Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 11(2), April 2012, pp. 250-258

Ethnomedicinal aspects of angiospermic epiphytes and parasites of Kerala,

AE Shanavaskhan,1,2 M Sivadasan,3* Ahmed H Alfarhan,3 & Jacob Thomas3 1Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Palode P O, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562, Kerala, India 2Present address: Natural Resources and Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 3Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P O Box 2455, Riyadh 11451 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia *E-mail: [email protected]

Received 15.07.2009; revised 10.03.2010

Studies on ethnomedicinal aspects of epiphytes and parasites of Kerala have been conducted and it revealed that as the tribes of Kerala have a lot of terrestrial medicinal available around their premises, they seldom resorted to the epiphytic and parasitic occurring on tall trees for their use as drugs for the treatment of ailments. Hence, their knowledge on epiphytes and parasites was found to be very limited, especially among the young generation of the tribes. The present study reported the use of 28 species (16 epiphytes and 12 parasites), which represent about 13.4% of the total epiphytes and parasites present in Kerala, and they are of valuable properties and uses and are used for curing or corrective measures for several diseases. Majority of the properties and uses recorded are first reports pertaining to these special groups of plants. A thorough investigation on the phytochemistry and therapeutic values of the bioactive compounds contained in these epiphytes and parasites would result in the discovery of new and valuable drugs of high potentials and of interest to the Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical industries.

Keywords: Epiphytes, Parasites, Ethnomedicine, Traditional knowledge, Indigenous knowledge, Kerala, India IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K 36/00, A01H 5/00, A01N 3/00, A01H 17/00

Tribal communities depend on wild plants for food, biological diversities and policies for environment medicine, construction materials, fuel wood, and management7, and searching out promising new nearly for all other material uses and cultures. Their economically important plants and land races8. The interactions with the ambient vegetation for centuries anthropologists referred to Kerala as a museum of helped them evolve a sound oral knowledge system diverse ethnic groups and a variety of traditional on the utility of plants, which remained unrecorded systems of medicine. The forests of Western Ghats of until recently, when ethnobotanists started Kerala are endowed with a very rich collection of rare systematically documenting them. Since such oral medicinal plants, of which many are endemic to the traditions are based on local resources, they are region9. The tribes, living in this region are known to different from region to region as well as from tribe possess great knowledge on the medicinal uses of to tribe of the same region. Ethnobotanical many of these plants. Several studies have been investigations conducted among the traditional carried out in the past on various ethnobotanical communities in different parts of the world have aspects including the two recent ones pertaining to greatly helped the modern world benefit from the Kerala75,76. But no efforts have so far been made to traditional and indigenous knowledge systems. This record the ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal has been acknowledged, mainly in the fields of information exclusively on the epiphytes and parasites developing promising life saving drugs including of Kerala. psychotomimetic drugs of plant origin1-4, gaining An exhaustive survey of literature revealed that knowledge on traditional land and plant utilization studies on the epiphytes and parasites which are pattern5-6, evolving strategies for conservation of special groups of plants are comparatively limited. —————— Several work on various aspects of ethnobotany *Corresponding author pertaining to various regions and various tribes of SHANAVASKHAN et al.: ETHNOMEDICINAL ASPECTS OF EPIPHYTES AND PARASITES 251

