CELIN MATHEW

MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE OF WEEDS IN

PAZHAYIDOM LOCALITY, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT

ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to identify the Medicinal Importance of Weeds in Pazhayidom
locality, Kottayam District. A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in
the wrong place". Weeds compete the crops for one or more plant growth factors such as mineral
nutrients, water, solar energy and space and they hinder crop cultivation operations. Reduction in crop
yields due to weeds results from their multifarious ways of interfering with crop growth and crop culture.
Weeds may reduce the quality of the crop produce in many ways. Weeds damage human health and
animal health also. The method of study involves the identification of medicinally important weeds from
Pazhayidom locality, Kottayam District. Weeds of medicinal importance are identified and listed in the
present study. There are ten medicinally important weeds are collected from the locality. The present
study states that weeds have high level of medicinal uses.

I. INTRODUCTION
A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place".
Examples commonly are plants unwanted in human-controlled settings, such as farm
fields, gardens, lawns, and parks. Taxonomically, the term "weed" has no botanical significance, because
a plant that is a weed in one context is not a weed when growing in a situation where it is in fact wanted,
and where one species of plant is a valuable crop plant, another species in the same genus might be a
serious weed, such as a wild bramble growing among cultivated loganberries. In the same way, volunteer
crops (plants) are regarded as weeds in a subsequent crop. Many plants that people widely regard as
weeds also are intentionally grown in gardens and other cultivated settings, in which case they are
sometimes called beneficial weeds. The term weed also is applied to any plant that grows or reproduces
aggressively, or is invasive outside its native habitat. More broadly "weed" occasionally is applied
pejoratively to species outside the plant kingdom, species that can survive in diverse environments and
reproduce quickly; in this sense it has even been applied to humans.
 A number of native or non-native plants are unwanted in a specific location for a number of
reasons. An important one is functional: they interfere with food and fiber production in agriculture,
wherein they must be controlled in order to prevent lost or diminished crop yields. Other important
reasons are that they interfere with other cosmetic, decorative, or recreational goals, such as
in lawns, landscape architecture, playing fields, and golf courses. Similarly, they can be of concern for
environmental reasons whereby introduced species out-compete for resources or space with
desired endemic plants.

II METHEDOLOGY

The method of study involves the identification of medicinally important weeds from Pazhayidom
locality, Kottayam District. Weeds of medicinal importance are identified and listed in the present study.
Then weeds are further evaluated by focusing the medicinal use of each of them. Apart from the
medicinal use, the local names and a brief description about each of the weeds are identified and make a
detailed study about it. Finally a herbarium was prepared by using these plants.

III. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

1. Alternanthera bettzickiana
Family : Amaranthaceae
Local Names: Cherucheera, Kattuponamanni

MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE

The whole plant is reported to be useful in purifying and nourishing blood and is claimed to be a soft
laxative, a galactagogue and an antipyretic, in addition to its wound healing property. The acetone extract
has been found to possess lipoxygenase, tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities and the
aqueous ethanolic extract of the whole plant has recently been reported to exhibit antioxidant benefit and
improve hepatic oxidant-antioxidant balance in the ovariectomized mice

2. Alternanthera brasiliana
Family: Amaranthaceae
Local Names: Choracheera
MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE
Alternanthera brasiliana is a brazilin plant occurring in several regions, being known as “penicilina” or
terramicina, widely used by rural communities as medicinal agent to cure different disease, such as
inflammation, and dolorous or infection processes, wound healing, analgesic, antitumor activity,
immunomodulator and lymphocyte proliferation.

3. Calopogonium mucunoides

Family : Fabaceae

Local Name: Manja Payar

MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE

The plant leaves are widely used in South-Eastern Nigeria for the management of bacterial infections,
diarrhea and ulcer. Among compounds of pharmacological interest occurring in relative abundance in the
plant are alkaloids and flavonoids.

4. Chromolaena odorata
Family : Asteraceae
Local Names : Assam Pacha, Communist Pacha
MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE
It has been utilized in the traditional medicinal systems for its curative properties for centuries. Some of
the current studies have revealed its medicinal properties which have lead to an enhanced image of this
plant as a medicinal herb. It showed anti-inflammatory, anti pyretic, analgesic, antimicrobial, cytotoxic
and many other relevant medicinal properties in an appreciable scale

5. Clidemia hirta
Family: Melastomaceae
Local Names: soapbush, Koster's curse
MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE
The leaves are astringent and antispasmodic. A decoction of the leafy branches is taken to reduce
excessive menstrual flow. An infusion is used to treat stomachache, and is also taken as an enema. A
decoction of the leaves is used to cicatrize old wounds. Macerated in cold water, the leaves are used to
make a woman's antiseptic genital bath to remedy haemorrhaging.
 6. Merremia vitifolia
Family: Convolvulaceae
Local Names: Manja colambi Valli, Vana Vayara
MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE
The juice of the plant is considered cooling and diuretic. An infusion of the plant is drunk as a treatment
for high fever. The plant is to treat strangury and urethral discharges. A preparation from the juice is used
to ease inflamed eyes. An infusion of the stem is used internally and externally in the treatment of
malaria and smallpox. The root is eaten raw as a stomachic.

7. Mikania micrantha
Family: Asteraceae
Local Names: Dhritharashtra Pacha, American Valli
MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE
A tea made from the whole plant is used as a treatment for stomach aches and to clean out the uterus. A
decoction of the stem and leaves is used as a remedy for a children's clyster and to treat malaria and
eczema. The stems are squeezed, mixed with ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale) and eaten with green
vegetables as a remedy for colds, headaches and stomach aches.

8.
Synedrella nodiflora
Family: Asteraceae
Local Names: Mudlanpacha
MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE
In Malaysia, Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn. is applied externally to soothe inflammation and to
assuage headache. The juice, expressed from the leaves mixed with the seeds of Nigella sativa, is used to
assuage earache. In India, the leaves are used to treat rheumatism.

9. Digitaria sanguinalis
Family: Poaceae
Local Names: Hairy crabgrass, Hairy finger-grass
MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE
A decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea. A folk remedy for cataracts and debility,
it is also said to be emetic.
 10. Piper longum
Family: Piperaceae
Local Names: Pippali
MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE
It is most commonly used to treat chronic bronchitis, asthma, constipation, gonorrhea, paralysis of the
tongue, diarrhea, cholera, chronic malaria, viral hepatitis, respiratory infections, stomachache, bronchitis,
diseases of the spleen, cough, and tumors.

VI. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

The present study states that weeds have high level of medicinal uses. A weed is just a plant
growing in the wrong place – a plant which, in many cases, could be used ease indigestion, fight the flu,
treat poison ivy rashes and even make a tasty meal. They may mar otherwise perfect mats of green grass,
but many weeds are chock full of vitamins, minerals and surprising healing abilities.

Some short-lived species rely heavily on toxic chemical defenses to deter herbivores – these plants
are usually avoided by grazing animals unless drought conditions or overgrazing occur. These
compounds accumulate on leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits. They include glycosides, alkaloids, and
terpenoids, which are all low molecular weight, often toxic at small doses, and highly biologically active.
As a result, many of these types of weeds are used in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases; their
effects include diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, anti-
hyperglycemic, anti-coagulatory and pre-biotic effects. As with pharmaceutical drugs, herbal medicines
can have serious side effects. In general, it‟s always a good idea to do a little research and consult your
health-care provider for more serious conditions.

V. REFERENCES
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