ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY IRULAR TRIBES IN JAVADHU HILLS OF SOUTHERN EASTERN GHATS, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

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1 ISSN: International Journal of Current Research and Development Available Online at Research Article 2013,July, Vol.2 (1): Copy Right, 2013 IJCRD ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY IRULAR TRIBES IN JAVADHU HILLS OF SOUTHERN EASTERN GHATS, TAMIL NADU, INDIA N. DHATCHANAMOORTHY 1, N. ASHOK KUMAR 2 * AND K. KARTHIK 3 1, 3 Department of Botany, St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli Department of Botany, Arignar Anna Government Arts College, Villupuram *Corresponding author: nashokcas@rediffmail.com ABSTRACT Tribal medicine is considered as mother of indigenous systems of ethnomedicine. In the present study ethnomedicinal plant survey was carried out among Irular Tribes who settled in Javadhu hills, which is located in Southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu. About 30 species of ethnoherbal medicinal plants belonging to 13 families were reported in the present study. The survey indicates that many number of ethnomedicinal plants were traditionally used by the Irular tribes of Javadhu hill for the treatment of various diseases. Key words: Ethnomedicinal plants, Irulars, Javadhu hills. Introduction India is one of the leading countries in Asia in terms of ethnomedicinal traditional knowledge systems, relating to the use of medicinal plant species and also known to harbor a rich biological and cultural diversity of higher plant species of which 7500 are known medicinal plants (Kala, 2005). India is in rich ethnic diversity with indigenous knowledge that has resulted in many ethnobotanical studies. There are over 537 different native groups in India with extensive knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants (Jain, 1991). Qualitative and 31

2 quantitative field survey resulted in collection of many specific native plant species (Ignacimuthu et al., 1998). A study indicates that the local inhabitants depend on local medicinal plants for the treatment of many diseases (David and Sudarsanam, 2011). Irulars are tribal community living in different parts of India; one of their habitats is in the North Arcot district of Tamil Nadu which includes Kancheepurum, Thiruvallur, Thiruvannamalai, Vellore, Villupuram and Dhrumapuri districts. Their population in these regions is estimated to be at least 25,000 in number. Anthropological study states that Irulars belong to the Negrito or Negroid race, which is one of the six main ethnic groups that add to the racial mosaic of India. Negroids from Africa were the oldest people to have come to India. These people are now found in patches among the hill tribes of South India in the names of Irulars, Kodars, Paniyans and Kurumbas on the mainland. Unlike the survivors in the Andaman Islands who have retained their language, Irulars in Thiruvallur district have adopted the local regional languages, namely Tamil and Telugu. They are living as a long and trans generational interaction with nature. There are several reports on the documentation of ethnic knowledge for the utilization of ethnomedicinal plants for various aliments by Irulars tribes in Andhra Pradesh (Hemadri et al., 1987a & b; Prakasa Rao and Hara sriramulu, 1985; Seshagiri Rao and Hemadri, 1984; Venkanna, 1990). But this type of work in Tamil Nadu is very meager, so it is more important to explore the medicinal flora of Tamil Nadu state. Materials and Methods Javadhu hills is one of the natural bioreserves of Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu. This hill lies between and East longitude and and North Latitude with an area of 2405 square km. Javadhu hill ranges from the North to South attaining a maximum length of 64 kms and a width of 25 kms and spread within taluks of Pollur, Chengum, Thiruppatthur, Vaniyampadi, Tiruvannamalai and Vellore. This is considered to be the highest mountain in Vellore district, which covers the eastern part of Tiruppatthur Taluk. The elevation of the Javadhu hills is 2500 feet above mean sea level with peaks rising up to 4200 feet. Frequent field trips were conducted for ethnobotanical studies from August 2011 to December Ethnobotanical datas were collected using questionnaires, interviews and discussion 32

