Raj Ballav Mohanty’s scientific contributions

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Publications (26)


Figure 2. a. Solanum nigrum L., b. Solanum torvum Sw., c. Solanum trilobatum L., d. Solanum viarum Dunal, e. Solanum violaceum Ortega and f. Solanum virginianum L.
Diversity and Ethnobotanical Significance of Wild Solanum Species in Odisha, India
  • Article
  • Full-text available

December 2024

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26 Reads

Majalah Obat Tradisional

Taranisen Panda

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Nirlipta Mishra

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[...]

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Raj Ballav Mohanty

Across the globe, individuals continue to rely on plants to meet fundamental human requirements, including sustenance, attire, housing, and healthcare. Among the diverse plant families, Solanaceae houses thousands of species worldwide, with many of them being wild and plays a pivotal role in preserving biodiversity and holds substantial ethnobotanical significance. Within this family, the Solanum genus holds particular significance in traditional medicine and human nutrition, boasting three major food crops: S. melongena (eggplant), S. lycopersicum (tomato), and S. tuberosum (potato), staples in daily diets worldwide. This study delves into the diversity of the Solanum genus in Bhadrak district, Odisha, India, with a primary focus on assessing its distribution and ethnobotanical importance. A field survey involving 97 respondents (76 male; 21 female) was conducted, involving interviews with local communities, traditional healers, and agricultural practitioners. The study documents six Solanum species with both food and medicinal applications. These species have been used to address a wide array of health issues, including asthma, coughs, bronchitis, liver problems, oral ulcers, rheumatism, skin diseases, tuberculosis, and toothaches. Various plant parts, such as leaves, roots, fruits, and seeds, are commonly employed in these remedies. Moreover, the Solanum species' remarkable adaptability to diverse environments highlights their resilience and ecological significance. The present findings serve as a platform for future research on Solanum's contributions to traditional medicine and ecological systems. Interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, indigenous communities, and policymakers, are essential for sustainable utilization of Solanum genus, paving the way for a more healthful and harmonious coexistence with our natural world.

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From fragrance to ecosystems - exploring the traditional medicine and socio-economic-cultural heritage of Pandanus odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntze: A review

October 2024

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17 Reads

Ethnobotany Research and Applications

Background: Pandanus odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntze, known as kewda, is a widely distributed plant species in tropical regions. This article explores the botanical features, traditional applications, and the socio-cultural and economic significance of P. odorifer. Methods: The methodology involved an extensive search of peer-reviewed literature, scientific databases, and relevant sources to compile data on diverse attributes of P. odorifer. Results: The Paleotropical monocot family Pandanaceae includes approximately 700 species spread across five genera: Pandanus Parkinson, Freycinetia Gaudich., Martellidendron (Pic. Serm.) Callm. & Chassot, Sararanga Helms, and Benstonea Callm. & Buerki. Of the five genera: three (Pandanus, Benstonea, and Freycinetia) are found in India. The unique morphology and ecological adaptations of Pandanus odorifer contribute to its widespread distribution and resilience. Additionally, it possesses aromatic and medicinal properties. Rich in phytochemicals like lignans, isoflavones, and alkaloids, alongside essential nutrients, it offers therapeutic and nutritional benefits. The oil extracted from its male flowers, containing phenylethyl methyl ether, finds applications in various industries such as aromatherapy, cosmetics, and food. Traditional medicinal practices utilize P. odorifer for treating headaches, inflammation, and colds, among other ailments. It also holds cultural significance and is utilized in handicrafts and as a flavoring agent. Conclusions: Pandanus odorifer is a valuable botanical resource with significant ecological, cultural, and economic importance. Its traditional uses and diverse chemical composition demonstrate its multifunctionality. Continued research and conservation are essential to harness its potential for sustainable development and ensure its survival amid environmental changes. Keywords: Ethnic utility, Kewda, Pandanaceae, Phytochemical constituents, Therapeutic applications


