European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

STUDIES ON ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS FOR HUMAN WELFARE IN USED BY KOLAM TRIBE OF ADJACENT AREA OF TELANGANA AND MAHARASHTRA INDIA

Manoj Kumar Nalla.* and More D. R.

ABSTRACT

Plants are an integral part of nature and the nature reflects the creativity of God. The plants are designed with a specific purpose. They are the life sustaining force on the earth. Present paper deals with ethnomedicinal knowledge of Kolam tribe. Kolam treated as one of the primitive tribe they are distributed mainly adjacent areas of Telangana and Maharashtra. The soils are red and the topography is plane type. Thus forest ecosystems are more productive systems that provide suitable habitats for a number of species of plants. These tributary areas are also rich in possessing medicinal plant populations belonging to different ecological and taxonomic groups. The Ethno-medico-botanic survey was conducted in this area from November 2016 to September 2017. Hundred plant species were collected in consultation with the medicine men, of Kolam tributary region and other local informants of this area, which are of immense medicinal value. The information on the folk medicinal uses of plants was gathered through direct field interviews with herbal healers and village medicine men. Voucher specimens were made in to herbarium and deposited in the Ethno-botany research centre, Department of Botany, Govt. Degree & PG College Jammimkunta College Karimnagar, Along with the voucher specimens, various plant parts like roots, tubers, barks, leaves, flowers, seeds were also collected and shade dried for lasting the active principles and antimicrobial properties of the medicinal plants. Some note worthy plant species which are used in the treatment of various diseases are Aristolochia indica (birth control), Gymnema sylvestres (diabetes), Phyllanthus amarus (Jaundice), Abrus precatorious (Leprocy, Skin diseases), Acacia nilotica (Anthrax), Aegle marmelos (Skin diseases), Hardvickia binata (Dog bite), Gyrocarpus jacquini (Leucorrhoea), Plumbago gelanica (Leucorrhoea), Gloriosa superba (Rhematism,Gonorrhoea), Strychnos nux-vomica (Leprosy). Very rare plants noticed in this area with immense medicinal values are Croton oblongifolium, Hildegardia populifolia, Euphorbia fusiformis, Curcuma neilghirrense, Decalepis honitoni, Abelmoschus moschatus, Asperagus recemosus. The information on the medicinal uses of plants, administration doses, botanical names, local names along with cultivation and conservation methods are discussed in this paper. In the present study it was found that 190 plant species of 149 Genera 69 families were used by the Kolam rural people for their various ailments. Medicinal values of these plants are largely based on folk practitioners. The study stated that either the whole plant or different parts like leaves, stem, bark, roots, etc. are used.

Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Kolam, Primitive tribe, Telangana, Maharashtra.