Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 8(2), April 2009, pp. 196-200
Indigenous knowledge of using medicinal plants in treating skin diseases in Kanyakumari district, Southern India C Kingston1, S Jeeva2, GM Jeeva1, S Kiruba3, BP Mishra2 & D Kannan4* 1
Post Graduate Studies & Research Centre in Botany, Scott Christian College, Nagercoil 629 003, Tamil Nadu; 2Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, North–Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793 022, Meghalaya; 3Post Graduate Studies & Research Centre in Zoology, Scott Christian College, Nagercoil 629 003, Tamil Nadu; 4 Centre for Environmental Studies, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ettimadai, Coimbatore 641 105, Tamil Nadu E-mail:
[email protected] Received 24 August 2006; revised 24 November 2007 Plant species used in the treatment of skin diseases among the indigenous communities of Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu was conducted between 2003-2004. Thirty plant species belonging to 29 genera and 22 families were found to be used specifically in the treatment of various 11 skin diseases viz., dandruff, eczema, impetigo, leprosy, parasite, psoriasis, rash, scabies, swellings, tinea cruris and tinea versicularis. The communities use 9 plant species invariably for the treatment of all kinds of skin diseases while 4 species are exclusively used to treat leprosy. Saraca asoca plant becomes vulnerable since it is frequently used for the treatment of scabies. Key words: Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine, Medicinal plants, Skin diseases, Kanyakumari IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K36/00, A61P1/02, A61P17/00, A61P17/02, A61P17/08
World Health Organization estimates over 80% of the people in developing countries depend on traditional medicines for their primary health needs1. Village communities from various ecosystems use largest proportion of biodiversity for human and veterinary healthcare. Of all different organisms, medicinal plants have been greatly considered by rural communities as they improve the economy of rural people2-3. India’s traditional system of medicine is related to richness of herbal plants biodiversity and cultural biodiversity. Indigenous knowledge on natural resources utilization of medicinal plants not exceeding the resilience of the surrounding environment is regarded as an important measure of sustainable plants biodiversity conservation4. Without proper documentation of such knowledge, the cultural heritage is loosing and also the exploitation by the patent rights, communities and the countries, who invented the material and the process have been facing shortfall in this regard. When such indigenous knowledge is being lost, people are forced to change their livelihoods often cause severe environmental degradation5-10. An attempt was made to explore the traditional healthcare system of using medicinal ___________ * Corresponding author
plants by the community of Kanyakumari district for the treatment of various types of skin problems and ailments. Kanyakumari district (77°05′–77°36′E and 8°03′8°35'N; 1829 m asl; 1672 sq km) of southern Peninsular India supports species rich tropical forest ecosystems because of it geographical location, stable geological history, equable climate and contains fertile soil. Mean annual rainfall ranges from 100-300 cm, which favours greatly to the farming. A large number of medicinally important plants are found in this region11. Topographically, this district may be broadly classified into three regions, viz. coastal, middle and mountainous regions12. The climate is favourable for agriculture and rainfall varies from 103-310 cm13. The edapho-climatic conditions of this area support high plant diversity and regarded as a treasure house of traditional medicinal wisdom. The medicinal plant wealth of this area has not been explored to a desired level. Previously, inventory of medicinal plants of Kanyakumari district have been made11,14-16. Extensive study in relation to medicinal flora of the area has not been carried out so far and in particular, there is a paucity of information on medicinal plants traditionally used in skin diseases17−31. In view of the above, the study was
KINGSTON et al.: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE FOR TREATING SKIN DISEASES IN KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT
carried out with an aim to document medicinal plants of Kanyakumari district, used for the treatment of various kinds of skin diseases. The information generated from the study will provide a needful dimension for developing conservation strategy for important medicinal plant species of this region. Exploring the medicinal plants to a desired pace leads to sustainable utilization of plant resources. Methodology An ethnobotanical survey for using medicinal plants in using skin treatments at Kanyakumari district was carried out during 2003–2004. The information on plants used as traditional medicine against skin diseases was gathered an ethnobotanical survey based on interviews with local people involved in traditional herbal medicine practices. The medicinal property of plants was confirmed by similar uses from at least 5 informants. Plant specimens collected from the field with their local names were identified with the help of regional and local floras32−37. The voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of Botany Department (SCH), Scott Christian College, Nagercoil for future reference. Enumeration The following plant species were identified for their use in traditional healthcare system against various skin diseases. The enumeration of plants contains botanical name, family name, local name and uses. Acorus calamus Linn. (Araceae); Vasampu Uses: Pounded rhizomes along with Curcuma aromatica rhizomes and Azadiracta indica leaves are applied twice a day, after bathing and before bedtime for one week against eczema. Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Corr. (Rutaceae); Vilvam Uses: Fruits crushed with seeds of Strychnos nuxvomica, Pongamia pinnata and boiled with coconut oil is applied on the affected parts to cure scabies and other similar skin diseases twice a day, till cured. Anacardium occidentale Linn. (Anacardiaceae); Kollamaram Uses: Powdered bark mixed with honey is taken orally once a day for six months against leprosy. Andrographis Nilavembu
paniculata
Nees.