Kerala and on various plants of ethnobotanical and cancer, with their connotations in sympathetic ethnomedicinal significance10-27 have been undertaken medicines of abnormal growth. earlier, and their references are given here for the In the Indian subcontinent, probably due to benefit of the future workers. their parasitic nature and strange growth habit have been revered, feared or thought to Epiphytes and Parasites have magical properties by many ethnic communities. Epiphytes are extreme specialists adapted to Ethnobotanical information on various members of climatically and ecologically harsh conditions in the the families and Viscacaeae appeared in canopy; they represent an important and interesting scattered literature50-56. But very little is known on plant group28. A global assessment of the uses and those of Kerala which harbours rich collection of misuses of orchids including epiphytic species in epiphytes and parasites. The ethnic communities medicine was made29 and summarized some important living in this area rely on these specialized groups of uses of orchids in controlling fevers, curing eye plants for curing their various ailments. The present diseases, treating fatigue, headaches and their study is a new venture to collect and identify the function as anticancer agents. Even though there are epiphytes and parasites of Kerala and to record their several scattered works on the ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal information, which are of great ethnomedicinal aspects related to the epiphytes of significance today. several other parts of India and neighbouring areas30-34, only a few are available on those of Kerala34-38. Study area Parasitic flowering plants which live on the host The region designated as Kerala state of India, lies plants with the help of haustoria are classified between 8° 20´and 12° 30´ N and 75° 0´ and 77° 15´ E. according to the location of penetration of haustoria On the western side, it fully stretches along the coast on the host and are broadly classified as aerial of Arabian Sea and the eastern side is guarded by the parasites and root parasites39. A recent survey of the Western Ghats. Owing to its isolation from the parasites of Kerala40 revealed that majority of the Deccan Plateau by the Western Ghats, the tiny state of parasites are aerial parasites. Since time immemorial, Kerala possesses a diverse vista of climatic conditions many species of Loranthus have been used harbouring varied types of vegetation. Occurrence of medicinally by the Brazilians41. The leaves of the epiphytes and parasites has been observed from Loranthus rotundifolius Engl. cooked in milk have the sea level to the highest peak (2695 m). The been used to cure chest diseases. An ointment generic and specific representation is maximum in the prepared from the young shoots and leaves of middle zone (700-1500 m), followed by the upper L. citrocolus is a remedy of repute for oedematous most zone (1500-2695 m)40. tumours. Similar cases of usage of In accordance with the vast variation of geography falcata, Helicanthus elastica, and Macrosolen and climate, Kerala is inhabited by diverse ethnic cochinchinensis are common in India42. Dendrophthoe groups, from the most civilized society to the most falcata is employed as an antisyphilitic agent41. In primitive, cave-dwelling society with stone age Malaysia, Dendrophthoe grandifrons (King) Dans. is culture. The forests of Western Ghats region in Kerala used against ring worm infestation, D. pentandra (L.) are inhabited by the tribes of mixed origin. As per Miq. in childbirth, Macrosolen cochinchinensis in 2001 census report, the tribal population in Kerala is childbirth and headache, and Scurrula ferruginea 364189 which represented 1.14% of the total (Jack.) Dans. in childbirth, snakebites, wounds, fever, population. They belong to 35 distinct tribal and berberi43. Experiments conducted on animals communities. Cholanaika, Kattunaika, Kadar, showed that the extract of Phrygilanthus flagellaris Kurumba and Koraga are the primitive tribes of Eichler raises blood pressure and facilitate Kerala and they constitute nearly 4.8 % of the total coagulation44. Moreover, it has useful veterinary tribal population of the state. Irula, Adiya, Kuruma, properties45. In Australia and New Zealand, several and Paniya are other forest tribes which are semi- species of Loranthus are eaten by cattle, sheep and nomadic, and form the majority of population of the camels46-48. In the book Mistletoes of Africa49 the tribes of Kerala. Kurichya, yet another interesting authors recorded some mistletoes as respected tribe, observe very rigid rituals and taboos. Kanikkar, palliatives for the most feared diseases including Koraga, Kurava, Mala-araya, Malakurava, 252 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE VOL 11, NO. 2, APRIL 2012

