Some Medicinal Plants Used by Irular, the Tribal People of Marudhamalai
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Natural Product Radiance, Vol. 5(5), 2006, pp.382-388 Explorer: Research Article Some medicinal plants used by Irular, the tribal people of Marudhamalai hills, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu M Senthilkumar*, P Gurumoorthi and K Janardhanan Ethnopharmacology Unit, Department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore -641 046, Tamil Nadu, India *Correspondent author, E-mail: [email protected] Address: M Senthilkumar S/O K Mariappan, Curzon Estate, Kotagiri (P.O), The Nilgiris- 643 217 Received 2 August 2005; Accepted 10 August 2006 Abstract dominated areas of Marudhamali hills at The present paper deals with ethnobotanical study on 75 plant species used for several Coimbatore. The study technique common diseases like scabies, skin allergies, diabetes, headache, jaundice, scorpion bite, diarrhoea, suggested by Jain9, 11 was followed during leucoderma, rheumatism, earache, wounds, leprosy, asthma, dysentery, etc. by the Irulars (tribal) the survey. Plants were identified and people of Marudhamalai Hills, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. The botanical, vernacular and family confirmed with the authentic herbarium names, mode of preparations and uses have been provided for further pharmacological and clinical of Botanical Survey of India (Southern evaluations. Circle), Coimbatore. The voucher Keywords: Ethnobotany, Medicinal plants, Irulars, Tribals, Marudhamalai hills, Coimbatore, Tamil specimens were deposited in the Nadu. Department of Botany, Bharathiar 8 IPC code; Int. cl — A61K 36/00 University, Coimbatore, India. Introduction hills related to medicinal uses of In India, exhaustive 75 plants. Enumeration ethnobotanical studies are being carried For each species, botanical, out in various ethnic communities because Materials and Methods family and local name (LN), mode of the floral diversity and rich endemic taxa Marudhamalai hills are situated preparation and uses are being provided of our country are of significance for at a distance of 15 km from Coimbatore. here for further reference. The voucher richness of ethnomedicine. During the last It consists of an environment of moist dry- specimen numbers (VSN) are given in four decades, a large number of plants deciduous type of forest at an altitude of parenthesis. used in indigenous practices have been 426.72m MSL, 11.04E of longitude and discovered through ethnobotanical studies 76.93N latitude. The North-East monsoon 1. Abrus precatorius Linn.; Family- in India1-15. In recent years some workers sets in effecting heavy rains from the end Fabaceae; LN-Kundumani like Palanisamy et al, Balasubramanian of October to November with an average The leaves are crushed and et al, Hamasavalli, Nikkitha et al, rainfall of 117.5mm. The area has a applied on the affected part(s) for curing Kathikeyani et al and Senthilkumar predominant red soil impregnated with scabies (VSN- MS 97). et al16-23, have reported various medicinal organic matter and granite; bedrock is plants used by Irular tribals in overlaid with shallow, sandy loam and 2. Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet; Coimbatore district. The present paper glacial soils which are moderate to well Family-Malvaceae; LN-Thutthi attempts to bring information on drained. The authors conducted field study The leaves are crushed to extract traditional knowledge of the primitive during the period of November 2003 to juice which is taken daily to ease ethnic tribe, Irulars of Marudhamalai January 2004 in Irulars (tribal) childbirth (VSN- MS 784). 382 Natural Product Radiance Explorer: Research Article a b c d e f g h i j k Fig. 1(a-k) : Some ethnomedicinal plants in Marudhamalai hills a. Sarcostemma acidum; b. Jatropha glandulifera; c. Catharanthus roseus; d. Martynia annua; e. Pergularia daemia; f. Toddalia asiatica var. floribunda; g. Pongamia pinnata; h. Clitoria ternatea; i. Boerhaavia diffusa; j. Asparagus racemosus; k. Abrus precatorius Vol 5(5) September-October 2006 383 Explorer: Research Article 3. Acalypha alnifolia Klein ex ex Nees; Family-Acanthaceae; LN- 17. Bidens pilosa Linn.; Family- Willd.; Family- Euphorbiaceae Nelavembu Asteraceae Crushed leaves are used in dysentery Leaf decoction is given to cure The warm juice of the fresh plant (VSN- MS 89). diabetes (VSN- MS 418). is used to treat earache and conjunctivitis, and as a styptic on wounds (VSN- MS 275). 4. Acalypha fruticosa Forsk.; 11. Annona squamosa Linn.; Family- Family-Euphorbiaceae; LN-Sinni Annonaceae; LN-Sitapalam 18. Blepharis repens (Vahl) Roth.; Roots and leaves are used to cure Fruit juice is taken orally to Family-Acanthaceae stomachache, dyspepsia and given as control dysentery. Seed paste is applied Leaves crushed and the paste is antidote (VSN- MS 334). on the forehead for relief from headache applied on the forehead in headache (VSN- (VSN- MS 89). MS 400). 