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J. Bio s c i. Re s ., 2012.Vol.3(1):47-51
Ethnomedicinal plants used by the Rural people in Thiruppachethi
village of Sivagangai District, Tamil Nadu, India
KURU SURESH *, *G. VIJI @ SENTHILMURUGAN, *P.PANDISELVAM, *S.
KARUPPURAJA
*PG Studies & Research Department of Botany,
Thiagarajar college, Madurai-625009, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract
An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among the local people in
Thiruppachethi village of sivagangai District, Tamilnadu, India. A total of 25 plant species
of ethnomedicinal plants belonging to 25 genera and 19 families were reported with the
help of standardized questionnaires among 50 local people between the ages of 20-85. The
study shows a high degree of ethnobotanical novelty and the use of plants among the local
people reflects the revival of interest in traditional folk medicine. The medicinal plants used
by Thiruppachethi village are arranged alphabetically followed by botanical name, family
name, local name, parts used, mode of preparation and medicinal uses
Key words: Ethnomedicine, Thiruppachethi Village, Sivagangai district

For correspondence: suresh_zoo2010@yahoo.com./ sureshgru2010@gmail.com

Introduction
Globally, about 85%of the
traditional medicines used for primary
healthcare are derived from plants
(Fransworth).Traditional medicine and
ethno botanical information play an
important role in scientific research,
particularly when the literature and field
work data have been properly evaluated
(Awadh etal., 2004).India is one of the
twelve mega-biodiversity countries of the
world having rich vegetation with a wide
variety of plants with medicinal value. In
many countries, scientific investigations of
medicinal plants have been initiated because
of their contribution to healthcare. Herbal
medicines have good values in treating many
diseases including infectious diseases,
hypertension etc. That they can save lives of
many, particularly in the developing
countries is undisputable (Patrick. 2004).
Even today many local and indigenous
communities in the Asian countries meet
their needs from the product they
manufacture and sell based on their
traditional knowledge. Herbal drugs
obtained from plants are believed to be
much safer: this has been proved in the
treatment of various ailments (Mitalaya et
al., 2003). Rural people not only depend on
plants as sources of food, medicines, fodder,
and fuel, but have also developed method of
resource management, which may be some
of the worlds important habitats (Gemedo-
Dalle et al.,2005). In this paper, we report
on the information gathered from local
people on the plants used for treatment of
various diseases in Thiruppachethi village of
sivagangai district, Tamil Nadu, India.
Study area
Tamil Nadu is situated in Southern
end of India. The present study was carried
ISSN 0976-2272
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out in Thiruppachethi village of Sivagangai
district in Tamilnadu, India. Geographically,
the entire area of Thiruppachethi village lies
between 9 46 32 N latitude 78 20 44 E
longitudes respectively. The village of
Thirupachethi is spread over an area of
about 8sq.km. This village monthly
minimum and maximum temperature of 24
and 40 C respectively and annual rainfall is
reaches 635-1000 mm.
Materials and methods
The fieldwork in Thiruppachethi
village of sivagangai district was commenced
from 2011 August to 2012 January. The
local people settlements of Thiruppachethi
village were located through a number of
field surveys and there were 50 informants
(30 males and 20 females) between the ages
of 20 and 85 were consulted to gather
medicinal information. Resource persons
(informants or tribal practitioners or
traditional healers) with the knowledge of
medicinal plants were selected based on the
experience in the preparation of medicines,
whether he/she is a professional medicine
man or women, their willingness to share
their traditional knowledge and their way of
acquiring knowledge as per the
methodology suggested by (Jain, 1989) . The
information was collected through
questionnaire, interviews and discussions
among the tribal practitioners in their local
language (Tamil). The questionnaire allowed
descriptive responses on the plant
prescribed, such as part of the plant used,
medicinal uses, detailed information about
mode of preparation (i.e., decoction, paste,
powder and juice), and form of usage either
fresh or dried and method of application.
The collected plant species were identified
taxonomically using The Flora of Presidency of
Madras (Gamble, 1935) and The Flora of
Tamil Nadu Carnatic (Matthew, 1983).
Results and Discussion
The present investigation reveled
that the local people of the Thiruppachethi
village were using 25 species of plants
belonging to 19 families (Table 1) for
medicinal use. Among them 19 were herbs,
4 were shrubs, 2were climbers. The most
commonly represented families were
Euphorbiaceae (4) and Lamiaceae (2). They
were using this plants to cure diseases like
fever, cough, asthma, disorders of tooth,
diabetes, bronchitis, piles, stomach pain,
rheumatism, jaundice,ear diseases, joints
pains, inflammation, cold, cough, dandruff
and blood purification. This is consistent
with the general observations made earlier in
relation to ethnobotanical studies on some
of the other tribal and rural people
communities of Tamil Nadu. Irular tribe
(Karthikeyani, 2003), Kattunayaka tribe
(Rajan et al., 2002), Valaya tribe (Rajendran
et al., 2002), Malayali tribe (Viswanathan,
1997), Paliyar tribe (Alagesaboopathi et al.,
1999), Gounda tribe (Masilamani, 1997),
Kani tribe (Ayyanar et al., 2005, Medicines
were prepared in the form of powder,
decoction, paste and juice. It was also
observed that some plants were used in
more then one form of preparation. Several
plants were used in the form of powder:
Among different plants parts used by local
people of Thiruppachethi village, the leaves
are most frequently used for the treatment
of disease. External applications and internal
consumption are involved in the treatment
of wounds, headache and skin diseases .In
general, fresh part of the plants is used for
the preparation of medicine. When fresh
plant parts are unavailable, dried parts are
also used.
Conclusion
The present investigation revealed that
medicinal plants still play a vital role in the
primary health care of the people. The
information gathered from the local people
is useful for further researchers in the field
of ethno-medico-botany, taxonomy and
pharmacology. This study offers a model for
studying the relationship between plants and
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people, within the context of traditional
medical system. The purpose of
standardizing traditional remedies is
obviously to ensure therapeutical efficacy.
The value of using ethnomedical
information is to initiate drug discovery
efforts. This study also generated a broad
spectrum of information concerning
medicinal plants used by local peoples. Due
to lack of interest among the younger
generation of local people we face the
possibility of losing this wealth of
knowledge in the near future.
References
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Table 1. Ethnomedicinal plants used by the local people of Thiruppachethi village