Malappandaram, Malavedan, Muthuva, Nayadi and their references. Folkloric information, if any Ulladar are some of the other tribes of Kerala. available, are collected during the present study on these species, and provided under respective species. Methodology Acampe praemorsa (Roxb.) Blatt. & McCann Several field explorations were conducted in (). (AESK 7290, 7368): Epiphytes with 28 tribal settlements, located at the dense forests of simple, non-pseudobulbous stem. Maravazha: Western Ghats in Kerala. At each settlement, three Kanikkar (Thiruvananthapuram): Seeds are directly knowledgeable persons and local healers mostly applied on the old wounds as an antibiotic. Leaf juice above the age of 60 years who have precise is applied over the nipple for stomachache. It is also information regarding their traditional medicinal and used for earache and it reduces body temperature indigenous uses of plants were interviewed to know (folk information: Alappuzha). Plant is used as a the plants, the plant parts they used for the preparation tonic58 and used in the treatment of rheumatism58-59. of remedies, diseases treated, and regime of drugs. With the help of these tribal people, plant specimens fungosa J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. were collected and information related to the subsp. indica (Arn.) Hansen var. indica specimens were gathered and recorded with their (). (AESK 7432): Root parasites consent. Ethnobotany - A Method Manual57 was with sub-spherical or obovoid, reddish-pink coloured followed as a general source of guidelines for the . Nilachakka: Paniya (Wayanad): The present study. Several literature pertaining to the whole plant dried, powdered and is taken internally districts, people, tribes, vegetation, forest types and with honey to cure piles. It is also used along with flora were surveyed to gain a preliminary knowledge other herbs in many preparations for curing internal about the respective aspects. Review of literature was hemorrhages. carried out to interpret and analyze the data collected Bulbophyllum sterile (Lam.) Suresh (Orchidaceae). during the study. The voucher specimens collected by (AESK 7202, 13026): Creeping epiphytes with one of the authors (A E Shanavaskhan – AESK) are conical-ovoid pseudobulbs. Elakkavalli: Kanikkar deposited in the Tropical Botanic Garden and (Thiruvananthapuram): Chopped pseudobulbs boiled Research Institute Herbarium (TBGT). in coconut oil are applied to cure rheumatism. Kamalpullaruvi: Malavedan (Kollam): The whole Results plant paste is and applied on swellings. During the course of the present study a total of 28 species including 16 species of epiphytes and Cassytha filiformis L. (Cassythaceae) (AESK 12 species of parasites have been found to be of 17359): A profusely twining parasite with ca. 3 mm medicinal use and utilized by the tribes of Kerala thick stems. Moodillathali: Kurava (Kollam): The Table 1. The species studied are enumerated in whole plant is used to wash hair and considered to alphabetic sequence. Each species is provided with an promote hair growth. A pudding made of the plant updated correct with author citation, extract, rice powder and jaggery is considered to be followed by the name of family in parenthesis and the a good health restorer. Fresh extract of the plant collection number of the voucher specimens. After a is given in coconut milk to cure leucorrhoea and short synoptic description of the species, local name other venereal diseases. Moodillathali: Kanikkar of the plant and the name of the tribe who use the (Thiruvananthapuram): Vines are collected and name separated by a colon are given in Italics, macerated. The paste is tied in cotton cloth and followed by the name of the district to which the tribe dipped in warm neem oil and applied over joints in belongs in parenthesis. If more than one tribe uses it, the case of sprain. and the use is different, the names of those tribes, the Cleisostoma tenuifolium (L.) Garay (Orchidaceae) name they use and the uses of the plants are also (AESK 13206, 42190): Non-pseudobulbous, hanging given. The ethnomedicinal data including the method epiphytes with flattened stem. Pannivalan: of application or administration as a medicine Malappandaram (Pathanamthitta): Whole plant paste recorded during the study are provided under each. in water is mixed with the supernatant of rice gruel The details of earlier published works, if any available and is consumed as a drink by anaemic patients. Salt on the use of the species, are also provided along with and spices are avoided during medication. SHANAVASKHAN et al.: ETHNOMEDICINAL ASPECTS OF EPIPHYTES AND PARASITES 253

