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( Received 26 August 2019; Accepted 14 September 2019; Date of Publication 15 September 2019 )

WSN 135 (2019) 214-226 EISSN 2392-2192

Folklore claims of some ethno medicinal plants used by ethnic people of Salem District, Tamil Nadu, India

M. Padma Sorna Subramanian1, M. Manokari1,*, M. Thiruvalluvar1,

Reddy Y. Manjunatha2

1Siddha Medicinal Plants Garden (Central Council for Research in Siddha, M/o AYUSH, Govt. of India), Mettur Dam, Salem District, Tamil Nadu, India

2Sri VSSC Govt. Degree College, Sullurpet, Andhra Pradesh, India

*E-mail address: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The present study was aimed to study and document the indigenous herbal knowledge of an ethnic

community residing at Salem district (India) that was applied for their health complaints. The

ethnobotanical exploration and documentation was conducted at Kurumbapatti, Palamalai, Kathrimalai,

Sundaikkadu, Periyathanda, Kolathur, Komburankadu and Veerakalpudur. A total of 113 medicinal

plant species representing 99 genera belonging to 54 families were recorded in the study area. From the

eight places surveyed, 37 folklore claims using 33 plant species, one animal and one edaphic factor (hail

stone) were recorded. The plant species involved in the ailments were herbs (11 species), shrubs (7

species), climbers and trees (8 species each). Based on the plant parts employed in preparation of drug/

drug combination, leaves were dominant (22 reports), fruits were used in 4 ailments; whole plant and

milky sap were employed in 2 reports each. Stem, resin, bark and peduncle used in single ailments were

also recorded. Furthermore, animal drug and hail stones were used for single ailments each.

Keywords: Ethnomedicinal plants, Folklore, Salem district, Traditional knowledge, Tamil Nadu

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1. INTRODUCTION

India has very rich tradition of herbal or folk medicine employed to cure various dreadful

diseases, and there is much documentation available on traditional healing practices by tribal

people in India (Subhose et al., 2005; Shankar et al., 2012). In this work, a survey on folk

medicinal plants was conducted in few places of Salem district of Tamil Nadu where certain

ethnic groups have been living since time immemorial, particularly the ‘Malayali Tribes’. Such

tribal groups have been living close to open environments and the Cauvery River, and have

been continuously exposed to many diseases, thus they have developed traditional healing

practices to protect themselves. Folk medicine differs from conventional medicine by the use

of whole plants, by combining few to more herbs together and by the way of diagnosis (Vickers

et al., 1999). Many traditional systems of the world, such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani,

Homeopathy, Chinese, Native American and Tibetan, generally depend on plant, animal and

mineral based medicines as food supplements and these have reported to cause few or no ill-

effect as compared to the modern medicine (Mills, 1993).

Ethnobotanical studies documented in Tamil Nadu have studied the following: Kolli hills

(Kadirvelmurugan et al., 2014), Thenmudiyanur Village, Thiruvannamalai district (Kumar and

Kumar, 2011), Kanjamalai hills of Salem district (Alagesaboopathi, 2011), Yercaud hills of

Eastern Ghats (Senthilkumar et al., 2013), Kalrayan and Shervarayan hills (Kadavul and Dixit,

2009), Vellore district (Thirumalai et al., 2010), Kanyakumari district (Subramanian et al.,

2019), Madurai district (Ignacimuthu et al., 2006), Javadhu hills (Tariq et al., 2013) and

Kancheepuram district (Muthu et al. 2006). However, the clinical and phytochemical

validations of certain folklore reports on medicinal plants are still incomplete.