The Journey of Cyrenaic Medicinal Plant Silphium: A Review

February 2024

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32 Reads

Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

The paper tries to discuss the mysterious extinction of the ancient herb known to the Romans as Silphium (Greek Silphion). It was assumed that the Silphium plants became lost in the first century AD. Moreover, evidence from the literature depicts the presence of Silphion plant up to the fifth century. Silphium in classical antiquity was used for being an aphrodisiac or as medicine. A myriad of medical properties attributed to Silphium, the most renowned use in ancient times was as a contraceptive, abortifacient, for menstrual disorders and as an emmenagogue that would expel the fetus. The valuable product was the resin. It was the indispensable article of trade from the ancient North African city of ‘Cyrene’, growing abundantly in a narrow coastal tract. It was so important a plant for the people of that locality that, most of their coins bore a picture of that plant. But unfortunately, the plant became extinct due to its over-exploitation, including over-harvesting and over-grazing, compounded by changes in the local climate.


Sustaining Odisha's legacy: Traditional rice cakes as cultural treasures

January 2024

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79 Reads

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1 Citation

Ethnobotany Research and Applications

Background: Food in India reflects the complex interplay of caste, class, and spirituality, creating a cultural tapestry that mirrors societal intricacies. This paper focuses on the indigenous knowledge held by women in Odisha's coastal regions, shedding light on the cultural richness surrounding rice cakes and emphasizing the need to preserve these culinary traditions in the face of modernization. Methods: To catalog rice cake varieties, we conducted a survey in the coastal districts of Odisha, India, covering three seasons. Data from one hundred and thirty-three female informants were gathered through semi-structured interviews, key informant discussions, and direct observations. Results: The study documented ten types of rice cakes, ranging from Arisa to Tala Pitha. These rice cakes highlighted a culinary fusion, blending rice with diverse plant and animal-based ingredients, including chenna, coconut (Cocos nucifera), groundnut (Arachis hypogea), ada (Zingiber officinale), among others. Notably, these rice cakes held profound socio-cultural significance—Manda for Kumar Purnima, Poda for Ratha Jatra, and Arisa for marriage ceremonies. All the documented Pithas’ were exclusively crafted at the household level, showcasing the expertise and culinary skills of the women in the coastal districts of Odisha. Conclusion: These traditional culinary delights, steeped in tradition, symbolize auspicious occasions, preserving the region's culinary heritage. Passed down through generations, the art of crafting these rice cakes strengthens intergenerational bonds and safeguards cultural traditions. Initiatives like "Food Festivals" play a crucial role in revitalizing indigenous cuisine, fostering awareness, and inspiring the youth to actively contribute to the preservation of their cultural identity. Keywords: Coastal Odisha, Indigenous knowledge, Ethnic food, Natural resources, Rice cake


Diversity and Conservation Significance of Angiosperm Climbers in Bhadrak District of Odisha, India

October 2023

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47 Reads

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1 Citation

Journal of Tropical Biology & Conservation (JTBC)

The present study seeks to investigate the distribution patterns of angiosperm climbers within the Bhadrak district of Odisha, India, along with an assessment of the ecosystem services they provide. The ongoing inquiry into climbing plant species within the Bhadrak district reflects the diversity of 103 species distributed across 71 genera and 33 families. The three most diverse families are Convolvulaceae (22), Cucurbitaceae (15), and Fabaceae (14). Out of 103 climbing plant species, 72 species are herbaceous vines and 31 species are woody vines representing 69.9%, and 30.1%, respectively. The most common climbing method in the studied sites is stem twining, accounting for 70 species or 68% of the total, the second most common is tendril climbing (22 species, 21.4%), and the least, root climber (2 species, 1.9%). Local communities use these climbers for various purposes. It has been observed that out of 103 species, 61 species have medicinal properties (59.2%), 16 species have ornamental value (15.5%), 17 species are edible (16.5%), and the remaining 8 species have other uses (8.8%). These results indicate the importance of climber communities to plant diversity of Bhadrak district, enhancing the regional diversity and the conservation value of these forest remnants. Habitat degradation because of rapid development activities with limitation of the supporting tree species is found to be a serious threat to climbing plants. Employing a multifaceted strategy such as securing their habitats through protection, restoration, managing invasive species and promoting collaboration among local stakeholders and organizations, ensures the preservation of these vital plants, sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem health for the future.