S.No Plant name Family Local name Medicinal uses
1. Abutilon indicum (L.)
Sweet
Malvaceae Thuthi Root extract taken orally to cure
piles.
2. Acalypha indica L. Euphorbiaceae Kuppaimeni The herb paste applied for throat to
cure cough, and the leaf paste
applied for skin to cure bronchitis.
3. Aerva lanata (L.) Juss.
ex Shultes
Amaranthaceae Sirukanpeelai Root extract taken orally to cure
diabetics.
4. Azima tetracantha
Lam.
Salvadoraceae Sangilai Leaf juice given to drink relief cough
and cold. Leaf paste applied for skin
to cure itch.
5. Boerhavia erecta L. Nyctaginaceae padarmookirattai Root decoction is taken 1 week to
cure asthma.
6. Calotropis gigantea (L.)
R.Br.
Asclepiadaceae Yerukkam Leaf latex applied foot to cure thorn
puncture pain. Root powder added
coconut oil is poured ear to cure ear
ache. Flower crushed inhale smell to
cure cold.
7. Cardiospermum
helicacabum L.
Sapindaceae Mudakkathaan Leaf extract used for laxative, and
anti inflammatory used for
rheumatism and nerve disorders.
8. Cleome viscosa L. Capparidaceae Naaikadughu Leaf paste applied for inflammation.
9. Coccinia grandis (L.)
Voigt
Cucurbitaceae Kovaikai Leaf extract taken orally to cure
fever.
10. Cyanodon dactylon (L.)
Pers.
Poaceae Arugampull Leaf powder mixed with water to
cure blood purifier and
leaf extract taken orally to cure body
heat.
11. Cyperus rotundus L. Cyperaceae Koraipullu Tuber powder applied for stomach
to cure stomach-ache.
12. Datura metal L. Solanaceae Oomathai Fruit extract mixed with coconut oil
to cure check hair fall.
13. Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. Asteraceae Karisalaangani Root paste applied for wound. Leaf
extract applied for hair to remove
dandruff.
14. Euphorbia hirta L. Euphorbiaceae Amman Pacharisi Herb extract taken orally to cure cold
and cough.
15. Hybanthus enneaspermus
(L.) F. Muell.
Violaceae Oridhazhl
thamarai
Leaf and flower extract used for
heart disease.
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16. Ipomoea aquatica
Forsskal
Convolvulaceae veelaikeerai Flower juice applied eye to cure eye
troubles.
17. Leucas aspera (Willd.)
Link
Lamiaceae Thumbai Leaf extract applied for skin to treat
painful swelling. Flower eaten raw to
cure cough.
18. Ocimum sanctum L. Lamiaceae Thulasi Leaves are eaten raw to cure cough
and cold. Leaf crushed and applied
hair to cure dandruff and remove
lice. Leaf paste applied skin to cure
bronchitis.
19. Hedyotis brevicalyx
Sivarajan, Biju &
P.Mathew
Rubiaceae Muthukkaasul Leaf extract taken orally to cure
asthma.
20. Phyllanthus amarus
Schum.& Thonn.
Euphorbiaceae Keelanelli Root and leaf extract taken orally to
cure jaundice.
21. Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae Manathakkali Leaf cooked taken and fruit eaten
raw to cure stomach ulcer.
22. Stahytarpheta
jamaicensis (L.) Vahl
Verbenaceae Seemainayuruvi Root bark is taken to cure diarrhea
and dysentery. Leaf extract given to
drink to cure intestinal worms.
23. Tragia involucrata L. Euphorbiaceae Senthatti Root decoction mixed with pepper
powder applied for skin to cure
bronchitis.

24. Tribulus terrestis L. Zygophyllaceae Nerungil Leaf paste applied for stomach to
cure stomach-ache.
25. Trichodesma indicum
(L.) Lehm.
Boraginaceae Kavizhthumbai Root paste is applied for swelling of
joints.