JEES Vol. 2 Issue 2/ Mitra, S. & Mukherjee, S.K. 2018 THE JOURNAL OF ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY a multidisciplinary journal of advanced studies Journal homepage: www.hazidesaratcollege.org/JOURNAL Studies on the Ethnobotanically, Economically and Commercially Important Species of Asteraceae from West Bengal Sunit Mitra and Sobhan Kumar Mukherjee1 Department of Botany, Ranaghat College, Ranaghat, Nadia.West Bengal, India. 1 Department of Botany, Plant Taxonomy and Biosystematics Laboretory, University of Kalyani, Kalyani741235, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India. Corresponding author: +919748216384 Email: sunit_mitra2003@yahoo.co.in; sobhankr@yahoo.com Abstract: Article history: Original paper received on: 08.04.2018 Sunflower family or the Asteraceae (nom. alt. Compositae) with Revised paper received on:21.04.2018 it’s approximately 1600 - 1700 genera and more than 24,000 Paper accepted on: 27.04.2018 Keywords: Ethnobotany, important species, Asteraceae. West Bengal species is the largest family of flowering plants (Funk et al. 2009). In India this family is represented by 1314 taxa under 204 genera (Mitra and Mukherjee, 2017), from the state West Bengal this group is represented by 232 species under 99 genera. Out of these 232 taxa 32 taxa (13.8%) have the economic potentiality. These taxa are used in 108 different ways of which 79 used as ethnomedicinally, 1 as fodder, 5 as food plants, 05 as oil yielding plants, 2 used as dye, 1 for fish stupification and 1 as veterinary medicine. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ and South America, Africa and Madagascar and in some isolated islands in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Many species of sunflowers are ruderal and especially abundant in disturbed areas, but a large number of them, especially in mountainous tropical regions show endemism in narrow areas. Because of habitat transformation by human activity in montane tropical regions, a number of these species are consequently in danger at the verge of extinction. 1. Introduction Sunflower family or the Asteraceae (nom. alt. Compositae) with its approximately 1600 - 1700 genera and more than 24,000 species is the largest family of flowering plants (Funk et al. 2009) The members of this group are found to occur in all the regions of the globe except the Antarctica. The majority of Asteraceae species are herbaceous, yet an important component of the family is constituted by shrubs or even trees occurring primarily in the tropical regions of North 53 JEES Vol. 2 Issue 2/ Mitra, S. & Mukherjee, S.K. 2018 species collected from different provinces of the then Bengal under British Rule, and it excluded the floristic element of the Darjeeling district. In total Prain (l.c.) mentioned 58 genera containing 111 taxa. After Independence and partition of India in 1947 and then the reorientation of the Indian states in 1952 the entire configuration of the Bengal province has been changed. But till date for floristic detail we have to look on the pages of the Prain’s work as the state west Bengal did not have any list of floristic composition of its own. Ghosh and Mitra (1979) attempted to enumerated the Asteraceae of the state and they included 189 taxa, in their enumeration list, but that list is not a complete one as it has not included the updated nomenclature and also plants from the Darjeeling district have not been included in that list. Under these circumstances, the present work has been taken into consideration to make a firsthand reference work of the Asteraceae of West Bengal. This group also has some economically important species. Some of them are important source of cooking oils, sweetening agents, and tea; infusions, etc. Members of several genera of the family are well-known for their horticultural value and popular in gardens across the world and include Zinnias, Marigolds, Dahlias, and Chrysanthemums. The commercial sunflower genus Helianthus has been used as a model in the study of hybridization and its role in speciation (Rieseberg et al., 2003). 