abstract: ch in biology - jresearchbiology.com noi sathu marunthu malaccikkal mana aluttam...

Article Citation: Venkatachalapathi A, Sangeeth Thekkan and Paulsamy S Ethnobotanical informations on the species of selected areas in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the Western Ghats, India. Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(A):043-057

Jou

rn

al of R

esearch

in

Biology

Ethnobotanical informations on the species of selected areas in Nilgiri

Biosphere Reserve, the Western Ghats, India

Keywords: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, ethnobotany, indigenous healers

ABSTRACT: An ethnobotanical study was conducted in certain selected areas of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) for a period of one year during December, 2013 to November, 2014. Five informants residing in the villages of different altitudes were interviewed for the information on medicinal plants generally prescribed by them. A total number of 53 species belonging to 30 families of various life-forms were enlisted with their medicinal uses. The data further revealed that 13 new claims were made for 11 species for the first time. Informant consensus factor to know the level of agreement among the informants on the use of various plant species to treat the diseases were grouped under 16 ailment categories. Use value for all the plants were prescribed and fidelity level for most prescribed species were calculated and described. Based on the informations derived, the species viz; Artemisia nilagirica, Corallocarpus epigaeus, Thalictrum javanicum, Hypochaeris radicata, Pueraria tuberosa, Decalepis hamiltonii and Cissus setosa are identified as the most important ethnobotanical species and so suggested for further evaluation to validate them scientifically and hence to use them so as to use them as source of pharmaceutical industries.

043-057| JRB | 2015| Vol 5 | No A

This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

www.jresearchbiology.com Journal of Research in Biology

An International

Scientific Research Journal

Authors:

Venkatachalapathi A,

Sangeeth Thekkan and

Paulsamy S.

Institution:

Department of Botany,

Kongunadu Arts and

Science College,

Coimbatore - 641 029.

Corresponding author:

Paulsamy S

Web Address: http://jresearchbiology.com/

documents/RA0512.pdf

Dates: Received: 04 Jan 2015 Accepted: 10 Feb 2015 Published: 12 May 2015

Journal of Research in Biology

An International Scientific Research Journal

Original Research

ISSN No: Print: 2231 –6280; Online: 2231- 6299

Progress in Ethno Medicine - Special Issue

INTRODUCTION

As per the World Health Organization (WHO)

report majority of the people in developing nations are

using plants for their primary health care due to

affordable cost (Calixto, 2005). Using of such plants for

medicinal purposes is mainly depending on traditional

knowledge of indigenous people in that countries (Sahai,

2003; Uniyal et al., 2006). Therefore, scientific

validation of medicinal plants, prescribed by the tribal

communities and local healers is getting more attraction

among the researchers of plant based drugs in the recent

years (Parthasarathy, 1995; Balasubramanian and Prasad,

1996). In addition, the ethnobotanical information

collected on plant species are offering reliable clues for

further research and hence justifying the traditional

knowledge (Anonymous, 1978; Jain and Goel, 1995).

India being a magadiversity country, holds long history

ethnobotany and traditional knowledge about therapeutic

uses of plants (Babu et al., 2006; Mishra et al., 2011).

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) of Western

Ghats, India is one of the well established protected areas

for biodiversity conservation and harbours rich variety of

plant species due to the existence of several varied

ecosystems. Owing to this tremendous bioresources, the

traditional knowledge gained by the ethnic communities

and other healers are also enormous and valuable as well

(Rajan et al., 2003; Pradheeps and Poyyamoli, 2013).

Despite several ethnobotanical studies (Abraham, 1981;

Rajan et al., 2003; Sharmila et al., 2014), information on

the basis of data analysis are meager for the medicinal

plants of NBR. To address this lacuna, the present study

was aimed to explore certain plants of ethnomedicinal

significance being distributed in the different vegetations

of NBR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Description of the study area and indigenous healers

NBR of Western Ghats (76°-77°15´E and 11°15´

-12°15´N) (Fig. 1) spreads over an area of about 5520

Km2 in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka

which encompasses many types of vegetation in different

altitudes like scrub jungles at the foot hills upto 500m

above msl, deciduous forests above 500 - 750 m above

msl, evergreen forests, grasslands and sholas between

1800 and 2200m above msl and aquatic vegetations in

specific localities all over the landscape. Thus, the

vegetation diversity results in the occurrence of high

species richness with varied features among their

populations both at morphological and physiological

levels (Paulsamy et al., 2008). The traditional healers of

this region are the indigenous people having long history

in herbal medical practice. Five traditional healers or

informants were indentified to collect the ethnomedicinal

informations by direct intragation or interviews. Among

them, one healer resides near Thotabetta, the high hills of

Nilgiris, where the grasslands, sholas and evergreen

forests are available; another in the village, Katteri

(1800 m above msl) where the moist semi-evergreen

forests are available and the remaining three in the

villages at the foot hills of Nilgiris viz; Thekkampatty,

Odanthurai and Kallar (around these villages, deciduous

forests and scrub jungles are present). These indigenous

people are doing medical practices since 5-8 generations

mainly for first aid remedies.

