Floristic Diversity and Medicinal Value Analysis of Plants from Davadanapatti Block (Foot Hills of Kodaikanal), Periyakulam Taluk, Theni District

Floristic Diversity and Medicinal Value Analysis of Plants from Davadanapatti Block (Foot Hills of Kodaikanal), Periyakulam Taluk, Theni District

Sudhakar R , Dhandapani N , Kannan R

Department of Botany, Chikkaiah Naicker College, Erode, Tamil Nadu 638004, India

Corresponding Author Email: sudha2152001@gmail.com

DOI : https://doi.org/10.51470/JOD.2024.03.02.27

Abstract

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1. Introduction          

According to the World Health Organization’s indigenous medicine report (1978), traditional medicine is the main source of health care for 80% of the world’s population [1]. The last decade has seen an increase in interest in natural medicine, especially those derived from plants, mainly due to the widespread belief in “herbal medicine” [2]. The history of medicinal plants in India dates back to the Vedic period. One of the oldest records of human knowledge, the Rigveda, was written between 4500 and 1600 BC and mentions 99 medicinal plants. The Yajurveda mentions 82 plants, while the Atharvaveda mentions 88 plants; almost all of these have medicinal properties and are used to treat serious diseases. According to the Vedas, Brahmanism mentions 129 species of plants, and the Kalpa Sutras describe 519 species of plants [3] in ancient times. Aboriginal people have contributed numerous “miracle plants” that provide essential nutrients and benefits to modern civilization.

Early Indian works such as Catalogue of Indian Herbs and Drugs [4]. Catalogue of Medicines of Hindustan [5], and Native Medicines of India [6] mainly deal with herbalism and medicine. However, Bazar medicine and herbals [7] is unique in that it includes many folk medicines. [8] presented a summary of ethnobotanical studies conducted in various states and Union Territories of India. The people living in different parts of India can be divided into five groups on the basis of their history, race, and culture: North-eastern India, Sub-Himalayan Region of Northern and North-western India, Central and Eastern India, Southern India, and Western India [9-10] has stated that there are more than 400 different tribes and ethnic groups in India, and they constitute 7.5% of the total population. In recent years, there has been an interest in the study of medicinal plants and their traditional uses throughout India, and many reports have indicated the use of traditionally used plants by tribal and indigenous communities for their treatment [11-12]. Besides tribal people, many forest dwellers and rural people are also knowledgeable about plants [13]. Plants and their medicinal uses. The locals understand the rules for collecting medicinal plants, including when to collect them, where to collect them, and how to manage and preserve them. Despite the ecological degradation in the region, there are a large number of medicinal plants of different species and families. This proves the vast knowledge of this plant and the diverse distribution of medicinal plants growing in the foothills of Kodaikanal. Studies also show that ancestral knowledge of medicinal plants has been passed down from generation to generation through oral culture. Therefore, it is important to create awareness about the knowledge and use of these medicinal plants.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1 Study Area

This study is based on fieldwork in the study area of Devadanapatti block of Periyakulam Taluka in Theni district. It lies between latitude 10° and 11° north and longitude 77° 37° and 77° 40° 40° east. The field work included plant collection and ethnobotanical studies followed by laboratory investigations and data analysis. Standard methods were used to collect and identify plants and to perform objective data analysis.

2.2 Field survey and identification

The reserve conducts regular field trips and continues to collect plants. They follow the method of [14] while harvesting using field tools like knives, pruning shears, hoes, and plastic ropes with hooks (used to pull plants from water) and answer books. They use polythene bags instead of tubes. The behavior, location, flower color, odor, distribution and incidence, disease-related characteristics, and other characteristics that cannot be determined with the sample plant during the field survey are recorded on a separate sheet in the field book. To avoid confusion during processing, the samples are numbered. Also, the structure of the branch, texture of the stem, shoot color, leaf size and size, petiole length, inflorescence, and fruit characteristics along with known fruit base, size, and color were analyzed. . First of all, a tentative analysis of the specimen was done by consulting the flora of Tamil Nadu and studying all taxonomic records related to the species in the region. This preliminary identification was confirmed by comparing the specimen with the authentic herbarium material deposited at the Botanical Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, Coimbatore. Later, the entire collections were analyzed by the Director, Institute of Scientific Research (INSR).

2.3 Ethnobotanical Research

The study focuses on Devadanapatti block and covers the following areas: 1. Manjalar Dam Village, 2. Tribal community near Manjalar Dam Village, 3. Ghandinagar, near Manjalar Dam Village, 4. Kamatchi Amman Temple, 5. Mungilanai Kamakkapatti Village, 6. Amsapuram Village. This area is a part of Periyakulam Taluka in Kodaikanal Hills. They are home to many people. During our fieldwork, we found one person living at an altitude of 300 MSL in the area. Knowledge of medicinal plants is unique and limited to a few community members called “Vaidhyars” (also known as healers, guides, and traditional healers). Interviews with Paliyar groups, traditional healers, and local experts

Local healers were selected based on their experience in herbal medicine, including travel control to the study area. Interviews were conducted with local people and traditional healers. The characteristics of the informants were identified and recorded through face-to-face interviews with 27 people in the study area, including 5 ethnic minorities, 4 traditional healers (herbalists), and 18 people familiar with local medicinal plants and herbs. wise people with wisdom. The age of the respondents ranged from 35 to 85 years. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews in the local language (Tamil). The questions included the plants collected, their parts used, medicinal uses of each part, method of preparation (such as decoction, paste, powder, and juice), method of use (fresh or dried), and method of use (fresh or dried), and plants used as ingredients. Each plant material is given a list, and the plant name, local name, material used, and plant are recorded. All information is recorded in the logbook in a proper manner. The data collected was analyzed by cultural experts from different villages and communities in the study area.

