AN ETHNO-VETERINARY APPROACH TO ANIMAL HEALTH CARE
JYOTI BOHRA MAHAR1,DR. HARPREET SINGH2, DR. G P S SETHI3
1Department of Food and Nutrition, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, Punjab
2Veterinary Officer, Punjab
3Assistant Manager (Animal Husbandry), Milkfed, Punjab
guranshsethi94@gmail.com
Ethno-pharmacological approach with the use of several medicinal plants is becoming a trend in today’s public health sector. Due to increased exposure to synthetic products, pollutants, pesticides treated grains and various other harmful agents, people and animals are suffering from various degenerative conditions like neurological, digestive, cardiovascular, reproductive, and respiratory disorders. Since ancient times, plants have been known to having more than 1 therapeutic properties with no side effects resulting in the permanent cure of various ailments. The use of natural plants for the treatment of conditions is also cost effective.So many plants and herbs are reported which have shown the positive response against the degenerative conditions like renal diseases, hepatic diseases, psychological, cardiac, and reproductive disorders. Treatment with medicinal plants is considered very safe as there is no or minimal side effects. These remedies are in sync with nature, which is the biggest advantage. The golden fact is that use of herbal treatments is independent of any age groups and the sexes.
Table1: Plants with their active principles having therapeutic properties in veterinary field
| S. No. | Name of the plant | Part used | Active principal | Therapeutic property |
| 1 | Cympogdon citratus (Lemongrass) | Leaves, stem | Citral | Analgesic and anti-inflammatory |
| 2 | Apium graveolens (celery) | Seeds, oil | Apiin, apigenin | Anti-carcinogenic, Control Diabetes |
| 3 | Allium sativum (garlic) | Bulb (cloves) | di-allyl disulphide | Expectorant, Antitussive |
| 4 | Vinca rosea (periwinkle) | Leaves & stalk | Vincristine, vinblastin | Cancer chemotherapy and anti-diabetic |
| 5 | Colchicum autumnale (naked-lady) | Bulb corms | Colchicine | Anti-Gout and rheumatism |
| 6 | Matricaria chamomilla (Rogan) | Oil | Terpenoids, flavonoids &coumarins | Gastrointestinal & Nervous disorders |
| 7 | Ocimum sanctum (tulsi) | Stem, seeds, leaves, flowers | Oleanolic acid & rosmarinic acid | Anti-viral and expectorant |
| 8 | Azadirachta indica (neem) | Stem and leaves | Azadirachtin | Detoxifier, Anti-allergic, Dermatitis |
| 9 | Withania somifera (ashwagandha) | Extract from plant roots or leaves | Steroidal alkaloids and lactones | Anti-tumorogenic and cytoprtective |
| 10 | Emblica officinalis (amla) | Fruit, seed, root, bark | flavanoids,ellagic acid and gallic acid | Anti-oxidant, Blood formation, dyspnea |
| 11 | Ferula asfoetida (heeng) | Whole plant | Resin ,ferulic acid and polysulfides | Carminative in colic horse |
| 12 | Acorus calamus | Rhizomes part | Alkaloid choline | Appetizer, analgesic |
| 13 | Cassia senna | Flowers, buds, stem, root, unripe fruit | Anthraquinones, Glycosides, Sennosides | Constipation |
| 14 | Rosmarinus officinalis | Leaf and oil | Flavonoids, phenol | Dyspepsia, myalgia, inter-costal neuralgia |
| 15 | Eucalyptus globulus | Oil from the leaves | Eucalyptol | Antiseptic and expectorant. |
| 16 | Glycyrrhiza glabra | Root | glycrin, glycyrrhizin | Bronchitis, Anti-ulcerogenic |
| 17 | Capsicum frutescens | Seeds | capsaicin | Enhance tonicity of stomach and intestine |
| 18 | Digitalis purpurea | Chemicals extracted from the root | Cardiac glycosides | Improves cardiac muscular activity |
| 19 | Aconitum napellus | Stalk, flowers after boiling | Aconitine | Anxiety and mental disorders |
| 20 | Plantago major | Seeds and leaves | Benzoic acid, caffeic acid, cinamic acid. | Antihaemorhagic |
| 21 | Barbadensis miller (aloevera ) | Gel in the leaf | – | Against bruises, Skin disorders, Mastitis |
| 22 | Medicago sativa (alfa-alfa) | Seeds and dried leaves | – | Multivitamin |
Ethno-pharmacological approach in some animal health conditions:
- Fever: Rise in body temperature.
- It can be treated with 20g kala namak + 50g gilow into 500ml water after boiling.
- 30g leaves of cassia accidentalis in 100ml of Sarson ka tel.
- Mastitis: Inflammation of the Mammary gland
- It can be treated after applying paste made from Aloe-vera, Haldi and chuna.
- Paste made from the leaves of pathar-chura in red iodide.
- Bloat or Tympany: Accumulation of excess air in the rumen.
- 25 g of haldi in 100 ml of sarson ka tel.
- Mixture of 10g kali mirch + 5g Heeng.
- Diarrhoea: Increased frequency and dilution of thr faeces.
- Extract made from the roots of100g Ashwagandha + 10g Ajwain in desi ghee twice a day.
- Worm infestation: Presence ofworms in the stomach.
- 250ml neem oil + 25g kala namak.
- 50g pumpkin seeds + 10g ajwain fortnightly.
Conclusion:Curing illnesses with the help of plants or herbs is becoming trend in these days as it is cost effective, in reachable, easy method of use and contain no or minimal adverse effects. Increasing multiple systemic complications these days leads to large amount of medicines to consume which also puts an extra financial burden. Keeping in view, more research should be done emphasizing these plants to analyze long term effects and toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. It can be a milestone in veterinary field after careful consideration of the dose, frequency, and long-term effects of these plants.
