ETHNOMEDICINE This plant was found to be used very commonly by tribes indicating the authenticity of their usefulness (Saxena et al., 1988; Sarkar et al., 1999). Rout et al. (2010) have reported the use of R. serpentina while discussing the role of tribals in collection of commercial non-timber forest products in Mayurbhanj district, Orissa. Kala (2005) while discussing the current status of medicinal plants used by traditional “Vaidyas” in Uttaranchal state of India has mentioned this plant species. Rajendran and Agarwal (2007) have reported medicinal use of fruits and seeds of this species by the ethnic tribals of Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India. Sanilkumar and Thomas (2007) have documented this rare plant while exploring the indigenous medicinal usages of some macrophytes of the Muriyad wetland in Vembanad-Kol, Ramsar site, Kerala. Sarmah et al. (2008) has mentioned the name of R. serpentina in a report on traditional medicobotany of Chakma community residing in the northwestern periphery of Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Mao et al. (2009) have reported this plant as a part of the ethnobotanical wealth of Northeast India. Ethnomedicinal importance of this plant was reported by Dey and De (2010). This plant’s medicinal importance was recorded in a survey in Barind tract of Bangladesh (Siddique et al., 2004). This plant was described from the wetlands of Terai region of Nepal by Siwakoti (2006). Bhattarai (2009b) has referred to the traditional use of this plant in dysentery, fever, cut, wounds, boils, stomachache, menstrual problems and disorders while reporting biological activities of some Nepalese medicinal plants used in treating bacterial infections in human beings. Rijal (2008) has mentioned this plant while quantitatively assessing the indigenous plant uses among two Chepang communities in the central mid-hills of Nepal.
SNAKE, INSECT AND ANIMAL BITE There are many folk-lores about this plant. One of which is that a mongoose would first chew upon its leaves to gain power before combating a cobra. According to another, it’s freshly ground leaves when applied to the toes could serve as an antidote for snake poison. Pattanaik et al. (2009) has reported the use of this plant (Known as Patalgaruda locally) by the local people of Eastern Ghats, India against snakebite. Singh (2008) has reported the ethnomedical use of this plant against snake bite. The plant is used as an antidote to snake bite in Dey and De 145 ‘Chatara’ block of district Sonebhadra, Uttar Pradesh, India (Singh et al., 2010). In case of snake-bite, juice extracted from leaves taken twice a day for three days. 15 g of roots along with roots of Cassia tora and Holarrhena pubescens paste applied twice a day for two days by Khamptis of Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Rahamatullah et al. (2010b) have reported the plant to be used against snakebite by the folk medicinal practitioners in three villages of Natore and Rajshahi districts, Bangladesh. Squeezed root is tied on the snake bitten area as a folk medicine of NR Pura taluk in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka, India where it is locally named as Sarpagandhi (Prakasha et al., 2010). Roots and leaf bud of this plant are crushed with milk and made into a paste and used internally and externally on the affected area in case of snakebite by the people of Bhadra wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka (Parinitha et al., 2004). The plant is used in snake bite, insect and animal bite by the “kavirajes” (local medical practitioners) of Rampal upazilla of Bagerhat district of Bangladesh (Mollik et al., 2010). This plant is used to treat insect bite in the Kalahandi district of Orissa, India (Nayak et al., 2004). R. serpentina and some other plants are administered orally at 50 gm/day for three days to treat snakebite and scorpion sting in traditional medicine in Tamil Nadu, India. Rhizome and leaf decoction are orally given in snake bite in the rural areas of Kanyakumari district, India.
MENTAL ILLNESS, SCHIZOPHRENIA, HYPERTENSION, BLOOD PRESSURE The roots of this plant, which is very common in lower and upper Gangetic plains of India, are used in high blood pressure, mental agitation, insomnia, sedative and as hypnotic in Indian Ayurvedic system. Ethnomedical use of this plant as an antihypertensive and tranquilizer (Reserpine, Deserpidine and Rescinnamine) was reported by Fabricant and Farnsworth (2001). The plant is used in insomnia, high blood pressure and madness in ‘Chatara’ block of district Sonebhadra, Uttar Pradesh, India (Singh et al., 2010). The plant is used in hypertension by “kavirajes” of Rampal upazilla of Bagerhat district of Bangladesh About 10 gm of root powder is taken orally twice a day for seven days to cure hypertension by the tribals of Amarakantak region of Madhya Pradesh, India (Kumar et al., 2004). The Unani formulation Pitkriya capsule contains arsol (R. serpentina). It acts as Musakkin-wo-Munawwim (sedative and hypnotic), Mudir (Diuretic), Musakkin-e-Asab (nervine sedative) and Mukhaddir (anesthetise) (Shamsi et al., 2006). This plant is used to treat anxiety, epilepsy and nervous disorders by the Jaunsari tribe of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttaranchal.
GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES Local people of Madhupur, Tangail, Bangladesh use R. serpentina (Local name: Do-grek-mi) root juice to treat liver pain (Anisuzzaman et al., 2007). Juice of tender leaves is given on empty stomach pain by the tribals of Mayurbhanj district of north Orissa. Root powder is mixed with black pepper and one tea spoonful is taken with a cup of water twice daily for two days (Rout et al., 2009a). Roots are chewed for stomach pain and fever by Khamptis of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The plant is used in gastrointestinal disorders by the “kavirajes” of Puthia upazilla of Rajshahi district of Bangladesh (Mollik et al., 2010). This plant (locally known as patalagoruda) is used to treat dysentery and to expel intestinal worms in children in the Kalahandi district of Orissa, India. For this purpose root (about 3 gm) decoction along with ginger (4 to15 gm) is given before meals in the morning. Roots of this plant are used in intestinal disorders by the Jaunsari tribe of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttaranchal. Root extract is given in stomach pain and intestinal worms in the rural areas of Kanyakumari district, India.