Ethnomedicinal Plants in Kolli Hills of in ,

India is rich in cultural and floristic diversity and also a store house of ethnobotanical knowledge. Ethnobotany can be described as the relationship and interactions between man and his surrounding local environment1. Inhabitants depend on ayurveda and medicinal plants to help meet their primary healthcare needs. Traditional medical knowledge is important not only for its potential contribution to drug development and market values, but also for the people’s healthcare2.

Inhabitants of kolli hills make use of medicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments like skin diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, bite, cold, cough, asthma etc.

Kolli hills are located in central Tamil Nadu, lies between 110 10’54” - 110 30’00” N latitude 780 15’00” - 780 30’00” E longitude. The slope of this region varies from gentle to very steep. It is an isolated hill range of discontinuous Eastern Ghats, rich in biological diversity of plants predominantly of medicinal and aromatic plants. Kolli hills, is one among eight hills in Southern region. It has a mild climate and the place is known for herbal cultivation. Average rainfall in the Kolli hills is 1340mm3. The soil type is loamy and black soil on kolli hills4. Kolli hills is mainly occupied by Malayali tribals of 98.8%5. These tribal families are depended on forest resources for food, firewood, herbal medicines, timber, fodder, etc.

Many of researchers have published medicinal uses of plants of Kolli hills and their surrounding hill tracts6-17. Review of literature reveals that from ancient times the local tribes were depending on these medicinal plants for treatment of various diseases. The traditional healers of this region mostly used ethnomedicines in decoction form, juice or in paste form.

Few medicinal plants of this area are presented with their botanical name followed by family, local names, habit, plants part used, and the ethno medicinal uses.

Botanical name : Acorus calamus L. Family name : Araceae Vernacular : Vayambu name Habit : Shrub Part(s) used : Rhizome Medicinal uses : Stomach ailments, worms, vomiting, sedative, indigestion

Botanical name: : Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Corr. ex.Roxb. Family name: : Rutaceae Vernacular : Vilvam name: Habit: : Tree Part(s) used : Half ripe fruit & Leaf Medicinal uses : Diarrhoea, diabetics

Botanical name: : Andrographis paniculata Wall. ex.Nees Family name: : Acanthaceae Vernacular : Nilavembu/Siriyanangai name: Habit: : Herb Part(s) used : Whole plant & Leaf Medicinal uses : Worms, fever, diabetics, leprosy, snake bite, fever

Botanical : Asparagus racemosus Willd. name: Family : Asparagaceae name: Vernacular : Thannervittankizhangu/ name Satavali Habit: : Climber Part(s) used : Root and Tuber Medicinal : Liver disorders, jaundice, uses dysentery, chronic fevers, enhance lactation, diuretic, potency and digestion

Botanical : Centella asiatica (Linn.) name: Urban Family : Apiaceae name: Vernacular : Vallarai name: Habit: : Herb Part(s) used : Whole plant & Leaves Medicinal : Nervous , brain tonic, uses cardiac problems, fever

Botanical : Coleus aromaticus Benth. name: Family : Lamiaceae name: Vernacular : Karpuravalli/ Omavalli name: Habit: : Herb Part(s) used : Leaf Medicinal : High blood pressure, cough, uses urinary complaints

Botanical : Euphorbia hirta Linn. name: Family : Euphorbiaceae name: Vernacular : Ammanpacharisi name: Habit: : Herb Part(s) used : Latex, leaf & whole plant Medicinal : Snake bite, asthma, chronic uses bronchial infections, wounds

Botanical : Gymnema sylvestre (Retz) name: R. Br. Family : Asclepiadaceae name: Vernacular : Sirukurunjan/sakkaraikolli name: Habit: : Shrub Part(s) used : Leaf & Root Medicinal : Diabetes, vomiting, snake uses bite

Botanical : Leucas aspera (Willd) Link name: Family : Lamiaceae name: Vernacular : Thumbai/ Thumbachedi name: Habit: : Herb Part(s) used : Leaf Medicinal : Stomach ailments, fever , uses asthma, headache

Botanical : Mimosa pudica Linn. name:

Family : Mimosaceae name:

Vernacular : Thottalsurungi name:

Habit: : Herb

Part(s) used : Leaf & whole plant

Medicinal : Fertility, diuretic, cold, uses cough, menstrual

bleeding.

