MEDICINAL PLANT DIVERSITY IN TIRUVANNAMALAI HILL, TIRUVANNAMALAI, TAMIL NADU.

Transcription

1 MEDICINAL PLANT DIVERSITY IN TIRUVANNAMALAI HILL, TIRUVANNAMALAI, TAMIL NADU. 1 RAMAKRISHNAN. N., 2 PANDIAN.G., 3 SAMPATH KUMAR. S., and 3 HARIPRASAD. P 1. Reader in Botany & Head, 2. Lecturer (SG) in Botany, 3. Lecturer in Botany Department of Natural Science, Govt. Arts College, Tiruvannamalai- 3, Tamil Nadu. SYNOPSIS Medicinal plant lore or herbal medicine is a major component of traditional medicine. Traditional medicine is a set of empirical practices embedded in the knowledge of a social group often transmitted orally from generation to generation with the intent to solve health problems. It is an alternative to Western medicine and is strongly linked to religious beliefs and practices of indigenous cultures. The site selected for this study are situated at 12 o 15 NL and 79 o 07 EL. There were 63 medicinally valuable plants identified during present investigation. The 63 species spread over 32 plant families. Based on the nature of medicinal value these plants are organized into five categories. The parts of plants used for various diseases there are seven categories. Of the parts used for medicinal purpose the roots, the leaves and whole plant are dominating in position during present investigation. Of the 63 medicinal plants more than 50% species used by the local people for various medicinal uses. The government of Tamil Nadu along with NGOs applied various conservation techniques to save these medicinal plants in the Hill and the surrounding area also discussed. INTRODUCTION Herbal medicines are being used by nearly about 80% of the world population, primarily in developing countries for primary health care (Kamboj,2000). Assessing the current status of health care system, inadequacies of synthetic drugs are likely to be more glaring in the coming years. It has been reported that there has been an alarming increase in number of diseases and disorders caused by synthetic drugs prompting a switch over to traditional herbal medicine (Ghule and Patil, 2001). India has over 1,08,276 species of bacteria, fungi, plants and animals already identified and described (Khoshoo, 1994). Out of these, over 84% species constitute fungi (21.2%), flowering plants (13.9) and insects (49.3%) etc. Based on the data of the species already described, India is tenth among the plant-rich countries of the world, fourth among the Asian countries (Khoshoo, 1994). Moreover, India is also one among the 12-mega biodiversity centers of the world by having over 47,000 plant species. Its diversity is unmatched due to the presence of 16 different agroclimatic zone, 10 vegetative zones and 15 biotic provinces. Among these Eastern Ghats range is one of the major biotic province, that may host more than 9,000 flowering plants, 15,000 fungi, 1,800 algae, 780 lichens, 960 bryophytes and over 13 million microorganisms. In this regard due to increasing demand for the herbal medicines because of their efficacy, safety and lesser side effect, we under take this study in our area to explore the medicinal plants of this hill. MATERIAL AND METHODS Study Area: The study area, Tiruvannamalai Hill, Tiruvannamalai district lies between 79 o 07 EL 12 o 15 NL. The hill s maximum altitude is 2668 feet. Methods: Ethnobotanical studies were made in four eco-base areas in Tiruvannamalai, like the hill, the hill base, Girivalam area and paddy fields near Tiruvannamalai Town. In all the four areas plants species were collected, identified and systematic enumeration was made with the available monographs relevant literatures and taxonomic revisions (Cambel, 1918; Mathew, 1983; Rath, 1999; Dharmendra Singh 1999). Their specific medicinal values were verified with the knowledge of local people who are well versed with the uses of these plants and also after confirming the details available in the recent studies (Singh et al 1998; Srivastava and Chouksey, 1999; Ved Prakash, 1998; Mait, 1999; Jyothi Nargas, 1999; Goel et al 1999; Joshi, 2000; Ramakrishnan & Ganesan, 2001). 1