Table 1—Properties and uses of angiospermic epiphytes and parasites Name of species Epiphyte (E)/ Uses/properties Parasite (P) Acampe praemorsa E Antibiotic, Tonic, Stomach-ache, Ear-ache, Reduces body temperature, Rheumatism Balanophora fungosa ssp. indica P Piles, Internal hemorrhage Bulbophyllum sterile E Rheumatism, Inflammation Cassytha filiformis P Health restorer, Hair growth, Leucorrhea, Veneral diseases, Sprain Cleisostoma tenuifolium E Anaemia P Purgative, Dandruff, Hair fall, Flatulence, Coagulation of milk, Birth control, Spermetorrhoea, Edible, Cattle feed, Haematuria Cymbidium aloifolium E Emetic, Purgative, Ear-ache, Salep used as Nutrient and Demulcent ovatum E Laxative, Emollient, Stomachic, Bile flow increase Dendrophthoe falcata P Aphrodisiac, Astringent, Narcotic, Placental expulsion, Dye (Nail polish), Inflammation, Uterine disorders, Small pox, Rheumatic complaints, Cholesterol reduction, Diarrhoea, Impotency, Menstural troubles, Tuberculosis, Tannin source for softening leather, Betel-nut substitute, Malarial fever, Small pox, Chicken pox, Leucorrhoea, Ingredient of Mutravirecaniya kasaya Flickingeria nodosa E Stimulant, Demulcent, Tonic, Alterative, Astringent, Aphrodisiac, Expectorant, Asthma, Bronchitis, Consumption, Fever, Burning sensation, Biliousness, Blood diseases, Ingredient of Jeevanti Helicanthes elastica P Supernatural powers, Antidote for poison, Check abortion, Removal of Urinary bladder and Kidney stones Luisia zeylanica E Emollient, Boils, Abscesses, Tumours Medinilla beddomei E Reducing body heat Pholidota imbricata E Spine expulsion, Reduce swelling & Inflammation vivipara E Alexipharmic, Cytotoxic, Anti-tumour, Heal wounds, Breast tumour, Itching & Soil borne diseases (Skin diseases), Brain power Rhaphidophora pertusa E Skin diseases, Intestinal ulcers, Body inflammation Rhynchostylis retusa E Emollient, Throat inflammation Scurrula parasitica P Internal bleeding Sirhookera lanceolata E Antidote for poisonous bites Taxillus cuneatus P Small pox, For rituals Taxillus tomentosus P De-worming Tolypanthes lageniferus P Menstural disorders, Check excess bleeding, Rheumatism, Antidote for poisonous bites spathulata E Frenzy, Consumption, Asthma, Mania Vanda tessellata E Alexiteric, Antipyretic, Sexual stimulant, Ear-ache, Sprains, Lumbago, Back pain, Fever, Otitis media, Nervous disorders, Rheumatism, Bronchitis, Inflammation, Hiccups, Piles, Boils on the scalp Vanda testacea E Asthma, Malaria, Rheumatism, Nervous disorders Viscum angulatum P Body inflammation Viscum articulatum P Cooling, Alexipharmic, Aphrodisiac, Alterative, Fever, Blood diseases, Ulcers, Epilepsy, Biliousness Viscum monoicum P Jaundice, Fever, Typhoid, Stomach disorders, Fungal infection, Hip inflammation, Substitute for Strychnine and Brucine Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Cuscutaceae) (AESK purgative and to relieve flatulence. Kaithankodi: 25446, 44206) : Leafless twining parasitic herbs, pale Muthuva (Idukki): The juice extracted from the stem green or yellowish green. Akasavalli: Kurichya is poured into boiled milk for the easy coagulation of (Wayanad): The whole plant is crushed well and the milk. The whole plant is used to control child-birth60. extract is used as a shampoo for washing hair. Checks The plant and black pepper in 2:1 ratio are crushed dandruff and prevents hair fall. Taken internally as a and the aqueous extract is taken orally twice a day for 254 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE VOL 11, NO. 2, APRIL 2012