Botanical : Ocimum basilicum Linn. name: Family : Lamiaceae name: Vernacular : Thiruneetru pachai name: Habit: : Herb Part(s) used : Flowers, Leaf, Whole plant Medicinal : Urinary problems, uses gonorrhea, bronchitis, earache, cold, cough

Botanical : Solanum nigrum Linn. name:

Family : Solanaceae name:

Vernacular : Manattakkali/ Kamanchi name:

Habit: : Herb

Part(s) used : Berries, shoot, leaf ,

flower & fruits

Medicinal : Fever, skin infections, uses diuretic, piles, ulcers, stomach ailments.

Botanical : Terminalia bellirica name: (Gaerth.) Roxb. Family : Combretaceae name: Vernacular : Thanrikkaai/Thandri name: Habit: : Tree Part(s) used : Leaf, fruits, seed & kernel Medicinal : Toothache, small pox, uses dysentery, stomach ailments References

1. Martin G.J.(2001). Ethnobiology & Ethnoecology, Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Vol.II. Academic press, London, pp 609-621.

2. Pei SJ. Pharm. Biol., 2001, 39, 74-79.

3. Anbazhagan S., Shanmugavalli G., Ramesh V. Geomorphology and rainfall data analysis for landslide suspectibility mappling Kolli Hills – A Preliminary study, 2010. National conference on Geomatics in Disaster Management, 2010. JTCDM, TISS-Mumbai.

4. Kadirvelmurugan V., Raju K., Arumugam T., Karthik V. and Ravikumar S. Ethnobotany of Medi-Flora of Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, 2014. Scholars Research Library. Archives of Applied Science Research, 2014, 6 (1):159- 164

5. Toll DL, Photogramn, Eng, Remote sensing, 50(1984) 1713-1724

6. Dwarakan P., Rajasekaran K., and Bramadhayalaselvam A. Hitherto unreported medicinal uses of plants from Kolli hills. Ancient Science of Life, 1994, Vol No. XIII Nos. 3 & 4, pp 259 – 260.

7. Anand R.M., Nandakumar N., Karunakaran L., Raghunathan M., and Murugan V. Survey of Medicinal Plants in Kollimalai hill tracts, Tamil Nadu, 2005. Research article. Vol 5(2).

8. Karthik V., Raju K., Ayyanar M., Gowrishankar K., and Sekar T. Ethnomedicinal Uses of Pteridophytes in Kolli Hills, Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. J. Nat. Prod. Plant Resource, 2011, 1 (2): 50-55.

9. Kuru suresh, R. Kottaimuthu, T. Selvin Jebaraj Norman, R. Kumuthakalavalli, Sabu M. Simon. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by Malayali tribals in Kolli Hills of Tamilnadu, India. IJRAP 2011, 2 (2) 502-508.

10. Palanisamy Murugesan, Ganesan Raja, Suresh Kumar Marx, Bommannan Panneer Selvam, 2011. Ethnobotanical study of Medicinal Plants used by villagers in Kolli Hills of District of Tamil Nadu, India. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, Volume 10, Article-029. pp 170-173.

11. Francis Xavier T., Freeda Rose A., Dhivyaa M. Ethnomedicinal survey of malayali tribes in Kolli hills of Eastern Ghats of Tamilnadu, India. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2011, Vol.10 (3), pp.559-562.

12. Senthilkumar K., Aravindhan V., Rajendran A. Ethnomedicinal Plants used for curing Gastro-intestinal ailments by Malayali Tribes in Yercaud Hills, Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, 2012. Journal of Biosciences Research 3(4):234-239.

13. Natarajan V., Anbazhagan, M and Rajendran R. Studies on the medicinal plants used by the malayalli tribes of Kolli Hill in tamilnadu, south India. International Journal of Renewable and Environmental Sciences, 2013 – Vol.1, Issue, 1, pp.10-16.

14. Natarajan V and Udhayakumar A. Studies on the Medicinal Plants used by the Malayali Tribes of Kolli hill in Tamil Nadu. International Journal of Basic and Life Sciences, Volume No. 1 (2013), Issue No. 1.

