Diversity of Medicinal plants in selected sacred groves and their value in rural life of Tribals of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Sacred groves are the reservoirs of biodiversity and help in conserving the resources available due to strong cultural and religious beliefs. The study was conducted in four selected sacred groves of Vilavancode and Kalkulam taluks to evaluate the ethnomedicinal values of plants used by the rural communities of Kanyakumari district. A total of 83 ethnomedicinal plants were recorded as per the information given by the rural communities. Apocynaceae was a dominant family followed by Euphorbiaceae. Leaves were used predominantly and internal intake was done mostly than external use. Medicinal preparations were largely taken in the form of juice, paste and decoction. These herbal medicines were frequently used for skin diseases, fever, asthma, body pain, bone fractures, gynaecological disorders, etc. These valuable uses of medicinal plants must be documented for the goodness of man.