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African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines
African Ethnomedicines Network
ISSN: 0189-6016
Vol. 6, Num. 3, 2009, pp. 222-227
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African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines,
Vol.
6, No. 3, 2009, pp. 222-227
Research Paper
ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR UTILIZATION BY VILLAGERS
IN KUMARAGIRI
HILLS OF SALEM DISTRICT OF TAMILNADU, INDIA
C. Alagesaboopathi
Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous)
Salem - 636 007, Tamilnadu, India.
Email : alagesaboopathi@yahoo.com
Code Number: tc09030
Abstract
The present investigation deals with the ethnomedicinal plants of Kumaragiri
Hills of Salem district,
Tamilnadu. The indigenous knowledge of the village dwellers, the herbal
medicine practitioners and other
traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal value
were collected through questionnaire and
personal interviewed during field trips. The study revealed some unknown
medical uses of medicinal plants. The
scientific name, family, vernacular name (Tamil), part used and traditional
practice of 80 species, 65 genera and
families are discussed here for the treatment of various ailments.
The dicotyledons are represented by 73 species
of 58 genera and 37 families while monocotyledons are represented by
7 species of 7 genera and 4 families.
91.25% dicotyledons and :8.75% monocotyledons were encountered .
Key words: Ethnomedicinal plants, Kumaragiri Hills, Traditional practice,
Salem.
Introduction
Indian subcontinent is blessed with most varied and diverse soil and climate
conditions suitable for the
growth of veritable plant species. The indigenous people are well acquainted
with the properties and uses of
plants of their surroundings. People depend on the forest resources for various
purposes like for wood, timber,
non-timber forest products, medicines, food etc. (Pushpangadan, 1995). Plants
have been used as medicines for
thousands of years and are used today in their natural as well as processed
from many medicinal plants which
have been forgotten by modern man as a result of his dependence on the quick
results of allopathic medicines
and are being rediscovered because of growing awareness of unwanted side effects
and others aspects of the later
(Dwarakan and Alagesaboopathi, 1999). Plants have always been the source of
medicines and have many uses
to mankind. According to some earlier workers (Chopra et al., 1956; Jain, 1965;
Kritikar and Basu, 1999;
Nadkarni, 2001) plants have been used in traditional medicine for several thousand
years (Abu-Rabia, 2005).
The knowledge of medicinal plants has been accumulated in the course of many
centuries based on
different medicinal systems such as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. In India,
it is reported that traditional healers
use 2500 plant species and 100 species of plants serve as regular sources
of medicine (Pei, 2001). India is one of
the twelve-megabiodivesity centers with 2 hot-spots of biodiversity in the
Northeastern Region and Western
Ghats. There are about 400 families in the world of the flowering plants;
at least 315 are represented in India
(Sharma, 2003).
Salem is one of the most important districts of Tamilnadu. It lies between
11o14’46” and 12o53’30” North latitude and between 77o32’52” - 78o53’05” East
longitude. The district is mountainous in character.
Enumerated below are some important Hills. They are Shevaroy Hills, Kolli Hills,
Kalvarayan, Kanjamalai Hills,
Suriyamalai, Kumaragiri Hills, Bodamalai and Palamalai. The district is well
known for its unique assemblage of
vegetation wealth.
In the present study, 80 medicinal plant species were surveyed to assess
their therapeutic significance in
managing various diseases. Ethnomedicinal exploration was conducted in the
different localities of the
Kumaragiri Hills and numbers of valuable data on the uses of indigenous medicinal
plants were recorded.
Materials and Methods
Periodic field trips for ethnobotanical exploration were undertaken during
November 2007 to April
2008 in Kumaragiri Hills of Salem district. During the surveys personal
interviewed were conducted with the
village dwellers, the herbal medicine practioners and other traditional healers.
Each of the plant material was
assigned field book number and documented as to family, scientific name,
vernacular name (Tamil), part used
and medicinal uses, plant parts that were identified as having use in ethnobotany
were collected and compressed.
Plant species collected were identified with the help of flora books (Hooker,
1884; Gamble, 1936; Henry et. al.,
1987; Matthew, 1983). Voucher spcimens are deposited in the herbarium of
Botany Department, Government
Arts College (Autonomous) Salem.
Results and Discussion
During present observation and interaction with the village dwellers, the
herbal medicine practioners
and other traditional healers of Kumaragiri Hills. 80 angiospermic plants
were enumerated with their medicinal
importance. Out of 80 plant species studied, 7 is monocot and 73 is dicot.
