Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 6(4), October 2007, pp. 579-582

Medicinal plants used by Malasar tribes of district,

P Pandi Kumar, M Ayyanar & S Ignacimuthu* Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai 600 034, Tamil Nadu E-mail: [email protected] Received 2 December 2005; revised 5 July 2006

India is known for its rich flora and fauna, diverse climatic zones and wealth of living ethnomedicinal tradition. The paper enumerates medicinal plants used by Malasar tribes of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. The traditional uses of 51 medicinal plants belonging to 34 families are presented with botanical name, family, local name, parts used, method of preparation and ethnomedicinal uses.

Keywords: Traditional knowledge, Ethnomedicine, Malasar tribes, Tamil Nadu IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K36/00, A61P1/02, A61P1/10, A61P1/12, A61P1/16, A61P9/14, A61P11/00, A61P11/10, A61P19/00, A61P19/02, A61P25/00, A61P29/00, A61P31/02, A61P35/00, A61P39/02

India is one of the twelve mega-biodiversity countries tribal people about medicinal plants provides an ideal of the World having rich vegetation with a wide condition to carry out the ethnobotanical studies. variety of plants having medicinal value. Human Poondi has typically tropical climate and is situated at civilization has evolved as a result of interaction of an elevation of 300 MSL with an annual rainfall of people with their environment, especially with plants. about 150 mm. The forest covers dry deciduous From the very earliest days of civilization, mankind forests, thorn forests and scrub vegetation. The study has turned to plants for healing, a tradition that has area is 26 km away from Coimbatore. The tribe found survived the arrival of modern medicine and found in the study area is known as Malasar. They are found new strength at the end of 20th century1. India in various places such as Anamalai, Navamalai, accounts for 7-8% of the recorded species of the Amaravathi hills, Thirumoorthi hills, Anaikatti and in world. The Botanical Survey of India has recorded and around Poondi of Coimbatore district, Tamil over 47,000 species of plants. About 64% of the total Nadu. Malasar tribals are black in colour; grow to a global population remains dependent on traditional height of about 1.2-1.5 m. They have blunt nose and medicine for their healthcare system2. Traditional the lips are thickened in nature. Malasars belong to knowledge is generally associated with biological forest hunting type and are exclusively dependent on resources and is invariably an intangible component forests for their livelihood; they hunt and gather roots of such a biological resource. Historically, the tribal and fruits. These tribals have a good knowledge communities survived on their traditional knowledge regarding medicinal plants and their uses. The base. Maintenance of their health even now is based Malasar’s knowledge on herbal medicine is passed on on traditional medicine derived from plants and other from generation to generation and they find medicinal natural products3. Tribal people acquired knowledge property of a plant based on its taste. Malasars feel of plant species largely on trial and error basis. that, the herbs, which have bitter taste, have a great The study was aimed to document some traditional medicinal value. They use their knowledge to prepare medicinal plants used by the local people belonging to some simple medicine, using available herbs. In the Malasar community for curing various diseases. communication, the information gathered from the Coimbatore district lies between 11.010 North latitude tribal practitioners about the medicinal uses of 51 and 76.960 East longitudes. The study area is Poondi, plants is presented. situated at the foothills of Velliangiri of Bhanthipur reserve forest. The rich flora and fair knowledge of Methodology ______During the study, many field trips were carried out *Corresponding author in the study area from 2001–2003. Standard 580 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 6, No. 4 OCTOBER 2007

methodology was used to gather the ethnomedicinal confirmed with the herbaria of Botanical Survey of knowledge of plant from the local people4. The India (BSI), Southern circle, Coimbatore and the information regarding the medicinal uses of plants, specimens were deposited in the herbarium of perception of the local people regarding use of plants Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, in common diseases were collected through Chennai. questionnaires among the tribal practitioners in the study area. In addition to the vernacular names, Results and discussion information on plant parts used, uses, mode of The study includes information on 51 plant species preparation; form of usage and mixtures of other belonging to 48 genera and 34 families (Table 1). plants used as ingredients were also collected. The They are used to treat wounds, fever, cough, muscle collected plant species were identified pain, nervous disorders, skin diseases, poisonous taxonomically5,6. The identified plant specimens were bites, piles, dysentery, diarrhoea and stomach

