant odor (WOA, 1997). The common vernacular names of the plant in India are Kanjho, Waola (Gujarati), Kanju, Papri, Banchilla, Chilbil, Dhamna, Begana (Hindi), Thavasai, Rasbija, Kaladri, Nilavahi (Kannada), Aval (Malayalam), Vavli, Papara (Marathi), Dauranja, Turuda (Oriya), Rajain, Khulen, Arjan (Punjabi); Chirabilva (Sanskrit), Aya, Ayil, Kanci, Vellaya (Tamil), and Thapasi, Nemali, Pedanevili (Telugu).

The plant has several medicinal properties. In India, decoction of the bark of this plant is externally used in rheumatism (Bajpai et al., 1995). Oral application of the bark is used to treat intestinal tumors (Sabnis and Bedi, 1983). Dried bark is useful as an oxytocic in pregnant ladies (Tiwari and Padhye, 1993). Decoction of the leaves is orally given to regulate fat metabolism (Trivedi and Mann, 1972). Leaves along with garlic are externally used to treat ringworm eczema and cutaneous diseases (Sharma et al., 1992). Leaves of the plant, Garlic (Allium sativum) and Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) are mixed and crushed to make tablet. One tablet per day can be given to the patient suffering from jaundice (Reddy et al., 1989). Paste of the stem bark is externally applied to treat the inflammation of lymph glands. Holoptelea integrefolia stem bark powder is externally applied on the forehead of the patient suffering from common fever (Singh and Ali, 1994). Moreover, paste of the stem bark is externally applied in cases of ringworm and scabies. Stem bark acts as an anti-inflammatory agent specifically for eyes (Mudgal and Pal, 1980). In Nepal, bark is externally used to relieve rheumatic swellings (Rajbhandari et al., 2001). Bark and leaf paste of Holoptelea integrifolia plant are applied externally on the white patches or leucoderma (Maheswari and Singh, 1990). We would definitely like to share traditional tribal formulations which include Holoptelea in our forthcoming articles.

Note: The article is co-authored by Dr Anshu Shrivastava and Devang Patel of Abhumka Herbal Pvt Ltd, Ahmedabad.

References

Bajpai, A, Ojha, JK, Sant, HR. 1995. Medicobotany of the Varanasi District. Int J Pharmacog, 33 (2): 172-176

Maheswari, J. K. and Harish Singh. 1990. Herbal remedies of Bhoxas of Nainital district, U P. Aryavaidyan 4(1): 30-34.

Mudgal,V, Pal, DC. 1980. Medicinal plants used by tribals of Mayurbhanj (Orissa). Bull Bot Surv India, 22 (1/4): 59-62.

Rajbhandari, M, Wegner, U, Julich, M, Schopke, T, Mentel, R. 2001. Screening of Nepalese medicinal plants for antiviral activity. J Ethnopharmacol, 74: 251-255.

Reddy, MB, Reddy, K R, Reddy, MN. 1989. A survey of plant crude drugs of Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Int J Crude Drug Res, 27 (3): 145-155

Sabnis, SD, Bedi, SJ. 1983. Ethnobotanical studies in Dadra- Nagar Haveli and Daman. Indian J For. 6 (1): 65-69.

Sharma, MP, Ahmad, J, Hussain, A, Khan, S. 1992. Folklore medicinal plants of Mewat (Gurgaon District), Haryana, India. Int J Pharmacog, 30 (2): 135-137.

Singh,VK, Ali, ZA. 1994. Folk medicines in primary health care: common plants used for the treatment of fevers in India. Fitoterapia 65 (1): 68-74.

Tiwari, VJ, Padhye, MD. 1993. Ethnobotanical study of Gond tribe of Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts of Maharashtra State, India. Fitoterapia, 64 (1): 58-61.

Trivedi, VP, Mann, AS. 1972. Vegetable drugs regulating fat metabolism in Caraka (Lekhaniya Dravyas). Q J Crude Drug Res 12: 1988.