2 RESULTS The survey of the floras in and around Tiruvannamalai Hill, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu was undertaken to understand the ecotaxanomical aspects of the angiospermic plants of this area. In this study, identification and documentation of medicinally important 63 herbal plants belonging to 32 families were mentioned. Out of total 63 species, 60 dicot species spread over in 29 dicot families and 3 species spread over 3 monocot families. Specific medicinal values of all 63 medicinal plants of the present investigation with their family, which belong, habit nature and the parts used for the medicinal preparations were given in Table 1. Based on habit nature the medicinal plants of 63 species, 28 belonging to herb, 18 belonging to shrub, 11 belonging to tree habit, twinner and wiry twining climbers recorded only one species and climbing shrub and climbing herbs recorded 2 species in each cases. Of the parts used for medicinal purpose the roots, the leaves and whole plant are dominating in position during present investigation. Of the 63 medicinal plants more than 50% species used by the local people for various medicinal uses. The government of Tamil Nadu along with NGOs applied various conservation techniques to save these medicinal plants in the Hill and the surrounding area ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We are thankful to the Director of collegiate Education and the Principal, Government Arts College for their permission to do this work. REFERENCES Camble, T.S Flora of Presidency of Madras, London, Part I, II, III. Dharmendra Singh, 1999, Proc. 86 th ses. India Sci. cong. Chennai, 33P. Ghule, S.T. and D.K. Patil, 2001 Kisan world 28(10) : Goel, R.K., B.N. Pandey and D.K. Yadav, Eco - Taxonomical study of some Medicinal plants of Magadh Region (Central Bihar). Proc. 86 th Ses. of India Sci. Cong., Chennai : PP. Jyoti Nargas and P.C. Trivedi, 1999 Flok medicine of Sahariyas for General Ailments. Kamboj, V.P Curr. Sci.78 (1) : Khoshoo, T.N Curr. Sci 67 (8) : Mait, S., D.C. Pal and T.K. Mishra, Some Magico Religious Belief About Plants among the Kherias (Sabar) im Midnapore District, West Bengal, India. Proc. 86 th Ses. of Incia Sci. Cong, Chennai. Abst. No. 29 : P Mathew, K.M. 1983, The flora of the Tamil Nadu, Carnatic Vol. I, II, III, Proc. Ramakrishnan, N. and N.C. Ganesan, 2001, Nat. Symp. on Medicinal plants , St. Joseph s College, Trichy, P12. Rath, G.C. 1999, Proc 86 th ses. India Sci. Cong. Chennai, 28 PP. Shankar Gopal Joshi, Medicinal plants. Oxford & IBH Publ. Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi : 490PP. Srivastava, S.K. and B.K. Chouksey, th Ann. Ses. Nat. Acad. Sci. India. Abst. No.12 : P6. Vad Prakash, In 68 th Ann. Sess. Nat. Acad. Sci. India, Abst. No. 34 : 31P. 2

3 TABLE 1: Habit, useful parts and medicinal properties of the plants S. Name of the species Plant part used as Medicinal value Family Habit No. medicine 1 ACANTHACEAE Andrographis paniculata Ness. S All parts Febrifuge, stomachache, tonic, antidote to cobra venom. 2 ACANTHACEAE Barleria prionitis Linn. S All parts, specifically Antiseptic, toothache, urinary, paralytic attack, stomach disorder. leaves 3 ACANTHACEAE Justicia procumbens Linn. H All parts Laxative, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, asthma, cough, rheumatism. 4 AMARANTHACEAE Achyranthes aspera Linn. H Leaves, roots, seeds Bitter, acrid, pungent pectoral, purgative, cardio tonic, carminative, diuretic. 5 AMARANTHACEAE Amaranthus spinosa Linn. H Roots, all parts Cooling, acrid, carminative, diuretic and laxative, food for fever, used for snake bite, Leucorrhoea. 6 APIACEAE Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban Cre. H Leaves, whole plant Improves receptive and retentive capacity of mind, it is a nervine & cardio-tonic, astringent. 