5. Acalypha indica Linn.; Family- Euphorbiaceae 12. Argemone mexicana Linn.; 19. Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.; Family- Whole plant is crushed and the Family-Papaveraceae; LN-Kudiyoetti Nyctaginaceae; LN-Mukurattai juice is given to cure bronchitis in children The seed powder is used to treat Leaf paste is applied on the cuts (VSN- MS 274). colic pain and dysentery (VSN- MS 5). and wounds to stop bleeding (VSN- MS 75). 6. Aerva lanata Juss. ex Schult.; 13. Argyreia nervosa (Burm.f.) Boj.; Family-Amaranthaceae; LN-Sirupulai Family-Convolvulaceae; LN-Samuthra 20. Buchanania lanzan Spreng.; Leaves are macerated and few pachai Family-Anacardiaceae; LN-Mudaima, drops are given orally to the asthmatic Leaves are used as abortifacient; Moral child at the time of wheezing (VSN- and applied as poultice on wounds and The roots and leaves are pounded, MS 55). skin diseases (VSN- MS 247). mixed with buttermilk and given in diarrhoea (VSN- MS 177). 7. Albizia lebbek Benth.; Family- 14. Aristolochia indica Linn.; Mimosaceae; LN-Katuvagai Family-Aristolochiaceae; LN-Isramuli, 21. Capparis sepiaria Linn.; Family- Flowers are used to cure skin Adgam Capparidaceae; LN-Karunjurai eruptions, swellings and antidote to poison Root tonic is used as stimulant Decoction of leaf is used in (VSN- MS 300). and to treat menstrual problems. In cough and skin diseases (VSN- MS 90). powdered form it is given in honey for 8. Aloe vera (Linn.) Burm. f.; Family- leucoderma (VSN- MS 270). 22. Carissa carandas Linn.; Family- Liliaceae; LN-Chotthukatalai Apocynaceae; LN- Kalakkay Fresh juice is used as 15. Asparagus racemosus Willd.; Decoction of the leaves is given cathartic and cooling. It is also used in Family-Liliaceae; LN-Thannervittan, for fever (VSN- MS 146). treating fever and eye diseases (VSN- MS Kizhay, Ammaikodi 112). Root extract is used in diarrhoea, 23. Cassia angustifolia Vahl; Family- dysentery and general debility (VSN- Caesalpiniaceae; LN-Nilavirai 9. Amaranthus viridis Linn.; Family- MS 08). Leaves and fruits are used as Amaranthaceae; LN-Nelavemu laxative and purgative (VSN- MS 48). Leaves are used as emollient in 16. Asystasia gangetica T. Anders.; scorpion sting (VSN- MS 57). Family-Acanthaceae; LN-Palagai 24. Cassia auriculata Linn.; Family- Root paste is applied to cure skin Caesalpiniaceae; LN-Aavarai 10. Andrographis paniculata Wall. allergies (VSN- MS 97). Seeds are ground and the paste 384 Natural Product Radiance Explorer: Research Article is applied to cure skin diseases (VSN- MS Powdered leaves or fresh leaves Roxb.; Family- Erythroxylaceae; LN- 92). are taken in treating diabetes (VSN- Sempulichan MS 2). An infusion of the wood bark is 25. Cassia occidentalis Linn.; administered as stomachic, diaphoretic Family-Caesalpiniaceae;LN- 32. Commelina benghalensis Linn.; and diuretic (VSN- MS 107). Thagarai Family-Commelinaceae; LN- Seeds and leaves are used Kanavazhi 39. Eucalyptus globulus Labil.; externally in skin troubles. Leaves are also Whole plant is used to treat Family-Myrtaceae; LN-Karpuramaram used in foot and mouth disease of cattle leprosy (VSN- MS 792). Dried leaves in the form of (VSN- MS 123). tincture are used in asthma and chronic 33. Corchorus trilocularis Linn.; bronchitis (VSN- MS 111). 26. Catharanthus roseus G. Don; Family-Tiliaceae; LN-Peratti, Family- Apocynaceae; LN- Talakkaippoondu 40. Euphorbia thymifolia Linn.; Nithyakalyani Plant macerated with water Family-Euphorbiaceae; LN- The root decoction is given orally yields, mucilage, prescribed as a Sittrapaladai as an abortifacient (VSN- MS 1405). demulcent. Seeds are used in fever and Dried leaves and seeds are for cleaning bowls (VSN- MS 35). aromatic, astringent and stimulant, they 27. Celosia argentea Linn.; Family- are used as laxative (VSN- MS 280). Amaranthaceae; LN-Alarapoo 34. Crotalaria retusa Linn.; Family- The leaves are crushed and the juice Fabaceae 41. Euphorbia tirucalli Linn.; is taken orally twice daily to ease Plant is used in scabies and Family-Euphorbiaceae; LN-Tirukalli, childbirth (VSN- MS 648). impetigo (VSN- MS 57). Kalli Decoction of the tender branch 28. Cleome icosandra Linn. syn. C. 35. Crotalaria verrucosa Linn.; or the root is given to treat colic and viscosa Linn.; Family- Capparidaceae; Family-Fabaceae; LN- Kilukiluppai gastralgia (VSN- MS 201). LN-Naykadughu The leaf decoction is given orally Seeds are given internally as a to cure jaundice (VSN- MS 3). 42. Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.; vermifuge (VSN- MS 507). Family- Convolvulaceae; LN- 36. Dodonaea viscosa Linn.; Family- Vishnukarandai 29. Cleome monophylla Linn.; Sapindaceae; LN-Virali Leaves are smoked in chronic Family- Capparidaceae Crushed stems are tied on the bronchitis and asthma (VSN- MS 260). Pounded root is used to restore fractured part to