toothache, stomach ache, wounds, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, dysentery, ..... Tribulus terrestris, Aerva lanata, Adina cordifolia Hook F, Cassia auriculata L.
Global Journal of Pharmacology 6 (1): 47-51, 2012 ISSN 1992-0075 © IDOSI Publications, 2012
Traditional Medication of Pachamalai Hills, Tamilnadu, India Anusha Bhaskar and Lalit R. Samant Department of Biotechnology PRIST University, Vallam, Thanjavur 613-403, India Abstract: An ethno botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribes in Pachamalai Hills, Trichy district, Tamil Nadu. The investigation revealed that, the traditional healers used 66 species of plants distributed in 64 genera and 42 families were used to treat various diseases. The documented medicinal plants were used to cure different ailments such as skin problems, cold, fever, cough, headache, diarrhoea, fertility problems, toothache, stomach ache, wounds, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, dysentery, small pox, bone fractures, ear ache, hair loss and poison (snake, scorpion and insect) bites etc. This study showed that the Malayali tribes still continue to depend on medicinal plants, however the traditional healers are on the decline because the younger members of the tribe have no interest and knowledge of this form of medicine as they have started moving towards the towns and cities. Therefore it is necessary to document the plants to effectively conserve them. Key words: Malayali Tribes % Pachamalai Hills % Ethnomedicine INTRODUCTION
and practice, it has become an effective way of accumulation of rich knowledge on medicinal plants and usage of other natural resources among them [5]. The traditional healers are dwindling in number and there is grave danger of traditional knowledge disappearing as the younger generation is not interested to carry on this tradition. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the scientific community to document it for availability to the whole world. The present study was undertaken to explore the medicinal plant use for various disease and disorders by gathering knowledge from the Malayali tribes of Pachamalai hills.
The knowledge of medicinal plants has been accumulated in the course of many centuries based on different medicinal systems such as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. In India, it is reported that traditional healers use 2500 plant species and 100 species of plants serve as regular sources of medicine [1]. As a consequence of this long experience and practice, it has become an effective way of accumulation of rich knowledge on medicinal plants and usage of other natural resources among them [2]. Use of herbal medicines in Asia represents a long history of human interactions with the environment. Plants used for traditional medicine contain a wide range of substances that can be used to treat chronic as well as infectious diseases. A vast knowledge of how to use the plants against different illnesses may be expected to have accumulated in areas where the use of plants is still of great importance [3]. The state of Tamil Nadu having 36 scheduled tribes; the different ethnic groups settled throughout this place have their own way of life style even in using the plant resources. Tribes are mostly mingled with the forest ecosystem assisting the native societies to “live in harmony with nature” [4]. The tribes have developed their own traditional ways of diagnosis and treatment of diseases by trial and error and fulfil their basic requirements in this regard from the nearby forest. As a consequence of this long experience
MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was undertaken in the Pachamalai hills, located between the districts of Tiruchirappalli and Salem, Tamilnadu, South India. The hill is situated 2000 to a3000 feet above mean sea level and lies between 78.31’ East and 11.28’ North latitude. The total area is 14,122 sq. km. The ethnobotanical survey was conducted among the Malayali tribe population of age varying between 30-75 years. Ethnobotanical data were collected according to the methodology [6]. The data were collected through questionnaire, interviews and discussion among tribal practitioners in their local language. The medicinal uses of the plants and the parts used were also documented.
Corresponding Author: Anusha Bhaskar, Department of Biotechnology PRIST University, Vallam, Thanjavur 613 403, India.
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Global J. Pharmacol., 6 (1): 47-51, 2012
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The present study observed that people of both tribal and rural is mostly affected by different kinds of ailments such as asthma, jaundice, dysentery, cough, fever, stomach troubles, skin diseases, etc. these medicinal plants are utilized as whole or their parts in the form of paste, extract, powder and decoction [7]. Tribal population has good knowledge about the use of many plants [8]. Traditional healers, use their eyes, ear, nose and hands to diagnose the diseases, this way of diagnosis interesting because they live in interior areas and lack the use of modern scientific equipment for treatment, they however treat diseases using medicinal plants [9]. Herbal medicines prescribed by tribal healers are either preparation based on single plant part or a combination of several plant parts. Dissemination of the knowledge of medicinal property would improve the socioeconomic status of the Malayali tribe. Parts of the plants used by these communities vary from plant to plant. The therapeutic
The Malayali tribe preferred to use native plants with medicinal properties. A total of 66 species belonging to 64 genera and 42 families were observed which shows useful medicinal properties. Table 1 represents for all species botanical name, family, local name, parts used and ailments treated. Traditional healers are using these plants to cure diseases related to skin problems, cold, fever, cough, headache, diarrhoea, fertility problems, toothache, stomach ache, wounds, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, dysentery, small pox, bone fractures, earache, hair loss and poison (snake, scorpion and insect) bites etc. The plant parts which are used for medicinal purpose are fresh if not available then dried parts are also used. Leaves, fruits, seeds, bark, rhizome, inflorescences, the whole plant are used as per the need. People use more than one plant as mixture or separately.
