MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SIKKIM

 

Basic Information

 

 

Species                                    : Rubus ellipticus Smith

Local Name                              : Aiselo (Nep), Sufokji (Lep)

Synonym                                 :

Family                                      : Rosaceae

Habitat                                    : A large sarmentose shrub thrives well in moist places.

Distribution                             : Widely distributed in the temperate region.

Sikkim                                          : Pangthang, 6300 ft; Damthang, 7000ft; Yang-Yang, 3500ft; Rhenock, 4000ft; Namchi, Rabong, Singhane Ban,

                                                    Gyalshing to Pelling, Chakung, on the way between Tashiding to Yuksom, Sakyong, Gangtok, Below Hanuman Tok,

                                                    Gangtok to Karponang.

Out side                                      : Darjeeling (West Bengal), Khasia Mountains 4000-7000ft; Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Kashmir, Bhutan

                                                    4000-7000 ft (Samchi, Phuntsoling, Chukkha and Gaylegphug district).

General                                       : Himalaya (Sirmore-Arunachal Pradesh) Myanmar, Indo-China, Sri Lanka.

Morphological information

Evergreen shrub with stout stems to 3 m covered with rufous bristles and recurred spines. Leaves trifoliate, leaf stalk with long bristles; leaflets leathery, elliptic or obovate, toothed, grey woolly beneath. Flowers white, 1-1.5 cm across, in short dense branched clusters. Calyx wholly-haired on both sides, shorter than petals. Fruit yellow, clustered, and globular.

Flowering                    : November-February

Fruiting                       : March-May

History                       :

Parts                          : March-May

Status                        : Low risk

Phytochemistry         : Octacosanol, β-sitosterol, its glucoside, octacosanoic, ursolic and rubitic acids isolated from roots.

 

Traditional

Juice of the roots is given in dysentery. (Srivastava, Kapachi & Atal-1987) The fruit juice is given to cure fever and is also considered useful in cases of cough. It can also be used as contraceptive or may be useful as an effective ingredient of any antifertility preparations. (C.S.)

 


1. Anonymous (1992). The Useful Plants of India. Publication and Information Directorate, New Delhi. 532-533.

2. Anonymous (1999). The Wealth of India, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 85-88.

3. Grierson, A.J.C. & D.J. Long (1987). Flora of Bhutan (Vol. 1, Part 3). Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. 557.

4. Handa, S.S. and M.K. Kaul (1996) Supplement to Cultivation and Utilization of Medicinal plants.

Regional Research laboratory, Jammu- Tavi. 719.

5. Polunin, Oleg; Adam Staintar (1990). Concise Flowers of the Himalaya Delhi, Oxford University Press. 45.

6. Progress Report of the Project "Studies on Medicinal Plants of Sikkim" (1998-2001). State Council of Science and Technology for Sikkim.

7. Tsorang, Tsuwang (1994). Tibetan Medicinal Plants. Tibetan Medicinal Publication, Kalimpong West Bengal. 39.

Medicinal: Roots and young shoots are used in colic pains. The plant is used as astringent. Root paste is applied to treat wounds, while a decoction of the root in water is used as febrifuge.