Ethnomedicinal survey of lower Palni Hills of Tamil Nadu

Transcription

1 Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 3(3), July 2004, pp Ethnomedicinal survey of lower Palni Hills of Tamil Nadu *S Ganesan 1, N Suresh 3 and L Kesaven 2 1,2 Centre for Research & PG Department of Botany,Thiagarajar College (Autonomous), Madurai , Tamil Nadu E.mail-sganesan76@rediffmail.com, k7al@yahoo.com 3 PG Department of Botany, V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin , Tamil Nadu Received 3 October 2003; revised 22 March 2004 Tribals are a distinct ethnic group who are usually confined to definite geographical areas, mainly in forests. Their life is woven around forest ecology and forest resources. Information on some very useful medicines known to the tribal communities through experience of ages is usually passed on from generation to generation. Ethnomedicinal surveys and fieldwork are important for systematic documentation. In the present attempt, the ethnomedicinal aspects of 45 species of plants used by the Paliyan and Pulayan tribes of lower Palni Hills (both northern and southern slopes) Tamil Nadu have been enumerated. Keywords: Ethnomedicinal plants, Paliyans, Pulayans, Lower Palni Hills, Tamil Nadu. IPC Int. Cl. 7 : A61K35/78, A61P1/12, A61P39/02, A61P15/02, A61P17/02, A61P17/10, A61P1/02, A61P1/04, A61P29/00, A61P13/02, A61P15/06, A61P11/10. Lower Palni Hills of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India, are situated between 10º 22 N latitude and 77º 59 E longitude. Palni Hills is a spur of Western Ghats, which is one of the internationally recognized hot spot known for its richness and uniqueness of plant wealth 1. Primarily based on the difference in the altitudes, the flora of this region is broadly classified into scrub forest (500 to 750m), deciduous forest (750 to 1000m), dry evergreen forest (1000 to 1500m) and moist evergreen forest (1500 to 2000m) 2. The temperature ranges from 18ºC to 32ºC * Correspondent author and the mean annual rainfall is 1200mm of which the highest rainfall is during August to September. The medico-ethnobotanical information was mainly gathered from tribes, Paliyans and Pulayans, the oldest aboriginal communities inhabiting various places of Tamil Nadu and Travancore, especially along the Western Ghats. A few workers undertook the medico-ethnobotanical survey of the above tribes 3-5. An account of the ethnobotanical information of 44 plant species belonging to 30 families dominated by Leguminosae, Acanthaceae, Apocynaceae, Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae has been given 3. The infor-

2 300 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 3, No.3, JULY 2004 mation was mainly gathered from Pulayans dwelling in Eastern offshoot of lower Palni Hills (Pachchalur hills) only. Among the 44 plant species studied, 34 species were medicinally important, 9 species were edible, and 14 species were used for miscellaneous purposes. Since there is no detailed information available, an attempt was made to collect the medico-ethnobotanical information of Paliyans and Pulayans of lower Palni hills. The survey was carried out from August 2001 to July The lower Palni Hills lie in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu. The following are the areas of inhabitation of the tribes, Paliyans and Pulayans (Pa. Paliyans, Pu. Pulayans). Northern slopes: 1. Pachalur Paliyan & Pulayan, 2. Kadaisikkadu Pa, 3. Bothamalai Pu., 4. Nadanangal Pa., 5. Karadipparai Pa., 6. Sudalapparai Pa., 7. Periyur Pa, Pu., 8. Kavichikombu Pa., 9. Paraippatti Pa., 10. Kottakombu Pu. Southern slope:1. Thandikudi Pa, Pu., 2. Bommakadu Pa., 3. Oththakkadu Pa. Methodology Ethnomedicinal information was collected from all categories of Paliyan and Pulayan tribes by contacting the local healers, headmen, elderly persons and the persons having a thorough knowledge of plants. The information gathered was confirmed by different groups of tribal people dwelling in different places of investigation. The methodology adopted by previous workers was followed 6. The voucher specimens were collected and identified by referring to standard flora All voucher specimens, in the form of herbarium were deposited in the Research Centre and PG Department of Botany, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Results The ethnobotanical data serve as a base for new compounds with active principles for phytochemical, pharmacognostical, pharmacological and clinical research. It is the search and research, which keeps adding new drugs and new foods for the welfare of mankind 6. In the present attempt, the ethnomedicinal aspects of 45 species of plants distributed among 42 genera belonging to 26 families collected from Paliyans and Pulayans have been enumerated. The enumerated plants distributed amongst Acanthaceae (4 species), Liliaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae (3 species each ) and Sapindaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Euphorbiaceae (2 species each), one Pteridophytic plant Nephrolepis auriculata and remaining 16 families (one species each) were found to be used by Paliyans and Pulayans of lower Palni Hills (both northern and southern slopes) for the treatment of various ailments like stomach disorders, eczema, fever, venereal diseases, cuts, tooth-ache, head-ache, urinary disorder, rheumatism, menstrual disorders, etc. The plants were found to be used in different forms such as juice, extract, decoction, paste, infusion, powder, etc. All the studied plant species have been arranged alphabetically, along with their binomial, family, vernacular name, and uses followed by the names of the tribes in parenthesis.

