Kongunadu Research Journal

CONVENTIONAL PRACTICES FOR GYNECOLOGICAL WELFARE AMONG INDIGENOUS IRULAR CLANS OF TAMIL NADU, INDIA

2026-02-05T08:35:32+00:00

Ethnobotanical knowledge serves as a vital reservoir of culturally rooted health practices, especially among indigenous communities. This investigation explores the medicinal plant usage for gynecological disorders among the Irular tribal population of Anaikatty, Maruthamalai and Theethipalayam areas of Tamil Nadu. A total of 50 informants, primarily above the age of 50, were interviewed using semi-structured methods. The study recorded 31 medicinal plant species belonging to 24 families, predominantly sourced from forest ecosystems, indicating strong ecological dependence. The families Lamiaceae and Fabaceae were most frequently represented. Herbs were the dominant life form (15 species), and leaves were the most commonly used plant part. Decoction emerged as the principal preparation method. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices were calculated to assess the cultural importance of each plant. The informant consensus factor values ranged from 0.55 to 0.85, with Achyranthes aspera L. scoring the highest, indicating substantial agreement on its use for menstrual disorders. Relative frequency of citation values varied from 0.12 to 0.50, while use value ranged between 0.10 and 0.82. The findings reflect a well-preserved traditional pharmacopoeia, despite generational gaps in knowledge transmission. Rapid expansion of the economy, meanwhile, poses an urgent risk to traditional medicinal knowledge and medicinal plant species for numerous reasons. Therefore, it is essential to establish regulations and protocols to safeguard plant wealth and ancient traditions linked to them.

EDIBLE FLOWERS OF KERALA AS FUNCTIONAL FOODS: NUTRITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC PERSPECTIVES: A REVIEW

2026-02-05T08:55:42+00:00

Edible flowers are an under-utilised reservoir of nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals that link culinary traditions to ethnomedicine. Edible flowers in Kerala represent a culturally embedded, nutritionally promising group of functional food ingredients. Integrating traditional knowledge with modern phytopharmacology can accelerate their transition from household recipes to evidence-based nutritional inventions and functional food products. This review synthesises nutritional, phytochemical, and pharmacological evidence for commonly consumed flowers in the region and frames them as functional food ingredients that confer health benefits beyond basic nutrition. This can be achieved by summarising the proximate composition, key micronutrients and documented bioactivities of selected edible flowers of Kerala. The review also evaluates value-added food preparational practices in Kerala and their nutraceutical benefits, as well as the importance of integrating ethnobotanical heritage with contemporary scientific inquiry to fully unlock the health-promoting potential of Kerala's floral diversity.

AN ANALYTICAL STUDY ON STOCK PRICE BEHAVIOUR USING TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: EVIDENCE FROM SELECTED SECTORS IN INDIA (2023–2025)

2026-02-05T09:34:56+00:00

This research paper investigates the behavior of stock prices across three major sectors of the Indian economy pharmaceuticals, oil and energy, and banking using the tools of technical analysis. With the rise of algorithmic trading, the integration of predictive analytics and behavioral finance has transformed how investors assess risk and opportunity. The study employs simulated monthly data from 2023 to 2025 for selected companies, including Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Sun Pharma, ONGC, Indian Oil Corporation, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank. Technical indicators such as Simple Moving Average (SMA), Beta, and Money Flow Index (MFI) are applied to identify market trends, volatility, and liquidity patterns. The findings reveal that pharmaceutical stocks demonstrate stable upward trends with lower volatility, oil stocks reflect sensitivity to global commodity prices, and banking stocks show cyclical movements influenced by policy rates and inflationary trends. This analysis underscores the significance of technical indicators as strategic tools for short-term trading and risk-adjusted investment decisions. It contributes to the growing literature on technical analysis in emerging markets, demonstrating how sectoral interdependencies can guide investor sentiment and capital allocation.

HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN A CHANGING WORLD: PRECEDENTS, DRIVERS, AND TACTICS FOR SUSTAINABLE COEXISTENCE

2026-02-05T09:36:57+00:00

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) has appeared as one of the most persistent maintenance challenges worldwide, driven by quick habitat fragmentation, agricultural growth, and growing overlap between human settlements and wildlife ranges. This review combines key ecological and anthropogenic drivers motivating HWCs, concentrating on how land-use change, resource competition, and behavioural adaptation in wildlife deepen contacts with humans. Global patterns divulge region-specific disputes such as, elephant crop-raiding in Asia, carnivore-livestock predation in Africa, and primate invasions in urbanizing landscapes, stressing the socio-ecological dimensions of HWC. The ecological consequences spread beyond direct human and wildlife losses; they disturb trophic interactions, alter species dispersal, and endanger long-term ecosystem stability. Mitigation processes have grown from traditional deterrent-based approaches to more scientific, landscape-oriented strategies. Modern interventions include geofencing, early-warning systems, habitat restoration, and scientifically designed barriers, while traditional knowledge systems continue to provide context-specific solutions. Community-based preservation models and wildlife corridors have proven effective in reducing spatial clash by ensuring safe animal movement and improving human tolerance through inclusive decision-making. By integrating ecological understanding, local community participation, and adaptive management, this review emphasizes the need for holistic conflict mitigation.