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Medicinal Plants Used by Malasar Tribes of Coimbat
Medicinal Plants Used by Malasar Tribes of Coimbat
Medicinal Plants Used by Malasar Tribes of Coimbat
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India is known for its rich flora and fauna, diverse climatic zones and wealth of living ethnomedicinal tradition. The
paper enumerates medicinal plants used by Malasar tribes of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. The traditional uses of 51
medicinal plants belonging to 34 families are presented with botanical name, family, local name, parts used, method of
preparation and ethnomedicinal uses.
India is one of the twelve mega-biodiversity countries tribal people about medicinal plants provides an ideal
of the World having rich vegetation with a wide condition to carry out the ethnobotanical studies.
variety of plants having medicinal value. Human Poondi has typically tropical climate and is situated at
civilization has evolved as a result of interaction of an elevation of 300 MSL with an annual rainfall of
people with their environment, especially with plants. about 150 mm. The forest covers dry deciduous
From the very earliest days of civilization, mankind forests, thorn forests and scrub vegetation. The study
has turned to plants for healing, a tradition that has area is 26 km away from Coimbatore. The tribe found
survived the arrival of modern medicine and found in the study area is known as Malasar. They are found
new strength at the end of 20th century1. India in various places such as Anamalai, Navamalai,
accounts for 7-8% of the recorded species of the Amaravathi hills, Thirumoorthi hills, Anaikatti and in
world. The Botanical Survey of India has recorded and around Poondi of Coimbatore district, Tamil
over 47,000 species of plants. About 64% of the total Nadu. Malasar tribals are black in colour; grow to a
global population remains dependent on traditional height of about 1.2-1.5 m. They have blunt nose and
medicine for their healthcare system2. Traditional the lips are thickened in nature. Malasars belong to
knowledge is generally associated with biological forest hunting type and are exclusively dependent on
resources and is invariably an intangible component forests for their livelihood; they hunt and gather roots
of such a biological resource. Historically, the tribal and fruits. These tribals have a good knowledge
communities survived on their traditional knowledge regarding medicinal plants and their uses. The
base. Maintenance of their health even now is based Malasar’s knowledge on herbal medicine is passed on
on traditional medicine derived from plants and other from generation to generation and they find medicinal
natural products3. Tribal people acquired knowledge property of a plant based on its taste. Malasars feel
of plant species largely on trial and error basis. that, the herbs, which have bitter taste, have a great
The study was aimed to document some traditional medicinal value. They use their knowledge to prepare
medicinal plants used by the local people belonging to some simple medicine, using available herbs. In the
Malasar community for curing various diseases. communication, the information gathered from the
Coimbatore district lies between 11.010 North latitude tribal practitioners about the medicinal uses of 51
and 76.960 East longitudes. The study area is Poondi, plants is presented.
situated at the foothills of Velliangiri of Bhanthipur
reserve forest. The rich flora and fair knowledge of Methodology
_____________ During the study, many field trips were carried out
*Corresponding author in the study area from 2001–2003. Standard
580 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 6, No. 4 OCTOBER 2007
methodology was used to gather the ethnomedicinal confirmed with the herbaria of Botanical Survey of
knowledge of plant from the local people4. The India (BSI), Southern circle, Coimbatore and the
information regarding the medicinal uses of plants, specimens were deposited in the herbarium of
perception of the local people regarding use of plants Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College,
in common diseases were collected through Chennai.
questionnaires among the tribal practitioners in the
study area. In addition to the vernacular names, Results and discussion
information on plant parts used, uses, mode of The study includes information on 51 plant species
preparation; form of usage and mixtures of other belonging to 48 genera and 34 families (Table 1).
plants used as ingredients were also collected. The They are used to treat wounds, fever, cough, muscle
collected plant species were identified pain, nervous disorders, skin diseases, poisonous
5,6
taxonomically . The identified plant specimens were bites, piles, dysentery, diarrhoea and stomach
Table ⎯ 1 Medicinal plants used by Malasar tribes
Plant name Family Local name Uses
Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae Karun - Leaves are chewed to get relief from toothache.
Kundumani
Achyranthes aspera Amaranthaceae Naayuruvi Leaf juice along with pepper and turmeric boiled in castor oil is
Blume. applied to treat wounds.
Acorus calamus L. Zingiberaceae Vasampu Rhizome paste with honey is given orally to treat cough.
Ammannia baccifera Lythraceae Kalluruvi Leaf paste is applied externally to treat muscular pain.
L.
Begonia malabarica L. Begoniaceae Rattha choori Decoction of stem is taken internally for stamina.
Boerhaavia diffusa L. Nyctaginaceae Saaranai Decoction of root along with the roots of Tinospora cordifolia,
Erythroxylon monogynum and Alpinia galanga is taken internally to
treat arthritis.
Canarium strictum Burseraceae Kungilium Plant resin and turmeric paste is applied externally to treat heel
Roxb. cracks.
Cardiospermum Sapindaceae Mudakkatthan Plant decoction along with Zingiber officinale dried rhizome and
halicacabum L. Cuminum cyminum seeds is taken internally to treat rheumatism.
Centella asiatica (L.) Apiaceae Vallarai Powdered leaves mixed with water are applied to treat skin diseases.
Gamb.
Cissampelos pariera L. Menispermaceae Veeli Plant oil mixed with rice flour is applied externally for body pain
relief.
Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Menispermaceae Jalanthiratti Leaf juice mixed with equal amount of water and kept for some
Diels. time to form into a gel like substance eaten to cool the body.
Coldenia procumbens Boraginaceae Seruppadai Powder of leaves is taken internally to improve resistance power.
L.
Datura metel L. Solanaceae Karu oomatthai Leaf juice boiled with coconut oil is applied externally to heal
wounds.
Dichrostachys cinerea Mimosaceae Vedathalai Root powder is used to treat snake bite.
(L.) Wight & Arn.
Diplocyclos palmatus Cucurbitaceae Ivirali Leaf decoction is taken internally to treat rheumatic pain.
(L.) Jeffrey
Eclipta prostrata L. Asteraceae Karisalankanni Plant leaf juice and Phyllanthus emblica fruits boiled with coconut
oil is applied to prevent falling of hair.
Evolvulus alsinoides L. Convolvulaceae Vishnukranti Powder of whole plant is taken internally to increase memory
power.
Gymnema sylvestre Asclepiadaceae Sirukurinjan Leaf powder is taken orally to treat scorpion & snake bites, skin
(Retz.) R. Br. diseases and diabetes.
Helicteres isora L. Sterculiaceae Valampuri Fruit powder boiled with Piper nigrum seeds, Allium sativum
rhizome and gingelly oil is applied to treat earache.
Heliotropium indicum Boraginaceae Thel kodukku Leaf juice boiled with coconut oil is applied on head to kill
L. chedi dandruff.
Hemidesmus indicus Asclepiadaceae Nannari Decoction of root is taken to cool the body.
(L.) R.Br.
Contd⎯
KUMAR et al.: ETHNOMEDICINE OF MALASAR TRIBES OF TAMIL NADU 581