Assessment and Day to Day Utilization of Medicinal Plants in Mayiladuthurai Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu, India

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1 Communication International Journal of Modern Biology and Medicine, 2013, 4(1): International Journal of Modern Biology and Medicine Journal homepage: ISSN: Florida, USA Assessment and Day to Day Utilization of Medicinal Plants in Mayiladuthurai Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu, India Kaliyamoorthy Jayakumar * Department of Botany, A.V.C College (Autonomous), Mannampandal , Tamil Nadu, India * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; jk81botany@yahoo.com; Tel.: Article history: Received 21 June 2013, Received in revised form 19 July 2013, Accepted 20 July 2013, Published 23 July Abstract: The aim of the present study is to list the ethno-medicinal uses of plants in the Mayiladuthurai, the Nagai district. In this district, human life and culture have directly or indirectly been associated with and influenced by the surrounding environment. People live partly on leaves, tubers and fruits of terrestrial forest plants and use plant drugs as medicines, thereby offering much scope for ethno-botanical studies. The objective is to establish a documentation of the plants used by Mayiladuthurai people of Nagai district in Tamil Nadu with create awareness to the local communities about the conservation strategies of these valuable genetic resources. Keywords: Medicinal Plant; Ethno-medicine; Ethno-botany; Utilization; Conservation; resource. 1. Introduction Medicinal plants play a major role in meeting the medical and health needs of the people, especially in developing countries. In the developed countries, they are used as templates for manufacturing modern pharmaceutical drugs whereas, in developing countries they are an important resource for the treatment of various maladies and illnesses, and are a major component of treatment

2 55 within the primary health care systems (Ngari et al., 2010). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 80% of people in developing countries depend upon traditional medicine for treatment of disease and other maladies in their primary health care. India is one of the leading countries in Asia in terms of the wealth of traditional knowledge systems related to the use of plant species and also known to harbour a rich diversity of higher plant species of which 7500 are known as medicinal plants (Kala, 2005). These tribal communities draw their sustenance largely from forests for food, medicine and other requirements. Plants have been used in traditional medicine for a long time. Plant diversity has a very rich of the Indian subcontinent in a wide range of ecosystem. Several thousand plant species have been reported to possess medicinal properties and around 2000 species are referred in literature. It is estimated that around 8,000 plant species are used in Indian system of medicine and around 25,000 effective plant species based on formulation used in folk medicine. Eighty percent of world population relies on the plant based drugs for their primary health care needs as estimated by the World Health Organization. Herbal and traditional medicine in global market is fetching approximately US$ 60 billion per annum which is growing at a rate of 7%. The herbal drug market in India is about Rs crores and it can be raised to Rs crores by The growing demand for plant based medicine, health products and pharmaceuticals etc. led to the depletion of plant resource. Hence immediate focus on conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants is required. In recent years, due to the increasing dissatisfaction with modern medicines and increased consumer desire in healthy living, there has been a dramatic increase in the consumption of natural foods and the use of dietary supplements. In Nagappattinam district, human life and culture have directly or indirectly been associated with and influenced by the surrounding environment. People live partly on leaves, tubers and fruits of terrestrial forest plants and use plant drugs as medicines, thereby offering much scope for ethnobotanical studies. Therefore, determining the local names and indigenous uses of plants has significant potential societal benefits (Bagci, 2000). The aim of the present study is to list the ethno-medicinal uses of plants in the Mayiladuthurai, the Nagai district; to establish a documentation of the plants used by Mayiladuthurai people of Nagai district in Tamil Nadu with create awareness to the local communities about the conservation strategies of these valuable genetic resources; and investigate the plants traditionally used in the treatment of specific diseases, and the local names of these plants. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Description of the Study Area Tamil Nadu is the 11th largest state in India with a geographical area of 13,005 km 2 and lies

3 56 between 11 00' to 12 00' North latitudes and 77 28' to 78 50' East longitudes (Figs. 1 & 2). Mayiladuthurai is situated at a distance of 281 km (175 mi) from Chennai and 130 km (81 mi) from Tiruchirappalli. The town is located at N E. Situated at a distance of 24 km (15 mi) from the Bay of Bengal coast, the town is situated at an altitude of barely 10 metres (33 ft) above mean sea level. The Cauvery River runs through the town bisecting it into Uttara Mayuram and Mayuram proper. Most of the town lies to the north of the river while the Mayuranathaswami Temple lies a mile to its south. There is a bathing ghat on the Cauvery River. Agriculture is the most widely practiced occupation. The climate of Mayiladuthurai is similar to the climate prevailing in the rest of the Cauvery Delta. The average maximum temperature is 39.4 o C while the average minimum temperature is 32.8 o C. The average annual rainfall is 1,125 mm. The plants were collected with the help of traditional healers and the information regarding the use of plants were recorded in the field note books. Figure 1. Map of Tamil Nadu