Table 1: List of medicinally important plants used by the Malayalis tribes in Pachamalai Hills S.No
Botanical Name
Family
Local Name
1 2
Abrus precatorius L. Abutilon indicum G. Don
Fabaceae Malvaceae
Vellai kundu mani Stomach pain Thuthi Piles
Decoction of seed taken orally. Roots taken orally along with onion
3 4
Acacia nilotica Willd Acacia torta(Roxb.) Craib.
Mimosaceae Mimosaceae
Karuvelam Seeva keerai
Toothache Stomachache
Young stem is used as toothbrush Leaves cooked with onion taken as food
5
Aerva lanata
Amaranthaceae Siru peelai
Cough
Juice of whole plant plants is taken orally to treat cough, score throat and wounds
6 7
Acalypha indica L. Aegle marmelos L.
Euphorbiaceae Rutaceae
Insect bite Eye disease
Leaf extract applied externally to treat snake bite Juice of leaf extract applied externally
8
corr. Serr. Andrographus panniculata
Euphorbiaceae
Nilavembu
Hepatoprotective
Juice of leaf taken orally
9 10
Acorus calamus L. Adina cordifolia Hook F
Araceae Rubiaceae
Vasambu Manjal kadambai
Throat infection Stomachache
Dried rhizome is given orally Fresh bark is ground with brown sugar and
11
Alpinia calcarata Rosc
Zingiberaceae
Arathi poo
Growth
Dried rhizome mixed with water and given orally
12 13
Alstonia scholaris L Amaranthus spinosus L
Apocynaceae Amaranthaceae
Paalooram pattai Mullu keerai
Lactation Stomach ulcer
Powder of stem given orally. Paste of leaves taken along with food
14 15
Anisomeles malabarica Annona squamosa L.
Lamiaceae Annonaceae
Paei miratti Seetha
Wounds Hepatoprotective,
Paste of stem applied with coconut oil to cure wounds Paste of leaves taken orally
Asparagus racemosus
Papaveraceae
Biramdhandu
Wound
Stem bark with other medicinal plants boiled
Kuppaimeni Vilvam
Ailments
Medicinal use and method of preparation
taken internally
16
Willd.
with water and the decoction thus obtained is
17
Azadirachta indica A
Meliaceae
Vembu
Skin disease
taken orally to heal wounds Leaf paste applied externally with some
18
Bambusa arundinacea
Bambusaceae
Moongil
Nervous disorder
other medicinal plants The shoot tip is used to treat nervous disorders.
19
Willd Cassia auriculata L
Caesalpiniaceae Aavaaram
Diabetes
Leaves extract orally
20
Carissa carandas L.
Apocynaceae
Kalakka
Fever
Decoction of leaves
21
Calotrophis gigantea L.
Asclepiadaceae
Eruku
Elephantiasis
The root bark, reduced to a paste with sour conjee
22
Centella asiatica L
Apiaceae
Vallarai
Wound
(rice vinegar), is applied Decoction applied topically along with coconut oil
23 24
Cissus quadrangualris L. Coccinia indica W.
Vitaceae Cucurbitaceae
Pirandai Kovai
Wound Diabetes
Leaf paste applied topically Fruit is consumed orally
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Global J. Pharmacol., 6 (1): 47-51, 2012 Table 1: Continued 25
Costus speciosus
Zingiberaceae
Koshtam
Wound
26 27
Dioscorea oppositifolia L Eclipta prostrate L
Dioscoreaceae Asteraceae
Stomach Ulcer Jaundice
28
Euphorbia antiquorum L
Euphorbiaceae
Valli kilangu Manjal karisalangannai Sathura kalli
29 30
Ficus racemosa L. Moraceae Hemidesinus indicus Hook f Asclepiadaceae
Atthi Nannari
Urinary trouble Body cool
31
Gymnema sylvestre R.Br
Sirukurinjan
Asclepiadaceae
Diabetes
32
Justicia adhotoda L.