All the 80 species have medicinal uses.
10 species are used for snake bite. Several species are used for jaundice,
asthma, gonorrhoea, dyspepsia,
diarrhoea and rheumatism. Species such as Chloris barbata, Coccinia indica,
Ficus glomerata, Gymnema
sylvestre Cyanodon dactylon and Syzygium cumini are used to treat diabetes.
Plants like Butea frondosa, Carica
papaya and Vetiveria zizanioides are used to manage blood pressure. Pyresis
is treated effectively with
Andrographis echioides, Andrographis paniculata and Sida acuta. The local
people utilize Abutilon indicum,
Achyranthes aspera and Santalum album as anti-diuretic agents.
People also make use of Argemone mexicana, Calatropis gigantea, Euphorbia antiquorum, Gloriosa
superba, Melia azedarach, and Ocimum sanctum to treat leprosy. For treating
skin diseases, Azadirachta indica,
Cissus quadrangularis, Solanum nigrum and Vernonia cinerea are excellent
remedies. Due to more demand of
ethnomedicinal plants and more profit, local villagers have been motivated
for conservation and cultivation of
these plant species.
Enumeration:
The plant species are arranged in alphabetical order. Each plant is followed
by its family, vernacular
name (Tamil). The medicinal uses are described with details such as the
part(s) used singly, combination with
other ingredients or mixed with other plants, methods of preparation and
mode of administration. The following
is the list of 80 plants studied.
- Abutilon indicum L. (Malvaceae). Vernacular name: Thuthi. Roots and leaves
decoction is given for
diuretic and purgative. The leaf paste is used in toothache.
- Acacia leucophloea Willd. (Mimosaceae). Vernacular name: Vel – Velam.
Leaf juice is given to treat
fever and stomachache. Leaf juice 50ml mixed with cow’s milk used to
bleeding piles.
- Acalypha indica L. (Euphorbiaceae). Vernacular name: Kuppaimeni. The
whole plant powder is used in
toothache. The leaf paste is applied on bed-sores.
- Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae) Vernacular name: Nayuruvi. Leaves
decoction taken orally
with water in stomach problems, diuretic, piles and skin diseases.
- Acorus calamus L. (Aroideae). Vernacular name: Vashambu. Decoction
of the rhizome is taken
internally to treat dyspepsia, asthma and diarrhoea.
- Adathoda vasica Nees
(Acanthaceae). Vernacular name: Adathoda. The decoction of the leaves
and root is given in asthma, dysentery and diarrhoea.
- Aegle marmelos L. (Rutacceae). Vernacular name: Vilvam. Decoction
of the fruit is used as dysentery
and dyspepsia. Decoction of the stem and root powder of the plant
would cure fever.
- Aloe barbedensis Mill. (Lilliaceae). Vernacular name: Gheekunvar.
The juice of the whole plant is
taken as remedy for jaundice, fever, rheumatism and piles.
- Andrographis echioides Nees. (Acanthaceae). Vernacular name:
Gopuramthangi. Juice of leaves taken
orally in antipyretic, anthelmintic and stomachache problems.
- Andrographis paniculata Nees. (Acanthaceae). Vernacular name:
Nilavembu. Decoction of the leaves is
taken to treat dyspepsia, anthelmintic and stomachache, Decoction
of the root is given in tonic and
antipyretic.
- Anisomeles indica O.Kze. (Lamiaceae). Vernacular name:
Paeyemarati. Leaf juice is given to fever and
dyspepsia. The leaf paste is applied on snake bites and scorpion
sting.
- Anisomeles malabarica R.Br. (Lamiaceae). Vernacular
name: Siriyapaeyamarati. Leaf juice used in
fever and stomachache. The leaf of juice mixed with water to drink which
cure scorpion sting and snake
bite.
- Annona reticulata L. (Annonaceae). Vernacular name: Ram-sitapalam.
Decoction of the bark is useful
in astringent and tonic. Fruit juice given orally as vermifuge.
- Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae). Vernacular name: Perammathandu. The leaf decoction
is given
in ulcers and malarial fever. Seeds are useful in dropsy, jaundice, leprosy
and alterative. Yellow juice of
plant is applied on scorpion sting.
- Aristolochia bracteata Retz. (Aristolochiaceae).
Vernacular name: Aduthinnapalai. Decoction of the
whole plant mixed with castor oil, which cures fever and worms. Leaves paste
applied externally in skin
diseases and snake bite.