7 APOCYNACEAE Nerium oleander Linn. S Leaves, bark, flowers Cardio tonic, Leaves used cutaneous eruption to destroy maggots infesting wounds, for homeopathic medicine. 8 APOCYNACEAE Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) Schum. root bark, leaves seeds, Diuretic, cardio tonic, cures oedema, tumours, leaves are emetic and purgative. Cathartic for fever, body S (Sym : Thevetia nerifolia Juss.) latex cooling etc., 9 APOCYNACEAE Wrightia tinctoria R.Br. T Roots, leaves, bark seeds Juice of tender leaves is used in Jaundice, tooth ache, bark is tonic. 10 ASCLEPIADACEAE Calotropis gigantean R.Br. S Root, bark leaves, juice of Purgative, cures leprosy, leucoderma, ulcers, tumour, piles, liver etc., plants and flowers. 11 ASCLEPIADACEAE Hemidesmus indicus R.Br. Twining Root is sweet, bitter, cooling tonic, antipyretic, cures leprosy. Roots under shrub 12 ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus officinalis Linn. H Tuberous root (or) rhizome Diuretic, tonic, cardiac, sedative, laxative, rhematism, dropsy, enlargement of heart, etc., 13 ASPARAGACEAE Asparagus racemosous Willd. S Root and leaves Improving memory power, intelligence, physical strength, sweet, bitter in taste, tonic, antidysenteric. 14 ASTERACEAE Eclipta alba Hassk. H Leaves and roots Acrid, bitter, hot and dry reduces kapha, intestinal worms, cures cough, asthma, body strength. 15 ASTERACEAE Sphaeranthus inducus Linn. H Whole plant Laxative, tonic, bronchitis, diseases of spleen, pain in uterus and vagina, piles. 16 ASTERACEAE Vernonia cinerea Less. H Roots, leaves Purifies blood, bile & semen, Excessive bleeding chronic skin diseases, bladder stones, piles, worms 17 CACTACEAE Opuntia dillenni Hann. S Fruit, leaves and latex Cardiac stimulent and tonic diuretic, purgative, opthalamia, heated and applied to boils. 18 CAESALPINIACEAE Bauhinia variegata Linn. T Bark, root, leaves, flowers, Antidote to poison, roots and bark light, cool, astringent. They cure ulcers, swellings, leprosy, cough, seeds menstrual disorders, Worms, dysentery, piles, etc., 19 CAESALPINIACEAE Cassia auriculata Linn. S bark, root, leaves, fruits, Useful in urinary discharge, cures tumors, skin diseases, asthma, chronic fever, tooth brush, diabetes, seeds spermatorrhoea. 20 CAESALPINIACEAE Cassia fistula Linn. T Fruit, root bark, stem bark, Skin diseases, pyoderma treatment, root- astringent, tonic, febrifuge, purgative, laxative flowers are cooling, flowers, leaves, astringent. 21 CAPPARACEAE Gynadropsis gynandra (Linn.) Briquet. H Seed, root, leaves Scorpion sting and snake bite, anticancer extract, roots for fever, skin diseases, rheumatism, muscular pain, head ache. 3

4 . 22 CONVOLVULACEAE Evolvulvus alsinoides Linn. H Whole plant, leaves, oil For all kind of fever, acrid, bitter tonic, alternative, anthelmintic, leaf juice increase brain power, internal haemorrhage. 23 CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea hederacea (Linn.) Jacq. Climbers Seed is acrid, light, hot authelmintic, purgative, blood purifier, laxative, carminative, cures fevers. Seeds, Leaves Shrub 24 CUCURBITACEAE Coccinia grandis Linn. Voight. Climbers Leaf, root, fruit Juice for ear pain, antidiabetic, carminative, antipyretic, headache, skin eruptions, bloody dysentery. 25 CUCURBITACEAE Memordica charantia Linn. Climbing herb Root, leaves, fruit Medicine for diabetes, Root is astringent, used in opthalmia and prolapsus vagina, haemorrhoeds, emetic, purgative. 26 CYPERACEAE Indigestion, sprue, diarrhea, It is light bitter, aromatic, astringent, demulcent, carminative, diuretic, Cyperus rotundus Linn. H Tuber (MONOCOT) vermifuge, diaphoretic 27 EUPHORBIACEAE Acalypha indica Linn. H Leaves, roots Plant is bitter, acrid, diuretic, cathartic, expectorant, emetic, anodyne, hypnotic, gastro industrial irritation laxative, bronchitis. 28 EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia hirta Linn. H Whole plant Alkaloid, essential oil, antiasthmatic pectoral, in worms, bowel complaints and cough, breast pain, cardiovascular system. 