2 Etymology of the Group Theophrastus (371 – 287 B.C.) had some idea about the naturalness of this group (Greene, 1983). Jean Ruel (1427-1537) presented the description of several Compositae, clearly identifying the capitulum. (Greene, l.c.). In 1763, Michel Adanson published his Familles des Plantes in which he described several plant families, one of them named as Compositae. However, after resolution adopted at the Vienna Congress in 2005, the priority of name fell to P. D. Giseke, who published the family in 1792. Giseke had taken the name of the family from Compositi in Linnaeus Philosophia Botanica (1951, pp. 29). 4. Methodology Extensive field work has been carried out in different parts of the state to record the Asteraceae members with economic potentiality. Data is collected from the local populace of the district. Economic utility of the family Compositae has been discuss in details and a classification of the utility of the members of the family Compositae has been given, besides that, ethnobotanical utility of each species based on the literature as well as collected during the field survey has been mentioned under respective taxon. 3. Origin of the research problem One of the goals of Taxonomic Research, is to find out taxa with economic potentiality and which are used for the man kind. Asteraceae is a family with well diversified taxa, but its economic potentiality is not judged properly. So, here an attempt has been taken to judge the economic potentiality of the group. In Indian conspectus the first record of the Indian Asteraceae comes through the work of Van Rheede’s “Hortusmalabaricus” (1690), which documented 14 species of Asteraceae. Subsequently Linnaeus in his Species “Plantarum” (1753) included description of 72 species of Asteraceae from the country, whereas Burman (1786), recorded 56 species of Asteraceae from India. However, most important contribution on the Indian Asteraceae comes from the work of D. Don (1825), Wallich (1831), Clarke (1876), etc. In regional level, works of Cooke (1906), Duthie (1903 – 1926), Kanjilal (1939), Gamble (1921), etc. are noteable. But in case of West Bengal there is only the work of Prain (1903) regarding the Asteraceae. Prain’s work was entirely based on the 4.1. Literature Survey Botanists of the state for the floristic account still go through the page of the “Bengal Plants” by David Prain (1903), which is till date the only available floristic account of the state. But this work of Prain (l.c.) is not a complete work in its status as Prain himself was unable to make a through survey of Darjeeling district of the state and the Sundarban region of the state. The Prain’s work is entirely based on the provinces of the Bengal under the British rule. Besides these the work of the Prain is not the complete in every respect as it does not incorporate the floristic elements of Darjeeling district. With the 54 JEES Vol. 2 Issue 2/ Mitra, S. & Mukherjee, S.K. 2018 independence of India the political boundary of the then Bengal has been changed due to the partition of the country, as well as the reorientation of the Indian states in 1952. Major portion of the Bengal province under the British throne incorporated within the jurisdiction of the present Bangladesh. So, it is a prime need to prepare a floristic account of the present West Bengal State (the Western half of the then Bengal Province). So, these two major and crucial phytogeographical region of the state was remain unattained by Prain, not only that after independence the political and geographical configuration of the Prain’s Bengal province has been changed completely and that flora was not identical with West Bengal. During the preparation of the current list of the Asteraceae of the state consultation of the work of D. Don (1825), Wallich (1831), Clarke (1876a, 1876b), Hooker (1872 1896) etc. In regional level, works of Cooke, 1906, Duthie, 1903 – 1926, Kanjilal, 1939, Gamble, 1921, etc. are consulted beside this the publication of Basak (1976, 1979), Basak and Guha Bakshi (1977), Basnet (2004), Bennet (1979), Bhujel (1986,1996,), Biswas (1927a, 1927b, 1934a, 1934b, 1934c, 1940, 1950, 1966), Burkill (1916), Biswas et al. (1955), Culshaw (1952), Das (1968) Malick (1966), Banerjee (2003), Bennet (1965, 1976), Kamilaya (2008), Mukherjee (1984), Sanyal (1997), Bhattachyaryya and Mukherjee (2005a, 2005b, 2005c, 2006a, 2006b), Ghosh and Mitra (1979) Guhabakshi (1986), Mitra and Mukherjee (2012), Mitra, Banerjee and Mukherjee (2010), Mondal et al. (1980), Das et al. (1982), Das et al. (1999a, b, c), Hara et al. (1966,1971,1975) etc. has been carried out. 4.2. About West Bengal State West Bengal born with the independence of India on 15th August 1947, when the then Bengal Province under British throne was partitioned, its Western part renamed as West Bengal and included under Indian Republic, where as the Eastern part has been regarded as present day independent country Bangladesh. So the State West Bengal is on the eastern bottleneck of India, stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. It lies between 85º 50′ and 89º 50′ E longitude, and 21º 38′ S and 27º 10′ N latitude. The state has a total area of 88,752 square kilometers (34,267 sq mi); which is 2.7% of the total area of the country. Politically the state bounded by Bangladesh, which lies on its eastern border; its northeast side has Assam, Sikkim and the country Bhutan, and to its south west side has Orissa. Western side bordered with Jharkhand and Bihar, and the North West side is bounded by Nepal. (Map – I: State West Bengal). Map-I. Political map of the State West Bengal West Bengal is the only state of the country which has Himalaya at its northern boundary and the Bay of Bengal at the southern limit. The state falls under the physiographic zones of Eastern Himalayas and Eastern Plains and the state has two distinct natural divisions: the North Himalayas and the South Alluvial Gangetic Plain. The state has famous delta of Indian Sundarbans. At present the state West Bengal consists of 20 districts under administrative capability. Area of each district, head quarter, area in sq. km., and the population of each district based on the census report 2011, is given in the (table – I) below. 4.3. Soil Geologically most part of the West Bengal is formed by the activities of two principle river system of India namely the Ganga and the Bramhaputra. The northern part of the state is the portion of Himalayan region and the Western part is the portion of Chhotanagpur Plateau. So the soils of the state is mainly alluvial type covering of an area of 75% of the total landmass of the state and the rest 25% land mass comprises of 4 distinct types of soil which are – i) Lateritic soil, ii) Red soil, iii) Terai soil, and iv) Tidal soil. 55 JEES Vol. 2 Issue 2/ Mitra, S. & Mukherjee, S.K. 2018 Ethnobot.: 5. Result and Discussion Diuretic - Decoction of the root bark (2-3 teaspoonful) is given twice a day as a diuretic. Boils - Leaves are made into paste and is applied on the boils for quick healing. 6. Calendula officinalis Linn., 1. Ageratum conyzoides Linn., V.N.:Uchumti- Bengali; Gandhiari- Santali. Ethnobot.: Healing of wounds - Young leaves and inflorescences are crushed and squeezed. The juice thus obtained is mixed with a little mustard oil (Brassica juncia)orkaranj oil (from the seeds of Pongamiapinnata), warmed mildly and applied on the wounds for quick healing. It is said that the deep wounds also heal within a week after regular application of this extract. 2. Bidens pilosa Linn., Ethnobot.: Diaphoretic: The stem juice of this plant is used as diaphoretic. Diuretic: Fresh leaves about 15g is crushed and squeezed, the extract thus obtained is taken once a day for 3 successive days as diuretic. Burns : Seed about 20g made in to paste and applied on the burn wound to prevent boils and blister formation. Cuts wounds: Fresh leaves extract applied on the cut wounds as haematostatic and antibiotic agents. Sedative: Fresh seed keep in a glass of water for overnight and that aqueous infusion is taken at bed time as sedative. Other use: Seeds yield phytin and haemagglutinins (Varljenet al. 1989). Varicose veins and Skin diseases- Externally treated by Calendulosides (AH) as tested by Bedi. Oil is used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. 