ETHNOMEDICINE STUDY ON MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE MANAR BEAT OF KARAMADAI RANGE, WESTERN GHATS, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Abstract

An ethnomedicinal survey was undertaken to cram the diversity of medicinal plants in the Manar beat of Karamadai Range, Coimbatore forest division, Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India from 2018-2019. The indigenous knowledge of local traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal purposes were collected in their local language. The ethnobotanical data such as a local name, medicinal uses and mode of preparation was collected through structured questionnaires, personal interviews and consultation with very old and knowledgeable persons in and around the study area. The meteorological information of the study territory was recorded and tabulated. The present study enumerates a total of 104 medicinal plant species of 86 genera and 52 families are documented for the first time. Among these Fabaceae, Mimosaceae and Asclepiadaceae with 7 species are dominant over other families. Herbs are the most widely present life forms followed by trees. Amongst the different plant parts, leaves are the most widely used plant part in therapeutics and also for herbal formulations. According to IUCN threat status, Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. (NT) is in the Near Threatened category, 2 species on this list are under the Endangered (EN) and in Vulnerable (VU) category. Those plants which fall under the vulnerable and endangered category are prescribed for germplasm collection. Therapeutic uses of medicinal plants and their active principles were also reported. Decoction is mostly utilized in the mode of preparation. The traditional healers are lessening in number and there is a grave hazard of traditional information disappearing soon. Since the younger generation isn't interested to carry on this custom. The study dazzled that this area is more pertinent to the conservation of local flora. So, documenting the traditional knowledge is important for sustainable utilization.