Abstract

To assess the ethno-therapeutic practices used by the tribal of Bhamragad administrative block of Gadchiroli district of Central India field investigation was carried out in 14 villages. A sample population of 31 individuals (n=10 female, n=21 male) was included in the study. A specially designed, developed, and field-tested questionnaire was used to elicit the information from the respondents. The findings of the study highlight the tribal from the study area used insects as a source of medicine for human beings and animals. The Asian weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina, Formicidae) was identified as an insect that is available throughout the year for the treatment of various diseases. The adult-stage ants and the whole body are used in the medicine. The preferred means for the use of these ants is in the order of drying > crushing > powder > smoke. The diseases for which these ants are used include cold, fever, malaria, diabetes, and cold and fever due to Coronavirus. It has been reported that the disease symptoms subside in 3-4 days and no side effects or death due to these insect medicines are ever reported. These insects’ medicines are also prescribed to children. The use of insects as medicine by various tribes from the study area is in the order of Madia (42%) > Gond (32%) > Gowari (25%) > Pardhan (1%). The respondents reported self-treatment by using these insects and did not visit doctors or hospitals. To treat the fever in the hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) these dried ants were mixed with water and the same was given. Further investigations are required to identify the biomolecules from these ants to be used for pharmaceutical purposes in emerging diseases viz. Coronavirus.

Key Words: Asian weaver ant, Ethno-therapeutic, Bhamragad, Gadchiroli, Insect medicine, Oecophylla smaragdina