- Aristolochia indica L. (Aristolochiaceae). Vernacular name. Perumarindu.
Decoction of the whole plant
mixed with honey used for leprosy. Roots paste applied externally on snake
bite and scorpion sting.
- Azadirachta indica A.Juss. (Meliaceae). Vernacular
name: Vembu. Decoction of the bark is useful in
liver tonic. Paste of leaves is applied on skin diseases. Leaf juice is given
internally in fever.
- Boerhaavia diffusa L. (Nyctaginaceae). Vernacular
name: Mookarattai. Decoction of the whole plant is
employed in cough, scabies and jaundice.
- Bougainvillaea spectabilis Willd.
(Nyctaginaceae). Vernacular name: Kaaghithapoo. Leaves juice is
given in jaundice, dysentery and diarrhoea. Roots are used in cough and fever.
- Butea frondosa Koen. (Papillionaceae). Vernacular name: Porasan. Juice
of leaves is given in antiseptic,
alterative and blood pressure.
- Cadaba indica Lam. (Capparidaceae). Vernacular
name: Viluthi. The leaf and flowers of 50ml juice
mixed with castor oil and turmeric is taken as remedy for menorrhagia, purgative
and syphilis.
- Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Cuttiferaceae). Vernacular name:
Punnaivirai. Ten to fifteen gram of leaf is
made into paste with few drops of hot water. This paste is applied externally
on rheumatism and
gonorrhoea. Fresh bark juice is taken for eye disease.
- Calotropis gigantea (L) R.Br. (Asclepiadaceae). Vernacular name: Erukku. The plant powder mixed
with cow’s milk it is used as a leprosy, syphilis, ulcer, dysentery,
diarrhoea and rheumatism. Decoction
of the flowers is taken as cough and asthma.
- Calotropis procera L. (Asclepiadaceae).
Vernacular name: Vellerukku. Roots in the form of paste are
applied to toothache. The flowers powder mixed with black pepper and drink
to treat snake bite and
cholera.
- Canna indica L. (Musaceae). Vernacular name: Kalvazhai. The rhizome
and fresh fruit of juice mixed
with water to drink which cure fever, dropsy and dyspepsia.
- Cardiospermum
luridium L. (Sapindaceae). Vernacular name: Moddacoatan. The whole plant
powder
mixed with goat’s milk to drink which cure snake bite. The plant past
is applied on swelling joints and
rheumatic pains.
- Carica
papaya L. (Caricaceae). Vernacular name: Pappali. Flower used
in anthelmintic. Fruit decoction
used in blood pressure.
- Cassia auriculata L. (Caesalpiniaceae). Vernacular
name: Avarai. Juice of seeds used orally for 4 days
in diabetes and chylous urine. Leaves juice used in heart diseases and eye
troubles.
- Centella asiatica Urban. (Apiaceae). Vernacular name: Vallarai.
Leaf Juice is given to improve memory
and youth.
- Chloris barbata SW. (Poaceae). Vernacular name: Grass. Leaves
paste applied externally in skin
diseases. Leaves juice is used in fever, diarrhoea and diabetes.
- Cissus quadrangularis L. (Vitaceae). Vernacular name: Perandai. The whole plant
powder taken orally
with cow’s milk in asthma. Plant extract taken orally in skin diseases.
- Citrus
medica L. (Rutaceae). Vernacular name: Naraththankayi. Leaves juice used
as fever and
dyspepsia.
- Cleome viscosa L. (Capparidaceae). Vernacular name: Nayi-velai.
Seed paste taken orally with hot
water in anthelmintic and liver complaints.
- Clitoria ternatea L. (Fabaceae).
Vernacular name: Sangupoo. Leaf Juice is given internally in dropsy
and antipyretic.
- Coccinia indica W. (Cucurbitaceae). Vernacular name:
Kovai. Leaf juice is mixed with honey and
given for diabetes and bronchitis.
- Crotalaria verucosa L. (Fabaceae).
Vernacular name: Narimiratti. Flowers powdered with cow’s milk
are given in scabies. Fruits juice is given to dysentery and diarrhoea.
- Cyanodon
dactylon Pers. (Poaceae). Vernacular name: Arugampullu. Decoctions of plant
are given in
diabetes, chronic ulcers and promote coolness.
- Datura metal L. (Solanaceae).
Vernacular name: Umathai. Juice of leaves is used in antispasmodic,
asthma and chronic ulcers.
- Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae). Vernacular
name: Periyamathai. Decoction of leaves is useful in
rheumatism, toothache and earache.
