Pharmacologyonline 3: 6-13 (2009) Newsletter Thirumalai et al.

ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY THE

LOCAL PEOPLE IN VELLORE DISTRICT, TAMILNADU.

T.THIRUMALAI1, E.K. ELUMALAI1, S.VIVIYAN THERASA1

B.SENTHILKUMAR2, E. DAVID1*
1
P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, Voorhees College,
Vellore - 632001(T.N.) India.
2
P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, C. Abdul Hakeem College,
Melvisharam,Vellore - 632 509 (T.N.) India.

Summary

An ethnobotanical survey was conduced in and around Vellore district, to study the
various medicinal plants used by the people for the treatment of their ailments such as
fever, cold, cough, diabetes, jaundice, diarrhoea, rheumatism, snake bite, and headache.
The study was also included of the method plant extract, dose, duration and mode of
application.
Keywords: Medicinal plants, Vellore, Survey, Ailments
Corresponding author: Dr. Ernest David, Reader, P.G. & Research Department of Zoology,
Voorhees College, Vellore-632001 (T.N.) India.
Telephone: +91-416 2225965; +91- 9345300236;
E mail: [email protected]

Introduction

Plants have always played a major role in the treatment of human traumas and
diseases worldwide (1).They have been used as sources of modern drugs, either by
providing pure compounds, starting materials for partial synthesis of useful compounds
or models for synthesis of new drugs (2).According to the World Health Organization
(WHO) as much as 80% of world’s population depends on traditional medicine for their
primary health care needs (3). The knowledge of medicinal plants has been accumulated
in the course of many centuries based on different medicinal systems such as Ayurveda,
Unani and Siddha. In India it is reported that traditional healers use 2500 plant species
and 100 species of plants serve as regular sources of medicine (4).
Ethnopharmacological information is an important tool in drug discovery (5).The
ethnobotanical survey can bring out many different clues for the development of drugs to
treat human diseases. Safe, effective, and inexpensive indigenous remedies are gaining
popularity equally among the people of both the urban and rural areas, especially in India
and China (6).

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Ethnobotany and ethnomedical studies are today recognized as the most viable
method of identifying new medicinal plants or refocusing on those earlier reported for
bioactive constituents. It is interesting to note that most of the drugs derived or originally
isolated from higher plants were discovered in an ethnobotanical or ethnomedicinal
context. Several studies have revealed that tribal population, not only depend on plant
based resources for medicines, food, forage and fuel, but also play a vital role in natural
resource management that forms the core aspect of conservation biology (7). Today,
many indigenous herbal remedies remain largely undocumented or recognized as
potential forms of treatment and consequently continue to be used by only small groups
of indigenous populations. The present work was carried out to explore the medical
remedies of some medicinal plants used by the rural people of Vellore district in
Tamilnadu for the treatment of human aliments.

Materials and Methods

The entire area of Vellore District lies between 12°15’ to13°15’ north latitudes
and 78° 20’ to79° 50’ East latitudes in Tamilnadu state. The district is spread over an area
of about 6077 km2 and is bounded on the North and Northeast by Thiruvaluvar District,
on the South and Southeast by Kanchipuram District,on the south by Thiruvannamalai
district, on the Southwest by Krishnagiri District and on the northwest and north by
Andhra Pradesh state. The district receives an annual rainfall is about 448.8 – 1544.6
mm. The minimum and maximum temperature varies between 26.3º and 38.2º.
Ethnobotanical data were collected according to the methodology suggested by
(8).The ethnobotanical data were collected using questionnaire, interviews and
discussions in their local tribal people. A totally more than 200 respondents were
interviewed, these included males and females that depended on plant as sources of
medicines either for self- medication or for treating others. The Flora of Presidency of
Madras (9) and an excursion flora of central Tamilnadu (10) were used to as certain the
nomenclature of the plant species used for identification and authentication of the plants.
Folklore medicinal plant are arranged in alphabetical order in Table1 which represents
their botanically names followed by the family, vernacular name.
Table 1: Medicinal plants used by local people from Vellore district of Tamilnadu.