15. Senthilkumar K., Aravindhan V., Rajendran A. Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used by Malayali Tribes in Yercaud Hills of Eastern Ghats, India. Journal of Natural Remedies, 2013, Vol 13 (2).

16. Vaidyanathan D., Salai Senthilkumar M. S. and Ghouse Basha M. Studies on Ethnomedicinal Plants used by Malayali Tribals in Kolli hills of Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India, Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research, 2013, 3(6):29-45.

1. Kadirvelmurugan V., Raju K., Arumugam T., Karthik V. and Ravikumar S. Ethnobotany of Medi-Flora of Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, 2014. Scholars Research Library. Archives of Applied Science Research, 2014, 6 (1):159- 164

Abstracts from published literature related to Ethnomedicinal plants of Kolli hills ______A survey of Medicinal Plants in Kollimalai Hill Tracts, Tamil Nadu

R.M., Anand Nandakumar N., Karunakaran L., Raghunathan M., and Murugan V.

A Survey of Kollamalai hill tracts of Tamil Nadu, India was conducted to record the plants known in the tribal pockets and mentioned in the present paper. Inhabitants utilize a number of medicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments. The present study aims to draw the attention of phytochemists and pharmacologists to the need of further critical study. If the efficacy of each plant is scientifically established then these plant drugs can be recommended to rural people who are within the reach of these potential drugs.

Source: Research article (2006). Vol 5(2) ______Ethnomedicinal Uses of Pteridophytes in Kolli Hills, Eastern Ghats of T.N. India

V. Karthik1, K. Raju2, M. Ayyanar1, K. Gowrishankar3 and T. Sekar1*

The present investigation was carried out during January to December 2009 for the documentation of medicinal uses of Pteridophytes in Kolli Hills of Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India. The survey aimed to identifying the plants used for the general health of the indigenous people of the study area. Ethnomedicinal information was gathered through questionnaire from the tribal and non‐tribal people of Kolli hills in Tamil Nadu. We have reported 30 species of medicinally important Pteridophytes belonging to 16 families distributed in 27 genera. Our study concluded that, the wealth of indigenous ethnomedicinal knowledge of Pteridophytes may also points to a great potential for research in the discovery of new drugs to fight diseases and other new uses.

Source: Scholar Research Library. Journal of Natural Product and Plant Resourse, (2011), 1 (2): 50­55 ______Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants used by Malayali Tribals in Kolli Hills of Tamil Nadu, India Kuru suresh1*, R. Kottaimuthu2, T. Selvin Jebaraj Norman2, R. Kumuthakalavalli2, Sabu M. Simon2.

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in various villages of kollihills, Nammakkal district, Tamilnadu, India during January 2007 to April 2009. A total of 108 species of ethnomedicinal plants belonging to 102 genera and 59 families were reported with the help of standardized questionnaires among 50 tribal informants between ages of 20‐85. The study shows a high degree of ethnobotanical novelty and the use of plants among the malayali reflects the revival of interest in traditional folk medicine. The medicinal plants used by malayali are arranged alphabetically followed by botanical name, family name, local name parts used, mode of preparation and medicinal uses.

Source: International Journal of Research in Ayurveda & Pharmacy (2011), 2 (2) 502­508 ______

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants used by Villagers in Kolli hills of of T.N. India

*Palanisamy Murugesan1, Ganesan Raja2, Suresh Kumar Marx3, Bommannan Panneer selvam4

The present study deals with the medicinal plants used by the people of Kolli Hills for treatment and prevention of various ailments. For the study filed visits were organized frequently from March 2009 to May 2010 to Kolli Hills of Namakkal district. The present investigation provides ethnobotanical information of various medicinal plants used by the village peoples, herbal medicine practitioners and other traditional healers of Kolli Hills. A total of 54 plants were enumerated with their medicinal importance and parts of those plants used to treat various ailments. Now there is a need for cultivation and conservation of these medicinal plants for discovering new plant medicines in the future.

Source: International Jr. of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research (2011), Volume 10, Issue 1, Article­029 ______Ethnomedicinal Survey of Malayali tribes in Kolli hills of Eastern Ghats of T.N. India. 1Francis Xavier*T., 2Freeda Rose A., & 3Dhivyaa M.

