ETHNO-MEDICO-BOTANICAL UTILITY OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PLANT ASHOKA

Abstract

The plant Ashoka (Saracaasoca Roxb.) is an endangered species in the flora which is very useful in different condition of the health of a mankind. But different source plants are used in the name of Ashoka in the rural area of Moodubidire. Different parts of Ashoka are also useful as medicine in various disorders. Hence a preliminary survey work on ethno-medical uses of Ashoka were conducted at Moodubidire Talluk in Karnataka State. It was found that the various source plants such as Saracaasoca Roxb., Humboldtia brunois Wall., Xylia xylocarpa Roxb., Polyalthia longifolia Sonn. etc. were used in the name of Ashoka. But Saracaasoca (Roxb). is being popu- lar and authentic source of Ashoka, different parts of parts of Ashoka are beneficial in the management of differ- ent diseases in different forms. The bark of Ashoka is said to be useful in the management of menorrhagia, the flowers in gastritis & piles, leaves in acne vulgaris, intestinal worms and stem in the management of Skin diseas- es. The complete documentation on the ethno-medico-botanical utility of different parts of Ashoka in the Moodu- bidire Range were done in the present study. Keywords: Ethno-medico-botanical study, Ashoka, Saracaasoca (Roxb.), Moodubidire