Medicinal & Aromatic Plants

Medicinal & Aromatic Plants
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Research Article - (2014) Volume 3, Issue 4

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Traditional Remedies Used by the Inhabitants of Keezhakrishnanputhoor - A Coastal Village of Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, India

Selvaraj Rosemary Jenisha and Solomon Jeeva*
Department of Botany, Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil, Tamilnadu, India
*Corresponding Author: Solomon Jeeva, Department of Botany, Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil, Tamilnadu-629 003, India Email:

Abstract

Objective: Traditional medicinal practices by the people of Keezhakrishnanputhoor village of Kanyakumari
district, Tamilnadu, India were documented by Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method and interview
schedules.
Key Findings: A total of 43 taxa belonging 41 genera and 28 families used to cure 23 different ailments
were recorded. Most of the plants were used in the treatment of fever, intestinal worms, cold, cough, etc. Plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae and Liliaceae were the predominantly used taxa. The information on binomial with family, plant parts used, method of preparation, precise dose and mode of use to treat various
ailments are elucidated.
Conclusions: The data recorded can possibly be used as the potential source for discovering modern
medicine. Further investigations are used to identify the availability of chemical compounds present in various
medicinal plants, which are useful for producing more number of pharmaceutical drugs in low cost.

Keywords: Herbal medicine; Kanyakumari; Keezhakrishnanputhoor; Traditional knowledge

Abbreviations

PRA: Participatory Rural Appraisal; WHO: World Health Organization

Introduction

Herbal medicines are considered as the oldest forms of healthcare known to mankind [1]. According to World Health Organization (WHO) ca. 65-80% of the world’s population in developing countries depends on plant parts for their primary healthcare due to their poverty and lack of access to modern medicines [2]. Traditional knowledge about medicinal plants has been passed on orally from generation without any written document and is still retained by various indigenous groups of people around the world [3]. Traditional medicines are easy to consume by the rural people because they were obtained from the local plant species seen around us.

Traditional knowledge on uses of plant parts as medicine used by the tribal and rural people were well documented in many literatures [4-11]. It has been estimated that about 35,000 plant taxa are being used for medicinal purposes, whereas in India, more than 7,000-7,500 plant taxa are used for their therapeutic efficacy [3,12,13]. There are still big gaps in the work of completing an exhaustive inventory of the medicinal plants of India. There is at the moment no exhaustive and reliable inventory available of all the medicinal plants of India used different ethnic communities in different ecosystems. Keeping this fact, an attempt has been made to document the ethnobotanical wealth of the agriculturists of the Keezhakrishnanputhoor village of Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu, India.

Methodology

Keezhakrishnanputhoor, a coastal village situated along the southwest coast of Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu, India. The vegetation of this area is dominated by coconut (var. west coast tall), mango, palmyra palm, tamarind, etc. The communities residing in this area are Nadars, Pariyars and Muslims. Majority of the people of this area are agriculturists and they mainly depend on the agroforestry plants for their livelihoods. Women play a major role in medicinal practices of this area.

The investigation was carried out during May 2013 to June 2014. Information was collected through direct field visits interviewing the elderly women with in the age group of 35-75 in their local language (Tamil). The data were systematically recorded in the field itself. A total of 14 informants were interviewed during the study period. Vernacular name, parts used, mode of preparation and dosage to cure different ailments were collected and recorded from those people. Plants specimens were identified with the local and regional floras [14-16]. Information on medicinal usage of plant species has been recorded and the details are tabulated (Table 1).