(Acanthaceae);
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Uses: Leaf juice mixed with cow milk is taken orally twice a day for six to eight days to cure tinea cruris. Argemone mexicana Linn. (Papaveraceae); Premathandu Uses: Pounded seeds along with rhizomes of Curcuma aromatica and Acorus calamus made into paste are applied on all kinds of skin diseases twice a day till recovery. Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Liliaceae); Thannervittankizhangu Uses: Tuber along with the leaves of Plumbago indica made into paste is applied on skin diseases once a day till cured. Azadiracta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae); Vembu Uses: Flowers boiled in gingili oil (Sesamum indicum) is applied on head against dandruff once days in the morning after taking bath till recovery. Cassia alata Linn. (Fabaceae); Seemai Agathi Uses: Pounded leaves, coconut oil and bee wax made into paste is applied on the affected parts to cure tinea versicularis once daily in night before bed time for four days. Cassia auriculata Linn. (Caesalpiniaceae); Avarai Uses: Dried leaf paste in vinegar is applied on skin diseases once a day till cured. Clerodendron inerme Gaertn. (Verbenaceae); Changukuppy Uses: Leaf juice mixed with bee wax, resins of Vateria indica and seeds of Nigella sativa, made into a paste is kept in a hot water bath and cooled before use. It is applied once a day before bed time till the recovery to cure various skin diseases. Clitoria ternatea Linn. (Fabaceae); Shankupuspham Uses: Leaf juice is given orally twice a day for six days to cure scabies. Corallocarpus epigaeus Hk. f. (Cucurbitaceae); Kurudankizhangu Uses: Tubers boiled in coconut oil is applied once a day for six months on the affected parts to cure leprosy. Crinum defixum Ker. (Amaryllidaceae); Vishanarayani Uses: Pounded bulbs mixed with hot water is given orally twice a day for three days for curing tinea cruris.
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Curcuma aromatica Sal. (Zingiberaceae); Kasturimanjal Uses: Rhizomes and Terminalia chebula seeds made into paste is applied on the affected parts twice a day till the recovery to cure impetigo.
Phyla nodiflora (Linn.) Greene. (Verbenaceae); Poduthalai Uses: Paste prepared from leaf juice mixed with equal volume of gingili oil and boiled is applied twice a week on head to remove dandruff.
Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers. (Poaceae); Arukampullu Uses: Pounded leaves boiled in coconut oil is applied once a day till the cure for various kinds of skin diseases.
Piper betle Linn. (Piperaceae); Vettilai Uses: Leaves pounded with Allium sativum bulbs is applied on the affected parts once a day in the morning after bath to cure tinea versicularis.
Datura metel Linn. (Solanaceae); Ummattai Uses: Leaf juice along with Curcuma aromatica rhizomes made into a paste is applied against swellings for fast relief till the swelling reduces. Euphorbia hirta Linn. (Euphorbiaceae); Ammanpaccharisi Uses: Latex is applied against skin parasites twice a day till cured. Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. (Fabaceae); Atimaturam Uses: Paste prepared from pounded stem and Withania somnifera roots is applied on the affected parts once a day for one year to cure leucoderma and other skin diseases. Hygrophila auriculata (Schum.) Heine. (Acanthaceae); Neermulli Uses: Dried leaf powder mixed with castor oil is applied twice a day till the recovery on the affected parts to cure skin diseases. Indigofera aspalathoides Vahl. (Fabaceae); Sivanarvembu Uses: Powdered bark mixed with coconut oil is applied twice a day for six months on the affected parts to cure leprosy. Lawsonia inermis Linn. (Lythraceae); Maruthani Uses: Leaf paste is applied twice a day till it is cured on the affected parts to cure impetigo. Madhuca longifolia (Koenig) Macbride. (Sapotaceae); Eluppai Uses: Pounded seeds mixed with leaf extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum are applied on the affected parts twice a day to cure skin diseases. Ocimum tenuiflorum Linn. (Lamiaceae); Tulaci Uses: Leaves pounded with Curcuma aromatica rhizomes are applied on the affected parts once a day in the night before bed times to cure tinea versicularis.