- Eclipta alba Hassk. (Asteraceae). Vernacular
name: Karishalanganni. Decoction of leaves used in tonic,
jaundice and skin diseases.
- Emblica officinalis Gaerth. (Euphorbiaceae).
Vernacular name: Nellikkai. Dried fruit powder is used in
diarrhoea, anaemia, jaundice and dyspesia. The leaf juice mixed with black
pepper and drink to treat
scorpion sting.
- Ervatamia coronaria Steapf. (Apocynaceae). Vernacular name:
Nandhiyavatai. Two gram leaf powder
with honey is used five days to curse rheumatism, dysentry, dyspepsia and
diarrhoea. Decoction of the
roots is a taken as alterative.
- Euphorbia antiquorum L. (Euphorbiaceae). Vernacular name: Shadurakklly.
Latex is applied earache,
dropsy, syphilis and leprosy.
- Euphorbia hirta L. (Euphorbiaceae). Vernacular
name: Ammampachcharisi Crushed leaves mixed with
goat’s milk used in dysentery, diarrhoea and asthma.
- Evolvulus alsinoides L. (Convolvulaceae). Vernacular name: Vishnukaranti. The whole plant powder
mixed with hot water to drink which cure syphilis, diarrhoea, dysentery and
nervous debility.
- Ficus benghalensis L. (Moraceae). Vernacular name: Alamaram.
Latex is applied on sores, ulcers and
rheumatism. Decoction of the bark and seed powder of the plant cures gonorrhoea
and dysentery.
- Ficus glomerata Roxb. (Moraceae). Vernacular name: Atti.
Decoction of the leaves and bark is used in
dysentery. Seed powder mixed with honey, which cures diabetes and dysentery.
- Ficus
religiosa L. (Moraceae). Vernacular name: Arashamaram: Leaves in the form
of paste are applied
in skin diseases. The dried bark powder mixed with honey it is used as an
aphrodisiac.
- Gloriosa
superba L. (Lilliaceae). Vernacular name: Kalappai
Kilangu. Decoction of the tuber is taken
internally to treat aphrodisiac. Tubers are ground and a half glass of the
tuber juice is mixed with goat’s
milk and taken orally to treat leprosy, gonorrhoea and piles.
- Glycyrrhiza
glabra L. (Fabaceae). Vernacular name: Athimathuram. The root powder mixed
with hot
water to drink which cure throat pain.
- Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. (Asclepiadaceae).
Vernacular name: Shiru-kurunja. The juice of the leaves is
used to cure urinary complaints and diabetes.
- Heliotropium indicum L.
(Boraginaceae). Vernacular name: Nakkipoo. The leaf juice mixed with hot
water is used in snake bite and scorpion sting.
- Ixora coccinia L. (Rubiaceae).
Vernacular Name: Vitchie. The flowers and root of juice mixed with
sugar is used to cure diarrhoea, fever and dysentery.
- Lantana camara L.
(Verbinaceae). Vernacular name: Arippu. The juice of the leaves mixed with
cow’s
milk is used in snake bite and insect bites.
- Leucas aspera Spreng. (Lamiaceae).
Vernacular name: Thumbi. The leaf juice mixed with water which
is taken as a cooling medicine for scabies. The root juice is mixed with
goat’s
milk three times a day for
four days to cure any poisonous bite.
- Lippia nodiflora Mich. (Verbinaceae). Vernacular name: Poduthalai.
The decoction of the plant is used
to cure astringent and diarrhoea.
- Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae). Vernacular
name: Mallayvembu. The flowers powdered with cow’s
milk are used to cure headache. The leaf paste is applied externally to cure
leprosy, skin diseases and
nervous disorders.
- Mimusops elengi L. (Sapotaceae). Vernacular name: Maghizham.
The decoction of bark, fruit and seeds
are used in tonic, fever, diarrhoea and headache.
- Mirabilis jalapa L.
(Nyctaginaceae). Vernacular name: Andhimalli. The Leaf juice mixed with
water
which cures jaundice, dysentery, diarrhoea and dyspepsia.
- Mollugo midicalis Lam. (Aizoaceae). Leaf juice is given to earache and antiseptic.
- Morinda
tinctoria L. (Rubiaceae). Vernacular name: Nuna. Decoction of the leaves
is taken to treat
tonic and febrifuge. A decoction of the roots mixed with black pepper
used in diarrhoea and dysentery.
- Ocimum bassilicum L. (Lamiaceae).
