Traditional Herbal Medicines for the Treatment of Snake Bite and Scorpion Sting by the Paliyar's Tribes of Sathuragiri Hills
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Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2017; 5(2): 01-05 ISSN (E): 2320-3862 ISSN (P): 2394-0530 Traditional herbal medicines for the treatment of NAAS Rating 2017: 3.53 JMPS 2017; 5(2): 01-05 snake bite and scorpion sting by the Paliyar’s © 2017 JMPS Received: 01-01-2017 tribes of Sathuragiri hills Accepted: 02-02-2017 K Aadhan PG and Research Department of K Aadhan and SP Anand Botany, National College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, Abstract Tamil Nadu, India This paper documents the traditional knowledge of herbal medicinal plants that are in use by ethnic people of Paliyar tribes of Sathuragiri hills, Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary of a part Western Ghats, SP Anand Tamil Nadu, India. From this study totally 40 plant species were documented they coming under 24 PG and Research Department of families belongs to 39 genera to treat 29 species for snake bite and 22 plant species used to treat scorpion Botany, National College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, sting. Details of these plants listed with in this study details of the plants used for snake bite, scorpion Tamil Nadu, India sting with local name, part used and methods of preparation dosage and the mode of administrations were discussed. Keywords: Herbal medicine, Snake bite, Scorpion sting, Sathuragiri hills, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. 1. Introduction The snake and scorpion bite is a neglected health hazard worldwide (Alirol et al., 2010). Most snakebite of the more than 3000 species of snakes are considered dangerous to humans (Brian, [8] 2015) . Agricultural and tropical regions report more snake bites than anywhere else. In India alone more than 2, 00,000 cases are reported and it is estimated 35,000 to 50,000 people die each year. In India, particularly in the rural areas snake bite victims turn to traditional medicine men and healers, due to lack of availability of antiserum. A good deal of research work has been done in various parts of the world on herbal antagonists of snake and scorpion venom (Samy et al., 2008; Gomes et al., 2010; Kumarappan et al., 2011 and Basha et al., 2012) [31, 13, 19, 5]. A review of past literature on ethnobotany indicates that ample research work has been done in various parts of the world on herbal antagonists of snake venom (Mebs 2000; [24, 15, 2, 47, 25] Houghton et al., 1993; Asuzu et al., 2003; Yang et al., 1998 and Mors, 1991) . Medicinal plants are a rich source of many natural inhibitors and pharmacologically active compounds and plants application against snake bite is known. This natural resource was unexplored until in recent years when it started getting scientific attention as indicated in an array of published ethno pharmacological reviews/articles from different countries reporting many medicinal plants claimed to neutralize the action of snake venom (Blaylock 1982; [7, 15, 20] Houghton et al., 1993 and Kunjam et al., 2013) .Among such diseases, snake and scorpion bites are also treated by using medicinal plants the studies on herbal antidotes against snake and scorpion venom are of great importance in the management of snake bite disorders(Mukherjee et al., 2006) [26]. Snake bites in rural areas are commonly treated with plant Extracts. In general the plant families Compositae, Fabaceae and Solanaceae members used as antidote in East African compendia for treat snake bite and scorpion sting. The frequent uses of leaves and roots are antivenin preparation is noted by (Watt et al., 1962 and Bennet et al., 2000) [46, 6]. The use of plants for medicinal purposes dates back to Vedic period. However, up to few decades back the herbal medicines were replaced by synthetic medicines due to their quick effect. Interestingly global trend is now going back; natural way of living and the necessity of green medicines are now being realized elsewhere, due to side effects of allopathic medicines. Correspondence Most of the world’s population still relies entirely on plant based medicines and plants yield K Aadhan active ingredients of most traditional medical products (Santhosh Kumar et al., 2013) [35]. PG and Research Department of Botany, National College Ethnic people are highly knowledgeable about the vegetation and their multi socio, economic and (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, religious values, and one among them is their medicinal values. This knowledgeis passed through [30, 31] Tamil Nadu, India oral communication from generation to generation (Perumal Samy et al., 1998, 2000) . ~ 1 ~ Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies This is attracting the attention of several botanists and plant scientists who directing vigorous researches towards the discovery or rediscovery of several medicinal plants along with their medicinal remedies for various diseases. Several workers were reported the utility of plants for the treatment of various diseases by the different tribal and rural people inhabiting in various region of Tamil Nadu. (Shanmugam et al., 2007, 2008; Ayyanar et al., 2008; Ignacimuthu et