Acanthaceae
Adathoda
33
Leucas aspera (Willd.)
Lamiaceae
Thumbai
Diarrhea, dysentery Throat infection
34
Mangifera indica
Anacardiaceae
Mangai
35
Rutaceae
36
Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel Morinda tinctoria Roxb.
Rubiacaeae
Karuveppilai, Karivempu Nunamaram
37 38 39
Mucana pruriens Ocimum bailicum L. Nerium oleander L.
Fabaceae Lamiaceae Apocynaceae
Poonai kali Puliyarai Arali
40
Pergularia daemia Forsk.
Asclepiadaceae
Uttamani
41 42
Piper nigrum L. Phyllanthus amarus Schu and Thonn. Phyllanthus emblica L. Plumbago zeylanica
Piperaceae Euphorbiaceae
Milagu Keelanelli
43 44
Gastro-intestinal disorders, Vomiting Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease Snake bite Pimples and acne Ear achaea Stomach ulcers and menstrual cramps Snake bite Diabetes
Fresh leaf juice mixed with turmeric powder is applied externally to cure throat infection Half-ripe fruit eaten with salt and honey Juice taken tender leaves is taken orally to arrest vomiting. Fruit juice taken orally
Leaf extract Leaf paste applied on the skin Juice prepared from the stem bark is boiled with gingelly oil Juice of leaves taken orally
Flower paste with ghee, orally Leaves extract externally
Omavalli chedi
Punicaceae Rubiaceae
Skin disease and burns Pungam Ringworm infection Mathulai Dysentery Kalutharupan chedi Wound
Saccharum officinarum L.
Poaceae
Karumbu
Dried bark powder is gently fried in coconut oil and the extract is applied externally Young buts, shoots and fruits are chewed Fresh roots or fresh tender shoot is made into paste; paste is applied externally Juice of stem taken orally
50 51
Santalum album L. Spermacoce hispida
Santalaceae Rubiaceae
Santhana maram Nathaichuri
52
Sphaeranthus indicus
Asteraceae
Kottai kkarantai
53
Solanum surettense Burm. F. Spilanthes acmella Murr
Solanaceae
Kandankathiri
Laxative and diuretic Skin disease Shoot paste applied externally Stomach problems Seeds are crushed into paste and taken orally to treat stomach problem. Skin disease Leaf, Flower and seeds, Flower are ground into paste Seeds and applied topically to treat skin disease. Leprosy Root made into paste applied externally
Asteraceae
Manjal Poo chedi
Skin diseases
Lamiaceae
46
Plectranthus coleoides Bent Mudupattani Pongamia pinnata L.
47 48
Punica granatum L. Rubia cordifolia L.
49
54
Fabaceae
Snake bite Leprosy
The stem is heated on fire and the juice thus obtained is topically applied. Fruit juice is taken Root Juice extracted from the whole plants is taken internally to keep the body cool Extract of leaves is stimulant, diuretic, cardiovascular and hypoglycemic and has purgative action. Leaf juice given orally
Fruit juice orally, Root, made into paste with milk and salt is applied for leprosy. Leaf paste applied once in two days
45
Euphorbiaceae Aranelli Plumbaginaceae Kodiveli
Wound
Leaf of this plant is mixed with the leaves of Cynodon dactylon, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Canna indica and stem bark of Punica granatum. The juice extracted from this mixture is applied topically on affected places to heal wounds Root chewed whole Juice of leaves and flowers taken for 1 month
49
Roots flower made into paste
Global J. Pharmacol., 6 (1): 47-51, 2012 Table 1: Continued 55 56
Syzygium cumini L. Tamarindus indica
Myrtaceae Naval palam Caesalpiniaceae Pulia maram
Diabetic Eye infection
57 58
Combretaceae Kaddukai Menispermaceae Seenthil
59 60
Terminalia chebula Retz. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Trainthema portulacastrum Tribulus terrestris
Leaves extract orally Dried fruits are 2-phenylacelde taken orally to treat eye infections Digestive, aphrodisiac Fruit, bark peel Wound Leaf paste is applied topically
Aizoaceae Soaranai Zygophyllaceae Nerunchimul
Rheumatism Urinary troubles
61
Vitex negundo L.