Sl.No Plant Name Family Vernacular Name Parts Used Nature of the Drug Preparation Diseases Application
1. Aervalanata (L.) Juss. ex Schultes Amaranthaceae Sirupulai Whole Plant Decoction Whole plant boiledin water and filtered Kidney stones 1 cup taken orally for 7 days
2. Allium cepa L. Liliaceae Vengayam Bulb Paste Grind well Wounds caused by glass pieces Tie in the wounded region till it gets cured
3. Alliunsativum L. Liliaceae Vellaipoondu Bulb Paste Cooked and grind well Gas problems inPregnant ladies Taken orally once in a week
4. Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. Liliaceae Sothukathalai Leaf Gel As such Ulcer A small spoon of gel taken orally once for 41 days
Diabetes A small spoon of gel taken orally once daily
5. Amaranthusviridis L. Amaranthaceae Arakeerai Stem, Leaf Cooked - Piles Taken orally once in a week
6. Anacardiumoccidentale L. Anacardiaceae Kolamavu Thalamus Juice Crush well Digestion problems Taken orally once for 1 or 2 days
7. Andrographispaniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees Acanthaceae Siriyanangai Leaves Paste Grind well Poisonous bites caused by insects Taken orally twice for 3 days
8. Azadirachtaindica A. Juss. Meliaceae Vembu Bark Decoction Boil along with bark of Moringaoleifera, few leaves ofTephrosiapurpurea, Pergulariadaemia, and a small piece of Zingiberofficinale dried rhizome Fever Taken orally twice for 2 days
Tender Leaves Paste Grind well with garlic powder Intestinal worms Taken orally once
Decoction Boil along with the leaves of Ocimumtenuiflorum, seeds of Coriandrumsativum anda small piece of Zingiberofficinale dried rhizome Fever Taken orally for a few days
9. Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L. Brassicaceae Muttaikose Flower Paste Grind well Gas problems Taken orally twice with a cup of water
10. Borassusflabellifer L. Arecaceae Panai Tender fruit Gel Taken as such Act as a coolant to the body for small pox and chicken pox Taken orally till it completely gets cured
Ripened fruit   Crush and apply Hair wash Applied on hair once in a month while bathing
11 Carica papaya L. Caricaceae Pappali Ripened fruit Raw - Intestinal worms Taken orally at the time of problem
Leaf Paste Take tender leaves and grind well Chikungunea Taken orally once in morning for 3 days
12 Citrus sinensis(L.) Osbeck Rutaceae Orange Fruit Raw - Act as a coolant to the body for small pox and chicken pox Taken orally till it completely gets cured
13 Cleome gynandra L. Capparaceae Thaivalai Leaf Paste Grind well with little lime Migraine Apply externally on forehead for 7 days
Juice Crush well Ear ache Poured into the ear twice for 2 days
14 CocosnuciferaL. Arecaceae Thennai Tender fruit Water - Act as a coolant to the body for small pox and chicken pox Taken orally till it completely gets cured
Fruit coir Juice Grind and crush.Juice obtained is boiled along with the leaves of Tylophoraindica in a mud pot and filtered. Wounds caused by poisonous objects like Nails, spines etc Applied on the affected region for 3 days
15 CoriandrumsativumL. Apiaceae Kothamalli Leaves Decoction Boil along with seeds of Trigonellafoenum-graecumand leaves ofMoringaoleifera, Murrayakoenijiiand water Pregnant ladies to maintain the health of baby Taken orally once in a week
16 Cynodondactylon (L.) Pers. Poaceae Arugampul Leaves Paste Grind well Health Improvement Taken orally along with milk daily in early morning
17 Euphorbia tirucalli L. Euphorbiaceae Kodukalli Leaves Juice Leaf burnt and crushed Intestinal Problemsof small children ½ spoon of juice is given orally at the time of problem
18 Ferula asafoetida L. Apiaceae Perungayam Resin Decoction Boiled along with bulb of Allium sativum and Zingiberofficinalerhizome Intestinal problems Taken orally once
19 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Malvaceae Semparuthi Flower petals Raw   Ulcer Taken orally once in a week
20 Jatrophacurcas L. Euphorbiaceae Kattamanaku Leaf Latex Pinch offthe leaf from the stem and collect latex Tooth ache Applied on the infected teeth till it gets cured
Cuts Applied on the wounded region for 2 days
21 Justiciaadhatoda L. Acanthaceae Adatodai Leaves Vapour Boiled along with the few leaves of Azadirachtaindica, Ocimumtenuiflorum, rhizome of Zingiberofficinale and leaves and dried fruits of Piper nigrum in a closed pot. Cold Inhale the vapour twice for 2 days
22 MoringaoleiferaGaertn. Fruct. Moringaceae Murungai Flowers Cooked - Ulcer Daily usagecontrols ulcer
Leaves Decoction Taken along with a little salt Pain caused during menstrual cycle Taken orally once for 3 days
Paste Grind well Intestinal problems Taken orally once
23 Musa paradisiaca L. Musaceae Vazhai Pseudostem Juice Grind well and filter Kidney stones 1 cup taken orally for 7 days
24 Ocimumbasilicum L. Lamiaceae Tirunirrupachillai Leaves Juice Crush well Ear ache Poured in to the ear twice for 2 days
25 Ocimumtenuiflorum L. Lamiaceae Tulasi Leaves Decoction Boiled along with leaves of Azadirachtaindica, dried rhizome of Zingiberofficinale and dried fruits of Piper nigrum Cold and Cough Taken orally once for 3 days
26 Oryza sativa L. Poaceae Nell Grains Decoction Roasted grains are boiled along with the leaves of Psidiumguajava, rhizome of Zingiberofficinale and resin of Ferula asafetida Cholera Taken orally twice for 2 days
27 PhyllanthusamarusSchum. &Thonn. Euphorbiaceae Keezhanelli Whole plant Decoction Boil in water and filter Jaundice Taken orally twice for 3 weeks
28 Piper longum L. Piperaceae Thippili Dried fruit Powder Grind well Cough Taken orally twice for 2 days
29 Piper nigrum L. Piperaceae Nallamilagu Dried fruit Paste Grind along with bulb of Allium cepa Cold Apply externally on forehead for 5 days
30 Psidiumguajava L. Myrtaceae Koyya Fruit Raw - Increase blood after malarial fever Taken orally till it completely gets cured
31 Punicagranatum L. Punicaceae Mathulai Fruit Raw - Increase blood after malarial fever Taken orally till it completely gets cured
32 Rosa damascena Mill. Gard. Rosaceae Irosa Flower Paste Mix dried petal power along with turmeric powder and water Pimples Applied externally during bathing
33 Santalumalbam L. Santalaceae Santhanam Wood Paste Rub well with little water in stone to make paste Pimples Applied externally during bathing
34 Solanumnigrum L. Solanaceae Manatakkali Leaves Decoction Boil in water and filter Ulcer Taken orally once for 30 days
35 Syzygiumcumini (L.) Skeels Myrtaceae Naval Seeds Powder - Diabetes Taken orally along with hot water early morning
36 Trigonellafoenum-graecum L. Fabaceae Venthayam Seeds Paste Boil and Grind well along with the rhizome of Allium sativum Pregnant ladies for easy digestion Taken orally once in a week
Paste Grind well along with the rhizome of Allium cepa Gas problems Taken orally once at the time of problem
37 Tylophoraindica (Burm. f.) Merr. Asclepiadaceae Nancharuttan Roots Paste Grind well along with the rhizome of Allium cepa and salt Mumps Applied in the affected region for 3 days
38 Vignaradiata (L.) R. Wilczek Fabaceae Pachaipayir Seeds Paste Grind well along with the seeds of Coriandrumsativum Head ache Applied on the head for 2 days
39 Vitisvinifera L. Vitaceae Grapes Fruit Raw - Act as a coolant to the body for small pox and chicken pox Taken orally till it completely gets cured
40 ZingiberofficinaleRosc. Zingiberaceae Injii Rhizome Decoction Boil in water and filter Cough Taken orally for 2 days

