EXPLORATION OF KANI
TRIBAL BOTANICAL KNOWLEDGE IN
AGASTHIAYAMALAI
BIOSPHERE RESERVE -
John De Britto*
and R. Mahesh
Research Department of Plant Biology and
Biotechnology
St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) Palayamkottai – 627 002, Tamilnadu.
*Corresponding
author: E-mail address: bjohnde@yahoo.co.in
Tel.: 0462-2560813; Fax:
0462-2561765.
Abstract
Since traditional herbal remedies are based on
ancestral knowledge and empiric experiences of tribes, an ethnomedicinal
survey was undertaken to collect information appeared to be useful for the
research on medicinal plants of the Agasthiayamalai
Biosphere Reserve in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu during October 2005- December 2006. The ancestral
traditional knowledge of Kani people including
reliable hakims, physicians in five settlements (Tirunelveli zones) the native plants used for the preparation of drugs and methods of their administration
along with doses were recorded, collected through questionnaire as well
as informal personal interviews during field trips.
The
exploration of ethno medicinal survey of medicinal utilization among Kani hakims 76 species of plants distributed in 64 genera
belonging to 43 families have been reported. The information was collected and
documented in database management systems using Visual Basic 6.0 as front end
and M.S Access 7.0 as back end. The practical knowledge of plants in medicines
of Kani tribe reveals that they are capable of
treating various diseases. Exploitation and
documentation of traditional medicine is essential for the future. Such
study will be useful to understand the role and importance of the Tribal
Botanical Knowledge (TBK) in the conservation of medicinal plants of this
area.
Key words: Agasthiamalai, Kani tribes, DBMS software, Medicinal plants.
Introduction
Bioprospecting is the search of useful products derived from bioresources. The useful products may be chemical
compounds, genes, micro and macro organisms and other valuable products that
are useful in medicinal, industrial and or agricultural and food sectors.
India has a
rich tradition in medicinal plant study and is the one of twelve mega biodiversity centres and eighteen hot spots in Eastern ghats and Western Ghats apart
from being known for ancient civilization and deep-rooted in tradition, is also
known for its rich diversity, both cultural as well as biological (Ravikumar et al., 2000). Totally 427
tribe’s communities in
The objective is to establish a database of the
plants used by Kani tribes with special reference to
their indigenous traditional knowledge and create awareness to the local
communities about the conservation strategies of these valuable genetic
resources.
Research
site
Tamil Nadu is the
eleven largest states in
The Agasthiayamalai
Biosphere Reserve in south Kerala is extended to
parts of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli
districts lying between 77° 5' and 77° 40'E longitudes. 8° 20'and 8° 50'N
latitudes. South west monsoon from June – September, and north east
monsoon in October and November bring rain to this region, and annual rain fall
varies at different places from 89 cm to 625 cm. The Tamil Nadu
Government is considering for inclusion of areas adjoining the mountain peak
1868 mt (Agasthyakondam) in
the reserve (Map 1.), and its environs, comprising 1,701 sq.kms,
was designated as the 13th biosphere reserve with the inclusion of areas of
Tamil Nadu, the total area will exceed 2,500 sq.km and have many endemic heritage (MoEF,
2004) and inhabited by various ethnic groups such as Kanis,
Paliyars and Thodars. Kani tribals
are one of the primitive people and settled in secondary hills. There
are five tribal settlements such as Tirunelveli zones of Servalar, Agasthiar Kanikudiyiruppu,
Mayilar, Periyamayilar and Inchikuzhi (Hendry et al., 1982).
Methodology
Kani Tribal traditional medicinal
practices experts having practical knowledge of plants in medicine were interviewed
in five settlements of Tirunelveli district. The ancestral traditional knowledge of Kani people including reliable hakims, physicians in five settlements (Tirunelveli
zones) the native plants used for the
preparation of drugs and methods of their administration along with doses were
recorded, collected through questionnaire as well as informal personal
interviews during field trips were carried out in the
study area totaling 52 days during October 2005- December 2006.
Plants in triplicates were collected in its
flowering stage from their natural habitats (Diane Bridson
and Leonard forman, 1992). Voucher specimens
were deposited in St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) herbarium, Tirunelveli. All plants were identified by using relevant
floras (Gamble, 1935; Mathew, 1983). All the collected information were documented in a Computer program using Visual Basic 6.0
and Oracle 8.0. The data base contains all the details of plant such as the
Botanical Name, Family ,Vernacular Name,
Habit, Description, parts used, ethnobotanical
use, ethnomedicinal use, Ethnobotanical
Uses, Herbal formulation, Dosage and Pictures.