spermatorrhoea61. Plant is edible62. About 500 gm of 2-3 times a day in malarial fever, small pox and fresh plant mixed with cattle feed is given to cattle chicken pox69. The extract obtained by crushing the and yak suffering from haematuria63. plant is given as a drink, twice a day. It is continued 61 Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw. (Orchidaceae) for a week to cure leucorrhoea . One of the ingredients (AESK 7370, 7379): Tufted epiphytes with short, of the ayurvedic preparation ‘Mutravirecaniya Kasaya 70 fleshy stems, clothed by membranous sheaths. Curna’ is the stolon of D. falcata (L.f.) Etting. . Chukkampothy: Muthuva (Idukki): Juice of the leaves Flickingeria nodosa (Dalzell) Seidenf. mixed with salt is used for earache. Seguttu ola: Irula (Orchidaceae) (AESK 7378, 7403): A profusely (Palakkad): Leaves are gently heated and squeezed to branched epiphytic herb. Chadakkampothi: Muthuva extract juice and a drop is applied to the ear for severe (Idukki): Juice of the pseudobulb and leaves is given ear-ache. Plant is emetic and purgative. Furnishes internally for asthma. Plant is stimulant, demulcent 58 salep which is used as nutrient and demulcent . The and tonic58, alterative, astringent to the bowels, 64 juice from the pod is used against earache . aphrodisiac and expectorant59. Fruit is aphrodisiac64. Dendrobium ovatum Kraenzl. (Orchidaceae) The plant is used for the treatment of asthma, (AESK 15022, 15613): Tufted epiphytes with bronchitis, consumption, fever, burning sensation, elongated stems. Flowers creamy white, sweet biliousness and diseases of the blood59. This plant is smelling. Unnesh chedi: Paniya (Wayanad): Juice regarded as Jeevanti, a herbal drug mentioned in the expressed from the pseudostem is given internally as Charaka-Samhita71. a laxative. Plant is emollient. Plant juice is stomachic 58 Helicanthes elastica (Desr.) Danser (Loranthaceae) and laxative. It excites a flow of bile . (AESK 13216, 19133): Aerial parasites, often Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f.) Etting. (Loranthaceae) covering a large portion of the host plants with (AESK 7213, 7226, 8451, 37665): Large aerial dichotomous branches and opposite leaves. Alottu: parasites on many host plants. Leaves highly variable Irula (Palakkad): There is a strange belief among in shape. curved many flowered the tribals of Palakkad district, that keeping twigs of racemes. Ottu: Irula (Palakkad): The leaf paste is this plant and Viscum angulatum B. Heyne ex DC., given internally in lukewarm water for the easy while attending the court helps win their legal cases. delivery of placenta (after birth). Ittil: Cholanaika Plants collected from Samadera indica Gaertn. is (Malappuram): A dye obtained from the base of the believed to be highly poisonous (folk information: flower is applied as a nail polish. Twigs are used to Thiruvananthapuram). Leaves are used for checking prepare a khaki-coloured biological dye (personal abortion and also for removing stones in the urinary observation). Plants collected from Artocarpus bladder and kidney59. heterophyllus Lam. is dried and powdered. This is given internally with honey to reduce inflammation Luisia zeylanica Lindl. (Orchidaceae) (AESK on the body. It is aphrodisiac and good for uterine 13245, 15652): Erect epiphytic herbs, up to 15 cm disorders (folk information: Kollam). Plants collected long. Leaves terete, green with purple spots. from Careya arborea L. is good for treating smallpox Maravazha : Kanikkar (Thiruvananthapuram). Plant is emollient58. Plant is applied as poultice to boils, and rheumatic complaints (folk information: 66 Alappuzha). It reduces cholesterol level in the abscesses and tumors . blood, when 5 gm of the plant is given with the Medinilla beddomei C. B. Clarke (Melastomataceae) decoction of Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. (AESK 2508, 5208): Epiphytic fleshy shrub, rooting (folk information: Alappuzha). Plants collected from from the nodes. Thali: Muthuva (Idukki): Leaves of Albizzia lebbeck (L.) Willd. cures diarrhoea (folk the plant are eaten fresh for reducing body heat. information: Alappuzha). Bark is astringent and Pholidota imbricata Hook. (Orchidaceae) (AESK narcotic. Plants collected from Tamarindus indica L. 13277, 25470): Epiphytic herbs with large oblong- is valuable for treating impotency65. Bark is used to conical pseudobulbs. Leaf single per pseudobulb, dark treat menstrual troubles, tuberculosis and asthma66. green. Mulluthuppi: Muthuva (Idukki): Crushed The tender shoots of D. falcata (L.f.) Etting. contain pseudobulbs are applied on the body to expel the 10 % tannins, which are used as finishing tan stuff for spines. Neervazhakam: Ulladar (Pathanamthitta): softening leather67. The bark is used as a substitute for Pseudobulbs are collected fresh and made into a paste betel nut59,68. About 5 gm of powdered flower is given in the juice expressed from coconut kernel. This paste SHANAVASKHAN et al.: ETHNOMEDICINAL ASPECTS OF EPIPHYTES AND PARASITES 255