Collection of data on medicinal uses

During the study period of one year from

December, 2013 to November, 2014 each informant was

approached 3 times to get the informations on medicinal

uses of local plants which are being prescribed by them.

For this purpose, a datasheet has been maintained to

document all the details of the species gathered such as

local name, medicinal uses, parts used for the treatment,

preparation methods and mode of administration (Fig. 2).

‘The Flora of Presidency of Madras’ (Gamble, 1935) and

‘The Flora of Tamil Nadu Carnatic’ (Matthew, 1983)

were used for the identification of plant species.

Herbarium specimens were deposited in the Herbarium

of Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore for

Venkatachalapathi et al., 2015

044 Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(A): 043-057

further reference.

Ailment categories

Sixteen ailment categories were made on basis of

informations on medicinal uses gathered from the

informants in the study area viz., Circulatory System/

Cardiovascular Diseases (CSCD), Cooling Agent (CA),

Dental Care (DC), Dermatological Infections/Diseases

(DID), Ear, Nose, Throat Problems (ENT), Endocrinal

Disorders (ED), Fever (Fvr), Gastro-Intestinal Ailments

(GIA), General Health (GH), Genito-Urinary Ailments

(GUA), Hair Care (HC), Liver Problem (LP), Poisonous

Bite (PB), Respiratory System Diseases (RSD), Skeleto-

Muscular System Disorders (SMSD) and Insecticidal

Property (IC) (Table 1). In each ailment category many

diseases were included on the basis of body systems

treated.

Data processing

Informant Consensus Factor (Fic)

It was used to know if there was any consensus

in the use of plant species for the ailment categories

among the healers in the study area. This attribute was

calculated as per the following formula proposed by

Heinrich et al., (1998):

Where, Nur stands for the number of use-reports

for the particular ailment category and Nt stands for the

number of species prescribed by all informants for the

respective ailment category. Fic ranges between 0.1

and 1. High values close to 1 indicates the prescription of

relatively few species in large proportion of the

informants and the lower values show that the informants

have no consensus on the taxa to be prescribed in the

treatment within the category of diseases.

Use Value

The importance of the plant species in terms of

its usage in herbal remedy as per the prescription by

local healers is reported as Use Value (UV) and it was

calculated according to the following formula by

Phillips et al., (1994):

Where, UV is the use value of a species, ‘U’ is

the number of use-reports quoted by all informants for a

given species and ‘n’ is the total number of informants

interviewed for the same species. The UV is helpful in

determining the species with the highest use (most

frequently cited) in the treatment of an ailment. Use

values will be higher for the species of many use-reports

and it will be reverse for the species of few use-reports.

Fidelity Level (FL)

It was used to determine the most frequently

used plant species for treating a particular ailment

category by the informants of the study area. FL was

calculated as per the following formula of Friedmen

et al., (1986):

Where, ‘Np’ is the number of use-reports for a

particular ailment category cited for a particular species

and ‘N’ is the total number of use-reports cited for the

same species in all ailments categories. Generally, high

FLs will be obtained for the species for which majority

of use-reports are for the same way of using it. On the

other hand, low FLs will be obtained for the species that

are used for several purposes (Srithi et al., 2009).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total number of 53 species distributed in 49

genera belonging to 30 families were commonly

prescribed by the local healers of Nilgiris all over its

altitudinal stretches (Table 2). Among the families,

Asteraceae contributed higher number of 6 species

followed by Fabaceae, Cucurbitaceae and

Asclepiadaceae with 4 species each, and Amaranthaceae

and Acanthaceae with 3 species each to the medical

prescription by the healers of the study area. Early

reports also exhibited that the families like Asteraceae,

Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(A): 043-057 045


Np

N FL x 100

Σ U

n UV =

Σ U

n UV

Venkatachalapathi et al.,2015

046 Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(A):043-057

S. No. Ailment categories Biomedical terms Tamil terms

1. Circulatory System/ Cardiovascular Diseases (CSCD)

Blood purification Memory power Heart problem Hypotensive

Rattha sutthigarippu Gnabaga sakthi Idhaya noi Rattha alutta noi

2. Cooling Agent (CA) Body coolant Udal kulircchi 3. Dental Care (DC) Tooth ache Pal vali 4. Dermatological

Infections/Diseases (DID) Wound healing Skin diseases Antiinflammatory Antioxidant Scabies Antiseptic Eczema Itching

Kaayam Thol noi Alargi etirppu Puthunarchi Sori/sirangu Kirumi nacini Thol alargi Arippu/poocchikadi

