Ethnomedicinal plants and their utilization by villagers in Kumaragiri hills of Salem district of Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

The present investigation deals with the ethnomedicinal plants of Kumaragiri Hills of Salem district, Tamilnadu. The indigenous knowledge of the village dwellers, the herbal medicine practitioners and other traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal value were collected through questionnaire and personal interviewed during field trips. The study revealed some unknown medical uses of medicinal plants. The scientific name, family, vernacular name (Tamil), part used and traditional practice of 80 species, 65 genera and families are discussed here for the treatment of various ailments. The dicotyledons are represented by 73 species of 58 genera and 37 families while monocotyledons are represented by 7 species of 7 genera and 4 families. 91.25% dicotyledons and :8.75% monocotyledons were encountered .

Allelopathic effect of different concentration of water extract of Argemone mexicana L. on seed germination and seedling growth of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

“…In India, the smoke of the seeds is used to relieve toothache. The fresh yellow milky seed extract contains protein-dissolving substances effective in the treatment of diuretic, anti-inflammatory, malarial fever, leprosy, scorpion sting, warts, cold sores, wound healing, skin diseases, itches, jaundice and an antidote to various poisons (Chopra et al, 1986;Prusti and Mishra, 2004;Alagesaboopathi, 2009;Dash and Murthy, 2011). The seeds are purgative and sedative (Ayurveda) (Das and Mishra, 1987), useful in skin diseases and leucoderma (Yunani) (Chaudhuri Rai et al, 1985) and in Homeopathy, the tincture of the entire plant is reported to be used orally for bronchitis and whooping cough (Kala, 2005;Eldridge, 1995).…”

“…The seeds are purgative and sedative (Ayurveda) (Das and Mishra, 1987), useful in skin diseases and leucoderma (Yunani) (Chaudhuri Rai et al, 1985) and in Homeopathy, the tincture of the entire plant is reported to be used orally for bronchitis and whooping cough (Kala, 2005;Eldridge, 1995). The fresh juice of the leaves and the latex both are reported to be used externally as a disinfectant for open wounds and cuts (Alagesaboopathi, 2009;Panghal et al, 2010). Various isoquinoline alkaloids viz.…”

Traditional Use of Plants against Snakebite in Indian Subcontinent: A Review of the Recent Literature

“…Bheel community of central India prescribes root extract two cups a day (Kadel and Jain, 2008). Flower powder is mixed with black pepper and taken in snakebites by the villagers in Kumaragiri hills of Salem district of Tamilnadu, India (Alagesaboopathi, 2009). The plant is reported against snakebite in a survey of indigenous knowledge of folk medicine by the women of Kalat and Khuzdar regions of Balochistan, Pakistan (Tareen et al, 2010).…”

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“…Juice of the plant is applied on scorpion sting. Seeds are effective against leprosy, jaundice and dropsy 13 .…”

“…Seeds are efficient in treating leprosy, dropsy and jaundice. Juice of the plant is used as a remedy against Scorpion bite 13 . In recent years, many scientific investigations were carried out on different parts of this plant which gives a hope for the researchers to isolate many compounds of pharmacological interest.…”