Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 9(1), January 2010, pp. 73-76

Ethnogynecological uses of plants prevalent among the tribes of Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats

Jomy Augustine*, Sreejesh KR & Bijeshmon PP Post Graduate and Research Department of Botany, St Thomas College, Pala, 686 574, E-mail: [email protected]

Received 4 January 2007; revised 17 October 2008

Periyar Tiger Reserve, with an area of 777 sq km is the largest protected area in the high ranges of Kerala state. There are five tribal groups, namely Mannan , Paliyan , Urali, Malayarayan and Malampandaram with a total population of 2,166. An ethnobotanical study carried out among the tribal groups of Periyar Tiger Reserve revealed use of 15 plant species for ethnogynecological purposes.

Keywords : Ethnogynecology, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, Mannan tribes, Paliyan tribes, Urali tribes, Malayarayan tribes and Malampandaram tribes IPC Int. Cl. 8: A61K36/00, A61P15/00, A61P15/06, A61P31/00, A61P31/04

About 64% of the total global population remain for collection of the plants and recorded first hand dependent on traditional medicines 1,2. Nearly 8,000 ethnobotanical uses. At certain occasions, plants were plant species were recognized as of ethnobotanical brought from interior forests and shown to them for importance and many of them are promising drugs for knowing and recording the local names and medicinal modern medicinal applications 3. Periyar Tiger uses. Tribal physicians and village physicians were Reserve with an area of 777 sq km is the largest consulted for knowing more about the uses of plants protected area in Kerala state and is situated in Idukki (Fig. 8). Village old mothers were consulted for the revenue district (Figs. 1 & 4). The area is quite rich in methods of preparation and administration of the plant wealth with 1,978 species of flowering plants 4. plants. The information from the tribal people was There are 5 tribes, namely Mannan, Paliyan, Urali, compared with literature 7-12 . The voucher specimens Malayarayan and Malampandaram with a total were deposited at herbaria of Calicut University population of 2,166 residing in and around the Herbarium (CALI) and Herbarium of Kerala Forest protected area 5. The first 3 tribal groups are said as Research Institute (KFRI). early immigrants from plains after the demolition of great regimes of Chola and Pandya as Results indicated by the dialect, which is a mixture of Fifteen plant species used by the tribes of the Tiger and Tamil but more similarity to Tamil 6. Reserve for childbirth, mother care and to induce Except Malampandaram tribes, all are now settled in abortion are by botanical name, family and common 5 permanent settlements outside the Tiger Reserve. name followed by the uses and method of administration. Malampandaram tribes’ are still residing inside the [ forests as cave dwellers. Anamirta cocculus (L.) Wt. & Arn. (Menisper- Methodology maceae), Pechumarunnu An ethnobotanical survey was conducted frequently The fresh bark juice is applied on head for easing childbirth by Malayarayan . The fruit is reported as among the five tribal groups. Elder people and 8,10,11 medicine men of the tribal communities were convulsive poison and as insecticide . contacted for interview. Sometimes, they were employed as field guides during the field exploration Arenga wightii Griff. (Arecaceae), Aazham pana .(Fig. 8) —————— Toddy from the inflorescence is extracted and *Corresponding author hardened with fresh roots of Thottea siliquosa (Lam.) 74 INDIAN J.TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 9, No. 1, JANUARY 2010

Fig1MapofstudyareaFig2Thotteasiliquosa Fig3 Thotteasiliquosa

Fig4Periyar TigerReserveFig5Polypleurumstylosum Fig6 Mussaendabelilla

Fig7Gloriosasuperba Fig8 Arengawightii Fig9 A Mannan tribe

Ding Hou and small amount is given every morning after childbirth to induce lactation by Mannan . Tubers to pregnant ladies to prevent malformed childbirth by are reported as abortifacient 7. Malampandaram . Gloriosa superba L. (Liliaceae), Menthonni (Fig. 7). Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (Hypoxidaceae), A small amount of tuber paste is applied externally on Nilappana head to accelerate childbirth. It is believed that the Fresh tubers are eaten for increasing lactation. Tuber tubers that grow to the northern direction with a paste is applied on breasts of the mother immediately horizontal basal portion and downwardly growing AUGUSTINE et a l.: ETHNOGYNECOLOGICAL USES AMONG TRIBES OF KERALA 75