3 among the Irular tribes settled in Javadhu hills. 25 members responded to the interview among them most of them were elderly people who had wide knowledge and hands on experience and practice on use of medicinal plants for treating various diseases. The collected plants were botanically identified using the Flora of Presidency of Madras (Gamble, 1935) and the Flora of Tamil Nadu Carnatic (Mathew, 1983). Some plants were identified in the field itself along with some of the members of the local community who already were using those plants for traditional medicine. Herbarium specimens were deposited in the Department of Botany, Arignar Anna Govt. Arts College, Villupuram Results and Discussion The ethnomedicinal plants survey of Javadhu hills of Tamil Nadu showed that many number of medicinal plants were traditionally used by the Irular Tribes for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, 30 plant species belongs to 13 families were reported and arranged alphabetically, with tamil name and family name (followed APG III-classification (2009) for family names) and parts used were given in Table 1. Ethnomedicinal practitioners of Irular tribes are using these plants to cure skin diseases, stomach problems, diabetes, urinary infections, fever, cough, cold, snakebites, earache, killing of worms, hair growth, headache, indigestion, itches, swellings, wounds and dental problems. Most of indegenious people interviewed were traditional healers who were familiar with the medicinal plants and they use these plants for treating common ailments like cold, cough, fever, digestive problems, headache, skin infection, like other rural and tribal communities (Lev and Amar, 2000; Katewa et al., 2004; Ghorbani, 2005; Teklehaymanot et al., 2006; Pattanaik et al., 2008). References APG III An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group Classification for the Order and Families of Flowering Plants. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 16: David, B.C. and Sudarsanam, G Ethnomedicinal plant knowledge and practice of people of Javadhu hills in Tamilnadu. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, S79-S81. Gamble, J.S The Flora of Presidency of Madras. Adlard and son, Ltd., London. Ghorbani, A Studies on Pharmaceutical Ethno Botany in the Region of Turkmen Sahra, North of Iran (Part 1): General Results. J. Ethnopharmacol., 102:

4 Hemadri, K., Sarma, C.R.R. and Rao, S.S. 1987a. Medicinal Plant wealth of Andhra Pradesh Part-I. Ancient science of life, 6(3): Hemadri, K., Sarma, C.R.R. and Rao, S.S. 1987b. Medicinal Plant wealth of Andhra Pradesh Part II. Ancient science of life, 7(3): Ignacimuthu, S., Sankarasivaraman, K. and Kesavan, L Medicoethnobotanical survey among Kanikar Tribals of Mundanthurai Sanctuary. Fitoterapia, 69: Jain, S.K Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and Ethnobotany, Deep Publication, Delhi. Kala, C.P Current Status of Medicinal Plants used by Traditional Vaidyas in Uttaranchal State of India. Ethnobot. Res. Appl., 3: Katewa, S.S., Choudhari, B.L. and Jain, A Folk herbal medicines from tribal areas of Rajasthan, India. J. Ethnopharmacol., 92: Lev, E. and Amar, Z Ethnopharamcological Survey of Traditional Drugs Sold in Israel at the End of 20th Century. J. Ethnopharmacol., 72: Matthew, K.M The Flora of the Tamil Nadu Carnatic, Vol. I - III. The Rapinat Herbarium, St Joseph s College, Tiruchirapalli, India. Pattanaik, C., Sudhakar Reddy, C. and Murthy, M.S.R An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by Didayi tribe of Malkangiri district of Orissa, India. Fitoterapia, 79: Prakash Rao, K. and Hara sreeramulu, S Ethnobotany of selected medicinal plants of srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. Ancient science of Life, 4(4): Seshagiri Rao, R. and Hemadri, K Andhra Pradeshlo Mandhy mokkalu, Telugu Academy, Hyderabad. Teklehaymanot, T., Giday, M., Medhin, G. and Mekonnen, Y Knowledge and Use of Medicinal Plants by People Around Debre Libanos Monastery in Ethiopia. J. Ethnopharmacol., 111: Venkanna, P Medicinal plant wealth of Kurnool district (Andhra Pradesh) - A preliminary survey. Ancient science of Life, 102:

5 Table 1. Medicinal plants used for the treatment of disease by Irular tribal people of Javadhu hills, Easter Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India S. No. 1 Botanical Name Family Local Name Ethnomedicinal Uses Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae Vellai kuntumani 2 Acalypha indica L. Euphorbiaceae Kuppamani Root is ground with water and the juice is taken orally 3 times a day for 3 days to cure dry cough. Decoction of plant is used for throat pain. 3 Achyranthes bidentata Blume Amaranthaceae Kadaladi 4 Andragraphis echioides L. Acanthaceae Malaithangi 5 Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f) Wall. 6 Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth. Acanthaceae Acanthaceae Siriyanangai Murivu porunthi Leaf is fired and the ash is mixed with water and small quantity of salt and the mixture is taken orally to cure cholera, testis pain and swellings. Leaf is ground into a paste and taken orally to get relief from chest pain. All parts of the plant is ground in to a paste and applied topically to treat snake bite. Leaf is ground into a paste and applied or taken orally to treat bone fracture and deep cuts. 7 Caralluma attenuata Wt. Apocynaceae 8 Catharanthus pusillus (Murray) G. Don. 9 Centella asiatica (L.) Urban Apocynaceae Apicaceae Kallimuliyaan, Kalliperandai Melagainankai Vallarai Fresh leaves are taken orally at empty stomach to cure bone fracture. Whole plant parts are ground into a paste and taken orally in empty stomach 3 times a day for 3 days to treat ulcer and stomach pain. Leaf juice is taken orally for blood purification, blood clot and appendices. Leaf paste is applied on fore head and a little portion on the right leg big toe for men; and for women applied on 35

6 10 Cleome viscosa L. Cleomaceae Peikaduku the fore head and little portion on the left leg big toe to treat head ache, toothache and swelling in teeth. 11 Clitoria ternatea L. Fabaceae Neela kakkanam Leaf is ground into juice applied over the part of thorn pricked in hand and 12 Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. Poaceae Sukkunari 13 Datura innoxia L. Solanaceae Oomatthai 14 Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Fabaceae Athimathuram 15 Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) Schultes 16 Hedyotis puberula (G.Don) R.Br. ex Arn. 17 Leucas aspera (Willd.) L ink. leg. Whole plant parts are mixed with water and the juice is taken orally to get relief from headache, body pain and rheumatism. Root is ground with water and the obtained juice is taken orally 3 times a day for a week to cure rabies. Root is boiled with water and taken orally to treat cough and cold. Apocynaceae Sirukurinchan The leaf powder is taken orally to cure jaundice. Leaf is ground with tender Rubiaceae Theevanki coconut or coconut oil and taken orally as well as applied on the site of burns. Lamiaceae Thumpai 18 Mimosa pudica L. Fabaceae Manivatti 19 Ocimum americanum L. Lamiaceae Pachai Thulasi 20 Pergularia daemia Forssk. Apocynaceae Veleparathi 21 Phyllanthus amarus L. Phyllanthaceae Keezhanelli Leaf juice is mixed with common salt and taken orally to cure indigestion in children. Leaf juice is mixed with castor oil and the decoction is taken orally to cure piles. Leaf juice is boiled with pepper and the decoction is taken orally to cure severe head ache and fever. Leaf juice is mixed with egg and taken orally to cure stomach ache and ulcer. Whole plant parts are ground into a paste and taken orally 3 times a day for 3days to treat jaundice Leaf is boiling with coconut 36

7 22 Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng 23 Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex. Kurz. Lamiaceae Navara pachilai oil and applied on head to control running nose and cough. Apocynaceae Sarpagandha, Aval pori Tuber is made into a paste and applied topically to cure all types of poison bites. Leaf is ground into juice and taken orally in empty 24 Solanum americanum L. Solanaceae Manatthkkali stomach to cures ulcer mouth wound and stomach pain. 25 Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae Kutty thakkali Leaf juice is taken orally to 26 Solanum virginianum L. Solanaceae Kandan kathirikai 27 Tridax procumbens L. Asteraceae Murian pachilai 28 Tylophora indica L.f. Apocynaceae Nancharutthan Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. Asteraceae Kucheri kuuttam Wrighita tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br. Apocynaceae Veppalai treat stomach problems. Shade dried leaves made into powder and boiled with castor oil. The mixture is taken orally and applied externally to treat all types of skin diseases. Leaf juice is applied over affected places to cure cuts. Root and leaves are ground with cow s milk and taken orally to cure jaundice. Leaf juice is mixed with coconut oil and applied over head to remove dandruffs. Tuber is ground with human saliva and applied over boils. Leaf juice is applied over the affected places to cure all types of eye diseases. Latex is applied topically to get relief from any thorn pricked in hand or leg. 37