Results and Discussion
Plants have been used as traditional medicine
for several thousand years ( Abu Rabia
2005). Kani is one such
inhabited in Agasthiayamalai. Kani tribal are primarily a semi-romantic community one of
the primitive people and settled in secondary hills and they have been
originated from Kerala. They have slowly shifted to
Tamil nadu and have been settled in the
The exploration of ethnomedicinal survey of medicinal utilization Kani hakims suggest that 76 species of plants distributed
in 64 genera belonging to 43 families. The families of the species are arranged
in chronological order. Botanical Name,
Family, Vernacular Name, Habit, Description,
parts used, ethnobotanical use, ethnomedicinal
use, Ethnobotanical Uses, Herbal formulation, Dosage
and Pictures are described. Indigenous technological knowledge is also
described. Sample software screens (See below, Figure 1) and a collection of
plant list (Table 1) are given. A Kani tribe
settlement is typically a cluster of few families living interspersed with the
forest, isolated from any public transports facility. Tribals
are comprised largely illiterates, 90 % above can not read and write. Earlier
they lived under rock shades and caves, which provided shelter to their people.
They speak Malayalam mixed Tamil. The Kani tribe live in harmony with nature and the eco-system. They
live in bamboo nets, mainly derived their food from forest produce and still
maintain the hunter-gather instincts. They follow animistic religion and a
practice of magic healing. Steps must be taken to preserve their identity and their various indigenous technological knowledge. Some of
them are employed in hydroelectric project, private estates and forests
deportments. Now The Tamil nadu governments recognize
them as Schedule Tribes in Tiruneliveli district.
They are extremely hard
working and can survive without the help of modern agricultural implements.
They cultivate edible food plants jackfruits, citrus, pineapple, piper, panama,
coconut, areca, Dioscorea species, Manicot species etc. They are
socio-economically very poor and still most of them are the forest workers.
They guide tourists and researchers. They are also engaged in seasonal
collection of honey and some other forests products.
Traditional knowledge is not
protected within the patent system as it stands today. The turmeric case highlights the problems
faced by
Summary and Conclusion
Thus, the present study helped us to understand the Tribal Botanical
Knowledge of Kani tribes. The documentation is essential
to preserve the Tribal Botanical Knowledge of these tribes. Further, they have
to be trained and awareness should be given for the conservation of this
biodiversity rich area.
The deterioration of the wild flora of this area is to be blamed on population
pressure, forest fires, overgrazing, and browsing. The present population has
little knowledge about the medicinal plants of the area because most of the
knowledgeable, older persons have passed away and the younger ones are not as
informed of traditional methods. However, as in the past, some empirical
knowledge of medicinal plants among the tribes continues to be developed and
transmitted orally from one generation to the next.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are
thankful to the finance supported by the Ministry of Environment and forests,
References
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Table 1. Systematic Enumeration of Plants Used as Ethnomedicine by Kani Tribes.
|
Botanical Name |
Vernacular Name |
Mode of Administrations |
|
|
|
Amaryllidaceae |
||||
|
Curculigo orchioides
Gaertn. |
Nilappanai |
The
raw tubers are consumed to treat as a sexual stimulant. |
|
|
|
Apocynaceae |
||||
|
Rauvolfia serpentina (L.)
Benth . ex Kurz. |
Amulporri |
The
leaves and the flowers are consumed to treat Asthma. |
|
|
|
Aponogetonaceae |
||||
|
Aponogeton natans (L.)
Engl. & Krause. |
Paraikilangu |
Leaf
pastes are consumed with hot water to treat Cuts & Wounds. |
|
|
|
Arecaceae |
||||
|
Areca
catechu L. |
Kamugu |
Fruits
are consumed to kill stomach worms. |
|
|
|
Aristolochiaceae |
||||
|
Aristolochia tagala
Cham. |
Malaiarasam |
Decoction
of flower is taken
to regulate the
Menstrual disorders. |
|
|
|
Aristolochia indica
L. |
Karudakodi |
The
small amount of leaf
juice and powered root is given with honey to treat Antidote. |
|
|
|
Asclepiadaceae |
||||
|
Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.)
R.Br.ex Schutt. |
Sirukurichan |
Leaves
are taken raw with hot water to treat Diabetes. |
|
|
|
Cryptostegia grandiflora
R.Br. |
Garudapalai |
Plant
decoction is consumed to treat Nervous disorders. |
|
|
|
Ceropegia candelabrum L. |
Kattuvalli |
Leaf
juice is consumed to treat Stomach disorder. |
|
|
|
Pergularia daemia
(Forssk.) Chiov. |
Veeliparuthi |
The
crude leaf paste is consumed to treat Lactation. |
|
|
|
Hemidesmus indicus
(L.) R.Br. |
Nannari |
Root
decoction is consumed to cure Stomach ulcers. |
|
|
|
Begoniaceae |
||||
|
Begonia
malabarica Lam. |
Kalsirupuli |
Plant
paste is consumed with water to treat Scabies. |
|
|
|
Bromeliaceae |
||||
|
Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.
|
Purithipayam |
Fruits
are consumed to stimulation. |
|
|
|
Caesalpiniaceae |
||||
|
Cassia
occidentalis L. |
Oolanthavarai |
Fruits
are consumed to treat Stomach disorder. |
|
|
|
Cannabinaceae |
||||
|
Cannabis
sativa L. |
Kanchaa |
Fruits
and leaves ash is applied on the surface of body to treat of Cuts &
Wounds. |
|
|
|
Capparaceae |
||||
|
Capparis fusifera Dunn. |
Siruvalli |
Flowers
are mixed with salts to treat Asthma. |
|
|
|
Combretaceae |
||||
|
Terminalia chebula
Retz. |
Kattukgai |
Seed
powders are mixed with milk to increase the digesability. |
|
|
|
Terminalia bellirica
(Gaertn.) Roxb. |
Thanni |
Park
powders are mixed with water to regulate Menstrual disorder. |
|
|
|
Cucurbitaceae |
||||
|
Mukia maderaspatana (L.) M. Roem.