Verbenaceae
Nochi
Cold, headache
62
Wattakaka volubitis cooke
Magnoliaceae
Kurinjan notchi
Rheumatic pain
63 64
Ziziphus oenoplia Mill Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br
Rhamnaceae Apocynaceae
Churipala chedi Vetpalai
Dysentery Indigestion
Stem and roots are crushed and the extract is used The fruit and roots are mixed with boiled raw rice, taken orally to prevent white discharge in women and to treat urinary troubles Leaves are boiled in vapor is inhaled twice a day to get relief from headache, fever, cold and cough Leaf Paste is applied topically for rheumatic pain, cough, fever Fruit extract orally Juice of seeds taken orally
Table 2: Classification of the plants which were used for particular disease by tribes S.No
Common diseases
Plants used to treat1
2 3 4 5
Asthma Body cool Cough Eye infection Fever
6
Stomach problem
7 8
Snake bites Urinary troubles
9
Skin disease
10 11 12 13
Vomiting hematuria Diabetes Jaundice
14 15 16 17
Leprosy Gonorrhoea Vesical calculi Helminthic infection
18 19 20
Acne Fungal infection Dysentery
21 22 23 24
Menorrhagea Diarrhoea Sexually Transmitted Disease Bacterial infection
Traintherma portulacastrum, Nerium oleander L. Sphaeranthus indicus, Solanum surettense Hemidesinus indicus L. Aerva lanata, Leucas aspera (Willd.) Tamarindus indica Wattakaka volubitis cooke, Vitex negundo, Abutilon indicum G. Don, Adina cordifolia Hook F, lstonia scholaris L., Justicia adhotoda L. Leucas aspera (Willd.), Phyllanthus amarus Schu and Thonn. Pongamia pinnata L. Spermacoce hispida, Aegle marmelos L. corr. Serr. Cocos nucifera L. Gymnema sylvestre R.Br, Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel Andrographics paniculata, Abrus Precatorius, Eclipta prostrate L. Tribulus terrestris, Aerva lanata, Adina cordifolia Hook F, Cassia auriculata L. Costus speciosus, Hemidesinus indicus Hook f, Pongamia pinnata L. Sphaeranthus indicus, Adina cordifolia Hook F, Leucas aspera (Willd.), Piper nigrum L. Plumbago zeylanica, Manjal Poo chedi Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel, Sphaeranthus indicus Abutilon indicum G. Don Abrus precatorius L. Cassia auriculata L. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Abrus precatorius L. Cassia auriculata L, Dioscorea oppositifolia L. Justicia adhotoda L. Costus speciosus, Gymnema sylvestre R.Br, Phyllanthus amarus Schu and Thonn. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.), Trainthema portulacastrum, Pongamia pinnata L. Solanum surettense Abrus precatorius L. Aerva lanata Acalypha indica L. Azadirachta indica A, Coccinia indica W. Costus speciosus, Solanum surettense Burm. F. Terminalia chebula Retz. Andrographus panniculata Azadirachta indica A, Trainthema portulacastrum, Vitex negundo L Aegle marmelos L. corr. Serr. Alstonia scholaris L, Adina cordifolia Hook F, Justicia adhotoda L.Phyllanthus amarus Schu and Thonn. Phyllanthus emblica L. Sphaeranthus indicus, Spilanthes acmella Murr. Ziziphus oenoplia Mill Acacia nilotica Willd Aegle marmelos L. corr. Serr. Alstonia scholaris L. Justicia adhotoda L. Mangifera indica Acacia nilotica Willd Andrographus panniculata, Azadirachta indica A, Cocos nucifera L. Centella asiatica L. Vitex negundo L
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Global J. Pharmacol., 6 (1): 47-51, 2012
uses of plant species reported here having less information on their phytochemical study. So, further studies on chemical and pharmacological actions are suggested to validate the claims. The present data on the ethno-medicinal plants will aid in conservation, cultivation of traditional medicine and economic welfare of population [10]. It is clear from the present study that the collected plants were commonly used for treatment of various diseases by the Malayali tribes (Table 2). Herbal medicines prescribed by tribal healers are either preparation based on single plant part or a combination of several plant parts.
4.
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CONCLUSION The present study revealed the utilization of 66 species of plants in ethnomedicine by the Malayali tribes of Pachamalai Hills (Trichy District) of Tamil Nadu. The forests of Pachamalai Hills are rich in medicinal plants which can be explored further to get useful information for drug preparation. Traditional knowledge is known to elder people of tribe if it is not documented properly it may get lost with old generation. REFERENCES 1.
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