5. Ear, Nose, Throat problems (ENT) Eye pain Ear pain

Kan vali Kathu vali

6. Endocrinal Disorders (ED) Diabetes Kidney stone Urinary problem Cystitis

Sarkkarai/neerilivu noi Siruneeraga kal Siruneeraga noi Siruneerpai alargi

7. Fever (Fvr) Fever Pneumonia Malaria

Kaichal Jani Murai/malaria kaichal

8. Gastro-Intestinal Ailments (GIA) Ulcer Stomachache Carminative Gastric complaints Digestion/Indigestion Dysentery Dyspepsia Diarrhea Cholera Vermifuge Intestinal worms Appetite

Vayitru pun Vayitru vali Iraippai kuṭal vali Vayvu kolaru Geeranam/ageeranam Seedhabaethi Cerimanaminmai Vayirrup pokku Kalara Pulukkolli Kutal pulukkal Paciyinmai

9. General Health (GH) Piles Tonic Constipation Depression Insomnia Obesity

Mula noi Sathu marunthu Malaccikkal Mana aluttam Tukkaminmai Udal paruman

10. Genito-Urinary Ailments (GUA) Delivery pain Menstrual problem Abortion Male fertility Venereal diseases Galactagogue Sexual problem

Pirasava vali Matavitay thontharavugal Karu kalaipu Anmai sakthi perukkuthal Paalvinai noi Thaai pallai urpathi pana Paliyal piraccanai

11. Hair Care (HC) Hair tonic Mudi valara 12. Liver Problem (LP) Jaundice

Liver infection Manajal kaamalai Kaleral thotru

13. Poisonous Bite (PB) Snake bite Dog bite Poisonous bite Detoxification

Pambukkadi Naikkadi Vishakkadi Nachu neeka

Table 1: Ailment categories included with various ailments


Venkatachalapathi et al.,2015

14. Respiratory System Diseases (RSD) Asthma Chest pain Cold Cough Expectorant Bronchitis Haemoptysis

Moocchu thinaral Nenju vali Jalathosam Irumal Sali Muccukkulay alarci Suvacakkulaliruntu irattam varuthal

15. Skeleto-Muscular System Disorders (SMSD)

Rheumatism Arthritis Joint pain Cancer/Tumor Swelling Headache/One side headache Paralysis Nervous/ Neuralgia problem Epilepsy Antispasmodic

Moottu vadham Kilvatam Moottu vali Putru noi Veekam Thalai vali/oru paka thalai vali Pakavatam Narambu pathipu Kaka valipu Valipu

16. Insecticidal (IC) Mosquito repellent Kosuviratti

Table 2: Details of certain important medicinal plant species prescribed by the local healers of Nilgiris,

the Western Ghats

S.

No.

Botanical name

and family

Local name Life-form Use

value

Parts used Ailment category:

number of use reports

(ailments treated)

Preparation

1 Abrus precatorius L.

(Fabaceae)

Kundu mani Climber 1.8 Seed and

root

Fvr-1, RSD- 6, GUA-2

(chest pain* and delivery

pain)

Decoction

2 Acacia caesia (L.) Willd.

(Mimosaceae)

Kariram Shrub 1.0 Leaves DID-2, Fvr-1, RSD-1,

DC-1 (cancer)

Paste

3 Acalypha fruticosa Forssk.

(Amaranthaceae)

Serucinni Herb 1.2 Leaves DID-1, LP-1, GIA-3,

RSD-1 (dysentery*)

Raw and

decoction

4 Acalypha indica L.

(Euphorbiaceae)

Kuppaimeni Herb 0.2 Leaf LP-1 (jaundice) Decoction

5 Achyranthes aspera L.

(Amaranthaceae)

Nayuruvi Herb 0.4 Whole

plant

PB-2 (poisonous bite) Raw

6 Aerva lanata L.

(Amaranthaceae)

Poolai poo Herb 0.2 Leaf ED-1 (kidney stone) Decoction

7 Aloe vera L.

(Liliaceae)

Sotru katrallai Herb 0.2 Whole

plant

GUA-1 (menstrual prob-

lem)

Raw

8 Alpinia galanga L.

(Zingiberaceae)

Perratthei Herb 0.4 Rhizome SMSD-1, GIA-1

(rheumatism)

Decoction

9 Andrographis paniculata L.

(Acanthaceae)

Neelavembu Herb 0.8 Whole

plant

PB-4 (snake bite) Raw

10 Artemisia annua L.

(Asteraceae)

Green ginger Herb 0.4 Aerial parts Fvr-2 (malaria) Juice

11 Artemisia nilagirica

(Clarke) PAMP.