S.No Family Local Name Plant Parts used

Botanical Name
A leaf paste is applied to cure
1.
Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth Mimosaceae Vagai eczema.
Aegle marmelos Corr.ex .Roxb Rutaceae Vilvam
Leaves is used for diabetes.
Alstonia venenata (R.Br). Apocynaceae Paalai The milky latex is used to heal
3.
wounds and cuts.
Ammannia baccifera L. Lythraceae Neermalnerupp A leaf paste is applied to relieve
4.
u swelling
Anisomeles malabarica (L.) R. Lamiaceae Peithumbai A paste of the leaves is applied
5.
Br. ex Sims. to cure eczema.

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Annona squamosa L Annonaceae Sitapali The young fruits are dried a

powder, mixed with water, is
6.
taken internally to cure
dysentery.
The yellow latex is used to cure
7. Argemone mexicana L. Papaveraceae Narimirati ulcers of the lips and pimples
and for wound healing.
Andrographis paniculata Acanthaceae Nilavaembu A handful of leaves is taken and
(Burm.f.) Wallich ex Nees an extract is made, which,
8.
mixed with milk, is taken
internally to cure snakebites.
Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae Kundumani A paste of the seeds is used to
9.
cure eczema.
Aloe vera, (Linn.)Burm. Liliaceae Chotthukatalai It is also used in treating fever
10.
eye infections and ulcer.
Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthace Nayuruvi The boiled leaves are consumed
ae to relieve internal piles and the
11.
roots are used as a brush to
relieve pain and clean the teeth
Acalypha indica L Euphorbiacea Kuppaimeni A leaf paste, mixed with
12. e common salt, is used to cure
eczema and chest pain.
Alternanthera sessilis L. Amaranthace Ponaganikerai It is used as a treatment for
13. ae headaches. It is also used to
treat hepatitis and asthma.
Azadirachta indica (A.Juss). Meliaceae Vaipamaram Bark is useful in malarial fever.
(Neem) Tender twigs are used as tooth
14.
brush. Leaf paste applied for
mumps.
Acacia catechu (Linnf.)Willd Mimosaceae Karunkali The bark of the tree is used in
15.
(Khair) chronic diarrhoea.
Bambusa arundinacea, (Willd). Poaceae Mungil Young leaves and terminal bud
of bamboo along with turmeric
and the leaves. Aloe Vera is
16.
ground and the paste is applied
to the fractured bones for two
weeks to join quickly.
Cassia auriculata L. Caesalpiniace Aavaram poo Dried and powdered flowers are
ae used for cleaning the hair,
17.
reducing body heat and cures
diabetes.
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Poaceae Arugampul The juice of the whole plant is
18. used to reduce body heat and to
lower the blood pressure.
Catharanthus roseus G. Don. Apocynaceae Nithyakalyani Whole plant is powdered and
19. mixed with cow's milk and
taken orally to treat diabetes.
Cissus quadrangularis L. Vitaceae Pirandai A paste of the whole plant is
20. taken for improving the
digestion and inducing appetite.

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Pharmacologyonline 3: 6-13 (2009) Newsletter Thirumalai et al.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) S. Caesalpiniace Mailkondarai A seed paste is applied to

