Ethnomedicinal Plants Used by the Kanikkars of Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India to Treat Skin Diseases

B. Anitha, V. R. Mohan*, T. Athiperumalsami and S. Sutha^a

Ethnopharmacology unit, Research Department of Botany, V. O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India.

^aGovernment Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.

*e-mail: vrmohan_2005@yahoo.com

Received 14 March 2008

Abstract

This study has been carried out in Chinnamayilaru, Periyamyilaru, region of Agasthiyamalai biosphere, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. The dominant tribal group of this region is Kanikkar. The area is famous for its well protected Tiger Reserve (Kalakad-Mundandurai Tiger Reserve). The wild plants found in this region that are used especially for treating skin diseases are enumerated in the present paper. The full results of this study are organized in table form and include the species botanical name, followed by the family and local (Kanikkar) name and a brief note on the plant parts used, method of administration, dosages etc.

Key words: Ethnomedicine, skin diseases, Kanikkar, India.

Introduction

WHO has estimated that at least 80% of all the global inhabitants rely on traditional systems of medicine for their primary health needs and these systems are largely plant based. Ethnomedicines have received renewed global attention of scientists in India and abroad because of their wide local acceptability, and providing leads to the discovery of new drugs of plant origin. Ethnobiological surveys indicated that about 8000 species of medicinal plants are used as food, medicine, phytochemical, biocides and other products.

Ethnobotanists, all over the world, have been actively working to collect, document and conserve the indigenous medicinal plants. In the last two decades, many reports on medicinal plants have been published from the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, North eastern hill states and Orissa, owing to the large tribal populations of the regions (Patil and Bhaskar, 2006).

The Kanikkars are predominant hill tribes of Agasthiyamalai biosphere, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. The members of this community are familiar with several herbs and well versed in using the various herbs to cure various ailments. Their reliance on the herbs for medicinal value has prompted the present study. Herein an attempt is made to enumerate the medicinal plants used by the Kanikkars as remedies for skin diseases.

Methodology

With the primary objective of interesting the Kanikkar tribals living in the Agasthiyamalai biosphere, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, settlements like Periyamayilaru and Chinnamayilaru were surveyed and the traditional medicines used for various skin diseases were gathered with the help of elderly and experienced individuals practicing indigenous medicines. Information was considered only after confirmation through two or more informants. Based on the information provided by tribals, plant specimens were collected, air-dried and mounted on herbarium sheets and identified by using various floras (Gamble, 1935; Mathew, 1983). Voucher specimens are maintained at the P.G. & Research Department of Botany, V. O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu (VOCBNO from 3700 to 3758). Confirmation of the identifications was made through the comparison of the specimens with those housed in the herbarium of the Botanical Survey of India (RBI), Southern Circle, Coimbatore, India.

Plants in Table 1 are arranged alphabetical in order of their botanical names, followed by the family and local (Kanikkars) name and a brief note on the plant parts used, mode of administration, dosages etc.

Table 1. List of ethnomedicinal plants collected and documented for skin diseases.

SI. No	Botanical Name	Family	Vernacular name	Habit	Plant part(s) used
1	Abrus precatorius L.	Fabaceae	Kundumani	Climber	Root
2	Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet	Malvaceae	Tutti	Shrub	Leaves
3	Acalypha indica L.	Euphorbiaceae	Kuppaimeni	Erect herb	Leaves
4	Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa	Rutaceae	Vilvam	Thorny tree	Leaves
5	Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.ex Schultes	Amaranthaceae	Kannupeelai	Shrub	Whole plant
6	Amaranthus spinosus L.	Amaranthaceae	Mullukkirai	Herb	Inflorescence
7	Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall.ex Nees	Acanthaceae	Nila Vembu, kiriuatlhi	Herb	Leaves
8	Andrographis rothii Clarke	Acanthaceae	kaya patchilai	Herb	Epidermal peel of stem
9	Argemone mexicana L.	Papavaraceae	Ponnumathai	Herb	Leaves
10	Aristolochia indica L.	Aristolochiaceae	Thalaisurulivaer	Erect herb	Vegetative part
11	Asparagus racemosus Willd	Asparagaceae	Thanneervittan kizhangu	Climber	Root-tuber & root.
12	Azadirachta indica A.Juss	Meliaceae	Veppu	Tree	Leaves & seed oil
13	Begonia malabarica Lam.	Begoniaceae	Malaipulichi	Herb	Leaves
14	Boerhavia diffusa L.	Nyctiginaceae	Vethalamai	Herb	Leaves
15	Calotropis gigantea (L.) R.Br.	Asclepiadaceae	Erukku	Shrub	Leaves & latex
16	Canthium parviflorum Lam.	Rubiaceae	Kattikarai	Thorny shrub	Leaves
17	Cassia alata L.	Caesalpiniaceae	Yanaithavarai	Shrub	Leaves
18	Cassia fistula L.	Caesalpiniaceae	Konnei	Medium sized tree	Leaves
19	Cassia tora L.	Caesalpiniaceae	Tagarai	Herb	Root
20	Cissampelos pareira L.var hirsuta (Buch-Ham. ex DC )Forman	Menispermaceae	Malaithanki pachilai	Climber	Whole plant
21	Clerodendrum inerme (L.) Gaertn	Verbenaceae	Changukuppi	Shrub	Leaves
22	Clitoria ternatea L.	Fabaceae	Shangupuspam	Climber	Root & Leaves.
23	Commelina benghalensis L.	Commelinaceae	Valaipachai	Herb	Leaves
24	Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.	Hypoxidaceae	Nilapanai	Herb	Tuber
25	Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.	Poaceae	Arugampullu	Herb	Fresh leaves
26	Datura metel L.	Solanaceae	Yumattai	Herb	Leaves
27	Eclipta prostrata (L) L.	Asteraceae	Karisalankanni	Herb	Leaves
28	Elephantopus scaber L.	Asteraceae	Yanaichavattadi	Herb	Leaves & Rhizome
29	Erythrina variegata L.	Fabaceae	Mullumurukku	Tree	Leaves
30	Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L	Convolvulaceae	Vishnukarandi	Herb	Whole plant
31	Ficus benghalensis L. var. benghalensis	Moraceae	Aal	Tree	Stem Latex
32	Ficus racemosa L.f	Moraceae	Atthi	Tree	Stem Latex
33	Ficus religiosa L.	Moraceae	Arasu	Tree	Stem Latex
34	Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. var. indicus	Periplocaceae	Nannari	Climber	Root