7. Carpesium abrotanoides Linn. V.N.:Kantamoti- Santali. Ethnobot.: Scorpion sting - Extract prepared from the leaves and stem (50 g) of this plant, mixed with leaves (30 g) of "Gandhiare" (Ageratum conizoydes) along with a little 'karpur' (Camphor), is taken with a few drops of honey to get relieve from the pain of scorpion sting. 3. Blumea lacera (Burm. f.) DC. V.N.: Kukurhuta- Santali. Ethnobot.: Ethnobot.: Edible - Young twigs are cooked and taken as a vegetable by the poor villagers. Diarrhoea - Fresh leaves (10-15 g) are crushed to paste along with black pepper (Piper nigrum) (5-7 pieces) and whole plant of "Thankuni" (Centellaasiatica) in same amount. The paste so obtained is given 3-4 times a day to cure diarrhoea. 4. Blumea laciniata(Roxb.) DC Anthelmentic –The root, leaves and the seeds are used by the local people as Anthelmentic, Diuretic - The stem portion of the plant is as diuretic. Laxative – Fresh leaves are given as laxative. 8. Carthamus tinctorius Linn., Ethnobot.: Oil Yielding This species is cultivated for valuable oil. Dye The stem of the plant also yield a purple bluish dye which used for dying of cloths and garments by the Rabha tribe. Purgative –The seeds are Kept in a Glass of water for overnight and that aquatic infusion along with the imbibed seed is taken at early morning in empty stomach as purgative. Other Use: Chinese research indicates that flowers of this plant can reduce the coronary artery disease and can lower cholesterol levels . So oil from whole plants can be used in pharmaceutical industry V.N.: Bara moichu- Mundari. Ethnobot.: Haematostatic - Latex of this plant is applied on the cuts to check bleeding. Skin disease - Fresh leaves are crushed to paste with black pepper (Piper nigrum) (3-5 pieces), turmeric 5 g (Curcuma domestica) and a little 'Karpur' (camphor). It is applied twice or thrice in a week to cure eczema and itching. 5. Breea arvensis(Linn.) Lessing, 56 JEES Vol. 2 Issue 2/ Mitra, S. & Mukherjee, S.K. 2018 Medicinal Use:It has been utilized as antimycotoxic, analgesic, antibacterial, antihepatotoxic, anti-haemorrhagic, antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory properties and it is considered as good rejuvenator too. Recent studies showed an antivenin property. So the plant can a be valuable source of different phamaceutical industry. 13. Elephantopus scaber Linn., Rheumatism: The stem paste mixed with honey is given twice a day to reduce the rheumatic pain. 9.Centipeda minima (Linn.) A. Braun &Ascherson,. Ethnobot.: Cold and cough - The whole plant is dried and made into powder. The powder promotes sneezing and thus relieves nasal congestion in colds. Headache - Leaf decoction is given 2-3 times a day, 1-2 teaspoonful each time to cure chronic headache. Toothache The paste of the stem is given to cure toothache. Hemicrania: The same decoction is also administrated to cure hemicrania. 10. Cichorium intybus Linn., Ethnobot.: Dysentery :- The leaf decoction (ca20 ml) mixed with a pinch of black pepper (Piper nigrum) powder is given thrice a day for 2 days to cure dysentery. Hair care:- Leaf paste mixed with coconut or mustard oil is used as hair tonic to check falling of hairs. Diuretic:- Aqueous extract of the whole plant is used as Diuretic. It is prescribed 3 times a day for 3 three days. This plant is also used for the treatment of some typical disease like pharyngolaryngitis, tonsillitis, conjunctival hyperemia, and furuncles. In Edema: The fresh leaves extract is used for the treatment of the edema. Other Use: piles.The plant can be used as a raw material for the pharmaceutical, industry as it showed antibacterial and anti-cancer activities ( Dhawanet al., 1980). Elephantopin has in vivo cytotoxicity. Ethnobot.: Fodder – (Local use): This European element is introduced in India as a fodder crop. Vitality enhancer: This plant has medicinal value also. The sundried root powder is taken mixed with coffee and said that it is used as vitality drinks. Cotula hemisphaerica (Roxb.) Wall. exBenth. Ethnobot.: Rheumatism :The inflorescence head is boiled in oil and that oil infusion is used as massage oil to reduce the rheumatic pain. 11.Dichrocephala integrifolia (Linn. f.) Kuntz., Ethnobot.: Dyspepsia:- Whole plant extract is used for dyspepsia, Indigestion:- The root portion of this plant about 2 – 5 g made in to paste and that paste is taken at early morning in empty stomach to cure indigestion. Antiphlogistic:- The leaves are used as an antiphlogistic, and as an antiemetic. 