Table ⎯ 1 Medicinal plants used by Malasar tribes Plant name Family Local name Uses Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae Karun - Leaves are chewed to get relief from toothache. Kundumani Achyranthes aspera Amaranthaceae Naayuruvi Leaf juice along with pepper and turmeric boiled in castor oil is Blume. applied to treat wounds. Acorus calamus L. Zingiberaceae Vasampu Rhizome paste with honey is given orally to treat cough. Ammannia baccifera Lythraceae Kalluruvi Leaf paste is applied externally to treat muscular pain. L. Begonia malabarica L. Begoniaceae Rattha choori Decoction of stem is taken internally for stamina. Boerhaavia diffusa L. Nyctaginaceae Saaranai Decoction of root along with the roots of Tinospora cordifolia, Erythroxylon monogynum and Alpinia galanga is taken internally to treat arthritis. Canarium strictum Burseraceae Kungilium Plant resin and turmeric paste is applied externally to treat heel Roxb. cracks. Cardiospermum Sapindaceae Mudakkatthan Plant decoction along with Zingiber officinale dried rhizome and halicacabum L. Cuminum cyminum seeds is taken internally to treat rheumatism. Centella asiatica (L.) Apiaceae Vallarai Powdered leaves mixed with water are applied to treat skin diseases. Gamb. Cissampelos pariera L. Menispermaceae Veeli Plant oil mixed with rice flour is applied externally for body pain relief. Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Menispermaceae Jalanthiratti Leaf juice mixed with equal amount of water and kept for some Diels. time to form into a gel like substance eaten to cool the body. Coldenia procumbens Boraginaceae Seruppadai Powder of leaves is taken internally to improve resistance power. L. Datura metel L. Solanaceae Karu oomatthai Leaf juice boiled with coconut oil is applied externally to heal wounds. Dichrostachys cinerea Mimosaceae Vedathalai Root powder is used to treat snake bite. (L.) Wight & Arn. Diplocyclos palmatus Cucurbitaceae Ivirali Leaf decoction is taken internally to treat rheumatic pain. (L.) Jeffrey Eclipta prostrata L. Asteraceae Karisalankanni Plant leaf juice and Phyllanthus emblica fruits boiled with coconut oil is applied to prevent falling of hair. Evolvulus alsinoides L. Convolvulaceae Vishnukranti Powder of whole plant is taken internally to increase memory power. Gymnema sylvestre Asclepiadaceae Sirukurinjan Leaf powder is taken orally to treat scorpion & snake bites, skin (Retz.) R. Br. diseases and diabetes. Helicteres isora L. Sterculiaceae Valampuri Fruit powder boiled with Piper nigrum seeds, Allium sativum rhizome and gingelly oil is applied to treat earache. Heliotropium indicum Boraginaceae Thel kodukku Leaf juice boiled with coconut oil is applied on head to kill L. chedi dandruff. Hemidesmus indicus Asclepiadaceae Nannari Decoction of root is taken to cool the body. (L.) R.Br. Contd⎯ KUMAR et al.: ETHNOMEDICINE OF MALASAR TRIBES OF TAMIL NADU 581

Table ⎯ 1 Medicinal plants used by Malasar tribes ⎯Contd Plant name Family Local name Uses Hygrophila auriculata Acanthaceae Neer mulli Ash of the whole plant mixed with cow’s urine is applied on joints (Schum) Heina Kerr. to treat swelling of joints. Indigofera Fabaceae Sivanar vembu Powdered root is used to treat skin diseases and toothache. aspalathoides L.f. Indigofera caerulea Fabaceae Avuri Paste of plant leaves, Leucas aspera leaves and pepper is taken Roxb. internally to treat snakebite. Root powder is taken internally to treat jaundice. Indoneesiella echioides Acanthaceae Kopuran - Leaf juice boiled with coconut oil is applied on head to prevent (L.) Sreemath. thangi falling and graying of hair. Ipomoea Convolvulaceae Siru oonan Leaf paste mixed with castor oil is applied on wounds. obscura K. Gawl. Justicia diffusa L. Acanthaceae Kodasoori Leaves boiled with gingelly oil are applied to treat toothache. Kalanchoe floribunda Crassulaceae Paarvai poodu Fresh leaves are taken orally to treat skin diseases. Wight & Arn. Leucas aspera (Willd.) Lamiaceae Thumbai Leaf juice is given with honey to treat bronchitis in children. L. Mangifera indica L. Anacardiaceae Ma maram Paste of cotyledons, Punica granatum fruit skin and Solanum nigrum leaf juice is taken to treat dysentery and diarrhoea. Mimosa pudica L. Mimosaceae Thottal sinungi Crushed leaves boiled with gingelly oil are applied externally to treat psoriasis. Mollugo nudicaulis Aizoaceae Parpadagam Decoction of whole plant along with Evolvulus alsinoides is given Lam. to treat fever. Myristica dactyloides Myristicaceae Jaathik kaai Paste of seeds is taken internally to treat dysentery. Gaert. Naringa crenulata Rutaceae Magaa vilvam Tender leaf paste is taken internally with milk to treat mental Roxb. disorders. Oldenlandia umbellata Rubiaceae Saaya vaer Root paste, Allium sativum and Acorus calamus is taken for worms. L. Pavonia procumbens Malvaceae Palampasi Paste of leaves, onion bulbs and cumin seeds with buttermilk is (W & A.) Walp. taken internally to treat ulcer. Peperomia wightiana Piperaceae Kal porumbi Leaf juice is given orally to children to treat indigestion. Miq. Phyla nodiflora L. Verbenaceae Poduthalai Tender leaf decoction is given orally for children to treat diarrhoea. Phyllanthus emblica L. Euphorbiaceae Nellikkai Decoction of fruits along with green gram is given to treat blood pressure. Piper longum Miq. Piperaceae Thippili Powder of seeds is taken internally along with honey to treat cough. Piper nigrum L. Piperaceae Milagu Powder of seeds is taken internally to treat cough, bronchial disorders and as antidote to snake poison. Sida rhombifolia L. Malvaceae Kurunthotti Plant crushed, boiled and is applied externally on the head to treat headache and inflammation in eyes. Sphaeranthus indicus Asteraceae Kottai Plant powder is taken internally to treat skin diseases. Fresh leaves L. karanthai along with cumin seeds are taken internally to treat dysentery. Terminalia arjuna Combretaceae Marutham Bark powder is taken internally with milk or water to strengthen the (DC.) Wight & Arn. heart. Terminalia bellirica Combretaceae Thanikkai Powder of fruit is taken internally with buttermilk to treat stomach (Gaert.) Roxb. problems. Tinospora cordifolia Menispermaceae Chinthil Crushed leaves along with buttermilk are taken internally to treat (Willd.) H.k. Thomson piles. Trianthema decandra Aizoaceae Saathi saaranai Powder of root bark is taken internally to strengthen the muscles. L.Mant. Trichodesma indicum Boraginaceae Kavu thumbai Paste of leaves along with garlic and rhizome of Acorus calamus is (L.) R.Br. applied to heal wounds. Wattakaka volubilis Asclepiadaceae Perunkurinjan Leaf paste is taken along with pepper to treat dyspepsia. (L.f.) Stapf. Wrightia tinctoria Apocynaceae Veppalai Crushed leaves and latex are applied externally to cure blisters. (Roxb.) R. Br. Ziziphus mauritiana Rhamnaceae Elanthai Decoction of leaves and paddy husk is taken internally to treat piles. Lam. 582 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 6, No. 4 OCTOBER 2007

