COLLEGE SCIENCE IN INDIA18 Argemone mexicana, Linn. Brahmathandu Papaveraceae The yellow latex is...

COLLEGE SCIENCE IN INDIA Pay Attention and Gain Understanding

Volume 1 : 2 May 2007

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

STUDIES ON THE ETHNOBOTANY OF IRULARS OF

ANAIKATTY HILLS, COIMBATORE DISTRICT

S. Geetha, M.Sc. Candidate S. Poornima, M.Sc., Ph.D.

J. Vaseegari, M.Sc., M.Phil.

College Science in India 1 : 2 May 2007 Ethnobotany of Irulars of Anaikatty S. Geetha, S. Poornia & J. Vaseegari 1

STUDIES ON THE ETHNOBOTANY OF IRULARS OF ANAIKATTY HILLS, COIMBATORE DISTRICT

S. Geetha, M.Sc. Candidate S. Poornima, M.Sc., Ph.D.

J. Vaseegari, M.Sc., M.Phil.

ABSTRACT The present study deals with some medicinal plants used by Irulars in and around the Anaikatty hills, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Out of 17 villages in the area, we selected 3 villages to carry out our studies. The Irulars use about 89 species of plants as food and for medicinal purposes. The elder generation has sound knowledge about these plants. Due to modernization, the tribal community is changing their life style. The youngsters seek education and are employed in factories/industries. Yet usage and practices relating to medicinal plants and herbs have also been reported. Key words: Food, medicinal plants, Irulars, tribals, Anaikatty hills, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

INTRODUCTION India harbours about 15% (3000 – 3500) out of 20,000 medicinal plants of the world. About 90% of these are found growing wild in different climatic regions of the country (Singh, H. B., 1997). The tribal and rural populations of India are, to a large extent, dependent on medicinal plants not only to meet their own healthcare needs by self-medication, but also for their livestock. This has attracted the attention of several botanists, to undertake studies in ethnomedicine. In recent years, some workers like Lakshmanan and Narayanan, Goel et al.,

Rajendran et al., Gupta S. P, Fuchs Stephen, and others have reported various medicinal plants used by Irular tribals in Anaikatty hills. The


present paper attempts to bring to light the information on traditional knowledge of the

primitive ethnic tribe, Irulars of Anaikatty hills about the food and medicinal uses of 88

plant species belonging to 33 different families.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Anaikatty hill is situated at a distance of 30 km from Coimbatore. The Nilgiri

Biosphere covering 5520 sq.km in the Western Ghats, it was established by the Ministry

of Environment and Forests, Government of India, to provide a means of conserving the

endemic and threatened flora and fauna of the area. The NBCP ( Nilgiri Biosphere

Conservation Park) in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) site lies in the rain shadow

region at an altitude of about 600 metres (MSL) in Thuvaipathy village of Anaikatty

(11°6’N, 76°45’E). The proposed 250 acres site constitutes a part of the large two square

kilometers catchment area. The site lies juxtaposed to the Perianaicken palayam Reserve

forest on the east. Two hill slopes, northern and southern, also form a part of park. The

hills elevate to a height of 80 to 120 metres from the valleys (Ashraf, 2000).

The investigation was carried out during the month of January, 2005. The

information gathered from one group was confirmed with other groups of Irulars

dwelling in different places in the area of investigation. The methodology followed is

according to the previous workers, (Jain S. K., 1995). The information gathered was

entered in the investigator’s field notebooks. Plant specimens were collected, identified

and confirmed with the authentic herbarium of the Botanical Survey of India (Southern

Circle), Coimbatore.

ENUMERATION

For each species, the botanical name, family and local name, mode of preparation

of medicinal plant parts and its uses were tabulated.


THE PLANTS USED AS MEDICINE BY THE IRULAS

Plate : 2, Figure: A, Cissus quadrangularis

Plate : 2, Figure: B, Vetiveria zizanoides


Plate : 2, Figure: C, Ocimum basilicum

Plate : 2, Figure: D, Catharanthus rosea


Plate : 2, Figure: E, Erythrina indica

Plate : 2, Figure: F, Cardiospermum helicacabum


Plate : 2, Figure: G, Lippia nodiflora

Plate : 2, Figure: H, Ricinus communis

Plate :2, Figure: I, Sida acuta


Plate :2, Figure: J, Solanum nigrum

Plate :2, Figure: K, Coix lachryma-jobi

Plate :2, Figure: L, Gloriosa superba


TABLE NO: 1. MEDICINAL PLANTS IN COMMON USE AMONG THE

IRULARS OF ANAIKATTY HILLS

S.

