Ethno-Botanical Examination of Medicinal Plants Diversity in Molamalai, Karur District, Tamilnadu

Abstract

Objective: The ethno-botanical assessment aims to explore and gather the medicinally aromatic foliages used by local traditional healers at Molamalai Hill, Karur district of Tamil Nadu, India. Materials and Methods: With the assist of medicine-men, elderly people and local traditional healers, the field investigation was conceded out through semi-structured interviews. The knowledge on potent plants and their local names, parts of the plant used in the preparation of medicine and mode of administration on a variety of diseases were recognized. Results: The survey has explored a total of 81 vital angiospermic medicinally aromatic plants belonging to 37 families. Analysis of surveyed plants showed that a greater number of dicotyledons (79 species) belong to a variety of families and 2 monocotyledons belong to Liliaceae and Commelinaceae. Within the dicotyledons, polypetalous shows 37 species, gamopetalous shows 30 species and 12 are monochlamydeae. The majority of the families were represented by Fabaceae and Convolvulaceae (8 species). The 81 diverse ethnic medicinal plants are used to treat skin illness, rheumatism, diabetes, diarrhoea, indigestion, and gonorrhoea. Conclusion: The cram suggested that the present information on the aromatic medicinal use of plants may be helpful for botanical and pharmacological research in future for the discovery of novel sources of drugs.