is applied on the inflamed areas until the swelling vermiform roots. Leaves oblanceolate with sheathing or inflammation subsides. base, lower surface purple. Muthuva: Vishachedi Remusatia vivipara (Roxb.) Schott () (Idukki): Plant extract is applied for as an antidote (AESK 5415): Epiphytic herbs with depressed for poisonous bites. globose, reddish tubers. Kattu chembu: Muthuva Taxillus cuneatus Danser (Loranthaceae) (AESK (Idukki): Tubers are made into a paste and applied to 7282, 7458): Aerial parasites, forming relatively small heal wounds. Kattu chembu: Adiya (Wayanad): clusters. Branches greenish brown, terete, lenticellate. Tuber-paste is applied on the breast, in case of Puluchedi: Irula (Palakkad). Plants collected from breast-tumour. Mara chembu: Malappandaram Moringa oleifera Lam. is used to prepare medicated (Pathanamthitta): Tubers are cut into small pieces and oil for small pox. This is also used for rituals boiled in water. Then it is cooled down to a tolerable (folk information: Thiruvananthapuram). heat, and is poured on the affected areas of itching Taxillus tomentosus (B. Heyne ex Roth) Tiegh. and soil borne diseases. Mara chembu: Koraga (Loranthaceae) (AESK 7245, 7281): Aerial parasites, (Kasaragode): Leaves are made into a paste and forming large clusters on the host branches. Branches mixed with rice and cooked. This is given to children dark brown, terete; young shoots rusty-tomentose. once in a year during festival to make them brilliant. Puluchedi: Irula (Palakkad): Tender leaf paste is Juice of the plant mixed with cow’s urine is given internally for de-worming.Tolypanthus considered to be alexipharmic. The root with lageniferus Tiegh. (Loranthaceae) (AESK 23319, turmeric is made into an ointment and used as a 66 44220): Aerial parasites forming large shrubs with remedy for itching . Phytochemical studies blackish brown haustoriferous runner having two conducted at the Ethnopharmacology Division, types of lenticels. Ithil: Kurava (Kollam). Plants Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, collected from Strychnos nux-vomica L. is good Palode, Thiruvananthapuram confirmed the cytotoxic 72 for menstrual disorders and excess bleeding. It is and anti-tumour properties of the plant . also good for rheumatism and for use as an antidote Rhaphidophora pertusa (Roxb.) Schott (Araceae) for poisonous bites (folk information: Kollam). (AESK 7506): Epiphytic or lithophytic climbers with Vanda spathulata Spreng. (Orchidaceae) (AESK thick stems. Velleli thandu: Muthuva (Idukki): 5601, 44204): Scandent epiphytes with keeled, Macerated stem is applied for skin diseases. Elithandan, distichous, recurved leaves; bilobed at apex. Neeruvally: Kanikkar (Thiruvananthapuram): Stem Ponnampon Maravazha66: Irula (Palakkad). Plant chopped into small bits and boiled with rice and given juice is given to temper bile and to abate internally thrice a day for curing intestinal ulcers. frenzy. Flowers are given against consumption, Elithandan: Mala-araya (Ernakulam): For inflammation asthma and mania58, 59. on the body, the patients are advised to take bath in the Vanda tessellata Hook. Ex G. Don (Orchidaceae) medicated water, prepared by boiling the leaves and (AESK 7395, 7427): Stout, erect or hanging epiphytic stem of the plant, twice a day for seven days. herbs. Leaves strap shaped; bilobed at apex with a Rhynchostylis retusa Blume (Orchidaceae) mucro in between. Ottu: Irula (Palakkad): Leaf juice (AESK 5231, 7406): Epiphytic herbs of 10-25 cm is applied for ear-ache. Maravazha: Kurava (Kollam): high. Stems covered with leaf sheaths. Maravazha: Leaf-poultice is applied to relieve sprains, lumbago Malakurava (Pathanamthitta): A single leaf is and back pain. Maravazha: Nayadi (Wayanad): Juice made into paste without using water and applied of the leaves and aerial roots mixed with neem oil externally on the throat in cases of throat 73 and garlic is used to treat ear-ache. Root is alexiteric inflammation. Plant is emollient . and antipyretic59. A paste of the leaves is applied Scurrula parasitica L. (Loranthaceae) (AESK to the body during fever. Leaf juice is instilled into 4275, 44212): Aerial parasites forming large bunches the aural meatus as a remedy for otitis media58,59. on the host plant, haustoria bearing surface- runners Root enters into the composition of various medicated absent. Ottumaram: Irula (Palakkad): Leaves and oils for external application in nervous disorders haustoriferous base are dried and made into powder. and rheumatism58. It is used to treat bronchitis, This is given internally for checking internal bleeding. inflammation, hiccup, piles and boils on the Sirhookera lanceolata Kuntze (Orchidaceae) scalp, etc.59. This is regarded as the rasna mentioned (AESK 7338, 10773): Epiphytic herbs with thick in the Sanskrit literature74. The alcohol extract of 256 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE VOL 11, NO. 2, APRIL 2012