12. Eclipta prostrata (Linn.) Linn., 14. Emilia sonchifolia (Linn.) DC. var. sonchifolia. Ethnobot.: Constipation :- Plants decoction is used in bowel complains. Eye drops :- Juice of leaves used for the treatment of night blindness and eye sore as eye drops. The juice is dropped 3-4 times a day for 7 days. Toothache :- The leaf paste is used to reduce toothache. The paste is kept over the caries teeth for few days for better result. Dysentery:-The root portion of the plant about 5 – 7g is made in to paste, and that paste along with a teaspoonful of honey is given twice or thrice a day (according to condition of the patient) for three successive day to cure Dysentery. Edible:- The fresh leaves are eaten as salad. Antiphlogistic: Fresh stem portion (about 2 inch length) made in to paste and that paste is given at Ethnobot.: Dysentery :- The leaf decoction (ca20 ml) mixed with a pinch of black pepper (Piper nigrum) powder is given thrice a day for 2 days to cure dysentery. Hair care:- Leaf paste mixed with coconut or mustard oil is used as hair tonic to check falling of hairs. Other use: The oil can be used for soaps, paints, vanish and lubrication. So oil can be used in different industries. Powder drug cured 100% patients suffering from infective hepatitis. 57 JEES Vol. 2 Issue 2/ Mitra, S. & Mukherjee, S.K. 2018 Menstrual disorder: Fresh leaves extract about two tea spoonful is given at early morning in empty stomach for three successive days starting from just complesion of the menstrual cycle to reduce the problem of the menstrual disorder. Ear Ache: The leaves extract is used as ear drops to reduce the ear ache of the children. Galactogauge: Stem portion of the plant (about 2 – 5g) is made in to paste and that paste is given with a glass of goat milk and one tea spoonful of honey at bed time to increase the secretion of the breast milk of the newly mother. The plant is a good source of natural anti oxidant. Plant can be used in Pharmaceutical industry. Rheumatism: The root portion of the plant is used as massage balm to reduce the rheumatic pain. Piles: Root portion of this plant is boiled and it made in to paste with equal amount of honey, the whole paste is taken to reduce the bleeding from the piles. 19. Guizotia abyssynica(Linn. f.) Cass. early morning with a glass of Luke warm water as antiphlogistic agent. Other Use:Decoction –Febrifuge ; leaf juice - eye inflammations, night blindness, sore throat; root extract - diarrhoea ( Chopra et al. 1956). Indutrial Use: The plant can be used as a raw material for the pharmaceutical industry. 15. Emilia sonchifolia var. javanica (N. L. Burman) Mattfeld, Ethnobot.: In flatulance and stomach disorder: Stem juice about one teaspoonful is given twice a day after lunch and dinner respectively as in flatulance and in stomach disorder, of the children up to the age of 14 years. This species is generally cultivated as ornamental species. 16.Enydra fluctuans Lour., Ethnobot.: Use: Cypsela used for edible oil yielding 20. Helianthus annuus Linn., Skin disease (Scabies) - About 10 g of whole plant (except the root portion) is crushed and squeezed; the extract so obtained is mixed with a few drops of honey and given 4-times a day to cure scabies. It is continued for 7 days. Blood purifier - The plant decoction (ca20-25 ml) is given at early morning in empty stomach as a blood purifier. Other Use: Dropsy, snake bite, demulcent, laxatine, antibilious, bronchitis, skin and nervous disease Therefore , plant can be used as a chief source of raw material for the pharmaceutical industry. 