An Ethnobotanical survey was undertaken to collect information from tribal people of Kolli hills of Eastern Ghats, South India. The traditional knowledge of local tribal people on medicinal plants was collected through questionnaires and personal interview during field trips. The present study reveals that the Malayali people in Kolli hills used 50 plants species distributed in 45 genera belonging to 33 families to treat various diseases. The documented medicinal plants mostly used to cure skin diseases. In the present study, Solanaceae and Lamiaceae are most dominant families were used for the various ailments. Documentation of traditional knowledge on the Ethnomedicinal uses of these plants is essential for conservation efforts for the plants resources and new drug development.

Source: Indian Journal of traditional knowledge Vol.10 (3) July 2011, pp.559­562.

Studies on the Medicinal Plants used by the Malayali Tribes of kolli hill in Tamil Nadu

V. Natarajan and A. Uday Kumar

The present study aimed at the documentation of various medicinal plants traditionally used by the Malayali Tribes of Kolli Hill and the people of surrounding villages of Kolli hill, Tamilnadu state India. A sum of 83 plant species of ethnomedicinal values available in Kolli hill, belonging to 76 genera and 41 families were recorded during this study and this study reflects the high degree of ethnobotanical novelty and the uses of plants as herbal medicines by the malayali tribes and the revival of interest in traditional folk medicines prepared from medicinal herbs.

Source: International Journal of Basic and Life Sciences, Volume No. 1 ((2013), Issue No.1 ______Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used by Malayali Tribes in Yercaud Hills of E.G., India Senthilkumar K., Aravindhan V., Rajendran A.*

Medicinal plants have played an important role in treating and preventing a variety of diseases throughout the world. India is one of the most medico‐culturally diverse countries in the world where the medicinal plant sector is part of a time honoured tradition that is respected even today. The present study was initiated with an aim to identify traditional healers who are practicing herbal medicine among the Malayali tribes in Yercaud hills of Eastern Ghats, India and to document their indigenous knowledge on the utilization of medicinal plants particularly most common ethnomedicinal plants. The ethnobotanical information was collected through interviews among local traditional healers in the study area. A total of 90 species of plants distributed in 80 genera belonging to 44 families were identified as commonly used ethnomedicinal plants in the study. As a result, the present study revealed that the information documented regarding the therapeutic uses will provide basic data for further studies mainly focused on conservation, cultivation and economic welfare of the tribal population.

Source: Journal of Natural Remedies (2013), Vol 13 (2) ______Studies on Ethnomedicinal Plants used by Malayali Tribals in Kolli hills of E.G. T.N., India

Vaidyanathan D., M. S. Salai Senthilkumar and M. Ghouse Basha*

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in various villages of kollihills, Nammakkal District, Tamilnadu, India during July 2011 to june 2013. A total 250 species of ethnomedicinal plants belonging to 198 genera and 81 families and 21 habitats, 228 dicotyledons, 22 monocotyledons were reported with the help of standardised 50 tribal informants between the ages of 40‐75. The study shows a high degree of ethnobotanical novelty and the use of plants among the Malayali reflects the revival of interest in traditional folk medicine. The medicinal plants used by Malayalis were arranged alphabetically followed by botanical name, family name, local name, habitat, plant parts used, mode of preparation and ethnomedicinal uses.

Source: Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research (2013), 3(6):29­45 ______Ethnobotany of Medi­Flora of Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu Kadirvelmurugan V.1, Raju K.2, Arumugam T.3, Karthik V.3 and Ravikumar S.1*

The tribes and non‐tribes are residing in kolli hills and ever depend on medicinal plants for their healthcare and treating of various diseases. The present study is to identify such distinct medicinal plants utilized by tribes and non‐tribes in the kolli hills. The ethno‐ botany, their mode of preparation and application of the medicinal plants have been gathered from the traditional healers, patients and elderly persons in and around the study area, after season wise field visits conducted between January 2009 and November 2009. The present study revealed that, the tribes are regularly using about 58 pants and 32 families and it is belong to diverse families to treat the various diseases. The above the present study, ethno‐botany and medicinal knowledge gained from the tribals would be very useful information for the botanists, biochemists, pharmacologists, traditional system of medicine and healthcare sector.

Source: Scholars Research Library. Archives of Applied Science Research, 2014, 6 (1):159­164