European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY THE VILLAGE PEOPLES OF VIRALUR, PUDUKKOTTAI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Sujatha G.,* Rajathi V. and Bharathi K.

ABSTRACT

This study provides significant ethnobotanical information on indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants in Viralur village, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu. There is an urgency in recording such data to conserve the traditional medicinal plants. This is the first ethnobotanical study which records the traditionally important medicinal plants of Viralur village. A total of 78 species of plants belonging to 35 families were recorded in this study. This was used to treat several diseases and ailments by the villagers. The family Euphorbiaceae recorded a maximum of eight species followed by Solanaceae and Caesalpiniaceae with five species each. Leaves (33 %) were the most frequently used parts for medicine preparation. Medicines were prepared in the form of decoction, juice, paste, powder, infusion etc. Most preparations are made with water as solvent. Beside this they also used banana pulp, orange peel, lemon, black pepper, sugar, salt, camphor, etc. as adjuvant with different solvents. For the preparation of paste or ointment they often use castor oil, coconut oil, mustard oil and neem. The villagers used the medicinal plants for treating swellings, inflammation, skin diseases, urinary troubles, bronchitis, asthma, kidney stones, piles, constipation, eye diseases, stomach problems, poisonous bites, worms, menstruation troubles, rheumatism head ache, fever, cold, sinusitis etc. The study concludes that suitable measures are needed in order to protect the traditional knowledge in this particular area with reference to medicinal plant utilization. The plants need to be evaluated through phytochemical investigation to discover potentiality as drugs.

Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, Viralur, medicinal plants, treatments, conservation.