(Asteraceae)

Makkippu Herb 1.8 Whole

plant

ED-1, SMSD-3, GH-2,

GIA-1, DID-1,

RSD-1 (epilepsy and

diabetes)

Juice


048 Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(A):043-057

12 Asystasia gangetica L.

(Acanthaceae)

Mitikirai Herb 0.4 Leaf and

root

SMSD-1, ED-1

(diabetes)

Raw

13 Centella asiatica L.

(Apiaceae)

Vallarai Herb 0.6 Whole plant CSCD-2, GIA-1

(memory power)

Raw

14 Chromolaena odorata L.

(Asteraceae)

Kamyunist alai Herb 0.2 Leaf DID-1 (wounds) Raw

15 Cissus setosa Wallich.

(Vitaceae)

Pulinaranai Herb 1.0 Leaf GIA-4, ED-1 (ulcer) Extract

16 Cleome aspera L.

(Cleomaceae)

Karumpoondu Herb 0.2 Leaf DID-1 (Eczema) Raw

17 C. viscosa L.

(Cleomaceae)

Naikadugu Herb 0.2 Leaf ENT-1 (earache) Raw

18 Coleus aromaticus Benth.

(Lamiaceae)

Karpooravalli Herb 0.4 Leaf RSD-2 (cold and

cough)

Raw

19 Commelina benghalensis L.

(Commelinaceae)

Kancatam Herb 0.2 Whole plant DID-1 (wounds) Paste

20 Corallocarpus epigaeus Benth.

Ex. Hook F. (Cucurbitaceae)

Akash garudandan Herb 1.8 Tuber ED-1, SMSD-2, RSD-

2, GIA-1, DID-2,

GH-1 (diabetes and

obesity*)

Decoction

21 Corchorus acutangulus Lam.

(Tiliaceae)

Perumpinnakku

kirai

Herb 1.0 Arial parts

and seed

GIA-1, DID-1, SMSD

-1, CSCD-1, Fvr-1

(cancer)

Decoction

22 Corchorus olitorius L.

(Tiliaceae)

Peratti Herb 0.6 Leaf and

seed

ED-1, GH-1, CSCD-1

(heart problem)

Decoction

23 Cryptolepis grandiflora Wight.

(Asclepiadaceae)

Mattankodi Climber 1.0 Latex PB-1, GIA-3, SMSD-

1(indigestion*,

poisonous bite and

arthritis)

Raw

24 Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.

(Hypoxidaceae)

Nilapanai Herb 1.2 Tuber CSCD-5, SMSD-1

(heart strength*)

Raw

25 Curcuma aromatica Salisb.

(Zingiberaceae)

Manjal Herb 0.4 Rhizome DID-1, SMSD-1

(tumor)

Decoction

26 Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.)

Stapf. (Poaceae)

Elumichai pul Herb 0.4 Leaf SMSD-1, DID-1

(swelling* and

itching)

Paste

27 Cynodon dactylon L.

(Cyperaceae)

Arugam pull Herb 0.4 Whole plant GIA-2 (indigestion) Raw

28 Cyperus rotundus L.

(Cyperaceae)

Korai kilangu Herb 0.4 Rhizome DID-2 (wounds) Raw

29 Decalepis hamiltonii Wight and

Arn. (Asclepiadaceae)

Mahali kizhangu Climber 1.4 Tuber DID-2, ED-1, Fvr-2,

GIA-1, RSD-1

(asthma and malaria)

Decoction

30 Desmodium gangeticum (L.)

DC. (Fabaceae)

Orilai Herb 0.2 Whole plant Fvr-1 (fever) Decoction

31 Eclipta prostrata L.

(Asteraceae)

Karisalankanni Herb 0.2 Leaf HC-1 (hair tonic) Decoction

32 Ehretia microphylla Lam.

(Boraginaceae)

Kattu vellilai Shrub 1.0 Leaf GIA-3, DID-2

(stomachache*)

Decoction

Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(A):043-057 049


33 Enicostemma axillare (Lam).

Raynal. (Gentianaceae)

Vellarugu Herb 0.2 Leaf PB-1 (snake bite) Decoction Oral

34 Erythroxylon monogynum

Roxb. (Erythroxylaceae)

Sembulichan Shrub 1.0 Leaf GIA-1,DID-3,

Fvr-1 (skin diseases)

Paste Oral

35 Evolvulus alsinoides L.

(Convolvulaceae)

Vishnukiranthi Herb 0.2 Whole

plant

Fvr-1 (fever) Decoction Oral

36 Gaultheria fragrantissima

Wall. (Ericaceae)

Kolakkai Shrub 1.2 Fruits and

leaves

GIA-2, DID-2,

SMSD-2

(rheumatism and

neuralgia)

Juice Oral

37 Hemidesmus indicus L.

(Asclipadaceae)

Nannari Climber 0.4 Root GIA-1, Fvr-1 (fever) Decoction Oral

38 Hildegardia populifolia

(Roxb.) Schott. & Endl.