4 57 Figure 2. Map of Nagappattinam District 2.2. Documentation Data was collected from the local People and medicinal practitioners inhabiting the villages of

5 58 around Mayiladuthurai in the Nagai District. In this study, data collection was based upon medicinally useful plant, plant parts, local names, economical value, and method of administration and time of year. Questions were asked of local people and medicinal practitioners. At the time, actual applications were also observed during field work. Each of the plant material was assigned a field note books and documented as to Binomials with family, local name, part used and therapeutic uses, plant parts that were identified as having use in ethno-botany were collected, compressed, the voucher specimens were collected and identified by referring to standard flora (Gamble 1936; Matthew, 1983). 3. Results and Discussion Plants have been used as traditional medicine for several thousand years. The exploration of ethno-medicinal studies was carried out in Mayiladuthurai. There are 41 species belonging to 28 families were recorded. The species are arranged in sequential order (Table 1) Table 1. Medicinal plants in and around Mayiladuthurai, Nagai District Sl. No. Botanical Name Family Vernacular Name Morphology of useful parts 1 Aegle marmelos Rutaceae Vilvam Ripe fruits: constipation and (L.) Correa dysentery; Unripe fruits: improve appetite and digestion; Decoction of leaves: febrifuge. 2 Aerva persica (Burm. F.) Merr. Amaranthaceae Perumbulai The whole plant: diuretic and demulcent. 3 Aerva lanata Amaranthaceae Cerupulai The whole plant: astringent, (L.) Juss. ex cooling, vermifuge and diuretic. 4 Agave Americana L. Agavaceae Kantala The whole plant: toothache and dropsy. 5 Aloe vera (L.) Liliaceae Chotru kattalai The whole plant: astringent, Burm. F. cooling, vermifuge and diuretic. 6 Amaranthus Amaranthaceae Kuppai kirai The whole plant: toothache, dropsy. viridis L. 7 Anacardium occidentale L. Anacardiaceae Mundhiri Root: cough; Leaves: anticancer.

6 59 8 Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F) Wall. 9 Argemone mexicana L. Acanthaceae Siriyanangai Leaves: fever and piles. Papaveraceae Brahmadand Plant twig resins are applied on the surface. 10 Asparagus Liliaceae Shatavali Rhizome: inflammation; Seed: racemosus Willd. diarrhea. 11 Asystasia gangetica (L.) Acanthaceae Meddykeerai Leaves: fever and skin diseases; Plant extract: antibacterial activity. T. 12 Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Meliaceae Vembu The whole plant: cooling, appetizer and laxative. 13 Barleria cristata Acanthaceae December popu Young Plant: cough and fever. L. 14 Basella alba L. Chenopodiaceae Pasali keerai Leaves: skin diseases and wounds. 15 Boerhavia diffusa L. Nyctaginaceae Mukarattekirei Root: jaundice; Leaves: child birth; The whole plant: liver complaints. 16 Borassus Arecaceae Panai Root: cooling, diuretic and flabellifer L. stimulant; Leaves: cough. 17 Bulbostylis Cyperaceae Thulukaclic pul The decoction of the plant: barbata dysentery. 18 Calotropis Asclepiadaceae Erukku Root bark: paralysis, swelling and gigantean (L.) intermittent fevers; Flowers: R. Br. stomachache, tonic and digestive. 19 Cassia tora L. Caesalpiniaceae Usithagarai Leaves: purgative. 20 Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. 21 Ceiba pentandra (L). Gaertn. Apocynaceae Nithya kalyani Root: leukaemia, breast cancer and other related problems; Leaves: sedative and stomach ache. Bombacaceae Ilavam Bark: abortifacient, brain tonic; Seeds: stimulant, digestive and laxative.

7 60 22 Celosia argentea L. Amaranthaceae Pannai Keerai Seeds: diarrhoea, diseases of eyes; The whole plant: antiprotozoal spasmolytic. 23 Centella asiatica (L.) Apiaceae Vallarai Leaves: diuretic, alternative, skin diseases, leprosy; Powdered leaves: Urban improve memory power and concentration of mind. 24 Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Sapindaceae Mudakkathan keerai Root decoction: emetic; Leaf Juice: diabetes. 25 Carica papaya L. Caricaceae Papaya Fruits: laxative; Dried seed powder: antifertility drug. 26 Cassia angustifolia L. Caesalpiniaceae Senna Leaves: skin diseases, constipation, pimples, rheumatism and purgative. 27 Cassia alata L. Caesalpiniaceae Vandukollu Juice of leaves: skin troubles; Seeds: vermifuge. 28 Cassia auriculata L. Caesalpiniaceae Avarai Roots, leaves and flowers: diabetes and urinary troubles. 29 Cynodon Poaceae Arugampul Leaf: mastitis gastric troubles, dactylon (L.) internal injury, sprains, bone Pers fracture, food poisonings, sunstroke, sprains, broken horn, clotting of blood. 30 Euphorbia hirta L. Euphorbiaceae disorders Ammanpacharisi Whole plant: Purifies blood, skin diseases, cough, asthma and other respiratory. 31 Hygrophila auriculata (Schum.) Heine Acanthaceae Neer mulli Seeds and Roots: primogenital system troubles. 32 Hyptis Lamiaceae, Leaves: colic disorders; Root: suaveolens (L.) stomachache. Poit. 33 Indigofera linnaei Fabaceae Seppu nerunchi The whole Plant: diuretic and venereal diseases. 34 Ipomoea Convolvulaceae Siruthali Leaves: eye diseases.

