AN ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM THIRUKAZHUKUNDRAM THALUK, KANCHIPURAM DISTRICT, TAMILNADU

S. Selvadurai*, M. Ravi, B. Jayanthi and P. Shanmugapandiyan

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plant species are precious and are used for production of several drugs. These plants are traditionally used to treat different ailments. The present investigation deals with the observations on ethno-medicinal uses of plant wealth of Thirukazhukundram Thaluk, Kancheepuram District, Tamilnadu. Medicinal plants have played an important role in treating and preventing a variety of diseases throughout the world. India is one of the most medico-culturally diverse countries in the world where the medicinal plant sector is part of a time honoured tradition that is respected even today. The ethnobotanical information was collected through interviews among local traditional healers in the study area. The essential uses of the herbal drugs were as jaundice, asthma, dyspepsia, snake bite, diabetes, stomachache problems, anthelmintic, leprosy, diarrhoea, scorpion bite, urinary diseases, antipyretic and skin diseases. Traditional uses of 42 plant species spread over 26 families are described under this study. The medicinal plants used by them are arranged by Scientific name, Family name, Common name and Therapeutic uses. The present investigation revealed that the medicinal plants still play a vital role in the primary health care of the people.

Keywords: jaundice, asthma, dyspepsia, snake bite, diabetes, stomachache problems and etc.