Ethno Medicinal Studies on Kurumba Community for the Treatment of Gastro-intestinal Disorders, Niligiri District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Gastro intestinal diseases are major cause of child and adult mortality in all the developing countries. This paper mainly focuses on the documentation of ethno medicinal practices of Kurumba tribes of Niligiri district for treating various gastro-intestinal ailments and also attempted to evaluate the efficacy of these plants using a non experimental method. The study documented the ethno medicinal aspect of 21 plant species belonging to 20 genera and 16 families which are used by the Kurumba tribe for various gastro intestinal aliments. These plant species are enumerated alphabetically with their botanical names, vernacular name, family, plant parts used and the mode of preparations. The ethno pharmacological validation of the aboriginal knowledge of Kurumbas on various medicinal plants used for gastro intestinal diseases need to be subjected to various phytochemical and pharmacological studies with priority, to evaluate further potential of these treatments for gastro-intestinal disorders.

Ethnomedicinal knowledge used by Mullukurumbas of Nilgiris, Western Ghats, India

“…Sathyanarayanan and Chandra (2013a,b) reported the occupational transformation that happened among the Alukurumbas of Nilgiris with the modern urbanization of the landscape, followed by Sejin (2019), who reported the socioeconomic life of Kurumbas in Nilgiris, including culture and rituals, which they focus for many decades. Deepak and Gopal (2014) listed 25 plant species mainly used for dermatology diseases practiced by Kurumba Tribes in Coonoor, Kotagiri, and Kundah taluks of Nilgiris. The medicinal plants locally available in and around the village are mostly used for skin rashes, burns, warts, pimples, cuts, and wounds.…”