3 GANESAN et al: ETHNOMEDICINAL SURVEY OF LOWER PALNI HILLS 301 Enumeration 1 Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae. Nayuruvi. The decoction (handful of root cuttings boiled in 250ml of water and reduced to 100ml) is consumed for stomach upset (Pa. Pu. ). 2 Allium cepa L. Liliaceae. Venkayam. Three onion bulbs tied in a thread, worn around the neck of the person suffering from chicken pox give a cooling effect 3 Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees Acanthaceae. Nilavaembu. Leaf paste mixed with hot water when taken four times acts as antivenom for cobra bite. It also arrests excess menstruation. 4 Anisochilus carnosus (L. f.) Willd. ex Benth. Lamiaceae. Karpooravalli. Leaf paste is used for eczema. 5 Asparagus racemosus Willd. Liliaceae. Thanneer vittan kizhangu, Evakkamul. The juice of the bulb arrests excess urination. For healing wounds with pus, the leaf paste mixed with the urine of female is applied for male members and vice-versa (Pa.). 6 Balanophora fungosa Forster & Forster. Balanophoraceae. Vaeruchedi. The plant paste is used for eczema 7 Begonia malabarica Lam. Begoniaceae. Senkurungu, Senthandu. The bark free pink stem paste applied on the face cures the pimples and gives a cooling effect 8 Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Heyne ex Roth. Acanthaceae Thonimalai marunthu. Leaves ground with egg, black gram and onion are applied for bone fracture in human being and in livestock (Pa. 9 Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth.) Alston Caesalpiniaceae Sivappu Indu. Plant is considered to be sacred. Leaf paste smeared over the body of the children relieves fever 10 Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Sapindaceae. Mudakkuththan. Leaf juice mixed with hot rice kanji (gruel) is consumed to relieve pain in the joint and at the time of delivery (Pa. 11 Cassia tora L. Caesalpiniaceae. Thakarai. The leaf decoction is taken to refresh the body. Leaf and seed paste is dissolved in the decoction of fennel water and taken orally to cure stomach ulcer. The seeds are referred to as God s Pills by Paliyans (Pa.). 12 Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. Apiaceae. Vallaarai. Leaf paste mixed with goat milk is administered for venereal diseases 13 Chromolaena odorata L. Asteraceae. Vettukayapoondu. Leaf paste is applied for cuts. 14 Cinnamomum verum Presl. Lauraceae. Ilavangam. Bark paste is applied for tooth-ache (Pa. Pu). 15 Cipadessa baccifera (Roth) Miq. Meliaceae. Pulippan chedi. Leaf paste is taken orally to stop diarrhoea

