Available online a t www.pelagiaresearchlibrary.com Pelagia Research Library Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research, 2013, 3(5):36-40 ISSN : 2249-7412 CODEN (USA): AJPSKY Ethno botanical study of medicinal plants in BR Hills region of Western Ghats, Karnataka J. Gireesha and N. S. Raju* Department of Studies in Environmental Science, Manasagangotri, University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka, India _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT An ethnobotonical survey of plants species in Biligiri Rangana hills (BR hills) of Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, India. This survey revealed some of the important medicinal plants used by the tribes and local practioners for their health care practices. Around 38 medicianl plant species belongs to 26 families, in which 17 species of herbs (45%), 10 trees (26 %), 9 shrubs (24 %) and the 2 climbers (5%) were identified and documented. According to our observations traditional healer’s use different parts of the plants (leaves, bark, fruit etc.) to cure various diseases. Among the recorded, 10 species belonging to 9 families were categorized as highly prioritized due to their potentiality in curing various diseases and gradually these species are at the verge of extinction due to its over exploitation, encroachment of their natural habitat etc., thus there is an urgent need to protect these species for their sustainable utilization. Keywords: Western Ghats, BR Hills, medicinal plants, tribes, traditional knowledge. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION India is one of the major hotspots, which inhabits a wide variety of plants and has been identified as one of the mega diversity centers of the world. Although it’s total land area comprises of 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world. The country accounts for an average of 8% of the total global biodiversity with approximately 49,000 species of plants of which 4,900 are endemic [1]. The southern peninsular India and Western Ghat ecosystem contains more than 6000 species of higher plants including an estimated 2000 endemic species. Out of these 2500 species representing over 1000 genera and 250 families have been used in traditional systems of medicine [2]. The special importance has to be given for traditional medicine usage practices, although a good proportion of medicinal plant species exists throughout the country and highly significant diverse species is found in the peninsular Indian forests and Western Ghats [3]. When we look back to the history of mankind, people used to treat many fatal and infectious diseases using medicinal plants. Scientific investigations proved that the use of the herbs showed the maximum therapeutic effect and minimum side effects. In many developing countries, the use of plant materials plays a vital role in primary health care as therapeutic remedies, till today [4]. The traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants is very common from a variety of perspectives, like in the development of pharmaceuticals, but significantly such research describes the development and shows the relationship between a culture and its environment [5]. The traditional knowledge of the indigenous people not only comprises the information about ecosystem, but also they have vast knowledge about the use of specific plants used as medicine, food, and building materials [6]. 36 Pelagia Research Library J. Gireesha and N. S. Raju Asian J. Plant Sci. Res., 2013, 3(5):36-40 _____________________________________________________________________________ About 50% of drugs which we are using today for clinical use are obtained from natural products and their derivatives, out of which the derived products from higher plants constitute about 25%. WHO estimated that an average of 80% of people in developing countries depends on herbal medicinal plants for traditional remedies in day today needs and about 855 traditional medicines include crude plant extracts [7]. About 3.5 to 4 billion world’s population depends on plant resources for drugs [8]. The study highlights the importance of documenting, ehtnobotanical information and indigenous traditional knowledge about the medicinal plants used by the tribes in their day to day life to cure some common ailment MATERIALS AND METHODS The Biligiriranga hills commonly called B R Hills, is a hill range situated in south eastern part of Karnataka, border with Tamilnadu in South India (Fig.1) [9]. It is a protected reserve under the Wildlife protection act of 1972. Being at the confluence of the western ghats, the sanctuary is home to ecosystems that are unique to both the mountain ranges. The site was declared as Tiger Reserve in December 2010. BRT is situated