Integration of traditional herbal medicines among the indigenous communities in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu, India

BACKGROUND: Ethnobotanical studies are recognized as effective methods of finding locally important plants for discovery of crude drugs. Siddha medicinal system is prevailed in south Indian states principally in Tamil Nadu and gaining recognition as alternative medicine among the indigenous communities for their primary healthcare needs. OBJECTIVES: The study was aimed to explore and document folk medicinal plant knowledge among the local people in Puliyankudi village of Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ethnobotanical study was carried out during February 2016 to January 2017 among the local people in study area. Traditional healers, traders, local vendors and local people who are practicing herbal medicines were approached for documentation of folk medicinal uses. Acquired results were further analyzed with descriptive statistical methods such as use value (UV) and informant consensus factor (ICF). RESULTS: During the survey, a total 116 plant species from 49 families and 103 genera were recorded to treat 73 types of ailments. Among the plant parts used for preparation of medicine, leaves (73 reports) are often used and predominant method of preparation of medicine is paste (56 reports). Limonia acidissima was reported by all the interviewed informants with an UV of 0.98 and kidney problems have highest ICF value of 0.91. CONCLUSION: Plants with highest use values in the study indicates possible occurrence of valuable metabolites and should be investigated for associated pharmacological activities which leads to development of potential new drugs to treat various ailments.