Medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Kancheepuram District of Tamil Nadu, India

An ethnobotanical survey was undertaken to collect information from traditional healers on the use of medicinal plants in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu during October 2003 to April 2004. The indigenous knowledge of local traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal purposes were collected through questionnaire and personal interviews during field trips. The investigation revealed that, the traditional healers used 85 species of plants distributed in 76 genera belonging to 41 families to treat various diseases. The documented medicinal plants were mostly used to cure skin diseases, poison bites, stomachache and nervous disorders. In this study the most dominant family was Euphorbiaceae and leaves were most frequently used for the treatment of diseases. This study showed that many people in the studied parts of Kancheepuram district still continue to depend on medicinal plants at least for the treatment of primary healthcare. The traditional healers are dwindling in number and there is a grave danger of traditional knowledge disappearing soon since the younger generation is not interested to carry on this tradition

BIOEFFICACY OF ATALANTIA MONOPHYLLA (L.) CORREA. AGAINST EARIAS VITTELLA FAB.

Hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of Atalantia monophylla (L.) Correa. were evaluated for their antifeedant and larvicidal activities along with their effect on pupation and adult emergence against bhendi fruit borer, Earias vittella Fab. at 5, 2.5 and 1.25% concentrations. Commercial botanical insecticide, Vijay Neem was used as positive control. Hexane extract at 5% concentration showed significant antifeedant and larvicidal activity of 70.89 and 85.33% respectively. A reduction of 16.66% in adult emergence was recorded in hexane extract followed by 25% reduction in ethyl acetate extract at 5% concentration. The results revealed that hexane extract showed significant antifeedant, and larvicidal activity and good reduction in adult emergence. This extract could be further investigated to isolate the active principles

BIOEFFICACY OF ATALANTIA MONOPHYLLA (L.) CORREA. AGAINST EARIAS VITTELLA FAB.

Hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of Atalantia monophylla (L.) Correa. were evaluated for their antifeedant and larvicidal activities along with their effect on pupation and adult emergence against bhendi fruit borer, Earias vittella Fab. at 5, 2.5 and 1.25% concentrations. Commercial botanical insecticide, Vijay Neem was used as positive control. Hexane extract at 5% concentration showed significant antifeedant and larvicidal activity of 70.89 and 85.33% respectively. A reduction of 16.66% in adult emergence was recorded in hexane extract followed by 25% reduction in ethyl acetate extract at 5% concentration. The results revealed that hexane extract showed significant antifeedant, and larvicidal activity and good reduction in adult emergence. This extract could be further investigated to isolate the active principles

BIOEFFICACY OF ATALANTIA MONOPHYLLA (L.) CORREA. AGAINST EARIAS VITTELLA FAB.

Hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of Atalantia monophylla (L.) Correa. were evaluated for their antifeedant and larvicidal activities along with their effect on pupation and adult emergence against bhendi fruit borer, Earias vittella Fab. at 5, 2.5 and 1.25% concentrations. Commercial botanical insecticide, Vijay Neem was used as positive control. Hexane extract at 5% concentration showed significant antifeedant and larvicidal activity of 70.89 and 85.33% respectively. A reduction of 16.66% in adult emergence was recorded in hexane extract followed by 25% reduction in ethyl acetate extract at 5% concentration. The results revealed that hexane extract showed significant antifeedant, and larvicidal activity and good reduction in adult emergence. This extract could be further investigated to isolate the active principles