No

BOTANICAL

NAME

LOCAL NAME FAMILY USES

01 Mangifera indica,

Linn.

Maamaram Anacardiaceae Mixture of 1/4

of the seed

ground with

cow’s milk is

taken to arrest

excess bleeding

during mensus.

02 Alocasia indica,

(Roxb.) Schoott.

Seema chaembu Arecaceae The leaves are

crushed, and the

juice extracted is

used for treating

constipation.

03 Aristolochia

bracteolate, Linn.

Aristolochia indica,

Linn.

Aaduthinnapalai

Isramuli, Adagam

Aristolochiaceae

Aristolochiaceae

Leaf paste

applied on the

head while

taking bath -

removes

dandruff and

other fungal

infection.

Root tonic is

used as

stimulant and to

treat menstrual

problems. In

powdered form

it is given in

honey for

leucoderma.

04 Calotropis gigantea,

(Linn.) R. Br.

Hemidesmus indicus,

R. Br.

Erukku

Nannari

Asclepidaceae

Asclepidaceae

Milky latex is

applied on the

wounds on legs

of livestock.

The leaf, root

extract is used

for blood

purification.


05 Basella alba, var:

rubra, Linn.

Pasalai kodi,

Kalarchi kodi

Basellaceae Leaf extract is

used to cure

stomach ache.

06 Caesalpinia

bonducella, Flem.

Kalakaai Caesalpiniaceae A decoction of

the leaf is used

as nutritional

tonic.

07 Celestrus

paniculatus, Willd.

Mancha kodi Celastraceae Root extract is

used for the

treatment of

stomach ache.

08 Terminalia arjuna,

Wight & Arn.

Terminalia bellarica,

Roxb.

Neer marutham

Thanni

Combretaceae

Combretaceae

Bark decoction

is administered

for severe fever.

The leaf extract

is used to treat

fever and cough.

09 Xanthium

strumarium, Linn.

Korathu mul Compositae The leaf extract

is used to cure

tooth ache.

10 Trichosanthes

tricuspidata, Lour.

Paeipudalai Cucurbitaceae Fruit is useful in

asthma and

earache.

11 Diospyros montana,

Roxb.

Vakkanai Ebenaceae Cures fish food

poisoning.

12 Euphorbia hirta,

Linn.

Phyllanthus amarus,

Schum. & Thonn.

Ricinus communis,

Linn.

Ammanpachcharisi

Kizhanelli

Sittammanaku

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbiaceae

Leaf paste

mixed with

goat’s milk is

consumed to

stop diarrhoea

and dysentery.

Leaf juice is

administered to

cure fever and

jaundice.

The oil is used

as a purgative.

13 Ocimum

americanum, Linn.

Naaithulasi

Lamiaceae

Leaf juice is

taken for

stomach upset.


Ocimum basilicum,

Linn.

Thiruneetrupatchilai Lamiaceae Seeds soaked in

water are taken

for cooling

effect.

14 Aloe vera, (Linn.)

Burm.

Asparagus

racemosus, Willd.

Gloriosa superba,

Linn.

Chotthukatalai

Thaneervittaan

kizhangu

Kannuvalikodi,

Kalapai kizhangu

Liliaceae

Liliaceae

Liliaceae

Fresh juice is

used as cathartic

and for cooling.

It is also used in

treating fever

eye infections

and ulcer.

Root extract is

used in

diarrhoea,

dysentery and

general debility.

Root is a

purgative,

anthelminthic

and used to cure

leprosy,

parasitical

infection of skin

and piles.

Leaves are used

to destroy head

lice.

15 Sida acuta, Burm.

Sida cordata,

(Burmn. f.) Borssum.

Aruvamookukeerai

Arrival manippundu

Malvaceae

Malvaceae

Leaf juice is

administered to

arrest diarrhoea

in livestock.

The leaf juice is

effective in

treating

diarrhoea during

pregnancy. The

pounded leaves

are applied

locally to relieve

cuts and bruises.

16 Azadirachta indica,

A. Juss.

Vaembu Meliaceae Leaf paste

applied for

mumps.