Figure 1. (A) Location of Odisha state in the eastern region of India (B) Map of the Odisha state showing Bhadrak district (C) Study area showing different blocks of the Bhadrak district
Figure 2. a-h Fruits and vegetables from different marketplaces of Bhadrak district
Wild and cultivated plant collections from marketplaces of Odisha, India and their role in livelihood support

July 2023

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372 Reads

Ethnobotany Research and Applications

Background: Marketplaces serve as valuable sources of information regarding the interactions and relationships between people and plants. In India, the significance of marketplaces remains largely unexplored, despite the country's remarkable biocultural diversity. To address this research gap, we conducted a study focusing on the diversity of edible wild and cultivated fruits and vegetables available in both rural and urban markets within the Bhadrak district of Odisha, India. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive survey of rural and urban marketplaces in the Bhadrak district of Odisha, India, covering three seasons. Data were collected from 91 informants through semi-structured interviews, key informant discussions, and direct observations. During field visits, voucher specimens were collected and photographs of marketplaces as well as the fruits and vegetables being traded were taken. Results: A total of 93 species, including one species of Pteridophyte, belonging to 37 families and 74 genera, were documented from the markets in the district. Among these species, 53% were native and 47% were non-native. The families Cucurbitaceae and Fabaceae were particularly well-represented. Out of the recorded species, 22 (23.7%) were wild species. Habit analysis revealed that herbs constituted the highest proportion 41.9%, followed by trees 35.5%, Climbers 18.3%, and shrubs 4.3%. According to the majority of informants, wild fruits and vegetables were valued for both their food and medicinal properties. Commonly reported species used for both dietary and medicinal purposes included Glinus oppositifolius (L.) A. DC., Ipomoea aquatica Forrsk., Marsilea minuta L., Moringa oleifera Lam., Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, and Tamarindus indica L. When it came to vegetables, leaves, and stems were commonly consumed, while fruits were typically eaten raw. Conclusion: The markets in the Bhadrak district offer a variety of plants, including a wide range of fruits and vegetables. Through analysis of the collected data, it has been revealed that wild fruits and vegetables play a crucial role in generating income and have the potential to become a significant supplementary livelihood option for local farming communities. It is worth noting the dual role of many plant species, serving as dietary components while also contributing to preventive healthcare practices. Market surveys serve as valuable tools for assessing food environments, and the documented food heritage holds great importance in promoting bio-conservation, environmental sustainability, and food security. Keywords: Fruits, Vegetables, Crop biodiversity, Local economy, Wild and cultivated Plants, Medicinal use


Bamboo: A Source of Multiple Uses for Adoption as an Alternative Livelihood in Odisha, India

October 2022

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30 Reads

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2 Citations

Journal of Tropical Biology & Conservation (JTBC)

Despite becoming one of the most valuable resources, the role of bamboo in livelihoods and rural development is poorly understood. The present study documents the indigenous utilization pattern of bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris Schrad ex Wendl.) and its significance in the social, cultural and religious life of the people of Bhadrak district, Odisha, India. An exploratory assessment was made from 71 informants through field surveys, literature consultations and key informant interviews. Plant parts such as culms are used for various purposes including construction, handicraft, fencing, musical instruments, as well as in rituals and ceremonies. Leaves are mostly used as fodder. This plant has been instrumental for indigenous people by providing them substantial livelihood through their own indigenous wisdom, from collection to the processing of products. Proper training with modern technology, financial assistance to develop infrastructure, as well as proper marketing of products will encourage more earning opportunities among rural people of the said district.