Table 1: Medicinal plants used by the inhabitants of Keezhakrishnanputhoor village.

Result and Discussion

In the present study, a total of 43 plant species belonging to 41 genera and 28 families used in the treatment of 23 different ailments were recorded. Most of the plants recorded were used as food as well as medicine by the people residing in the village of Keezhakrishnanputhoor. Family-wise distribution of medicinal plants shows that Liliaceae and Euphorbiaceae are the dominant families in terms of medicinal usage with 3 species each followed by Amaranthaceae, Acanthaceae, Arecaceae, Apiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Rutaceae, Zingiberaceae, Poaceae, Myrtaceae and Fabaceae with 2 species each whereas, 14 families were monospecific. Of the 43 plant species recorded, 10 species were used in the treatment of fever, 7 species were used to treat intestinal worms, cold and cough, 5 species were given to pregnant ladies for gas problems, digestion and to maintain good health of the baby, 4 species were used to treat wounds, ulcer, cholera, small pox and chicken pox, 3 species taken for headache, pimples, gas problems, diabetes, earache, kidney stones, and mumps and one species for digestion, hair wash, health improvement, jaundice, piles, and poisonous bites.

The plant parts were used as decoction, paste, powder, cooked and as raw form (Figure 1). Paste and decoction were the mainly used form of medicine in the study area. People use whole plant, leaves, stem, pseudostem, roots, barks, seeds, fruits, rhizome, thalamus, flower, gel, resin and latex for their medicinal purposes (Figure 2). Fresh plant parts were commonly used for the medicine preparation. Leaves were predominantly used than other parts of the plants for the medicinal purpose and it was also agreed by the precedent ethnobotanical researches [17-20]. Juice and paste formulations were quite common for external applications [20] and internal application predominates over external application which was also cited in the earlier studies [17,21,22] (Figure 3). Though many plant species were utilized as a single drug for the treatment of certain diseases, a few plant species were given in combination with other plant species also.

medicinal-aromatic-plants-Mode-preparation-medicine

Figure 1: Mode of preparation of medicine.

medicinal-aromatic-plants-Plant-parts-treatment-diseases

Figure 2: Plant parts used in the treatment of diseases.

medicinal-aromatic-plants-administration-medicinal-plants

Figure 3: Mode of administration of medicinal plants.

Leaf paste of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wallich ex Nees is used to treat poisonous bites [17,23,24]. Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. gel and Solanum nigrum L. leaf decoction is used to cure ulcer [19,25,26]. Whole plant juice extracted from Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. is used to cure jaundice [27]. Dried seed powder of Piper nigrum L. isused to cure cold and cough [17]. Tender leaves of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. was taken to relieve intestinal worms [26]. Jatropha curcas L. is used to cure tooth ache [28] and Syzygium cuminii (L.) Skeels powder was used by the diabetic patients [20,29].

Conclusion

The findings of this study reveal that common plant species seen around us also play an important role in the treatment of various ailments. Clinical investigations take a long time and are highly expensive, so the traditional medicinal knowledge is one of the best sources of treatment of different diseases. Due to the impact of urbanization, partial modernization and over exploitation of plant species for medicinal purposes there is a chance for disappearance of some plant species in near future. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to conserve these plants for healthy and disease free life.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Authors were grateful to the informants for their active co-operation throughout the work.

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Citation: Jenisha SR, Jeeva S (2014) Traditional Remedies Used by the Inhabitants of Keezhakrishnanputhoor - A Coastal Village of Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, India. Med Aromat Plants 3:175.

Copyright: © 2014 Jenisha SR, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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