17 Acacia concinna,

DC.

Albizzia amara,

(Roxb.) Boivin.

Cheeyakaai

Usilai

Mimosoideae

Mimosoideae

Shade dried

powdered pod is

useful for

cleaning hair

and for hair

growth.

Shade dried and

powdered leaves

are used to clear

the hair dirt and

relieve dandruff.

18 Argemone mexicana,

Linn.

Brahmathandu Papaveraceae The yellow latex

is applied to

cure ulcer on the

lips; the seed

powder is used

to treat colic

pain and

dysentery, and

also to treat

scurvy, wounds.

19 Erythrina indica,

Lam.

Mucuna

monosperma, DC.

Pterocarpus

marsupium, Roxb.

Kalyana murungai

Poonai kaali

Vaengai

Papilionaceae

Papilionaceae

Papilionaceae

The leaves and

flowers, are used

to cure epidemic

skin diseases.

The leaf extract

is used to cure

brain problems.

The leaf extract

is used to treat

diabetes.

20 Bambusa

arundinaceae, Willd.

Coix lachrymal-jobi,

Linn.

Vetiveria zizanoides,

Nash.

Kambu, moongil

Kaatu kunthamani

Vettiveru

Poaceae

Poaceae

Poaceae

Young shoots

are used as

nutritional food

for good health.

The leaf extract

is used as health

tonic.

The leaf extract

is used to

prepare hair

tonic.


21 Ziziphus mauritiana,

Lam.

Elanthai Rhamnaceae A decoction of

the root bark is

used in the

treatment of

diarrhoea and

dysentery.

22 Catuneregam

spinosa, Thunb.

Mitragyna parvifolia,

Korth.

Kaarai

China kadamba

Rubiaceae

Rubiaceae

Cures fish

poisoning.

The bark and

roots are used in

the preparation

of health tonic.

23 Toddalia asiatica,

(Linn.) Lam.

Var: floribunda.Gam.

Milakaranai , kaatu

milagu

Rutaceae The root is

ground with

lemon juice and

applied to get

relief from

itching and

allergy related

skin diseases.

The leaf extract

is used to cure

head ache and

stomach ache.

24 Santalum album,

Linn.

Chandanum Santalaceae The bark is

made into a

paste with water

and applied over

the skin to

smoothen it.

25 Cardiospermum

helicacabum, Linn.

Sapindus

emargiantus, Vahl.

Mudakkattan

Soap nut tree,

Pungam kottai.

Sapindaceae

Sapindaceae

The leaf paste is

mixed with ghee

and taken to

relieve gas

trouble.

The leaf extract

is used to cure

fever in animals.

26 Solanum nigrum,

Linn.

Mana thakkaali,

kakka keerai.

Solanaceae

The leaf and

fruit extract is

used for

deworming and

treating fever.


Solanum trilobatum,

Linn.

Thuthuvalai Solanaceae The leaf juice is

used to treat

cough and cold.

27 Gmelina asiatica,

Linn.

Lippia nodiflora,

Mich.

Premna latifolia,

Roxb.

Kumalum, Kumil

Poduthalai

Minnal keerai

Verbenaceae

Verbenaceae

Verbenaceae

Stem, root and

leaf bits are

soaked in water

forming a

tumbler full of

slimy fluid

consumed to

relieve stomach

ulcer.

The leaf extract

is used to

prepare hair

tonic.

The leaf extract

is used for

deworming.

28 Cissus

quadrangularis,

(Linn.) Mant.

Pirandai Vitaceae Young tops are

cooked and

eaten to remove

worms in the

stomach; leaf

paste is applied

to relieve joint

pain.


TABLE NO: 2. PLANTS USED AS FOOD AMONG THE IRULARS

OF ANAIKATTY HILLS

S.

No

BOTANICAL

NAME

LOCAL NAME FAMILY USES

01 Mangifera indica,

Linn.

Maamaram Anacardiaceae Fruits are edible.

02 Amorphallus

campanulatus, Linn.

Kaara karani Araceae Corm is used as

vegetable.

03 Areca catechu, Linn.

Alocasia indica,

(Roxb.) Schoott.

Cocos nucifera, Linn.

Phoenix sylvestris,

Roxb.

Kottai paaku

Seema chaembu.