Vernacular name : Thirunetrupachilai. Leaf juice is used in urinary
problems. The leaf juice when mixed with water used in cooling medicine
gonorrhoea.
- Ocimum sanctum L. (Lamiaceae). Vernacular name: Tulasi.
The juice of the leaves is used in fever,
leprosy and cough.
- Opuntia dillenii Haw. (Cactaceae). Vernacular name:
Sappathikali. The fruits are used in gonorrhoea.
The fruits paste is applied on snake bite and dog bite.
- Pedalium murex L. (Pedaliaceae). Vernacular name: Anai-nerinji. The leaf extract is used
against fever.
- Pergularia daemia L. (Asclepiadaceae). Vernacular name :
Veliparuthy. The paste of the leaf with
black pepper is applied on forehead for the relief of headache. The decoction
of the leaves is used in
treatment of asthma and snake bite.
- Phyllanthus anarus L. (Euphorbiaceae). Vernacular name: Kizhanelli.
Decoction of the whole plant
mixed with sugar is taken as remedy for jaundice and liver complaints.
- Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb. (Papilionaceae). Vernacular name: Uthiravenkai. Decoction
of the bark
is useful in menses stomachache problems.
- Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae).
Vernacular name: Madulai. The flower buds mixed with salt are used
in bronchitis, dysentery and diarrhoea.
- Quomoclit pinnata L. (Convolvulaceae).
Vernacular name: Mayilmaniccum. The juice of the leaves is
used in bleeding piles and abdominal pain.
- Santalum album L. (Santalaceae).
Vernacular name: Sondhanam. Decoction of bark for sedative and
diuretic. Leaf extract with cow’s milk is taken orally three times
a day for four days to get relief from
gonorrhoea.
- Sida acuta Burm. (Malvaceae). Vernacular name: Vathathiruppi. Fresh
root is crushed with black
pepper and is taken orally once daily for 7 days to cure antipyretic, diuretic
and gonorrhoea.
- Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae). Vernacular name: Manattakkali.
The leaf and flowers of juice mixed
with salt and black pepper to drink which cure skin diseases, piles and ulcer.
- Solanum
surttense L. (Solanaceae). Vernacular name: Kandan-katteri. Fruit paste is
taken with cow’s
milk twice daily for seven days to cure toothache. The leaves are burnt and
the ash is mixed with hot
water and drink to treat dyspepsia and constipation.
- Solanum trilobatum L. (Solanaceae). Vernacular name: Thuthuvalai. Juice extracted from crushed
leaves is used asthma and lung diseases.
- Syzygium cumini L. (Myrtaceae).
Vernacular name: Naval. The fruits are given with hot water used to
diabetes.
- Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. (Asteraceae) Vernacular name: Mukuthipundu.
The whole plant is used as
anthelmintic, alterative and skin disease.
- Vetiveria zizanioides Nash.
(Poaceae). Vernacular name Vettiver. Decoction of the rhizome is taken
internally to treat blood pressure and stomachache problems.
- Vitex nugundo L. (Verbinaceae). Vernacular name: Notchi. Leaf juice is given to vermifuge.
Flowers
powered with cow’s milk are given in cholera and liver complaints.
- Withania
somnifera Dun. (Solanaceae). Vernacular name: Amukramkizhangu. Decoction
of the leaves
is taken as remedy for anthelmintic. The root powder mixed with black pepper
used in rheumatic
swellings.
Conclusion
The people of Kumaragiri Hills, Tamilnadu has been using numerous herbs
of therapeutic purpose since
time immemorial. Villagers chiefly depend on the herbs for all diseases.
They are aware of the plant remedies for
common ailments like diarrhoea, jaundice, rheumatism, dyspepsia, asthma,
diabetes, dysentery, leprosy,
antipyretic, gonorrhoea and skin diseases. They are also very familiar
with the antidotes for snake bites and
scorpion sting. Pharmacological and clinical traits will help in the
confirmation of the efficacy of the report
herbs. The use of the reported plant species were collected from the
regional people, who use them as tradition.
Therefore, it is not advisable to use them without consulting an experienced
Siddha medicine practioner. For the
benefit of the community the recorded plant species should be taken
care of and also steps be taken for
conservation as well as cultivation of these plant species.
Acknowledgement
The author is greteful to Prof. R. Periyasamy, Principal and Prof.
C. S. Suriyanarayanan, Head,
Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem
-7, for providing necessary facilities and
constant encouragement to carry out this study.
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