DOCUMENTATION OF ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY THE PEOPLE OF POINT CALIMERE WILDLIFE AND BIRD SANCTUARY, TAMIL NADU
M. Padma Sorna Subramanian* A. Saravana Ganthi and E. Rajabudeen
ABSTRACT
Globally, about 85% of the traditional medicines used for primary healthcare are derived from plants. Traditional medicine and ethnobotanical information plays an important role in scientific research, particularly when the literature and field work data have been properly evaluated. An ethnomedicinal systematic exploration of medicinal plants of Point Calimere, Nagapattinam district was conducted during February 2008 - June 2010. The ethnic groups found in the area of study are mainly Seenthil Valayars. They are one of the primitive tribes of Nagapattinam District and do not practice agriculture. They live in huts and do not domesticate any animals. Ethnomedicobotanical uses of 41 angiosperm plants species belonging to 25 families used by the people are given with their botanical name, local name, family and uses. The methods of preparation of drug and medicine among the ethno communities also discussed. The present study deals with the documentation of 39 wild edible plants belonging to 24 families consumed by tribal communities. The study also reveals 4 plants used for preparation of beverages. This type of traditional knowledge is a wealth for the human being and has great value in the context of today's Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) scenario. Due to various social, economic and political factors this tradition is facing the threat of rapid erosion.
Keywords: Ethnomedicinal plants, Kodikkarai village, Point Calimere, Seenthil Valayars.
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