4 302 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 3, No.3, JULY Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schoff. Araceae Chaembu. Intake of raw leaves prevents stone formation in the urinary track and also arrests frequent urination 17 Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. Amaryllidaceae. Nilappanai. Paste of the rootstock is applied to relieve tooth-ache and joint pain 18 Diplocyclos palmatus L. Cucurbitaceae. Linga kodi, Ayviral kodi. Leaf paste is applied to relieve joint pain and rheumatism (Pa.) 19 Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. Sapindaceae. Virali. The leaves along with the leaves of Eucalyptus sp. are boiled in water and the vapour is inhaled to relieve headache (Pa. 20 Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. ex Roem. & Shult. Caryophyllaceae. Kodicharai. Leaf paste heals wound (Pa.). 21 Hippeastrum leopoldii (hybrid) Amaryllidaceae. Sivappu Visha Moongil. An introduced garden ornamental plant. The paste of the bulb cures eczema (Pa. Pu.) 22 Jatropha curcas L. Euphorbiaceae. Kaattamanakku. Milky latex cures mouth ulcer 23 Leucas martinicensis (Jacq.) R. Br. Lamiaceae. Perunthumbai. Leaves boiled in water and inhaling the vapour relieves head-ache and fever 24 Lobelia heyneana Roem. & Schult. Lobeliaceae. Upperichedi. Leaf and flower paste is applied for eczema (Pa.) 25 Mukia leiosperma Wight. Cucurbitaceae. Musumusukkai. The green leaf salad relieves stomach upset 26 Nephrolepis auriculata (L.) Trimen Polypodiaceae. Peranaikkizhangu. Extract of the bulbils when consumed twice a day stops frequent urination and stomach upset in children (Pa.) 27 Passiflora leschenaulti DC. Passifloraceae. Malai Kovai. Intake of leaf juice cures stomach upset and dysentery (Pa.). 28 Plectranthus coleoides Benth. Lamiaceae. Mudupattan. Leaf paste is applied for burns. Juice of the young leaves when consumed helps in easy child birth (Pa.). 29 Plumbago zeylanica L. Plumbaginaceae. Chitramoolam. Roots are shade dried and powdered. The powder when consumed mixed with goat milk relieves stomach disorders 30 Pterolobium hexapetalum (Roth.) Sant. & Wagh Caesalpiniaceae. Karu Indu. Decoction of the leaf relieves labour pain at the time of delivery (Pa.). 31 Rhinacanthus nasuta (L.) Kurz Acanthaceae. Nagamulli. Leaf juice is used for deworming (Pa.). 32 Rubia cordifolia L. Rubiaceae. Kaluththu Aruppankodi, Manjitti. The root paste is applied to boils and cracks on the heels (Pa. 33 Santalum album L. Santalaceae. Sandanam. Stem paste applied over the body during summer gives cooling effect (Pa. Pu).

5 GANESAN et al: ETHNOMEDICINAL SURVEY OF LOWER PALNI HILLS Smilax zeylanica L. Liliaceae. Karuvilanji. Paste of young leaves is applied for eczema (Pa.). 35 Solanum anguivi Lam. Solanaceae. Mulluchundai. Juice of the fruit is used as vermifuge for Ascaris (Pa. 36 Solanum erianthum D. Don Solanaceae. Malaichundai. Fruits tied in a string worn around the neck relieve severe cough in children (Pa.). 37 Solanum melongena L. var. incanum (L.) Kuntze. Solanaceae. Mullakaththirikkai. The paste of three fruits is used as vermifuge for Ascaris ( 38 Spilanthes calva DC. Asteraceae. Manjal karisalai. Crushed head inflorescence when chewed relieves tooth-ache (Pa.). 39 Stenosiphonium russellianum Nees. Acanthaceae. Kurinchi. Leaf paste is applied for wound healing (Pa.). 40 Thunbergia fragrans Roxb. Acanthaceae. Wellaichchedi Leaf paste is applied for cut wounds (Pu.) 41 Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. Rutaceae. Kindu Mull, Leaf decoction relieves stomach disorders in children (Pa. Pu.) 42 Vernonia salvifolia Wight. Asteraceae. Aduththaani Pachchilai. Application of leaf paste relieves sprain (Pa.). 43 Intake of decoction of seven young leaves of Ziziphus trinervis Roxb. (Rhamnaceae. Mullukkottan ), Diplocyclos palmatus L. (Cucurbitaceae. Ayviralkodi. Sivalinga kodi ) and Phyllanthus amarus Thonn. Euphorbiaceae. Keelanelli ) arrests excess menstruation (Pa.). Discussion The selected tribes of Dindigul district invariably use the forest resources to meet their necessity for food, fuel, shelter, medicine, etc. 11. They are good herbalists, and know ethnobotanical importance of many herbal medicines. Though some medical assistance is available in Pachalur and Thandikudi, the tribals living in remote areas are unable to get the medical assistance. Hence they have to depend on the herbal medicines. In most of the settlements, the tribes conserve the medicinal plants in the form of sacred trees and sacred groves. The conservation of medicinal plants not only saves the tribal lives, but also improves the socio economic condition of the people 12. The tribal people also collect and sell some of medicinal plants such as Balanophora fungosa, Phyllanthus amarus, Andrographis paniculata, Gymnema sylvestre, resin of Shorea roxburgii, fruits of Phyllanthus emblica, Piper hymenophyllum, Terminalia chebula, Carissa carandas, Entada pursaetha and thallus of Parmelia spp., etc. The estimate of endangered species of indigenous medicinal plants has sharply risen day by day 13 due to several anthropogenic and natural interference which suggested that the cultivation and conservation of useful indigenous plants should be encouraged by planting them on the barren hill slopes and along the ravine belt which would also help to control land slides and check soil erosion.

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