The present study enumerate the detailed documentation of healing practices used by

traditional healers belonging to the Salem district of Tamil Nadu for their community health.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2. 1. Study are and Ethnobotanical Data Collection

Figure 1. Location map of study area, A. India map highlighted with Tamil Nadu,

B. Salem District in Tamil Nadu, C. Detailed view of Salem District


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Regular systematic field visits of two month duration were made to selected areas of

Salem District, Tamil Nadu (Fig. 1) for ethnobotanical exploration and documentation from

April, 2018 to April 2019. The selected places were Kurumbapatti, Palamalai, Kathrimalai,

Sundaikkadu, Periyathanda, Kolathur, Komburankadu and Veerakalpudur. Salem lies in the

north latitude between 11 14’ and 12 53’, east longitude between 77 44’ and 78 50’. The annual

rainfall recorded in the study area was between 750-848 mm (average). Each locality was

visited in different seasons. During the surveys, the techniques followed for data collection

were group discussions, field observations, guided field walks and personal interviews with the

tribal/ ethnic people and village dwellers, herbalists and herbal practitioners. The surveys were

spread across the seasons so as to get maximum information from various people.

2. 2. Plant specimen collection and identification

The plants were collected as triplicates and assigned with a field collection number and

the binomial name, family, vernacular names (Tamil) and general key descriptions were

recorded. The plant species recorded with ethnobotanical uses were identified with the help of

accepted Flora (Gamble, 1915-1936; Henry et al., 1987; Matthew, 1981). The herbarium

specimens were prepared using standard procedure and the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III

was adopted for citing family and scientific names of the species. The Herbarium specimens

were stored at Siddha Medicinal Plants Garden, Mettur Dam, Salem district, Tamil Nadu for

reference.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

All information was collected based on interview and field studies with local healers

within the community. Such medicines have been shown to have significant healing power,

either in their natural state or as the source of new products processed by them. This study is

mainly concentrated with plants used to cure local diseases and to enquire about different

healing systems. Detail note on the method of preparation of precise dose, the part/parts of

plants used and method of application is given.

The people inhabited in the study area speak Tamil language, and rely on agriculture,

cattle rearing, collection of honey, fruits and fuel wood. They cultivate celosia, roses, jasmine,

tapioca, paddy, millets, pomegranate, guava, jack fruit, sapota, maize, turmeric, tomato, coir,

mango and groundnut etc.

3. 1. Medicinal plants in the selected area

A total of 113 medicinal plant species representing 99 genera belonging to 54 families

were recorded in the study area. From the eight places surveyed, 37 folklore claims using 33

plant species, one animal and one edaphic factor (hail stone) were recorded. Of the reported

ethnomedicinal flora, 11 species herbs, 7 shrubs, 8 species were each of climbers and trees (Fig.

2). Among the plant parts employed in preparation of drug/ drug combination, leaves were

dominant (22 reports), fruits were used in 4 ailments; whole plant and milky sap were employed

in 2 reports each, while stem, resin, bark and peduncle were used in single reports each (Fig.

3). Some species reported in the present study are presented in Figures 4-6.


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Figure 2. Habit wise distribution of medicinal plants

Figure 3. Medicinal plant parts used to cure various diseases.

11

7

8 8

2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Herbs Shrubs Climbers Trees Others

No. of species (Habit-wise)

22

2

4

1

3

2

1

11

12

Leaves

Milky latex/ Milky Sap

Fruit

Stem

Root & Rhizome

Whole plant

Resin

Flower buds

Peduncle

Bark

Others


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Table 1. Folklore claims recorded from the study area

Sl.

No. Botanical Name

Common Name

(Tamil) Family

Part used &

Disease

Mode of

Administration

Plant origin

1. Abutilon indicum (L.)

Sweet. Thuthi Malvaceae

Leaves for

Constipation

Fresh leaves are chewed

to cure constipation.

2. Achyranthes aspera L. Nayuruvi Amaranthaceae Leaves for

Cough

Decoction made from

the leaves is used to cure

cough.

3. Achyranthes aspera

L. Nayuruvi Amaranthaceae

Leaves for

Earache

Oil made from the

leaves are said to cure

earache.

4. Aristolochia indica L. Easwaramooli Aristolochiaceae Leaves for Bee

bite

½ handfuls of leaves is

ground with hot water to

make into a paste. It is

applied externally to

cure bee bite.