Thennai

Echchai

Arecaceae

Arecaceae

Arecaceae

Arecaceae

The edible part is

the nut.

Fruits are edible.

The endosperm is

edible fodder for

cattle.

The nut is the edible

part.

04 Basella alba, var:

rubra, Linn.

Pasalai kodi,

Kalarchi kodi

Basellaceae Red stemmed leaves

are used as spinach.

05 Caesalpinia

bonducella, Flem.

Kalakaai Caesalpiniaceae Nutritional food

06 Anogeissus latifolia,

Wall.

Terminalia bellarica,

Roxb.

Vella naagai

Thaani

Combretaceae

Combretaceae

Fodder for cattle

like cow, goat etc.

Fodder for cattle.

07 Trichosanthes

anguina, Linn.

Pudalangai

Cucurbitaceae Fruits are used as

vegetable.

08 Dioscorea bulbifera,

Linn.

Panna kizhangu,

Riyang kodi

Dioscoreaceae Roots are edible and

used as vegetable.

09 Bridelia retusa, Spr.

Euphorbia

corrigioloides, Boiss.

Phyllanthus acidus,

(Linn.) Skeels.

Ricinus communis,

Linn.

Mulvaengai

Kova keerai

Arunelli

Sittammanaku

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbiaceae

Fodder for cattle.

Leaves are used as

spinach.

Fruits are made into

pickles and

preserves.

Seeds yield oil.


10 Acacia sundra, DC.

Albizzia lebbeck,

Benth.

Sengarungaali

Vaagai

Mimosoideae

Mimosoideae

The leaf extract is

used as nutritional

tonic.

Fodder for cattle.

11 Artocarpus

heterophyllus, Lamk.

Palaa maram Moraceae Tender fruits are

used as vegetable;

mature fruits are

edible.

12 Psidium guajava,

Linn.

Syzygium cumini,

Skeel.

Koyya pazham

Naval

Myrtaceae

Myrtaceae

Fruits are edible.

Fruits are edible.

13 Erythrina indica,

Lam.

Mucuna

monosperma, DC.

Pterocarpus

marsupium, Roxb.

Kalyana

murungai

Poonai kaali

Vaengai

Papilionaceae

Papilionaceae

Papilionaceae

Fodder for cattle.

Fruits are used as

vegetable.

Fodder for cattle.

14 Bambusa

arundinaceae, Willd.

Coix lachrymal-jobi,

Linn.

Dendrocalamus

strictus, Nees.

Eleusine coracana,

Gaertn.

Panicum miliare,

Lam.

Paspalum

scrobiculatum, Linn.

Pennisetum

typhoides, Stapf and

Hubb.

Setaria italica,

Beauv.

Kambu, Moongil

Kaatu

kunthamani

Kalmoongil

Kaelvaragu,

kaeppai, raagi.

Saamai

Varagu

Cumbu

Thinai

Poaceae

Poaceae

Poaceae

Poaceae

Poaceae

Poaceae

Poaceae

Poaceae

Grains are edible

Grains are edible

Fodder for cattle

Good for malting

Edible millet

Edible millet

Cereal is an edible.

Edible millet


Zea mays, Linn. Makkacholam,

thulakka cholam

Poaceae

Used as food and

also fodder for

cattles.

15 Ziziphus mauritiana,

Lam.

Ziziphus oneoplia,

Linn.

Elandha pazham.

Kaarai

Rhamnaceae

Rhamnaceae

Fruits are edible

The leaves are used

as spinach.

16 Cardiospermum

helicacabum, Linn.

Mudakattan Sapindaceae Young leaves are

used as spinach

17 Madhuca longifolia,

Linn.

Ilupai Sapotaceae Beverages are

extracted from fruits

and flowers.

18 Solanum nigrum,

Linn.

Mana thakkaali,

kakka keerai

Solanaceae Leaves and fruits are

used as food, leaves

are used as spinach.

19 Gmelina arborea,

Roxb.

Premna latifolia,

Roxb.

Kumalum, kumil

Minnal keerai

Verbenaceae

Verbenaceae

Leaves used as

fodder

Leaves eaten in

curries; fodder for

cattle.

20 Cissus

quadrangularis,

Linn.

Pirandai Vitaceae Young shoots are

edible.


