Medicinal Plants Used by the Traditional Healers of Thimmarajapuram Village, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to document the indigenous/traditional knowledge of medicinal flora utilized by the traditional healers of Thimmarajapuram village, Tirunelveli district to establish the relative importance, consensus and scope of all medicinal flora used.Materials and Methods:Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants was executed through a questionnaire with traditional healers who are custodians of the knowledge about herbal medicine. Local floras of the state had been systematically followed to identify the plants.Results:A total of 45 medicinal plant species from 27 families were documented. The leaves were the most commonly used plant part, and herbal remedies were mostly prepared in the form of a juice or paste. Gastrointestinal problems (GIA) are the most common diseases reported by traditional healers in the study area.Conclusion:This documented report indicated that indigenous medicinal plants are a good source of plant-based safe drugs. Moreover, additional pharmacological tests are required to establish the efficacy and potency of the plants as medicine.

Keywords: Herbal remedies; Indigenous medicinal plants; Plant-based safe drugs; Traditional healers