(Sterculiaceae)

- Tree 0.8 Leaf and

bark

Fvr-1, PB-1, DID-2

(pimples* and dog

bite)

Decoction Oral

39 Hybanthus enneaspermus L.

(Violaceae)

Orithalthamarai Herb 0.2 Whole

plant

GUA-1 (male

fertility)

Raw and

decoction

Oral

40 Hypochaeris radicata L.

(Asteraceae)

- Herb 1.0 Whole

plant

SMSD-5 (swelling*) Paste Topical

41 Ipomoea obscura L.

(Convolvulaceae)

Chirutali Climber 0.6 Leaf GIA-2, SMSD-1 (to

cure dysentery and

ulcer)

Paste Oral

42 Kedrostis foetidissima (Jacq.)

Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae)

Appakovai Climber 1.0 Whole

plant

RSD-2, GIA-2, DID

-1 (tumors)

Decoction

and juice

Oral

43 Lobelia nicotianaefolia

Heyne. (Lobeliaceae)

Kattupugaielai Herb 1.0 Whole

plant

RSD-3, Fvr-1,

CSCD-1 (heart

diseases and cough)

Decoction Oral

44 Mimosa pudica L.

(Fabaceae)

Thootal sinigi Herb 0.2 Whole

plant

GUA-1 (menstrual

problem)

Decoction Oral

45 Mukia maderaspatana (L.)

M. Roem. (Cucurbitaceae)

Musumusukkai Climber 1.0 Leaves RSD-1, GIA-2,

GH-2 (dyspepsia)

Decoction Oral

46 Oxalis corniculata L.

(Oxalidaceae)

Paliakirai Herb 0.4 Whole

plant

Fvr-1, ED-1 (kidney

stone)

Raw Oral

47 Pentatropis microphylla L.

(Asclepiadaceae)

Oopilan kodi Herb 0.2 Whole

plant

CSCD-1 (heart

problem and body

cooling*)

Decoction Oral

48 Pueraria tuberosa L.

(Fabaceae)

Nila Poosani Climber 1.2 Whole

plant

GH-1, Fvr-1, SMSD

-2, GUA-2

(swelling* and

sexual problems)

Raw and

decoction

Oral

49 Ruellia tuberosa L.

(Acanthaceae)

Pattaskai Herb 2.2 Leaf and

root

ED-1, SMSD-2,

RSD-2, Fvr-1,

CSCD-2, GUA-2,

GIA-1 (abortion and

cancer)

Decoction Oral

50 Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.)

Gandhi. (Cucurbitaceae)

Pulivanci Climber 1.2 Whole

plant

SMSD-4, ED-1,

LP-1 (swelling*,

jaundice)

Paste Oral



51 Thalictrum javanicum

Blume (Ranunculaceae)

Peela jari

Herb 1.6 Root CSCD-1, DID-1, IC-6

(mosquito repellent*)

Paste Oral

52 Vernonia cinerea (L.)

Less. (Asteraceae)

Mukuttipoondu Herb 0.2 Leaf SMSD-1 (paralysis) Paste Oral

53 Withania somnifera (L.)

Dunal. (Solanaceae)

Amukkaramkizangu Herb 0.2 Tuber SMSD-1 (nervous dis-

orders)

Powder Oral

S. No. Ailment category No. of use-reports (Nur) Number of taxa (Nt) Informant consensus factor (Fic)

1 Circulatory system/

cardiovascular diseases

15 9 0.43

2 Dermatological

infections/diseases

27 17 0.38

3 Gastro-intestinal ailments 33 19 0.44

4 General health 6 4 0.40

5 Genito-urinary ailments 9 6 0.38

6 Poisonous bite 9 5 0.50

7 Respiratory system diseases 22 11 0.52

8 Skeleto-muscular

system disorders

31 19 0.40

9 Insecticidal property 6 1 1.00

Table 3: Informant consensus factor for certain ailment categories.

S. No. Ailment category Most prescribed species with specific ailments FL (%)

1 Circulatory system/

cardiovascular diseases

Curculigo orchioids (heart strength)

Centella asiatica (memory power)

83

66

2 Dermatological

infections/diseases

Erythroxylon monogynum (skin diseases)

Hildegardia populifolia (pimples)

60

50

3 Gastro-intestinal ailments Ehretia microphylla (stomachache)

Cryptolepis grandiflora (indigestion)

Cissus setosa (ulcer)

Ipomoea obscura (dysentery)

Acalypha fruticosa (dysentery)

60

60

80

66

50

4 Poisonous bite Andrographis paniculata (snake bite) 100

5 Respiratory system diseases Lobelia nicotianaefolia (cough)

Abrus precatorius (chest pain)

60

66

6 Skeleto-muscular

system disorders

Solena amplexicaulis (swelling)

Hypochaeris radicata (swelling)

66

100

7 Insecticidal property Thalictrum javanicum (mosquito repellent) 75

Table 4: Species with higher fidelity level (FL) by ailment category prescribed by the

local healers of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the Western Ghats.

Acanthaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Cucurbitaceae,

Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae etc., are having more medicinal

significances owing to the rich variety of secondary

metabolites available in their members (Jain and Mudgal,

1999; Jain, 1996). Interestingly, it has been noted that 13

new claims were made for certain species viz; Solena

amplexicaulis, Hypochaeris radicata, Thalictrum

javanicum, Acalypha fruticosa, Pueraria tuberosa,

Corallocarpus epigaeus, Ehretia microphylla,

Pentatropis microphylla, Cryptolepis grandiflora,

Cymbopogon citratus and Abrus precatorius for the first

time. It is explained that the distribution of certain

species like Solena amplexicaulis, Hypochaeris radicata,

Thalictrum javanicum etc., are confined to limited

localities only and so they are being reported for certain

specific uses.

Among the various life-form categories, the

indigenous healers prescribed mainly herbs (74%)



Fig 1. Map showing the location of study sites.

followed by climbers (17%), shrubs (7%) and trees (2%)

(Fig. 3) for treating the ailments. It may be due to high

richness of herbs than the other life-forms in the study

area under the shadow of tree canopy (Paulsamy et al.,

2008). While comparing the other parts, leaves were

used at greater extent (40%) followed by whole plant

(30%), root (8%) tuber (7%) and seeds and bark were

used at the level of less than 5% only (Fig. 4). Many

reports available for various regions also showed the

higher utilization of leaves for medicinal purposes than

the other parts (Srithi et al., 2009; Giday et al., 2010;

Gonzalez et al., 2010; Ayyanar and Ignacimuthu, 2011).

As the leaves are the parts of the photosynthesis and

production sites of many biomedical compounds, they

may be prescribed more by the healers (Mukherjee et al.,

2006). Decoction form of utilization of plant parts was

the common mode of administration (44%) for healing

the diseases/disorders. Next to it, raw form (30%), past

form (16%) and extract form (7%) were administrated

and the powder form (2%) was the least mode of



Fig. 2. Field data sheet for the details of medicinal plants.

administration (Fig. 5). The tribal community of

Anaimalais, Puliyars and some other indigenous

communities of this region are also preparing and

prescribing mainly the decoction and raw forms of

respective medicinal plants for healing process

(Rajenderan and Henry, 1994; Paulsamy, 2004;

Ramachandran et al., 2009). Decoction was prepared by

boiling the respective plant part in water until getting

1/4th of its original volume. Past was prepared by

grinding the fresh or dried material by using water and

the powder was made by grinding the shade dried

materials. Juice or extract form of medicine was prepared

by crushing the respective plant with high proportion of

water.

Ruellia tuberosa was the commonly used species

with 11 use-reports as per the informations provided by

the informants and obtained the use value of 2.2. It was

mainly prescribed for joint pain, cardiac problems and

for the treatment of cancer in very early stage. It was

already reported that this species is being used in

folkluric medical system of Tirupur and Erode districts

of Tamilnadu to relive joint pain and to treat chest pain

(Brinda and Parvathy, 2003). The species viz., Artemisia

nilagirica, Corallocarpus epigaeus and Abrus

precatorius with the use value of 1.8 each, Thalictrum

javanicum with the use value of of 1.6, Decalepis

hamiltonii with the use value of 1.4 and Solena

amplexicaulis, Acalypha fruticosa, Gaultheria

fragrantissima, Pueraria tuberosa and Curculigo

orchioides each with the use value of 1.2 were the other

important commonly used medicinal plants in the study

area according to the informations of the healers

interviewed. Among these species, Artemisia nilagirica

and Gaultheria fragrantissima were used by the patients

living in the villages of high altitudes in Nilgiris, as these

species are endemic to high hills of Nilgiris (Ahmedulla

and Nayar, 1987). However, the other higher altitudinal

species, Thalictrum javanicum was collected and sold by

the local healers to the people of Mettupalayam and other

villages of lower altitudes, mainly for the purpose of

mosquito repeltion through burning the aerial parts.

Thus, the exploitation being made severely may pose this

species for threatened condition. Almost all other species

mentioned above are already used by the indigenous

healers of low level areas in Coimbatore, Nilgiri and

Tirupur districts of Tamil Nadu (Senthilkumar et al.,

2013).

The level of agreement on the knowledge about

the plant species is generally depending upon the

availability of plants in the study area (Rajkumar and

Shivanna, 2009). For using informant consensus factor

(Fic), the illnesses were classified into 16 broad ailment

categories (Table 1). Ailment categories of higher

Fic (>0.50) are (Table 3) for brevity of data. Higher

use-reports of 33 were gastrointestinal problems (19

species), 31 were skeleto muscular system disorders (19

species), 27 were dermatological infections/diseases (17

species) and 22 were respiratory system diseases (11

species). Highest Fic of 1.0 was obtained for the ailment

category, insecticidal property followed by respiratory

system diseases with 0.52 and poisonous bite with 0.50.

As only one species (Thalictrum javanicum) was used

for mosquito repellent property (insecticidal), this

ailment category secured the highest Fic of 1.0.

Vikneswaren et al.. (2008) and Alagesaboopathi (2012)

have also reported that mosquito repellent property and

respiratory system diseases secured the highest Fic in

Sirumalai hills of Eastern Ghats, Tamilnadu.