|
Mosumosukai |
Leaf
juice is consumed for Giddiness. |
|
|
|
Cycadaceae |
||||
|
Cycas circinalis L. |
Salapanai |
The
toddy when drunk stimulates sexual desires. |
|
|
|
Dioscoreaceae |
||||
|
Dioscorea alata
L. |
Thavalaikilangu |
Tubers
are boiled and drunk to used as food. |
|
|
|
Dioscorea esculenta
(Lour.) Burkill. |
Siruvallikilangu |
Tubers
are consumed to used as food. |
|
|
|
Dioscorea pentaphylla
L. |
Kattuvallikilangu |
Tubers
are consumed to used as food. |
|
|
|
Dioscorea tomentosa
J.Koeing ex Spreng. |
Norankilangu |
Tubers
are consumed to used
as food. |
|
|
|
Trichopus zeylanicus
Gaertn. |
Arokiyapachai |
Leaves
are consumed to stimulate the body energy to treat Energy stimulant. |
|
|
|
Droseraceae |
||||
|
Drosera indica L. |
Alukaani |
Leaves
and flowers paste are applied to treat Joint pain. |
|
|
|
Euphorbiaceae |
||||
|
Manihot esculenta C.Rantz. |
Eralaikilangu |
Tubers
are boiled with water to improve body metabolism. |
|
|
|
Phyllanthus emblica
L. |
Nellimaram |
The
fruit juice is consumed to regulate the body temperature. |
|
|
|
Phyllanthus amarus
Schum & Thonn. |
Manthakali |
The
leaf extract eaten with the milk cure to hepatitis. |
|
|
|
Ricinus communis L. |
Amanakku |
The
seed oil is laxative. |
|
|
|
Fabaceae |
||||
|
Codariocallyx motorius
(Houtt.) H.Ohashi. |
Tholukani |
Leaf
juice is applied on the affected parts of treat pain. |
|
|
|
Crotalaria
albida Heyne ex Roth. |
Nagavalli |
Leaf
paste mixed with water to treat Cough & cold. |
|
|
|
Lamiaceae |
||||
|
Ocimum americanum L. |
Naaithulasi |
The
leaf paste is applied on the face to treat Acne. |
|
|
|
Ocimum tenuiflorum L. |
Krishnathulasi |
The
raw leaves are eaten to treat Cough & cold. |
|
|
|
Lauraceae |
||||
|
Cinnamomum verum
Presl. |
Ellavagam |
The
bark, when added with non-veg food improves
digestibility. |
|
|
|
Meliaceae |
||||
|
Copadessa baccifera
(Roth.) Mig. |
Siruvemmpu |
Leaves
juice is applied on the affected parts to treat Skin diseases. |
|
|
|
Menispermaceae |
||||
|
Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels.
|
Kattukodi |
The
root juice is used to treat Rheumatism. |
|
|
|
Mimosaceae |
||||
|
Entada pursaetha Dc. |
Thavallikai |
Leaf
paste is consumed with milk to treat Stomach disorders. |
|
|
|
Mimosa
pudica L. |
Sottavatti |
The
fresh leaves are eaten to cure skin disorders. |
|
|
|
Pithecellobium dulce
(Roxb.) Benth. |
Kodukkapuli |
The
fruit is consumed to kill Stomach worms. |
|
|
|
Prosopis juliflora DC. |
Cheemaikaruvai |
The
fruits are consumed for good digesability. |
|
|
|
Molluginaceae |
||||
|
Mollugo pentaphylla L. |
Sirupaaraimalli |
Plant
paste is consumed to regulate Giddiness. |
|
|
|
Myrtaceae |
||||
|
Eucalyptus
globulus. Labill. |
Ecalptus |
Leaves
are boiled with water and applied on the face to treat Cough & cold. |
|
|
|
Psidium guajava L. |
Koyya |
The
boiled leaf extract is consumed for good digestion. |
|
|
|
Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels.
|
Navalpayam |
The
fruits induces digestion. |
|
|
|
Papaveraceae |
||||
|
Papaver somniferum L. |
Kazakaza |
The
seeds are ground in water is consumed to cure dysentery. |
|
|
|
Papilionaceae |
||||
|
Atylosia albicans (Wt.et.Arn.)
Benth. |
Paarinelikodi |
Leaf
extracts is used as Fever. |
|
|
|
Pedaliaceae |
||||
|
Sesamum indicum L. |
Yellu |
The
fruits are dried in the oven and eaten, increase body strength. |
|
|
|
Piperaceae |
||||
|
Piper
cubeba L.f. |
Valmilaku |
The
fruits extracts are drunk to reduce fever. |
|
|
|
Piper
longum L. |
Kattuthipli |
The leaf | ||