problems, etc. The most common forms of preparing Acknowledgement the medicine from plants are fresh juice, powder, Authors acknowledge the invaluable inputs and paste and decoction. External applications are assistance extended by Malasar tribes during data indicated for ailments like wounds, skin diseases, hair collection and the forest officials for granting loss, nervous disorders, muscle pain and heel cracks. permission to enter the forests during field visits. Sometimes particular plant parts are chewed for Authors also wish to acknowledge Botanical survey curing diseases. These indigenous methods of of India, Southern Circle, Coimbatore for the treatment based on medicinal plants are still an identification of plant specimens. important part of their life. Out of the 51 plant species studied, herbs were represented by 20 species References followed by 12 species of climbers and 10 species of 1 Sullivan K & Shealy CN, Complete Natural Home trees. Among the different plant parts used by the Remedies, (Element Books Limited, Shaftesbury, UK), 1997, 3. Malasar tribals, leaves constituted the major portion 2 Farnsworth NR, Ethnopharmacology and drug development, in medicine. In some of the plant species, more than In: Ethnobotany and search for new drugs, edited by one plant part was used for medicinal purposes. Chadwick DJ & March U, (Ciba Foundation Symposium, Practitioners of traditional medicine tend to have 183, Wiley, Chichester), 1994, 42. 3 Tripathi SK, Traditional knowledge: Its significance and extensive knowledge of the ecology and use of the implications, Indian J Traditional Knowledge, 2 (2) (2003) local flora. The survey indicated that, the study area 99–106. was rich in medicinal plants useful to treat a wide 4 Jain SK, Ethnobotany: its scope and study, Indian Museum spectrum of human ailments. The study also revealed Bull, 2 (1967) 39. that in some cases, combinations of plants were used 5 Gamble JS & Fischer CEC, The Flora of the Presidency of Madras, (Adlard & Son, Ltd, London), 1957. to treat diseases. Earlier studies on traditional 6 Matthew KM, The Flora of the Tamil Nadu Carnatic, (The medicinal plants also revealed that the economically Rapinat Herbarium, St Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli, backward local people of Kani tribals in Tirunelveli India), 1983. hills prefer folk medicine due to low cost and 7 Ignacimuthu S, Sankara Sivaraman K & Kesavan L, Medico- sometimes it is a part of their social life and culture7-9 ethnobotanical survey among Kanikar tribals of . Mundanthurai Sanctuary, Fitoterapia, 69 (1998) 409–414. Due to indiscriminate exploitation, destruction of 8 Ayyanar M & Ignacimuthu S, Traditional Knowledge of forests and changing scenario of rural life cycle, the Kani tribals in Kouthalai of Tirunelveli hills, Tamil Nadu, oral folklore of plants as well as the knowledge is in India, J Ethnopharmacol, 102(2) (2005) 246– 255. the process of degeneration. Therefore, it is important 9 Ayyanar M & Ignacimuthu S, Ethnomedicinal plants used by the tribals of Tirunelveli hills to treat poisonous bites and to study and document the available information skin diseases, Indian J Traditional Knowledge, 4 (2005) urgently in detail for a wider application in future. 229–236.