Furthermore, the informants have less consensus in the

taxa used for all other ailment categories. It indicates that

the degree of knowledge shared by the healers in the

study area on the medicinal plants used for various

ailments is low. It may be due to the fact that the

availability of plant species was generally altitudinal

zone-specific all over the study area. Rokaya et al..

(2010) also observed similar trend of less agreement on

medicinal plants used between the indigenous healers of

western Nepal at different altitudes.



By calculating fidelity level (FL), the most

important species used in major ailment categories were

determined (Table 4). Among the 53 species reported,

two species viz; Andrographis paniculata and

Hypochaeris radicata obtained 100% FL. It indicates

that these species were used in single ailment category as

prescribed by many informants. As observed in the

present study, the species Andrographis paniculata is

used for the treatment of snake bite by Malayali tribes of

Yercaud hills of Eastern Ghats (Senthilkumar et al.,

2013), indigenous communities of Kanjamalai hills of

Eastern Ghats (Alagesaboopathi, 2011) and Paliyar

tribals of Sirumalai hills, Tamil Nadu (Alagesaboopathi,

2012). Similarly, the other species Hypochaeris radicata

was reported to have ethnobotanical significance among

the local people of high altitude of Nilgiris for its use in

curing swellings (Abraham, 1981; Paulsamy et al.,

2008). The other species identified by using high fidelity

level, used in major ailment categories are Curculigo

orchioides (heart strength)-FL (83%), Cissus setosa

(ulcer)-FL (80%) and Thalictrum javanicum (mosquito

repellent)-FL (75%).

The study emphasized that the species of high

informant consensus factor, use value and fidelity level

must be evaluated scientifically in terms of

phytochemical constituents and pharmacological

inventories. In this line, the species viz., Artemisia

nilagirica, Corallocarpus epigaeus, Thalictrum

javanicum, Hypochaeris radicata, Pueraria tuberosa,

Decalepis hamiltonii and Cissus setosa are suggested for

further evaluation to validate them scientifically and

hence as the source of pharmaceutical industries.

REFERENCES

Abraham Z. 1981. Ethnobotany of the Todas, the Kotas

and the Irulas of Nilgiris: Glimpses of Indian

Ethnobotany. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi,

308-320 p.



Fig. 3. Percentage of medicinal plants in different life-

forms used by local healers of NBR, the Western Ghats.

Fig. 5. The mode of preparation and utilization for the

medicine by local healers of NBR, the Western Ghats.

Fig. 4. Percentage of parts prescribed for the treatment of

diseases by local healers of NBR, the Western Ghats.

Ahmedulla M and Nayar MP.1987. Endemic plants of

Indian region, Peninsular India, Botanical Survey of

India. The Kolkata 1.

Alagesaboopathi C. 2012. Ethnobotanical studies on

useful plants of Sirumalai hills of Eastern Ghats,

Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu, Southern India. Int J

Biosci 2(2):77-84.

Algesaboothi C. 2011. Ethnobotanical studies on useful

plants of Kanjamalai hills of Salem district of Tamil

Nadu, Southern India. Arch Appl Sci Res 3(5):532-539.

Geneva 1978(b). World Health Organization The

promotion and development of traditional medicine.

Technical report series No. 622, 2726 p.

Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S. 2011. Ethnobotanical

survey of medicinal plants commonly used by Kani

tribals in Tirunelveli hills of Western Ghats, India. J

Ethnopharmacol 134(3): 851-864.

Babu PA, Suneetha G, Boddepalli R, Lakshmi VV,

Rani TS, Rambabu Y and Srinivas K. 2006. A

database of 389 medicinal plants for diabetes.

Bioinformn 1(4):130-131.

Balasubramanian P and Prasad N. 1996. Strategies for

sustainable exploitation of ethnobotanical resources of

the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, South India. In: (ed. Jain,

S.K.), Ethnobiology in Human welfare, Deep

publications, New Delhi, 331-333 p.

Brinda R and Parvathy S. 2003. Ethnobotanical

medicines of Anaimalai union Pollachi taluk,

Coimbatore district, Tamilnadu. Ancient Sci Life XXII

(4): 166-168.

Calixto JB. 2005. Twenty five years of research on

medicinal plants in Latin America: a personal review. J

Ethnopharmacol 100(1-2): 131-134.

Friedmen J, Yaniv Z, Dafni A and Palewitch D. 1986.

A preliminary classification of the healing potential of

medicinal plants, based on a rational analysis of an

ethnopharmacological field survey among Bedouins in

the Negev desert, Israel. J Ethnopharmacol Jun 16(2-3):

275-287.

Gamble JS. 1935. The Flora of the Presidency of

Madras. Adlard & Son, Ltd., London, 3 volumes.

Giday M, Asfaw Z and Woldu Z. 2010.