5. Aristolochia indica L. Easwaramooli Aristolochiaceae Leaves for

Poisonous bites

One spoon of leaf

powder is continuously

taken internally to cure

poisonous bites.

6. Cadaba fruticosa (L.)

Druce Vizhuthi Capparaceae

Leaves for

Infertility

Leaves are ground into a

paste. 10 gms of the

paste are taken

internally with warm

water. It is said to

provide relief from

infertility for the

women.

7.

Cadaba fruticosa (L.)

Druce. & Ficus

racemosa L.

Vizhuthi &

Aththi

Capparaceae &

Moraceae

Leaves, Fruits

for Sciatica

Poultice made from the

leaves of C. fruticosa

and fruits of F.

racemosa applied

externally to cure

Sciatica (Vadha

disease).

8. Cadaba trifoliata

(Roxb.) Wight &Arn. Vizhuthi Capparaceae

Leaves for

Polycystic

Ovary

5 leaves are powdered

with small amount of

seeragam and milagu

and taken internally to

cure polycystic ovary

(neerkatti in sinaippai).


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9. Calotropis gigantea

(L.) R.Br. Erukku Apocynaceae

Milky latex

for Thorn

wound in leg

(ulcer)

The milky latex was said

to ease the deep thorn

wounds in the foot.

10. Chloroxylon swietenia

(Roxb.) DC. Purasu Rutaceae

Leaves for

Fishing

Technique

Leaves crushed and

mixed in the stagnant

pool. Fishes get

stupefied and float. A

method used by the

locals to collect fishes in

the pool.

11. Cissus quadrangularis

L. Pirandai Vitaceae

Fresh stem for

poisonous bite

Fresh stems is crushed,

heated over hot pan and

draped on the site of

poisonous bites as first

aid.

12. Citrullus colocynthis

(L.) Schrad. Kumatti Cucurbitaceae

Fresh fruits for

Dandruff

The fresh fruits cut into

two halves and applied

on the scalp to remove

dandruff and effective in

treating alopecia.

13.

Citrullus lanatus

(Thunb.) Matsum. &

Nakai

Varikummatti Cucurbitaceae Fruits for

Dandruff

Fruit extract is applied

on the scalp for an hour

and washed with cool

water.

14. Croton bonplandianus

Baill. Reilpoondu Euphorbiaceae

Milky sap for

Snake venom

alleviation

Milky sap collected

from the plant is applied

on the injured place of

snake bite immediately.

15.

Curculigo orchioides

Gaertn. & Hybanthus

enneaspermus (L.) F.

Muell

Nilapanai

kizhangu &

Orithaz

thamarai

Hypoxidaceae &

Violaceae

Root for

Fertility

Dried powder is taken

internally to improve

spermatogenesis

16. Curculigo orchioides

Gaertn. Nilappanai Hypoxidaceae

Rhizome for

Skin diseases

The paste made from

rhizomes is used

externally as poultice in

skin complaints.

17. Dodonaea viscosa (L.)

Jacq. Virali Sapindaceae

Leaves for

Veterinary

Medicine

Leaves are fried in open

flame and are bound

over the Cattles leg up

to 1 week to cure joint

pain.

18. Dregea volubilis (L.

f.) Benth. Perunkurinjan Apocynaceae

Leaves for

Rheumatic

pain

Fresh leaf paste is

applied topically to treat

rheumatic pain.

19. Indoneesiella

echioides (L.) Sreem. Kopuramthangi Acanthaceae

Leaves for

Dermatitis

Fresh leaf extract is

applied on the affected

part to get rid.


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20. Justicia adhatoda L. Adathodai Acanthaceae

Leaves for

Hyper

thyroidism

Decoction made from

leaves taken internally

for thyroid hormone

related complaints.

21.

Kedrostis foetidissima

(Jacq.) Cogn. & Azima

tetracantha Lam.