17.Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl. Ethnobot.: The cypsela are used for yielding of edible oil. Plant is cultivated in the parks and in garden as ornamental plants for its beautiful flower . 21. Helianthus tuberosus Linn., Ethnobot.: Edible: The root portion of the plant is used as edible crop just like the sweet potato by the local populace of different districts of the state of West Bengal. Edible Oil: The cypselas are used for the production of the edible oil which is same as sunflower oil. Scorpion Sting: The seed paste is applied to reduce the pain and swelling due to scorpion sting. Antimalarial agent: The fresh leaves extract is given to as antimalarial agent to reduce the fever. 22. Ixeris polycephala Cass. ex DC., Ethnobot.: Cardiac tonic: Stem pieces (of about 1 inch length) 4 – 6 in numbers are kept in a glass of water for overnight and the aqueous infusion thus obtained is taken at early morning in empty stomach as cardiac stimulator. Laxative: The seeds are used as laxative. Other use:The plant can be used as a source raw material for the pharmaceutical industry. 18.Grangea maderaspatana (Linn.) Poiret, Ethnobot.: Haematostatic: The fresh leaves extract of this plant is used as haemato-static agent to stop bleeding from the cut wound, it is also apply to hasten the healing as it is observed that this plant extract promoting the regeneration of the tissue. Ethnobot.: Stomachache: The leaves extract is given twice a day reduce the stomachachic due to indigestion, of the children up to the age of 10 years. 58 JEES Vol. 2 Issue 2/ Mitra, S. & Mukherjee, S.K. 2018 In Sprain: The stem paste mixed with lime and turmeric powder at a ratio of 2: 1:1 is warm gently and then applied on the sprain to reduce the swelling and inflammation of the organ. It is also believed that it also helps to reduce the pain. In Hematuria: Fresh leaves about 10 – 15g is crushed and squeezed and the aqueous extract thus obtained is given 3 – 4 times a day to control the hematuria. Furuncles: Whole plant is used for the treatment of furuncles. Anti-toxic agent: Root portion of the plant is used for treatment of food poising. 23.Laggera alata (D. Don) Schultz Bipontinus ex Industrial Use:The plant can be used in the pesticidal / insecticidal industry as the extract of plant contains above 3 substances,which showed allelopathy. Cost of raw material will be minimum as it found every parts of Bengal. 27. Pulicaria undulate Kostel. Ethnobot.: Veterinary Medicine: The dried plant powder is used as the veterinary medicine for the treatment of the sores of the bullocks. 28. Sonchus oleraceus Linn., Ethnobot.: Sedative: The seeds are used as sedative, seed powder about 2.5g is taken at bedtime mixed with a glass of lukewarm water or milk. Expectorant: The seed powder about 1 – 2 g is mixed with a teaspoonful honey is given twice a day as expectorant, to the children. Asthma: The fume of the seed is given to the children to reduce the asthmatic problem. In case of adults it is advice to take the fume of mature leaves as Bidi (a type of local cigger). Eye trouble: The leaf extract is used as a eye drop to reduce the redness of the eye and also the irritation of the eye due to summer allergy of the children. Other use: Oil can be used as chief source of material for pharmaceutical industry, because it grows in different parts of Bengal. 29. Sphaeranthus africanus Linn., Oliver, Ethnobot.: Antibiotic agents: Whole plant (Which is not yet in flowering condition) is used for the cleaning of infectious wounds as it is believes that, this plant extract is antibiotic in nature. Essential Oil: The leaves are used for the yielding of an essential oil used in soap industry. 24. Mikani amicrantha Kunth, in Humb., Bonpl. &Kunth, Ethnobot.: Haematostatic: Leaves are used as hemostatic agent and to cure wounds by the local people. Diuretic: The fresh leaves are crushed and squeezed, the extract thus obtained is given to children just half an hour before their main meal as diuretic. Analgesic agents: Extract of plant has significant analgesic effects (Ahmed et al. 2001).So plant can be used as a safe pain reducing drug for human welfare. Treatment of Mouth Sores: Flower buds are crushed and applied on the gum to cure the gum sores. In Pharmaceutical Industry: Extract of plant has significant analgesic effects. So plant can be used as a safe pain reducing drug for human welfare. 