Ethnomedicinal study of plants used by Sheko ethnic

group of Ethiopia. J Ethnophrmacol 132(1): 75-85.

Gonzalez JA, Garcia-Barrriuso M and Amich F.

2010. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants

traditionally used in the Arribes del Duero, Western

Spain. J Ethnopharmacol 131(2): 343-355.

Heinrich M, Ankli A, Frei B, Weimann C and Sticher

O. 1998. Medicinal plants in Mexico: healers’ consensus

and cultural importance. Soc Sci Med 47(11): 91-112.

Jain SK and Goel AK. 1995. A manual of Ethnobotany.

Sci. Publishers, India. 142-153 p.

Jain SK. 1996. Ethnobiology in Human Welfare, Deep

publications, New Delhi, India, 519 p.

Jain SK and Mudgal V. 1999. A hand book of

Ethnobotany. Satyam Publishing House, Delhi, 309 p.

Matthew KM. 1983. The flora of Tamilnadu Carnatic.

The Rapinat Herbarium. Tiruchirapalli, India, 2154 p.



Mishra N, Rout SD and Panda T. 2011.

Ethnozoological studies and medicinal values of

Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Orissa, India. Afr J Pharm

Pharmacol 5(1): 6-11.

Mukherjee PK, Maiti K, Mukherjee K and

Houghton PJ. 2006. Leads from Indian medicinal

plants with hypoglycaemic potentials. J


Parthasarathy J. 1995. Nilgiri Tribes Towards

Plantation Economy. The Planters Chronicle (KVK

Special) UPASI: Coonoor; 162-163p.

Paulsamy S. 2004. Lemongrass oil and tribal welfare in

Anaimalai hills, Western Ghats. SAJOSPS 5(1):111-

113.

Paulsamy S, Vijaya Kumar KK, Murugesan M,

Sivashanmugam M, Senthilkumar P and Suresh D.

2008. Medicinal and other Economic Plants of Shola

Understories, the Nilgiris, Western Ghats. International

Book Distributors, Dehradun, 122 p.

Phillips O, Gentry AH, Reynel C, Wilkin P and

Galvez-Durand BC. 1994. Quantitative ethnobotany

and Amazonian conservation. Conserv Biol 8(1): 225-

248.

Pradheeps M and Poyyamoli G. 2013. Ethnobotany

and utilization of plant resources in Irula villages (Sigur

plateau, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India). J Med Plants

Res 7(6): 267-276.

Rajakumar N and Shivanna MB. 2009.

Ethnomedicinal application of plants in the Eastern

region of Shimoga District, Karnataka, India. J


Rajan S, Jayendran M and Sethuraman M. 2003.

Medico-ethnobotany: A study on the Kattunayaka tribe

of Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu. J Nat Remedies 3(1): 68-

72.

Rajenderan A and Henry AN.1994. Plants used by the

tribe Kadar in Anaimalai Hills, of Tamil Nadu.

Ethnobotany 6(1-2): 19-24.

Ramachandran VS and Shijo Joseph Aruna R. 2009.

Ethnobotanical Studies from Amaravathy Range of

Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats,

Coimbatore District, Southern India. Ethnobot Leaflets

13: 1069-1087.

Rokaya MB, Munzbergova Z and Timsina B. 2010.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants from the

Humla district of western Nepal. J Ethnopharmacol 130

(3): 485-504.

Sahai S. 2003. Importance of Indigenous Knowledge.

Ind J Trad Knowl 2(1): 11.

Senthilkumar K, Aravindhan V and Rajenderan A.

2013. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used

by Malayali tribes in Yercaud hills of Eastern Ghats,

India. J Nat Remedies 13(2): 118-132.

Sharmila S, Kalaichelvi K and Rajeswari M. 2014.

Certain Endemic and Ethnobotanically Important Plants

of Thiashola, Manjoor, Nilgiris South Division,

Western Ghats. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res 27(2): 314-

318.



Srithi K, Balslev H, Wangpakapattanawong P,

Srisanga P and Trisonthi C. 2009. Medicinal plant

knowledge and its erosion among the Mien (Yao) in

northern Thailand. J Ethnopharmacol 123(2): 335-342.

Uniyal SK, Singh KN, Jamwal P and Lal B. 2006.

Traditional use of medicinal plants among the tribal

communities Chhota, Western Himalaya. J

Ethnopharmacol Ethnomed 2(14): 1-8.

Vikneswaran D, Viji M and Rajalakshmi K. 2008. A

survey of the ethnomedicinal flora of the Sirumalai hills,

Dindigul district, India. Ethnobot Leaflets 12: 948-953.


Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(A): 043-057

Submit your articles online at www.jresearchbiology.com

Advantages

Easy online submission Complete Peer review Affordable Charges Quick processing Extensive indexing You retain your copyright

[email protected]

www.jresearchbiology.com/Submit.php

abstract: ch in biology - jresearchbiology.com noi sathu marunthu malaccikkal mana aluttam...

Documents