distal portion are the ones to be used. The basal Polypleurum stylosum (Wt.) Hall. (Podostemaceae), portion made into a paste, is applied on head of ladies, Karimpayal. (Fig. 5) who are suffering from severe delivery pain. Soon Fresh plant paste is applied externally around the after the delivery, paste made of the distal portion of vagina and belly to ease childbirth. This gives the same tuber is applied on the head for vaginal relief from severe pain during delivery contraction ( Malampandaram ). The paste of the (Malayarayan ). rhizome is applied on the lower part of belly for easing childbirth 7. The rhizome has been reported Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken (Sapindaceae), as abortifacient in early stage of pregnancy and Mulla maram, Poovam its rhizome starch is reported useful in Pregnant women bathe in water boiled with the bark gonorrhea 8,13 . of the stem. This gives relief from acute back pain (Mannan ). Lagerstroemia microcarpa Wt. (Lythraceae), Benthekku ( Malayarayan ), Thuvara ( Mannan ). Solanum torvum Sw. (Solanaceae), Ana chunda Fresh bark of tender stem is eaten by ladies before Leaf is made into a roll and one roll is placed on start eating fish or flesh after delivery. Ladies after another leaf and rolled, and this is held over fire for a delivery do not eat meat or fish for several weeks and while and the juice extracted from the inner leaf is when they wish to start eating fish, this treatment is given orally to induce abortion ( Mannan ). given ( Mannan ). Thottea siliquosa (Lam.) Ding Hou. (Aristo- Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr. lochiaceae), Alpam (Figs 2 & 3) (Anacardiaceae), Uthi The fresh roots are added to fresh toddy obtained Bark decoction of Terminalia catappa and Vitex from the inflorescence of Arenga wightii Griff. and altissima is used for bathing ladies after delivery for kept for over night. Small amount of the toddy is few weeks ( Mannan ). given to pregnant ladies every morning to prevent malformation of the foetus ( Malampandaram ). Lycoperisicon esculentum P. Miller (Solanaceae) Kattuthakkali . Vitex altissima L.f. (Verbenaceae), Mayilellu Juice of fresh leaves folded and placed over flame for The bark and wood is boiled in water and the water is some time is orally given to ladies to stop used for bathing women after childbirth for few menstruation temporarily ( Mannan ). weeks ( Mannan ).

Meliosma simplicifolia (Roxb.) Walp. (Sabiaceae), Chenthanamaram. Discussion Mothers eat fresh tender bark after delivery for The information was gathered directly from the tribal contraction of uterus (Mannan). people of the study area. Since several plants especially Polypleurum stylosum (Wt.) Hall., Arenga Mussaenda belilla Buch.-Ham. (Rubiaceae), Vellila wightii Griff., etc. are potential for modern drug thali . (Fig. 6) development and further studies on the biomedical Fresh bark and young parts are given orally to ladies experimentation of these plants are suggested. after delivery. This treatment is given before they start eating meat after delivery ( Mannan ). Leaves are Acknowledgement reported to be used in lactation problems in young Author is grateful to Kerala State Council for mothers 7.. Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) for the financial support; Kerala Forest Department, Polygonum chinense L. (Polygonaceae), Mudanthi. Thekkady for giving permission to do the study and to Stem is acidic and given orally to ladies after extend all possible facilities for conducting of the delivery. It is believed that this treatment is good for fieldwork . The principal of St Thomas College, Pala contraction of the uterus and to reduce dilation of is also acknowledged for providing the facilities for vagina. It is also used as a vegetable ( Mannan ). the study. 76 INDIAN J.TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 9, No. 1, JANUARY 2010

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