Appakovai &

Mutchankan

Cucurbitaceae &

Salvadoraceae

Leaves for

Udder

Swelling (Madi

veekkam)

Leaves of item 1 and 2

are ground well and

applied over the infected

udder or udder ulcer.

Two to three times

application is claimed to

have good result.

22. Lantana camara L. Unnu Verbenaceae Leaves as local

anaesthetic

Mild boiled leaves are

used as a poultice to

alleviate pain in

swellings and cuts.

23. Leucas aspera (Willd.)

Link Thumbai Lamiaceae

Leaves for

Nasal block

and Headache

Fresh leaf juice is used

as nasal drops for nasal

block and headache.

24.

Leucas aspera (Willd.)

Link & Ocimum

tenuiflorum L.

Thumbai &

Thulasi Lamiaceae

Leaves for

Sinusitis

related

troubles

The leaves of two plants

boiled and a special type

of a stone called

“vengachengal is placed

in the boiling mixture to

retain the heat for long

time and the steam is

inhaled to get rid of

headache and sinusitis

related troubles.

25. Mimosa pudica L. &

Acalypha indica L.

Thottal surungi

& Kuppaimeni

Mimosaceae &

Euphorbiaceae

Plant extract

for Piles

The plant extracts is

used to cure piles.

26. Morinda pubescens Sm. Nuna Rubiaceae Leaves, Fruits

for Mesmerism

Decoction made from

the leaf and fruit extracts

of M. tinctoria with

Jaggery is said to take

internally to get rid from

mesmerism/ mind

control.

27. Phyla nodiflora (L.)

Greene Poduthalai Verbenaceae

Leaves for

Inflammation

The leaf paste is applied

externally to relieve

inflammation

28. Psidium guajava L. Koyya Myrtaceae Leaves for Bad

breathe

Fresh decoction made

from the leaves used for

gargling to freshen the

breath and used as a

mouthwash.

29. Pterocarpus marsupium

Roxb. Vengai Leguminosae

Resin for Skin

disease

Resin collected from its

stem bark and mixed

with coconut oil. It is

mainly used to protect


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and prevent children

from skin diseases, esp.

Senkiranthi (Prepared

medicine is applied

externally).

30. Punica granatum L. Maadulai Lythraceae

Flower buds

for Stomach

ache

Decoction made from

the flower buds, taken

orally to cure stomach

ache.

31. Rubia cordifolia L. Senchooriver Rubiaceae

Root for Skin

disease,

Anaemia &

Male infertility

5 to 10 gms of Roots are

boiled in 400 ml of

water, and condensed up

to 100 ml. The

decoction is given

internally, to cure Skin

diseases, Anaemia and

Male infertility.

32. Semecarpus

anacardium L.f. Serankottai Anacardiaceae

Peduncle is

Edible Peduncles are edible.

33. Sida cordifolia L. Kurunthotti Malvaceae

Leaves for

Pruritus (Skin

itching)

Leaf extract is applied

externally to get rid

from itchy skin due to

Pruritus.

34. Spilanthes acmella L. Palvalipoondu Compositae /

Asteraceae

Leaves for

Tooth ache

3-5 Leaves are crushed

and are put on the

affected teeth for few

minutes once in a day up

to 3 days to cure tooth

pain.

35. Thespesia populnea (L.)

Sol. ex Corrêa Poovarasan Malvaceae

Bark for

Leucoderma

The decoction made

from T. populnea bark is

taken internally twice/

thrice per day to treat

leucoderma.

Animal / Other origins

36. Varanus species

(Monitor Lizard) Udumbu Varanidae

Oil for

Impotency

3 ml of oil is taken

internally for impotency

in male.

37. Hail Stone Alankatti - Scorpion Sting

The water obtained from

the hail stones said to

alleviate the pain caused

by scorpion sting.


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Figure 4. Habit of plants employed in the present study

A. Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet., B. Achyranthes aspera L., C. Aristolochia indica L.,

D. Azima tetracantha Lam., E. Cadaba fruticosa Druce., F. Calotropis gigantea (L.) R.Br.,

G. Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.