29 EUPHORBIACEAE Euphorbia tirucalli Linn. S Tender branches, leaves, Leprosy, leucorrhoea, whooping cough, asthma, dropsy, leprosy, enlargement of spleen, Jaundice, tumours, stems root, bark. scorpion bites 30 EUPHORBIACEAE Phyllanthus niruri Linn. H All parts diuretic in dropscial affections troubles genito urinary tract, bitter febrifuge, stomach troubles, fever, dysentery. 31 FABACEAE Abrus precatorius Linn. Wiry twining Plant is bitter, emetic, tonic, vermifuge, thermogenic, antihistaminic, antiseptic, for hair development, root is Roots, seeds, Leaves climbers emetic, diuretic, tonic. 32 FABACEAE Clitoria ternatea Linn. Twiner Root, bark, seeds, leaves Root bitter, emetic, cathartic, purgative and diuretic, to cause abortion, root bark, diuretic and laxative, chronic bronchitis. 33 FABACEAE Phaseolus trilobatus (Linn) Schreb. H Whole plant and leaves Rejuvenating, it is bitter, cold sweet on digestion, constipating roborant, cures cough, emaciation, Pyrexia, sedative, cooling. 34 FABACEAE Pongamia pinnata (Linn) Merr. T Fresh bark, root, leaves Skin diseases, eczema, scabies, leprosy & ulcers, root & bark are bitter, hot, acrid, vagina skin, good for seeds tumours, piles. 35 LAMIACEAE Leucas aspera Spreng. H Whole plant Anti pyretic, insecticide, worms, fever, antipyretic, antiseptic, carminative, wormifuge, skin disease, flowers used for cold. 36 LAMIACEAE Ocimum gratssimum Linn. S Leaves Aromatic, for children bath, fumigations, rheumatism and paralysis, useful seminal weakness, seeds for headache & neuralgia. 37 LAMIACEAE Ocimum sanctum Linn. H Leaves, seeds, roots Aromatic, carminative, antipyretic, diaphoretic and expectorant, viral fever, bronchitis, earache, gastric disorders, hepatic affections. Improve appetite. 38 LILIACEAE Good for abortifacient causing expulsion of foetus from womb, germicidal, it curves leprosy swellings, piles, Gloriosa superba Linn. H Tuberous root (MONOCOT) chronic ulcers, tubers tonic, stomachic. 39 LYTHRACEAE Lawsonia inermis Linn. S Leaves, bark, flowers, Emetic, expectorant, allay burning sensation curve leucoderma, headache, bark is alferative sedative, seeds jaundice, enlargement of spleen skin diseases and leprosy. 40 MALVACEAE Abutilon indicum (Linn.) sweat. H Seeds bark, root, leaves Ayurvedic & unani medicine, used as a febrifuge, anthelmintic, antiinflamatory, in urinary piles, colic, dysentery, bronchitis, diuretic, nevine, tonic for fever, chest pain. 4

5 41 MALVACEAE Hibiscus rosa sinensis Linn. S Roots, leaves, flowers For cough, root for venereal disease, fever for gonorrhoea, leaves are emollient, aperient anodyne and laxative, flowers for arterial hypertension, antifertility effect, blackening hair. 42 MALVACEAE Sida cordifolia Linn. S Whole plants, roots, seeds Juice of plant with water is given for spermatorhoea, roots are aromatic, bitter, tonic, demulcent and diuretic, facial paralysis, hemiplegia treatment for rheumatism. 43 MALVACEAE Thespesia populnea Soland. ex Correa. T Roots, Leaves, flowers, For skin disease. It is light, acrid, cooling, haemorrhoides, it cures ulcers, itching scabies, urinary disorders. fruits Root is tonic, painful joints, scabies, psoriasis, skin diseases. 44 MELIACEAE Azadirachta indica A. Juss. T Flowers, leaves, bark, Ayurvedic medicines for leprosy, skin disease, purification of blood, cures boils, antiseptic, ulcers, eczema, seeds oil antiperiodic. Dry flowers are tonic stomachic, anti cancer effect, antiviral etc., 45 MIMOSACEAE Acacia arabica wild. var. Emulsifying - binding & suspending agent, cooling, skin diseases, bleeding piles, used in asthma, bronchitis, T Bark, pods, gum, stem indica (Bentt.) Brenan. leucorrhoea, dysentery, leucoderma, urinary discharges, gum arabic. 46 MIMOSACEAE Mimosa pudica Linn. H Whole plant, roots, seeds Astringent cooling, antiseptic, alteractive and blood purifier, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemophbic conditions, leucorrhoea, Root - for cooling, cures asthma, vaginal and uterine, Leaf and stem in scorpion sting. 