FIGURE 1 Map of the study area. (A) Location of Odisha state in the eastern region of India; (B) map of the Odisha state showing Bhadrak district; (C) study area showing different blocks of Bhadrak district.
FIGURE 2 a, Inland fish catch in river Baitarani near Chandbali; b, marine fish catch in the Bay of Bengal near Dhamara; c, drying on a platform made from bamboo and wooden pole; d, sun-drying on the ground with fishing seine nets in open beaches; e, traditional sun-drying of fishes on earth; f, traditional sun-drying of fishes on bamboo bar; g, sun-drying of fish by hanging on bamboo strips; h, sorting by hand picking method; i, sorting by winnowing.
Fish species used for dry fish preparation.
Traditional fish processing in Odisha, India

January 2022

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258 Reads

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4 Citations

Journal of Fisheries

The present study documents the traditional fish drying techniques used by the fisher folk communities of Bhadrak district, Odisha, India. Information on local knowledge and the use of different fish drying methods within the study area was collected from 72 fisher folk through semi-structured questionnaires, free interviews, informal conversations and direct observations. The results showed that sun drying was the most extensively used method for fish preservation. About 19.4% of the informants preferred to spread the fishes directly on earth, 34.8% on the mat, 5.5% on palm leaves, 29.2 % over bamboo bars and 11.2% followed interlocking of snouts/jaws on bamboo sticks. Almost all the fish drying devices are handmade with bamboo, wooden pole and sometimes nylon threads following traditional technologies. The quality of the dry fish could be improved by educating fishermen on hygiene, sanitation, use of good water quality and raw materials for processing. In this context, the low-cost solar dryer can be constructed by using locally available materials, thus preventing contamination and dependence on weather conditions. The dry fish production can play a crucial role in socio-economic upliftment, employment generation and poverty alleviation particularly to women as they depend on it directly for their livelihoods.


Figure 1. (A) Map of Odisha state in the eastern region of India, (B) Study area showing different districts, (C) Palm tree
Palmyra Palm ( Borassus flabellifer L., Arecaceae) as a Valuable Resource for Livelihood Security in Odisha, India

December 2021

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1,143 Reads

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2 Citations

Advanced Research in Life Sciences

The present study (April 2015 to March 2018) is carried out to document and enlist the indigenous utilization pattern of Palmyra palm ( Borassus flabellifer L.) in coastal districts of Odisha, India. The purpose of the research is to explore multipurpose use of Palmyra palm with the aim to suggest for proper marketing of the products which provides livelihood support to the rural people of Odisha. Exploratory assessment is made through field survey, literature consultations and key informant interviews. Various plant parts such as root, stem, leaves, inflorescence, seed, and fruit are used for various purposes including food, beverage, fiber, medicinal, and timber. This plant has been instrumental for indigenous people in providing a substantial livelihood through their own indigenous wisdom from collection to the processing of products. Certain measures for its better utility are suggested.



Citations (20)


... and f. ex Bedd, Toona ciliata M. Roem., Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br., Gmelina arborea Roxb. (49,(76)(77)(78). Dipterocarpus retusus Blume is the state tree of Assam that naturally grows in forests in Upper Assam. ...

Reference:

Diversity and inventorization of angiospermic flora in Dibrugarh district, Assam, Northeast India
Utilization of Pith Plant Aeschynomene aspera (Leguminosae:Papilionoideae) by Traditional Florists Cum Craftsmen in Jaj pur District, Odisha, India
  • Citing Article
  • December 2012

Nelumbo

... During the period of the former union, insufficient attention was paid to the spiritual potential of the youth of Uzbekistan. It is known that in Western countries, as a result of focusing on the development of the manufacturing sector, this caused a global moral crisis [5], [6], [7]. ...

Sustaining Odisha's legacy: Traditional rice cakes as cultural treasures
  • Citing Article
  • January 2024

Ethnobotany Research and Applications

... Anthropogenic factors, invasive plant species, and the declining abundance of climbing species like Aristolochia indica L., Asparagus racemosus L., and Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. are major threats to the local biodiversity of Odisha. To ensure the long-term survival of climbing plants, local people must be educated on their conservation, and a multipronged approach should be taken, including habitat protection, restoration, invasive species management, and collaboration among stakeholders (51). Traditional knowledge of plants is essential for nutrition, herbal medicine, perfumery, and cosmetics. ...

