Research Article | Published: 25 September 2018

Diversity of Medicinal plants in selected sacred groves and their value in rural life of Tribals of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India

S. Sukumaran, Pepsi A and S. Jeeva

Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products | Volume: 25 | Issue: 3 | Page No. 161-170 | 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2018-V8S55C | Cite this article

Abstract

Sacred groves are the reservoirs of biodiversity and help in conserving the resources available due to strong cultural and religious beliefs. The study was conducted in four selected sacred groves of Vilavancode and Kalkulam taluks to evaluate the ethnomedicinal values of plants used by the rural communities of Kanyakumari district. A total of 83 ethnomedicinal plants were recorded as per the information given by the rural communities. Apocynaceae was a dominant family followed by Euphorbiaceae. Leaves were used predominantly and internal intake was done mostly than external use. Medicinal preparations were largely taken in the form of juice, paste and decoction. These herbal medicines were frequently used for skin diseases, fever, asthma, body pain, bone fractures, gynaecological disorders, etc. These valuable uses of medicinal plants must be documented for the goodness of man.

Keywords

Conservation, Diseases, Ethnomedicinal, Kanyakumari, Rural, Sacred Groves

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Fig. 1

Location of the study area (1- Achaliswaran Nagaraja Kaavu, 2- Kongachakanda Saastha Kaavu, 3- Muppuram Saastha Kaavu, 4- Kalvilagam Nagaraja Kaavu).

Fig. 2

The top ten families of the recorded plants in the study area

Fig. 3

Habitwise distribution of recorded medicinal plants of the study area

Fig. 4

Plant parts used in the treatment of diseases

Fig. 5

Mode of preparation of medicine

Fig. 6

Mode of administration of the recorded plant taxa of the study area

Fig. 7

Diseases cured by the medicinal plants

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How to cite

Sukumaran, S., A, P. and Jeeva, S., 2018. Diversity of Medicinal plants in selected sacred groves and their value in rural life of Tribals of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 25(3), pp.161-170. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2018-V8S55C

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 25 September 2018

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