25. Parthenium hysterophorus Linn., Ethnobot.: Fodder: Entire plant is used as fodder plant, it is said that this plant keep the animal healthy. Throat infection: Fresh leaf infusion is used as the gargling agent to reduce the irritation in the throat due to infection. Industrial use: Oil can be used in the pharmaceutical industry as it shows antibacterial activities against Vibrocholerae, Salmonella typhis (gr+), Escherichia coli; Micrococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus enteritides, which are responsible for diseases like cholera, gastroenteritis, typhoid and paratyphoid; and also shows antifungal activity. Plant juice is useful in liver and gastric disorders. 30. Sphaeranthus indicus Linn., Ethnobot.: Piles - Juice extracted from the fresh roots (ca10g) is given at early morning in empty stomach for 15 days to cure piles. Ethnobot.: Gastric disorder: Fresh plants about 10 – 20g is crushed and squeezed with a few drops of 59 JEES Vol. 2 Issue 2/ Mitra, S. & Mukherjee, S.K. 2018 Bronchial catarrh: The seeds of the plant is made in to paste and that is given with honey for the treatment of the bronchitis. Hair tonic: Fresh leaves are made in to paste and that paste is applied on head, half an hour before taking bath as a tonic to restore hair loss. Industrial Use:Pesticide (Anon., 1976). The juice of fresh leaves is used for restoration of hair. Since it (whole plant) has potent antibacterial property against large number of pathogenic bacteria. It can be used in pharmaceutical industry. 34. Vernonia anthelmintica (Linn.) Willd., water. The aqueous extract thus obtained is given twice a day for three days in gastric disorder. Anthelmentic: The dried seed 10g is made in to paste and the powder is thus obtained is given to the children (up to the age of 12 years) once in month or twice in a month at early morning in empty stomach as anthelmintic. Chest Pain: The juice of the root portion of the plant is given twice a day for three to five days to reduce the chest pain due to bronchial congestion. Skin Disease: Paste of the whole plant (which are yet to be flowering) are used as skin ointment for the treatment of the skin disease like itching. Piles: The root of the plant is made in to paste with whey and the whole paste thus obtained is used for the treatment of the piles. Industrial Use: Oil can be used in the pharmaceutical industry as it shows antibacterial activities against Vibrocholerae, Salmonella typhis (gr+), Escherichia coli; Micrococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus enteritides, which are responsible for diseases like cholera, gastroenteritis, typhoid and paratyphoid; and also shows antifungal activity .Plant juice is useful in liver and gastric disorders. 31. Spilanthes oleracea Linn., Ethnobot.: Anthelmentic : The dried seeds are given to the children called as Somraj as an anthelmintic agents. Industrial use: Since the oil contains an appreciable percentage of vernolic acid and resin it can be used in the pharmaceutical industry as the of the oil shows anthelmintic properties. 35. Vernonia cinerea (Linn.) Less. Ethnobot.: Industrial use: The plant can be used in pharmaceutical industry as it showed antibacterial, anti-viral and anticancer activities. 36. Wedelia chinensis. (Osbeck.) Merr Ethnobot.: Fish stupefying - The plants are chopped into small pieces, crushed and then spread in the ponds to stupefy the fishes for easy fishing. 