Dhatelo (Prinsepia utilis) health and wealth of

Himalayas
Institute of Forestry
Rajan Bharati

Local Names
Nepal: Dhatelo, Dhatyal, Bhekhal, Bhenkhal

Botanical Name: Prinsepia utilis

Botany and Ecology

Prinsepia utilis; Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family) is a deciduous

shrub distributed in China, Bangladesh, India, Tiawan and Nepal. It is
native to Nepal which can grow up to 3m high, branches grayish
green and armed with spines to 3.5 cm. Leaves stalked, alternate,
lanceolate, acuminate, slightly serrate, Glabrous. Flower stalked,
white, Racemes axillary and about 1 cm in diameter. Fruit drupe
purplish brown to blackish purple when ripe. Flowers: February-
March; Fruits: April-May. It is non-cultivated plant which grows
naturally in forest, river bank, scrub, and hedges at an altitude of
1300-3000m in central to western part of Nepal. Usually found in
open sunny places on hillsides near spring or water-course. [ CITATION
Khi08 \l 1033 ]
It can also be cultivated in the hedge rows, waste land, or abandon
land by seeds or branch cutting.
This is listed in least concern species of IUCN list ([ CITATION Adh17 \l 1033 ]

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Harvesting and processing method

Fruits are mainly harvested by hand. As Dhatelo plants possess

spines/thorns in stem and branches. So that, it is somehow difficult to
harvest. Harvester sometime use sticks and sickles to collect fruits.
Mainly females, cowherd and children are involved in the collection
of Dhatelo seeds. The seeds are collected in plastic bags, jar,
handwoven basket made from Himalayan bamboo (nigalo).
After collection, Dhatelo fruit is squeezed with small amount of water
to liberate seeds and make it cleaned then dried it in sunlight for 5-6
days. After cleaning and drying the seeds is pounded or grind using a
traditional pounder, grinder (Dhiki, silauto, jaato) to remove seed coat
and make it fine pieces. Then the oil is extracted using traditional oil
expeller or from oil extractor mill. The oil contain impurities which
must be purify to become edible. Which is mostly done by
sedimentation process. Finally the obtained oil is pale yellow creamy
color with pleasant smell and taste.
There is no actual data on production of dhatelo in Nepal. In average
about 250 Dhatelo plant per hectare found in mid hill of western
Nepal and 1-2.5 kg of its seed can be harvested from each plant. So,
from one hectare 437.50 kg of seeds in average can be harvested.
According to the local practice and literature about 15-20% of oil can
be extracted from fully ripe dried seeds which means 65.625kg of
Dhatelo oil can be obtained from fully dried seeds collected in one
hectare. [ CITATION Khi08 \l 1033 ]

Phytochemistry

The physiochemical characteristics of oil are: specific gravity 0.9215

at 20 ˚ C, refractive index 1.4625 at 20 ˚C, iodine 109.8,

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Saponification value 200.2, acid value 23.1, acetylation value 12.3,
Un-saponification material 0.5%[ CITATION Mai85 \l 1033 ]

Fig: 1 (Photo: Google) Fig: 2(Photo: Google)

Fig: 3
(Photo: Google)

Medicinal Uses

Dhatelo oil is rubefacient, it is applied externally for the treatment of

rheumatism and muscular pain caused by hard work, injuries. [ CITATION
Kun39 \l 1033 ] (Kunwar RM N. B., 2006;2:27.). This oil is also applied in

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forehead and temples in the treatment of coughs and cold. The heated
oilcake is applied as a poultice to the abdomen in the treatment of
stomach aches[ CITATION Man021 \l 1033 ], Sore throat[ CITATION Swa71 \l 1033 ], root
bark for stomach disorder[ CITATION Kun30 \l 1033 ]. This oil is used as
sedative and used during pregnancy for easy delivery [ CITATION Kun39 \l
1033 ], in China and India the oil is used to treat skin diseases,
rheumatism inflammation and leprosy[ CITATION Gua40 \l 1033 ], the seedcake
paste is applied in the treatment of ringworm or eezema and hot oil
cake is given to relieve stomach aches[ CITATION Jos14 \l 1033 ][ CITATION Man95 \l
1033 ], To remedy allergies, tonsillitis, stomach aches, skin diseases,
rheumatism, and tumors[ CITATION Gai14 \l 1033 ].

Food Uses

Dhatelo: children of mugu, jumla, dolpa districts eat the ripe

fruits[ CITATION Bar06 \l 1033 ]. It has astringent flavor. The oil is used as
cooking purpose, leaves as vegetable[ CITATION Dan17 \l 1033 ]. Also eaten as
raw snack[CITATION Kan21 \l 1033 ].

Agroforestry Uses

The Plant is grown as a living fences in Himalayas [ CITATION Man021

\l 1033 ] which protect crop from livestock and other animals,

mark the land boundaries. Dhatelo plants have extended roots

use for binding the soil.[ CITATION Son21 \l 1033 ].

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Other Uses

The raw seed is used as bullet of bamboo (nigalo) gun by the

Children in humla, jumla, mugu, dolpa, district for fun. Dried
stem of dhatelo is used for making fire in hawan kunda (kind
of fire ritual performed on special occasions by hindu priest
for a homeowner)
The oil is also being used for lighting[ CITATION Cho86 \l 1033 ]. It is
suitable for hydrogenation and soap making so, the oilcake is
used for washing clothes. It is also used for hiding small
holes.
The deep purple color obtained from the fruits is used for painting
walls and window. Paste of fruit is applied on warts[ CITATION Jos11 \l 1033 ]
The harvesting of dhatelo fruits and its processing is time taking
process but with the help of portable machine for oil processing the
workload of women can be reduced and also increased income of
poor[ CITATION Son21 \l 1033 ].

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B Adhikari, C. A. (2017). Distribution and preliminary conservation assessments of commonly used forest
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