ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE AND MEDICINAL PLANTS USE BY THE KURUMBA TRIBES IN CHEMMANKARAI, NILGIRI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU

Abstract

The present study initiated with an aim to highlight and document the traditional knowledge and medicinal plants used by the Kurumba tribes inhabiting at Chemmankarai area of Nilgiri district, Tamilnadu. During the study selected study area was visited frequently and information was collected through semi
directive, open ended interview among the informants of Kurumba tribes. The details on vernacular name of the plant, mode of diagnosis, disease they treat, usage of plants, mode of application were collected. The plants were identified and deposited at the herbaria of Nirmala College for Women, Coimbatore. The results revealed that the total 56 plant species belonging to 31 families and 47 genera have been documented in the present study. The highest number plants being used for fever and wound healing (7), Insect bite, migraine, bath, ulcer, immunity and throat pain (4) followed by joint pain, tooth ache and asthma (3). The habit of the species showed that 68 % of the drugs were obtained from the herbs compared with the other habit plants. The reported potential ethnomedicinal plants could be conserved and further validation need for better utilization and provisions of the documented knowledge.