47 MORACEAE Ficus bengalensis Linn. T Leaves, roots, fruit, latex Skin diseases, used for opthalmia, eye troubles, mouth sores, fever, madness, atrophy, cholera, burning sensations and vaginal disorders, toothache disorders. Seeds are cooling. 48 MORACEAE Ficus religiosa Linn. T Bark, fruit, seeds, leaf Mouth sores, atrophy, emaciation, rheumatism, small pox, cholera, unhealthy, fruit is mild laxative. Seeds buds, latex taken by women for three days during menses sterilizes women for long time. 49 MYRTACEAE Eucalyptus globulus Labill. T Dried leaves roots, gum, Root is mild purgative, leaves are febrifuge, carminative, stimulant, expectorant, diaphoretic, antiseptic, essential oil. lotion is useful for foul ulcers, inhalation of fumes is beneficial in respiratory diseases. 50 NCYTAGINACEAE Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. H Whole herb and root It is pungent, bitter, astringent, hot and laxative, It is used for asthma stomachic oedema, anemia, jaundice, internal inflammation, antidote for snake, venom, tumors, cancers. 51 OLEACEAE Jasminum grandiflorum Linn. S Whole plant, root, leaves, Good for healing chronic ulcers, skin diseases, It is bitter, astringent, diuretic, treatment for ring worm, flowers ulceration in mouth, skin diseases head ache, weak eyes, anti cancer agent. 52 OLEACEAE Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. S Whole plant, seeds, leaves, Plant is cholagogue, anthelmintic, laxative, dysentery, sores, ulcers, leaves for fever, rhumatism, chronic bark fever, intestinal worms. 53 PAPAVERACEAE Argemone mexicana Linn. H Roots, seeds, milky juice & Plant is used as antheimintic, tonic, diuretic, antidote, Root used in chronic skin disease, also for syphrlitic oil infections and tape worms. For piles, severe stomach ache, seeds laxative. 54 PLUMBAGINACEAE Plumbago zeylanica Linn. S Root fresh root, bark Root is powerful poisonous, it is diuretic, caustic, rheumatism, externally applied for leprosy and other skin disease. Tincture of root bark is a powerful sudoritific, antiseptic 55 POACEAE (Monocot) Cymbopogon citratus (DC.)Stapf. H Stem leaves, fruit oil Stimulant, diaphoretic, anti-spasmodic oil is carminative in cholera and tonic, used for elephantiasis, stimulant and antiperiodic, juice for headache. 56 RHAMNACEAE Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk. T Fruits, leaves Root is bitter and cooling, for fever, old wounds and ulcers, Leaves are also bitter cooling, antipyretic, tonic, laxative, for chest pain, pregnancy pain 57 RUTACEAE Toddalia asiatica (Linn.) Lam. S Root, bark, leaves, fruit Root bark is bitter, aromatic, tonic, stimulant, antiperiodic, diaphoretic, stimulation tonic, Plant is used as a febrifuge. 58 SOLANACEAE Datura metal Linn. H Root, leaves, flowers, Bitter, acrid, astringent, germicidal, antiseptic, sedative, digestion, cure skin diseases, rheumatism, seeds elephantiasis, ear ache, eye diseases, dog bites. 59 SOLANACEAE Solanum indicum Linn. H Roots, leaves, fruits, seeds Pungent, bitter, stimulent, digestive, carminative, asthma, dry cough, cardiac troubles, leucoderma, 5

6 60 SOLANACEAE Solanum nigrum Linn. H Whole plant 61 SOLANACEAE Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad & Wendl. H Whole plant 62 VERBINACEAE Lippia nodiflora Mich. H Whole plant 63 VERBINACEAE Vitex negundo Linn. S Whole plant H = Herb, Cre. H = Creeping Herb, S = Shrub, T = Tree toothache, laxative. Emolient, diuretic, laxative, alterative, sedative, diaphoretic, diuretic, used in enema, ulcer on neck, burning throat. Stimulent, asperient, diuretic, pungent, bitter, digestive, laxative, cardiotonic, used in asthma, cough, bronchitis. Cooling, diuretic, stoppage of bowels, pain in knee-joints, heart diseases, ulcers wounds, burning sensation, leaves are antibacterial. Astringent, bitter, cephalic and stomachic, germicidal properties, cure cough, asthma, fever, intestinal worms, ulcers, skin diseases, nervous disorders, Leprosy. 6