32.Spilanthes paniculata Walliche Ethnobot.: Haemorrahage: Fresh leaves are used as aqueous infusion for the treatment of the uterine haemorrhage. Headache: Fresh leaves extract is given as nasal drops to reduce the headache. Menorrhagia: whole plant extract is applied for the treatment of the menorrhagia. The medicine is start to given just after the complesion of one menstrual cycle and it is continued for 7 days to cure the problem of menorrhagia. Hairtonic: Leaves paste is applied on the scalp one hour before taking bath for at least 15 days for the treatment of the alopecia. Industrial use: The plant is used or can be used in oil and pharmaceutical industries as it has several valuable compounds of sufficient amount. 37. Xanthium indicum Koenig in Roxb. Ethnobot.: Toothache - Fresh leaves are chewed to cure the toothache. Paralysis - (Santal): Fresh plants (ca50 g) are made into paste with mustard oil and warmed slightly. This paste is used as massage balm to sensitize paralytic organs in the beginning of the disease. 32. Synedrella nodiflora(Linn.) Gaertn., Ethnobot.: Edible: The leaves are eaten as vegetables during food scarcity. 33. Tridax procumbens Linn. Ethnobot.: Ethnobot.: Diarrhoea: The tender leaves are made in to paste and that paste is given twice a day for the treatment of the white dysentery of the children. Laxative: Seed paste is used as laxative. 60 JEES Vol. 2 Issue 2/ Mitra, S. & Mukherjee, S.K. 2018 stupification and 1 as veterinary medicine. A detail picture of the above data is given in the Table – I Sedative: The seed infusion or the dried seed powder is given as sedative. Astringent: The leaves are made in to paste and that paste is applied as an astringent agent. Industrial use: The oil can be used for edible purposes; can also be used in paints, varnish and soap industries. Fruits yields sitosterol which has anti-inflammatory activity and can be incorporated into pharmaceutical preparations for treatment of urogenital diseases in humans. It can be used in the pharmaceutical industry as it showed anti-fungal, and antitumour activities. 5. Result and Discussion: In the year 1895 J. W. Harshberger coined the term “Ethnobotany” which means the study of the botanical lore of the Aboriginal people. Later on S. K. Jain (Father of India Ethnobotany) make the definition of Etrhnobotany more generalized which means the study of the plant which are not yet incorporate in the list of the Economic Plants, but used for mankind. There are about 42 different tribal group resided in the state West Bengal. These tribal people are resided in the lap of the forest and depend on the forest solely to meet up their day to day needs. But at present these tribal people are at the verge of extinction of their culture, due to high pace of westernization of the tribal societies. These tribal people are store house of a huge knowledge about plant which they gathered by their age old heritage. Tribal people did not possesses any written documentation of these huge knowledge bank. So, if they give up their culture it means all this knowledge will be vanished forever. Ethnobotanical exploration in different tribal areas is the only tools to recorded these knowledge. During the field trips to collect Asteraceae (=Compositeae) members ethnobotanical field exploration is also carried out to record the ethnobotanical lore of the Asteraceae. Which has already been depicted in chapter – V of the present study. From the above enumeration it has been found that, 38 taxa belongs to 32 genera are used in 108 different ways of which 79 used as ethnomedicinally, 1 as fodder, 5 as food plants, 05 as oil yielding plants, 2 used as dye, 1 for fish Sl. No. Name of the Genera N u m be rs of Sp ec ies Uses 1 2 3 Ageratum Bidens Blumea 1 1 2 1 1 6 4 5 6 7 8 9 Breea Calendula Carpesium Carthamus Centipeda Cichorium 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 3 3 4 1 10 Cotula 1 3 11 Dichrocephala 1 3 12 Eclipta 1 2 13 Elephantopus 1 3 14 Emilia 2 9 1 15 Enhydra 1 2 1 16 Eupatorium 1 2 1 17 18 Grangea Guizotia 1 1 6 19 Helianthus 2 6 20 Ixeris 1 5 21 Laggera 1 1 22 Mikania 1 3 1 23 Parthenium 1 1 1 24 Pulicaria 1 25 Sonchus 1 4 26 Sphaeranthus 2 11 27 28 Spillanthus Synedrella 2 1 5 29 Tridax 1 3 1 30 Vernonia 2 6 1 31 Wedelia 1 3 1 32 Xanthium 1 3 1 Me d. F o o d F Dy o e d d e r O V Fis i e h l t St . upi f. M e d . 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