al., 2008; Rajendran et al., 2008; Arunachalam et al. 2009; Balakrishnan et al. 2009; Chendurpandy et al. 2010; Maruthupandian et al. 2010 and Nandagopalan et al. 2011) [39, 40, 3, 16, 33, 1, 4, 10, 22, 28]. In the tribal areas the man-plant relations are better tuned and are the major centers of ethnomedicinal wisdom. According Fig 1a: view of study area to the All India coordinated project sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi, 40% of 16,000 recorded flowering plants in India have ethnomedicinal value, whereas only 10% of these are used in drug and pharmaceutical industries. The intrinsic importance of these medicinal plants can very well prove as a potential source of new drugs (Pushpangadan, 1997) [32]. Several medicinal plants with accepted therapeutic values in snake and scorpion bite treatment are now attracting attention. Recently due to unplanned developmental programs, increasing modern healthcare facilities and impact of modern civilization, natural resources as well as traditional knowledge and tribal cultures are depleting rapidly at an alarming rate. Therefore, it is imperative to explore and document this unique and Fig 1b: Interaction with Paliyar’s Tribals indigenous, traditional knowledge of the tribal community before it diminishes with the knowledgeable persons. Methods Several field trips were carried out in Sathuragiri hills from Materials and Methods Jan 2015 to March – 2016, Covering different seasons, in Study area order to know the phenology of the plants and Intensive and Sathuragiri hills are situated in Southern Western Ghats extensive field survey was made in Sathuragiri hills and comes under Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife villages in Virdhunagar district. The data were collected Sanctuary Srivilliputhur taluk, Virudhunagar district of Tamil through repeated field visits and the careful interaction with Nadu. Sathuragiri is located at 1200 meters (3,937.0 ft) the village people and Paliyar tribes. The collected specimens mountain in the a part of Western Ghats of South India. It lies were identified taxonomically with the help of available between 9º. 42´ - 9 º.44” West latitude and between 77 º.37 - Monographs, taxonomic revisions and floras and by using 77 º. - 41” East longitude and it has an elevation of 881 field keys. (Gamble, 1956; Henry et al., 1987; Matthew 1983 meters above sea level. Sathuragiri is in an area with a and Jain, S.K. and Rao, R.R., 1977) [12, 14, 23, 17]. Tropical evergreen forest, Semi evergreen forest and Mixed Ethenomedicine information was gathered from all categories deciduous forest climate. Only Hindu Paliyar tribes residing of village people such as the local healers’ village leaded, in this area (Fig: 1b). elderly persons and Paliyar tribes and the person having a through knowledge of Medical practices. Herbal Medicines Paliyar tribals for the Treatment of Snake Bite and Scorpion Sting were Only the indigenous people of the study area are called cross checked and conformed to the Siddha Doctors. The Paliyar/Paliyan. They are found in the hilly regions of information gathered from one place was confirmed by Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Thirunelveli, and Virdhunagar different communities of village people, Paliyar tribals in districts (Fig: 1a). It is belived that Paliyar’s are indigenous different places of investigation. The collected plants people of Palani hills (Situated near to Kodaikanal a famous specimen was deposited in the Department of Botany, tourist place). In the Palani hills they are found at an altitude National College (Autonomous), Trichy, Tamil Nadu for of up to 2200m. Generally Paliyar’s are illiterate and they future reference. speak Tamil (Mother tongue of Tamil Nadu). Paliyar’s when compared to various tribal communities in Tamil Nadu Result and discussion constitute redelivery a small group. Paliyar’s can be grouped In the present study totally about 40 plant species of 24 in to three categories based on their life styles, namely, families distributed in 39 genera are reported to treat, snake Nomadic, Seminomadic and Settled Nomadic Paliyar’s don’t bite and scorpion siting, 29 species of herbal medicinal plants built houses, they live temporarily in rock caves called belonging to 28 genera of 19 families for the snake bite, 22 “Pudai” semi nomadic Paliyar build temporary house and plants species belonging to 21 genera of 17 families for the confine themselves to small territories most of their huts are scorpion sting and both 12 species like snake bite, scorpion dark with no window or any other opening to admit air. sting some of the plant species are used. Blepharis Setiled Paliyars are more less urbanized and live as maderaspatensis, Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. Calendula agricultural laborers. Importance of traditional and folk officinalis L., Eclipta alba L., Eclipta prostrate L. Mucuna medicine in the treatment of various human ailments is well pruriens, Leucas aspera (Willd) Link., Anisomeles [43] recognized amongst these people (Sankarasivaraman, 2000) . ~ 2 ~ Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies malabarica R.Br., Gloriosa superba L., Azadirachta indica beliefs are the only basis of use of the herbal medicines.