8 61 obscura (L.) Ker-Gawl. 35 Hygrophila auriculata (Schum.) Heine 36 Momordica charantia L. 37 Morinda pubescens J. E. Smith 38 Ocimum tenuiflorum L. 39 Phyllanthus amarus L. 40 Physalis minima L. Acanthaceae Neer mulli Seeds and Roots: primogenital system troubles. Cucurbitaceae Pavakkay Root: astringent and ophthalmic; Leaves: emetic, anthelmetic and purgative; Fruits: stimulant and purgative. Rubiaceae Manjanatti Root: constipating. Lamiaceae Krishnathulasi Leaf: cough and cold, abscess. Euphobiaceae Root bark and leaves: jaundice, diarrhoea, inflammation, and dysentery. Solanaceae Tottakkali. The whole plant: cooling, diuretics, laxative, expectorant and tonic. 41 Pistia stratiotes L. 42 Pithecolobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. Araceae, Juice of leaves: skin diseases. Mimosaceae Kodukkapuli Root bark: dysentery. All the species and their treatment of various diseases are represented in Table 1. The present study provides information about some beneficial uses of among the above plants. The plants are either used individually or in mixture with some other plants or plant parts. Some plant species are claimed to be quite effective remedies for cutaneous affection of head, snakebite, diarrhea, febrifuge, malaria, cough and cold, leukemia, breast cancer and stomach troubles etc. Since the uses are based on empirical knowledge, the scientific study of all these herbal drugs is highly desirable to establish their efficacy for safe use. Every one of members of the people in the area, use medicinal plants. Some medicinal plants like Ocimum tenuiflorum L. leaf parts are also used to cough, cold, and abscess by

9 62 different communities of the area. Similar ethno-botanical studies have been reported in some other parts of India (Jain, 2004; John De Britto et al., 2010; Ketewa and Arora, 1997; Mohan et al., 2008, Reddy et al., 1997; Singh, 2004), as well as in other parts of the world (Bonet et al., 1999; Grierson and Afolayan, 1999; Jovel et al., 1996; Shinwari and Khan, 2000). Various parts of the plant are used in curing different ailments. During the research project it was noted that the medicinal plant wealth of Mayiladuthurai, Nagai District. Some medicinally important plant species are fast dwindling, mainly due to human interference. So, the area needs proper protection for the conservation and survival bioresources. Further research works should be formulized on base line of indigenous studies because there are still some diseases like cancer and AIDS, for which there are no identified cures. So ethnodirected studies can help in these research works (Ahmad and Ali, 1998). 4. Conclusions Thus, the present study helped us to understand the traditional botanical knowledge of Mayiladuthurai people. Further, they have to be trained and awareness should be given for the conservation of this biodiversity rich area. The conservation of medicinal plants diversity of these groves is therefore most important for the in-situ conservation and cultivation of these species. The decline of the wild flora of this area is to be blamed on population pressure and overgrazing. The demand of medicinal plants is increasing day-by-day within and outside the country, and serious and effective measures are required to meet challenge. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a local inventory of medicinal plants, to identify the species that merit priority and to formulae strategy for the in-situ conservation and cultivation of these species. References Ahmad, M., and Ali, A. (1998). Ethnobotany with Special References to Medicinal Plants of District Swat. M.Sc. Thesis, Peshawar University, Pakistan. Hamdard Foundation Press, pp Bonet, M. A, Parada, M., Selga, A., and Valles, J. (1999). Studies on pharmaceutical ethnobotany in the regions of L At Emporda and Les Guilleries (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula). J. Ethnopharmacol., 68: Gamble, J. S. (1993 & 1994). Flora of the Presidency of Madras, Vol. I-III. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India. Grierson, D. S., and Afolayan, A. J. (1999). Ethnobotanical study of plants used for the treatment of wounds in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. J. Ethnopharmacol., 67: Hamayun, M., Khan, A., and Khan. M. A. (2003). Common medicinal folk recipes of District Buner,

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