CONCLUSION

The interest in medicinal plants has been exhibited all over the world because of

the safety and effective constituents of plant products, and in particular the presence of

active principles of medicinal plants. In India, the Indigenous System of Medicine

namely Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani have been in existence for several centuries. These

traditional systems of medicine together with Homeopathy and folklore medicine

continue to play a significant role largely in the health care system of the population,

(Ganesan. S., 2006).

Tribal people depend mostly on forest resources for their existence. They collect

different plants and use them for various purposes including maintaining their health.

In the present investigation, a total of 47 species of medicinal plants and 41

species of food, distributed among 68 genera belonging to 34 families were identified at

Anaikatty hills, Coimbatore district. The collected plants have been arranged

alphabetically according to families, followed by binomial name, local names along with

their mode of utilization. They are believed to cure various diseases, viz., stomach

disorders, tooth problems, head ache, fever, arthritis, wound healing, jaundice, cold and

cough, skin diseases (Table No: 1). The plants are administered internally or externally in

the form of juice, decoctions, pastes and infusions of single drugs as well as made into

simple formulations (Table 2). Some of the other plants are used as food for their day to-

day life.

In the survey of Anaikatty hills of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, 10 species of

Poaceae was found to be the most dominating food and medicinal plant family, followed

by 7 species of Euphorbiaceae, 5 species of Arecaceae, 3 species of Combretaceae, 3

species of Liliaceae, 3 species of Papilionaceae, 3 species of Verbenaceae which were all

documented.

It is clear that there is wide usage of local flora by the Irulars, which suggests that

the cultivation and conservation of such indigenous plants should be encouraged by

helping them grow these plants on the barren hill slopes along the ravine belts. The

cultivation would also reduce the area prone to natural calamities such as landslides and

soil erosion.


REFERENCES

• Ashraf, N. V. K., 2000. The Botanical side of a zoological park in Coimbatore,

India. Zoo’s Print Journal, 15: 191 – 196.

• Fuchs Stephen, 1982. The Aboriginal Tribes of India. Macmillan India Limited,

New Delhi.

• Ganesan, S., Venkateshan, G., & Banumathy, N., 2006. Medicinal plants used by

ethnic group Thottianaickans of Semmalai hills (reserved forest), Tiruchirappalli

district, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, Vol. 5(2), 245 –

252.

• Goel, A. K., and Rajendran, 1999. Cross – cultural Ethnobotanical studies of

Santhal pargana [Eastern India] and Western Ghats [Southern India]. J. Econ.

Tax. Bot. 23.

• Gupta, S. P., 1985. Study of plants during Ethnological Research among the

Tribals. In: A manual of Ethnobotany. Ed. S. K. Jain, Scientific Publishers,

Jodhpur. 9 – 18.

• Jain S. K., & Goel, A. K., 1995. A Manual of Ethnobotany, edited by Jain S. K

(Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur).

• Lakshmanan., K. K. and A. S. Sankara Narayanan, 1988. Some Folklore

Medicines in the remote Hamlets. Indian Journal of Forestry, 11: 217 – 219.

• Lakshmanan., K. K. and A. S. Sankara Narayanan, 1990. Antifertility Herbals

used by the Tribals in Anaikatty Hills. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 14: 171 – 173.

• Lakshmanan., K. K. and A. S. Sankara Narayanan, 1992. Antifertility drugs by

Tribal of Anaikatty Hills. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 10.

• Rajendran, A. K., K. Ravikumar and A. N. Henry, 2002. Some useful rare and

endemic plants of Southern Western Ghats. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 26: 181 – 183.

• Singh, H. B., 1997. Alternate source for some conventional drug plants of India,

in: Ethnobotany and Medicinal Plants of Indian Subcontinent, edited by

Maheswari, J. K, (Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India), 109.


Our thanks are due to Dr. S. Lalitha, Faculty of PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, who encouraged us to have this report published.

S. Geetha, M.Sc. Candidate Department of Microbial Biotechnology [email protected] S. Poornima, Ph.D. Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology J. Vaseegari, M.Sc., M.Phil. Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology P S G R Krishnammal College for Women Peelamedu, Coimbatore 641004 Tamil Nadu, India


Date post:	10-Feb-2020
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	6 times
Download:	0 times

COLLEGE SCIENCE IN INDIA18 Argemone mexicana, Linn. Brahmathandu Papaveraceae The yellow latex is...

Documents