3. Results

3.1 Diversity and uses of medicinal plants

In this study, 103 plant species belonging to 83 genera and 46 families were recorded, which can be used in the treatment of various diseases and for non-medicinal purposes (Table 2). Acanthaceae has many species (8 species), followed by Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, and Solanaceae (7 species each), Cucurbitaceae and Leguminosae (5 species each), Asteraceae, Liliaceae, and Malvaceae (4 species each), Euphorbiaceae, Verbenaceae, and Sapindaceae (3 species each). 2 species are found in each of 7 families (Araceae, Acaciaceae, Junziaceae, Convolvulaceae, Meliaceae, Poaceae, and Rutaceae), while 1 species is found in each of the remaining 27 families. Among the collected ethnomedicinal plants, the most important life forms are medicinal plants, followed by climbers, trees, and shrubs. The use of herbaceous plants by local people is the property of the herbaceous plants in their environment [15-16].

3.2 Demographic Profile of the Respondents

It was found that 47 respondents (36 males and 11 females) were associated with medical practices, as most of the females did not like to practice herbal medicine. Also, most of the previous ethnobotanical studies have found that male forms are more than female forms [17-19]; information they obtained from their ancestors, other family members, neighbours, etc. (Table 1). Specialist doctors treat patients for free, but if the patient pays a certain amount of money, the doctor will accept. Six of them went to a doctor who specialized in special treatment (stone disease, jaundice, bone, poisonous bite, and childbirth).

4. Discussion  

All study areas of Devadanapatti block (1. Manjalar Barrage Village, 2. tribal hamlets near Manjalar Barrage Village, 3. Gandhi Nagar near Manjalar Barrage Village, 4. Kamatchi Amman Temple, 5th Mungilanai Kamakkapatti Village, and 6th Amsapuram Village) in Periyakulam Taluka of Theni District. Hence it is called “Second Manchester of South India,” as cotton and cotton trade are important activities in the district. Our findings revealed that there were 36 male teachers and 11 female teachers. Interestingly, we found that male responses were more associated with traditional medicine than female responses. Females also reported less interest in the use of medicinal plants.

Our survey respondents received their traditional medical knowledge from their ancestors and respected teachers, the shishya paramparas. This is in many ways attributed to the doctors they received from their ancestors. Importantly, most of the survey respondents had limited or no technical training; only some had primary or secondary education. Doctors are often paid voluntarily for treatment. For a doctor who specializes in special treatments such as kidney stones, jaundice, bones, insect bites and childbirth, poisonous insect bites and childbirth, etc. There are many species of Acanthaceae (8 species), followed by Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, and Solanaceae (7 species each), Cucurbitaceae and Leguminosae (5 species each), Asteraceae, Liliaceae, and Malvaceae (7 species each), Euphorbiaceae, Verbenaceae, and Sapindaceae (three species each). There are 2 species each in 7 families (Araceae, Caenaceae, Juniaceae, Convolvulaceae, Meliaceae, Gramineae, and Rutaceae), while there is 1 species each in the remaining 27 families.

Among the ethnomedicinal plants collected, the most important life forms are medicinal plants, followed by climbers, trees, and shrubs. Plants are frequently used by local people due to their abundance in the environment. Local people use as medicine mainly leaves (51 recipes), followed by fruits and roots (12 recipes each), stems (9 recipes), seeds and tubers (4 maps each), bark, flowers, and whole plants (3 maps), rhizomes (2 maps), bulbs, shoots, and trees (1 map each). , applied in the form of a paste, a decoction is prepared by boiling water, juice from fresh parts of the plant, coarse powder of the dry material, latex, and plant ground. The methods of use are divided into oral application (58%), external use (40%), and inhalation (2%). In addition to the collection of ethnobotanical data, the collection of plant names in the study area is equally important. It is worth noting that most of the useful or harmful plants in this bioregion are identified by their local names. The records of approximately 103 local plant names in the study area reveal the depth of knowledge of the local people about the plants in the region. techniques, a tool for pharmacists, doctors, and health professionals to select important plants when developing medicines, a new source of plant name history for teachers, people looking for sources of new diseases on the farm, etc. Become famous in the study area. Most of them are well known by the local people. Local doctors are divided into two groups: general practitioners and specialist doctors. Doctors often treat health problems such as fever, diarrhea, stomach ache, joint pain, headache, and so on. However, the local people also have a lot of knowledge about ethnobotany.

5. Acknowledgement

            We acknowledge the support of all teaching and non-teaching members of our college.

6. Conclusion                                                   

This research includes ethnobotanical research in various villages of Devadanapatti block, Kodaikanal foothills, Periyakulam Taluka, and Theni district. Traditional knowledge materials are used by rural people and tribals. It also includes the collection and identification of medicinal plants, the description of diseases, writing down different types of treatments, and how to prepare medicines. Medicinal plants in Devadhanapatti block play an important role in providing health care to minorities. In this study, 103 plant species were recorded. Acanthaceae included a large number of species (8 species), followed by Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, and Solanaceae (7 species each), Cucurbitaceae and Leguminosae (5 species each), and Asteraceae, Liliaceae, Malvaceae (4 species each), Euphorbiaceae, Verbenaceae, and Sapindaceae (three species each). 7 families (Araceae, Caenaceae, Juniaceae, Convolvulaceae, Meliaceae, Gramineae, and Rutaceae) each had 2 species, while the remaining 27 families had 1 species each. This plant is used in the treatment of some diseases. This study provides information on herbal treatment of minorities, and further pharmacognosy and pharmacology studies are required to confirm the type of preparation.

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