Evaluation of moisture contents of some anti-anaemic ethno medicinal plants of Ranchi district, Jharkhand

Abstract

Plants have been used as a good source of medicine since time immemorial. The traditional health care system (hodopathy) is based on the use of medicinal plants as the natural medications show better compatibility with human body, easily available with less side effects. These plants contain so many chemical compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenolic compounds etc. that make them potential herbs and are used to cure various ailments. Anaemia is a condition in which the quantity of Red Blood Cells or their oxygen conveying limit is deficient to meet physiologic requirements which changes by age, gender, height, smoking etc. The present study is based on extensive and intensive field survey that was made during 2019-2023. A large number of ethno medicinal plants have been documented during the survey work by interviewing local healers, knowledgeable persons, vaidyas etc. by preparing a questionnaire. Some of the medicinal plants like Psidium guajava, Carica papaya, Moringa oleifera and Spinacia oleracia were selected and moisture contents was determined which was found to be highest in Carica papaya i.e. 81.37% followed by Moringa oleifera (81.19%), Psidium guajava (76.44%) and Spinacia oleracea (70.74 %). The findings will help in determining potential, quality and benefit of these plants in treatment of anaemia.