flowers and roots is found to stimulate the sexual stream is classical, which is highly codified and behaviour of male mice36. supported by countless literature, is taught in many Vanda testacea Rchb.f. (Orchidaceae) (AESK universities. The second stream, which is represented 7208, 7517): Stout epiphytic herbs. Basal portions of by the folk and tribal system comprises generally of the stem covered with leaf sheaths. Maravazha: oral traditions is transmitted from generation to Kanikkar (Thiruvananthapuram). Leaves are used in generation. Among these, the tribal system is in asthma, malaria, rheumatism and nervous disorders32. the crude form and is location-specific and species- Viscum angulatum Heyne ex DC. (Viscaceae) specific. The practitioners of the tribal system (AESK 25456, 25463): Aerial parasites, slender, invariably use many plants for the treatment of yellowish-green, without leaves. Mancha ottae: Irula various ailments together with taboos and mantras. (Palakkad): Branches are made into a paste and Tribes of Kerala are generally lazy people and they wrapped in cloth. This bundle is put in boiled water seldom try to collect epiphytes and parasites from and applied over the inflamed body and face after other trees for their medical requirement, because severe jaundice. they have so many other herbal drugs available around them on the ground. Viscum articulatum Burm. f. (Viscaceae) (AESK 7224, 7558): Pendulous, aerial parasites with The present study reported the use of 28 species rounded basal nodes and flattened internodes. Ittil: (16 epiphytes and 12 parasites), which represent about Kanikkar (Thiruvananthapuram). It is with cooling, 13.4% of the total epiphytes and parasites present in alexipharmic, aphrodisiac and alterative properties. A Kerala. The twenty-eight species are of valuable preparation of the paste of the plant is given in fever, properties and uses and are used for curing or for blood diseases, ulcers, epilepsy and biliousness59. corrective measures for several diseases. Majority of Viscum monoicum Roxb. (Viscaceae) (AESK the properties and uses recorded are first reports 15615, 15731): Aerial parasites with elliptic-lanceolate pertaining to these special groups of plants. Among leaves. Ittil: Muthuva (Idukki): The seeds are boiled in the epiphytes Vanda tessellata possess several water and the decoction is given to patients suffering properties and is used against 13 diseases followed by from jaundice, fever, typhoid and stomach disorders. Flickingeria nodosa also having valuable properties Leaf extract is mixed with wild turmeric and applied to and used for the treatment of 7 diseases. Among the the fungal infected area. Karottai: Irula (Palakkad): parasites Dendrophthoe falcata is having maximum Leaves are made into a paste and bundled in cloth and properties and used for the treatment of 14 diseases placed in between the hip joints for healing followed by Cuscuta reflexa used against 7 diseases. inflammation of the hip. The powder of dry leaf was About 40 diseases conditions are treated with one used as a substitute for strychnine and brucine59. species each and 18 diseases with 2 species each. The people of the various tribes generally use the Inflammation is treated with any of the seven species, term Ittil and Ottu, Otti or Ottae to denote epiphytes whereas Rheumatism is treated with any of the and parasites respectively. But in certain cases these 6 species. terms are used as synonyms as in the case of Vanda Earlier workers have reported the properties of 15 tessellata which is called as Ottu by Irulas of species and pharmacological studies were conducted Palakkad even though it is an epiphyte. The on some of these species. Regarding the method of traditional physicians of Kerala invariably use the application and administration, the whole plant, name Ittil for any kind of plant growing on other pseudostems, tubers, bark, roots, aerial roots, plants, which are referable to epiphytes or parasites in branches, leaves, tender leaves, flowers, fruits, and modern usage. So, according to them both the seeds are used in various forms like paste, dried epiphytes and parasites are Ittil and they believe that powder, decoction, etc. They are used as such or these epiphytes and parasites growing on various mixed with other ingredients such as other herbs, hosts have different properties and uses. During the turmeric, warm water, rice gruel, honey, pepper, study, this kind of information has also been recorded. coconut oil, coconut milk, etc. The present study exclusively on the epiphytes and parasites of Kerala is Conclusion the first of its kind on such specialized groups of The centuries old Indian Medical Heritage is being plants. Phytochemical analysis and pharmacological practiced in India through two main streams. The first validation of only a very few species have so far been SHANAVASKHAN et al.: ETHNOMEDICINAL ASPECTS OF EPIPHYTES AND PARASITES 257

reported and that of the rest of the species have to be 14 Pushpangadan P & Atal CK, Ethnomedical and undertaken for a thorough understanding of their ethnobotanical investigations among some Scheduled Caste Communities of Travancore, Kerala, India, J valuable bioactive compounds and possible utilization Ethnopharmacol, 16(2-3) (1986) 175-190. in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. 15 Nagendraprasad P, William Jabadhas A & Janaki Ammal EK, Medicinal plants used by the Kanikkars of South India, J Acknowledgement Econ Tax Bot, 11 (1987) 149-155. 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