Pongamia pinnata (Linn.) Pierre. (Fabaceae); Punkumaram Uses: Crushed bark paste boiled in gingili oil is applied on the affected parts twice a day for four days to cure rash. Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde. (Caesalpiniaceae); Asogam Uses: Paste prepared from dried flowers boiled with coconut oil and then cooled is applied thrice a day till cured with the help of cock feather against scabies. Terminalia bellerica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (Combretaceae); Tanrikkai Uses: Paste prepared from seeds pounded with the seeds of Terminalia chebula and Quercus infectoria and mixed with coconut oil is applied twice a day against rash. Trichosanthes lobata Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae); Peppudal Uses: Whole plant paste is applied once a day for one year on the affected parts to cure leprosy. Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R. Br. (Apocynaceae); Veppalai Uses: Pounded leaves mixed with coconut oil are applied twice a day against psoriasis. Results and discussion During the investigation, it was found that 30 plant species are used as herbal medicine for the treatment of skin diseases. Of 29 genera and 22 families of angiosperms, 12 species were trees, 6 shrubs, 15 herbs and 5 climbers. Fabaceae with 5 species ranked first, and was the dominant family followed by Acanthaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Cucurbitaceae and Verbenaceae with two species each. Majority of families (17) were monospecific. Nine species
KINGSTON et al.: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE FOR TREATING SKIN DISEASES IN KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT
namely, Aegle marmelos, Argemone mexicana, Asparagus racemosus, Cassia auriculata, Clerodendron inerme, Cynodon dactylon, Glycorrhiza glabra, Hygrophila auriculata and Madhuca longifolia are used to cure various kinds of skin diseases (Figs. 1-8). Saraca asoca was vulnerable species and people use powder of dried flower to cure scabies. Plants such as Asparagus racemosus, Azadiracta indica, Argemone mexicana and Datura metel are used for similar purposes in Uttar Pradesh, while Wrightia tinctoria is extensively used for psoriasis27,30. Anthropogenic disturbances such as unsustainable harvesting, cultivation practices and overexploitation lead to threat to such potential genetic resources. Such Anthropogenic pressures lead medicinal plants to decline drastically in its natural condition38. Removal of bark from Anacardium occidentale is prone to rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros) attack and resulted in severe mortality rate of the plants. The flower of Saraca asoca is extensively used for skin diseases among the indigenous people. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has red listed the species under the threat category globally vulnerable39. As per National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) report, the estimated requirement of Saraca asoca bark by the Indian pharmaceutical industries for the year 2004-'05 was about 10,724 tones with an annual growth rate of 15%40. The reduced population of Saraca asoca may be attributed to the poor seed set as affected by collection of flowers, and the difficulties in propagation42. Conclusion The findings of the study envisage that the herbal medicine have great potentiality to cure different kinds of skin diseases. The indigenous rural community depends on traditional healthcare system. About 80% of human population in India is using herbal medicine to cure different kinds of diseases43. The medicinal wealth of the region is not yet explored desirably. There is an ample scope of such kind of studies to gather the information on medicinal plants of Kanyakumari district. In addition to this, the ecologists should also pay much attention towards research studies on conservation status and population behaviour of such species. Undoubtedly, this will help in developing an appropriate strategy for conservation of important plant species of the region, and also to preserve genetic diversity.
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Acknowledgement Authors gratefully acknowledge Prof A Deva Sobhana Raj for his valuable suggestions and encouragement during the course of the study. Authors are thankful to Dr GS Regini Balasingh, Head, Department of Botany, Scott Christian College, Nagercoil, for extending facilities to complete this work successfully and effectively. References 1
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