in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, India, lies in the coordinates of 77°–77°16’E, 11°47’– 12°9’N, covering an area of 540 sq km, it shares its boundaries with Kerala and Tamilnadu. The study was conducted in K.gudi and Kannera colony of this region. The major habitat types of BR Hills are moist and dry deciduous (61.1%), scrub (28.2%), grassland (3.4%), evergreen (6.5%) and shola (0.8%) [9].BR Hills receives rainfall from both the southwestern and the retreating monsoon (north-eastern), with an average annual precipitation of 600 mm in the periphery and 3,000 mm in the higher elevations [10]. The unique extension of Western Ghats constitutes a live bridge between the Eastern and Western Ghats with the sanctuary located almost in the middle of this bridge. The soliga tribes are accustomed to use more than 300 herbs for the treatment of various ailments and the forest harbour almost 800 species of plants from various families and shows a close affinity to the Western Ghats [11]. The study will be carried out in BR hills of Chamarajanagar district, periodical trips were undertaken to the different tribal localities to get the ethnobotanical information and documentation of the plant species for a period of 6 months (January to June 2012). A questionnaire/schedule were used to interview the respondents regarding the use of some medicinal plants for treatment of some of the fatal diseases in human beings such as cancer, malaria, cholera, hepatitis, leukemia, paralysis, jaundice, herpes etc., and veterinary care. Vaidyas, local healers and non timber forest produce collectors will constitute the respondent group. To get the list of such respondents, officers of the Forest department, veterinary hospitals and grampanchayat members will be consulted. Information regarding the use of medicinal plants for the cure of various diseases, frequency of visit to forest area for collection, extent of collection of herbs, method of collection, method of processing, methods of formulation, target end-users and extent of cultivation of medicinal plants to meet the needs will be documented. Standard methods were followed for the collection of plant materials, preparation, preservation of plant species and voucher specimens were also collected and identified by referring the standard flora [12-14]. The medicinal plant species are arranged alphabetically, with their botanical name, family, vernacular names followed by the parts used for different ailments . RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Among the Indian flora the south western part constitutes about 70% (25,000 species). A total of 38 species of medicinal plants belonging to 26 families were obtained from 15 respondents and a nursery (where awareness been created about its medicinal values and conservation) of the forest department at K.gudi region of the study area. Among the obtained plant species 10 trees, 9 shrubs, 17 herbs and 2 were climbers were recorded (Table 1). 37 Pelagia Research Library J. Gireesha and N. S. Raju Asian J. Plant Sci. Res., 2013, 3(5):36-40 _____________________________________________________________________________ Table.1 Identification and documentation of some medicinal plant species in BR hills of Chamarajanagar district and their ethnomedicinal information Species Family Local Name Medicinal use Parts used classification Abutilon Indicum Malvaceae Kisangi/achyuta gida Tuberculosis, ulcers, bleeding disorders Whole Plant shrub Achyranthes aspera, Amaranthaceae Uttaranee Anthritis Whole Plant herb Adhotoda zeylanica Acanthaceae Adusoge Anti spasmodic, respiratory stimulant Whole plant shrub Asparagus racemosa Liliaceae Majjige gedde/shatavari Infertility, loss of libido Whole plant herb Azadirachta Indica Meliaceae Bevu/bevina mara Anti diabetic, anti bacterial and anti viral. Leaves, Flower, Oil, Seed. tree Bauhinia Variegata Caesalpiniaceae Mandare/kanchavala wounds,skin diseases and ulcer Roots, Bark tree Biophytum sensitivum Oxalidaceae Horamuni Stimulant for chest pain,excess of heat Whole plant herb Boerhavia Diffusa Nyctaginaceae Komme gida/komme beru Renal disorders, kidney stones and nephritis Root, Leaves And Seeds herb Cassia Fistula Caesalpinaceae Kakke Skin diseases, burning sensations Fruits, Bark tree Centella asiatica Mackinlayaceae Ondelaga Fever and Diarrhea Leaves, stem herb Heart problems, kidney stones, kidney infections and pains, Whole Vine, Seed, Bark, Leaf, Cissampelos Pareira Menispermaceae Kaaduballi/gutte herb asthma, arthritis, muscle cramps and stomach pains Root. Curculigo orchioides Hypoxidaceae Nelathengu/korepandigida Piles, fatigue, Biliousness and Bronchitis Leaves herb Dyspepsia, vomiting, indigestion, thirst, worm troubles, Cyperus Rotundus Cyperaceae Tunge gadde/tanga hullu Rhizomes herb cough, bronchitis,