Diversity and Conservation Significance of Angiosperm Climbers in Bhadrak District of Odisha, India
  • Citing Article
  • October 2023

Journal of Tropical Biology & Conservation (JTBC)

... Additionally, efforts are being made to promote bamboo cultivation and processing as a sustainable source of income for local communities. Locals in Odisha collect young bamboo culm sprouts (Karadis) from the woods to use in pickles and other food and drink preparations [17]. Additionally, it is flavoradded to various tomato-and lady's finger-based meals. ...

Bamboo: A Source of Multiple Uses for Adoption as an Alternative Livelihood in Odisha, India
  • Citing Article
  • October 2022

Journal of Tropical Biology & Conservation (JTBC)

... In Odisha, fish has been played an important role in the diet of Odia people. The state has 589 marine fishing villages and 3289 inland fishing villages with just over 1 million fishermen population (Panda et al. 2022) [10] . The fisher's population in the state is 15,89,042 and per-capita fish consumption in the state has increased from 7.71 kg in 2000 to 18.33 kg in 2023-24. ...

Traditional fish processing in Odisha, India

Journal of Fisheries

... Palmyra palm is considered to be Panjam Pokki, Karpaga Tharu believing the tree is sacred and worshipped by many communities of Tamil Nadu (Krishnaveni et al., 2020). Palmyra tree is divided into male and female tree in equal ratio and edible products like immature endosperm, mesocarp pulp, and tuberous seedling are witnessed only in female tree (Panda et al., 2021). ...

Palmyra Palm ( Borassus flabellifer L., Arecaceae) as a Valuable Resource for Livelihood Security in Odisha, India

Advanced Research in Life Sciences

... 13,16 The state flora too has been represented in different styles. The checklist on Weed flora in Odisha 28 Herbaceous species have a crucial role in regulating carbon fluxes and energy flow. They affect the rate of cycling of vital minerals including potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and nitrogen (N) as well. ...

An annotated checklist of weed flora in Odisha, India

Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy

... sugarcane, paddy, and black and green gram as a weed. It is often available in all the districts of Odisha; however, it is abundant in the districts of Angul (12), Bolangir (12), Bhadrak (13), Cuttack (14), Dhenkanal (15), Kendrapara (16), Khordha (17), Malkangiri (18), Mayurbhanj (12), and Sundargarh (12). The distribution of toothache plants in Odisha within India is presented in Figure 1. ...

Distribution pattern and multifarious use of weeds in rice agro-ecosystems of Bhadrak district, Odisha, India
  • Citing Article
  • December 2019

Tropical Plant Research

... Climbing plants account for a significant component of diversity and abundance and play a major role in tropical forest communities and ecosystems (Schnitzer & Bongers, 2002). The present study documented a total of 103 climber plant species belonging to 71 genera and 33 families ( Table 1 & Figures 2-5), contributing to the district's total floristic diversity of 524 plant species (Panda et al. 2020(Panda et al. , 2023, with climbers constituting 19.65% of the recorded species. The number of species reported in the current investigation is consistent with floristic surveys from the Koch Bihar district of West Bengal, (98 spp.; Bandyopadhyay & Mukherjee, 2010; 116 spp. ...

Angiosperm diversity in Bhadrak region of Odisha, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa

... Palmyra pulp is a tropical fruit usually popular as toddy palm, wine palm, longer palm, palmyra, in English whereas Taad (Hindi), Talam (Tamil), Tatichettu (Telugu), Karimpana (Malayalam), Taal (Bengali), Tala (Odia) (Nesbitt, 2005;Panda et al., 2018). The name is derived from the Greek words "Borassus" and "flabellifer," which mean, respectively, "fruit with leather wrapping" and "fan-bearer" (Kurian et al., 2017). ...

Folk medicine used for the treatment of gynaecological disorders in rural areas of Bhadrak district, Odisha, India

Botanica Lithuanica