21. W. ae inflamed teeth to cure
toothache.
Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Sapindaceae Mudakkaththan A leaf paste is applied for joint
pain or leaves are prepared in
22. the form of a soup and
consumed to cure rheumatic
pains.
Centella asiatica L. Apiaceae Vallarai The dried plant is powdered and
this powder, mixed with hot
water, is taken for gas troubles;
23.
the fried plants are used in the
diet of children for improving
their memory.
Cataranthus pusillus (Murr). Apocynaceae Mukkuthipoo A leaf paste is applied
24.
externally for tumors.
Caesalpinia bonducella, (Flem). Caesalpiniace Kalakaai A decoction of the leaf is used
25.
ae as nutritional tonic.
Calotropisgigantea, Asclepidacea Erukku Milky latex is applied on the
26.
(L.) R. Br. e wounds on legs of livestock.
Clitoria ternatea L. Fabaceae Sangu Root powder is mixed with
Pushpam water and taken orally to treat
27.
indigestion, eye diseases and
headache.
Carica papaya L. Caricaceae Pappaali The milky latex of the plant is
28. applied to teeth in order to
relieve inflammatory pain.
Coccinia grandis (L.) J. Voigt Cucurbitacea Kovai The leaf extract, mixed with
29. e milk, is used in cases of
jaundice.
Datura metel L. Solanaceae Oomathai Few drops of leaf juice is
30. poured into ear to
treat earache.
Dioscorea oppostifolia L Dioscoreacea Valli kizhangu Boiled root tubers are taken
31.
e orally to reduce body heat.
Euphorbia hirta, L. Euphorbiacea Amman Leaf paste mixed with goat’s
32. e patcharisi milk is consumed to stop
diarrhea and dysentery.
Eclipta prostrata L. Asteraceae Manjal A leaf extract is applied to the
33. Karisalankanni head to relieve dandruff and to
blacken gray hair.
Eclipta alba L. Asteraceae Karisalaangann Plant is used for the treatment
34.
i of hepatitis.
Eucalyptus tereticornis (Smith) Myrtaceae Thailamaram The vapours of boiled leaves
35. are inhaled for coughs and a
cold.
Erythrina indica, Papilionaceae Kalyana The leaves and flowers, are
36. (Lam). murungai used to cure epidemic skin
diseases.
37. Ficus benghalensis L. Moraceae Alamaram Stem latex is applied topically

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on heel cracks.
Ficus religiosa L. Moraceae Arasu Dried leaf powder is mixed
38. with water and takes normally
to get relief from body pain.
Gymnema sylvestre (Retz). Asclepiadace Sirukurinchan Leaves dried in shade and
39. ae powdered are taken for
Diabetes to reduce Blood sugar.
Gloriosa superba L. Liliaceae Kanuvalikodi The pasted tubers are used as an
40. abortifacient. Leaves are used
to destroy head lice.
Hemidesmus indicus,(R. Br). Asclepidacea Nannari The leaf, root extract is used for
41.
e blood purification.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Malvaceae Semparuththi Shade dried and powdered
42. flowers are used for cleaning
the hair and to prevent hair loss.
Ixora coccinea L. Rubiaceae Idlipoo Hundred grams of the dried
flowers are boiled in coconut
43. oil and the oil extract is applied
externally twice a day to treat
eczema.
Jasminum angustifolium.(L). Oleaceae Malligai Leaves and flowers made into a
44. Wild paste and applied externally to
remove the clot of Breast Milk.
Lawsonia inermis L. Lythraceae Maruthani A leaf paste is applied to cracks
45.
of the feet.
46. Leonotis nepetaefolia (L.) R. Br. Lamiaceae Theanthumpai A leaf paste is used for eczema.
Leucas aspera (Willd). Lamiaceae Thumbai The vapours from the boiled
47. leaves are inhaled to relieve
coughing and colds.
Marsilea minuta L. Marsileaceae Aarakkerai The dried and powdered leaves,
48. mixed with hot water, are taken
in cases of diabetes.
Mimosa pudica L Mimosaceae Thottasurungi Pinch of leaves paste is applied
49.
topically to cuts and wounds.
Mukia maderaspatana (L.) M. Cucurbitacea Musumusukai The leaf extract is taken
50.
Roemer e internally to cure piles.
Morinda tinctoria Roxb. Rubiaceae Nuna The leaf extract is used to cure
51.
dysentery.
Moringa oleifera (Lam). Moringaceae Murungai The boiled leaves and flowers
52. are eaten to increase fertility in
men.
Musa paradisiaca L. Musaceae Vazhai A plant extract is given for
53.
snake bite and also for burns.
Mangifera indica L. Anacardiacea Maamaram Mixture of ¼ of the seed
e ground with cow’s milk is taken
54.
to arrest excess bleeding during
mensus.
Murraya koenigii L. Sprengel Rutaceae Karuveppilai Juice of tender leaves is taken
55.
orally to arrest vomiting.

