Tuneer Khelkar, et al. Int J Pharm 2015; 5(3):875-880 ISSN 2249-1848 www.pharmascholars.com 875 Research Article CODEN: IJPNL6 TRIBAL TREATMENT OF JAUNDICE TRADITIONALLY THROUGH SARGI CHAPDA IN BASTAR, C.G, INDIA Tuneer Khelkar¹*, Madhavi Tiwari² and Nurul Haque³ 1 Govt. Kaktiya P.G. College, Jagdalpur, Bastar, C.G., India 2 Bastar Vishwavidyalaya Jagdalpur, Bastar, C.G., India ³Christ College Jagdalpur, Bastar, C.G., India *Corresponding author e-mail: tuneerkhelkar@gmail.com ABSTRACT The paper deals with the traditional treatment of Jaundice through Sargi chapda (Cheeti Chapda) popular among the tribes of Bastar. A survey among villages of Bastar showed that Chapda is used to cure Jaundice. It was found that a species of ant known as Oecophylla smaragdina which contain formic acid when spread on the patient’s body their sting cured Jaundice. Experimentally after adding 2-3 drops of extract of Chapda to approx.2 ml of dark yellow colored urine obtained from patient suffering from Jaundice, caused increased acidification due to which yellow- greening reaction occurred which concluded that yellow bilirubin was encouraged to oxidize to green biliverdin. Spectrophotometric analysis at 546 nm showed that when 2-3 drops of extract was added to 200 μl of blood serum of patient, concentration of bilirubin declined to 1.008 mg/dl which was 29.808 mg/dl earlier before the extract which concluded that formic acid of Chapda reduces excess concentration of bilirubin in blood. Key words: Cheetichapda, Sargi chapda, Oecophylla smaragdina, bilirubin, biliverdin, Jaundice INTRODUCTION Bastar is one of the districts of the state Chhattisgarh in India which is the land of tribes. Its 70% of the total population comprises of tribes which is 26.76% of the total tribal population of C.G. [1] Tribal people of Bastar are popular for their incredible tribal culture and heritage throughout the world. Each and every tribal group of Bastar possess their own specific culture and traditions which differ from each other in costumes, traditions etc. Traditional healing is the oldest form of structured medicine i.e. a medicine having underlying philosophy and set of principles by which it is practiced. Traditional healing was originally an integral part of semi-nomadic and agricultural tribal societies, and although archaeological proof for its existence dates back to only around 6000 B. C., its origins probably dates back from well before the end of the last Ice-age. WHO defines traditional healing as “the sum total of knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures that are used to maintain health, as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or treat physical and mental illness”. Among various types of traditional healing practices popular among Bastar tribal population of Bastar, traditional treatment of jaundice through Sargi Chapda also known as “cheeti chapda” is one. Sargi chapda is one of the important examples of sustainable living traditions from the rural backyards of India. Chapda is a particular delicacy for the tribes of the Bastar because they make chutney out of them. One of the species of ant family known as “chapda” whose scientific name is Oecophylla smaragdina (common names include weaver red ant, green tree ant), belonging to the family of formicidae, makes shelter on the leaves of Sargi trees. Oecophylla smaragdina make nests for themselves out of the leaves of the tree using their saliva as the adhesive to join the leaves and glue them together with larval silk. [2] The literal meaning of chapda is a basket made out of the leaves, in all probability the word was coined after observing the nest of chapda. International Journal of Pharmacy Journal Homepage: http://www.pharmascholars.com