ETHNO-MEDICINAL USES OF NIGHT JASMINE (NYCTANTHES ARBOUR-TRISTIS) BY TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IN RAYAGADA DISTRICT, ODISHA: A CASE STUDY

Upendra Prasad Tripathy and *Sunil Kumar Bishoyi

ABSTRACT

Rayagada one among 30 districts, is situated in the southern part of Odisha. Different climate and habitat of Rayagada district provide suitable condition for existence of plant species. The tribal & village people living in the hilly area of this district use various plants to cure for various diseases. Nyctanthes arbour-tristis is a flowering plant widely distributed all over tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia. Again, this plant found in all parts of Odisha. Unselective use of some plants of ethno-medicinal importance has resulted in gradual extinction of them. Proper awareness relating the use of ethno-medicinal plants is necessary among the tribal and other rural people. The present paper deals with ethno-medicinal importance of plant species, Nyctanthes arbour-tristis (NAT) of family Oleaceae. The various parts of plant such as fruit, seeds, flowers,barks, roots and leaves have significant phytochemicals hence have some medicinal value for treatment of various diseases. Phytochemicals like β-Sitosterol , nyctanthic Acid, Olenoic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Saponins, Flavonoids, Anntannins and many glycosides like D-mannitol, Astragaline, Nicotiflorine, and Flavinglycosides present in various part of the plant which have significant antiviral, antifungal, anti-malarial, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities. Local permanent tribal people of this region use Nyctanthes arbour-tristis for different diseases such as malarial fever, intermittent fever, constipation, Asthma, stomach disorder, spleen enlargement etc.

Keywords: Ethanomedicine, Night Jasmine, Nyctanthes arbour-tristis, Phytoconstituents.