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Momordica charantia L. Cucurbitacea Pavakai Local peoples uses for the fruit,
e seeds, vines and leaves include,
56. diabetes, tumors, blood disease,
asthma and some viral
infections.
Melia azedarach L. Meliaceae Malaivembu The juice of the bark is taken
internally in the early morning
57.
for three days in order to relieve
stomach pain.
Nerium oleander (Sol). Apocynaceae Arali Juice prepared from the stem
bark is boiled with gingelly oil
58.
and two drops are poured into
ear to treat ear pain.
Opuntia dillenii (Haw). Cactaceae sappathikalli Fruits edible used in whooping
59.
cough.
Ocimum americanum, L. Lamiaceae Naaithulasi Leaf juice is taken for stomach
60.
upset.
Prosopis cinearia L. Mimosaceae Vanni maram The bark is prescribed for
61.
scorpion sting.
Pongamia pinnata L. Fabaceae Pungam The seed oil is used to cure
62.
rheumatic pains and swellings.
Phyllanthus amarus, Schum. & Euphorbiacea Kizhanelli Leaf juice is administered to
63.
Thonn. e cure fever and jaundice.
Polycarpaea corymbosa L. Caryophyllac Malligaimottuc Roots leaves paste is applied
64.
eae hedi externally.
Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poiret Fabaceae Agaththi The leaves prepared in the form
of a soup are taken as a
65.
vermifuge and also to cure
peptic ulcer.
Solanum torvum L. Solanaceae Sundaikai A leaf paste is used to bath a
66. newborn baby in order to
protect it from infections.
Solanum trilobatum,L. Solanaceae Thuthuvalai The leaf juice is used to treat
67.
cough and cold.
Solanum nigrum, L. Solanaceae Mana thakkaali The leaf and fruit extract is
68. used for deworming and
treating fever.
Syzygium cumini L. Myrtaceae Navel The dried and powdered seeds,
mixed with hot water, are taken
69.
for reducing the Blood sugar
level.
Sida cordata Malvaceae Arrival The leaf juice is effective in
70.
manippundu treating diarrhoea.
Tamarindus indica L. Caesalpiniace puliyamaram A paste of the seed coat is
71. ae applied to a scorpion bite to
relieve pain.
Thespesia populnea (L.) Malvaceae Poovarasu Tender fruit mixed with castor
oil and made in to a paste
72.
applied externally for skin
disease.

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Pharmacologyonline 3: 6-13 (2009) Newsletter Thirumalai et al.

Vitex negundo L. Verbenaceae Notchi Inhale boiled leaves vapour to

73.
relieve headache.
Zingiber roseum( Rosc). Zingiberacea Inji The juice of the rhizome, mixed
e with honey, is taken internally
74.
to improve digestion and to
relieve giddiness.

Results and Conclusions

Although our ancient sages through hit and trial method developed herbal
medicines, the reported uses of plant species do not certify efficacy (11). The present
preliminary report on ethnomedicinal uses of some plant species need to
pharmacologically screened, chemically analyzed and tested for bioactive activities (12,
13).In this paper, we focused mainly on plant species reported by the local people in and
around the study area for their medicinal uses. Presented data are the general results of
the ethnobotanical survey conducted from March 2008 to January 2009. In the present
investigation 74 medicinal plants are used for the treatment of various diseases like
asthma, piles, diabetes, snake bite, skin disease, ulcer, stomach pain, cough, headache,
blood pressure anemia, tumor, rheumatism, eczema, wounds, dysentery, jaundice,
antifertility ,leprosy, laxative, astringent, urinary disorders, paralysis, diarrhoea and
diuretic etc. Some of them are used as anthelmintic, fever and antiseptic also. Similarly
Momordica charantia, which the local people use for piles and blood diseases, is also
used for curing asthma, ulcers and bronchitis in Ayurveda. In Unani it is used for curing
syphilis and rheumatism (14). 74 plants species belonging to 37 families (Table1). The
utility lies through their roots, bark, latex, leaves, fruits and seeds. These are taken
internally or applied externally in the form of infusion, decoction, paste or powder. Most
of the plants used in medicines are either mixed with other ingredients or single.
Medicinal plants studied are enumerated arranged alphabetically with their botanical
name followed by families’ name, local name, parts used and ethnomedicinal uses. Some
important medicinal plants needs immediate conservation and their cultivation should be
encouraged through which their extinction can be prevented and local village people may
also get low-cost cure their disease.

Acknowledgemnts

The authors are cordially grateful to the people inhabiting in different localities of
Vellore District because of their kind support and co-operation during the field surveys.

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