The inhabitants of the study area depend on herbal medicines to treat common health

issues such as constipation, cough, earache, dandruff, skin diseases, nasal blockage and head-

ache, bad breath, stomach-ache, tooth-ache etc. Leaves of Aristolochia indica and the fresh

stem of Cissus quadrangularis are reported as effective for bee stings and poisonous bites.

Milky sap of Croton bonplandianus is said to alleviate snake-bite, and hail stones collected

during rain were used to cure scorpion sting. Furthermore, Rubia cordifolia, Sida cordifolia,

Thespesia populnea, Pterocarpus marsupium, Indoneesiella echioides and Curculigo

orchioides were employed in skin diseases like pruritis, dermatitis and leucoderma. In addition,

leaves of Dodonaea viscosa, Kedrostis foetidissima and Azima tetracantha were reported as

veterinary medicine in curing joint pain in cattle and udder swelling.

Achyranthes aspera, Leucas aspera and Ocimum tenuiflorum were reported to cure nasal

blockage, headache, cough and sinusitis-related troubles. Leaf extracts of Lantana camara is

reported to act as local anaesthetics, Citrullus colocynthis and C. lanatus were used in treating

A B

C

D E G

F


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dandruff. For reproductive system related complaints, village dwellers and traditional healers

depend on the oil extracted from Varanus species and the root of Rubia cordifolia. To improve

sperm count/ spermatogenesis, the root tubers of Curculigo orchioides and Hybanthus

enneaspermus were used.


H. Dodonaea viscosa Linn., I. Dregea volubilis (L. f.) Benth., J. Hybanthus enneaspermus

(L.) F. Muell, K. Indoneesiella echioides (L.) Sreem., L. Justicia adhatoda L., M. Kedrostis

foetidissima (Jacq.) Cogn., N. Mimosa pudica L., O. Ocimum tenuiflorum Linn.,

P. Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene

H

I

J

K L M

N O P


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Q. Punica granatum L., R. Rubia cordifolia L., S. Semecarpus anacardium L.,

T. Sida cordifolia L., U. Spilanthes acmella L., V. Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland. ex Corrêa

Of note, the aphrodisiac or rejuvenating property of Curculigo orchioides and Hybanthus

enneaspermus in male is clinically proved (Chauhan et al. 2007; Narayanswamy et al. 2007;

Chauhan and Dixit, 2008). Leaf powder of Cadaba trifoliata was administered internally with

cumin and pepper powder to cure polycystic ovary in females, while the leaf paste of Cadaba

fruticosa was said to improve fertility in women. Prolonged medications were prescribed for

some severe problems like rheumatic pain, hyperthyroidism, piles, anaemia and thorn wounds

in the leg (ulcer) etc.

Some ethnomedicinal plants were previously reported from the Palamalai hills of Salem

district by Kumudha and Yogeshwari (2016) and Thamaraiselvi et al. (2018).

4. CONCLUSIONS

The study report in Salem district of Tamil Nadu revealed that a diversity of medicinal

plants and the varied ways in which they are exploited in the field of folk medicine. 33 plant

species were documented to treat 37 human and livestock ailments. The report includes both

common and serious health issues such as headache, stomachache, cough, anaemia, rheumatic

pain, piles and hyperthyroidism. Reproductive health related troubles were treated with drugs

Q R S

T U V


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from both herbal/ animal origin. This indicates that the ethnic community of the study area

depends on indigenous knowledge on herbal wealth to prevent and treat various human and

livestock ailments. Clinical study to prove the validity of the recorded treatments could spread

indigenous herbal knowledge worldwide; hence, action should be taken to conserve herbal

knowledge, as well as the medicinal plants.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge the encouragement by the Director General, CCRS, Chennai in the endeavor.

We are thankful to the tribal and rural people residing at Salem district of Tamil Nadu for providing valuable

information about ethno medicinal plants and their application in the various illness and human needs. The authors

also acknowledge the officials of forest department for their support during the medico ethno botanical survey.

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