Western Ghats is a treasure of medicinal plants. In this survey, two previously unreported endemic medicinal plants were identified from the study area

Jegan, G.

Kamalraj, P.

Muthuchelian, K.

OpenSIUC

            Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 254-260. 2008.  Medicinal Plants in Tropical Evergreen Forest of Pachakumachi Hill, Cumbum Valley,Western Ghats, India Jegan, G., Kamalraj, P. and Muthuchelian, K.Centre for Biodiversity and Forest studies, School of Energy Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai – 625 021,Tamil Nadu, Indiajeganmku@yahoo.co.in Issued 24 May 2008  ABSTRACT  Western Ghats is a treasure of medicinal plants. In this survey, two previously unreported endemic medicinalplants were identified from the study area.      Keyword: Medicinal plants, Western Ghats, endemic plants. Introduction   There has been struggle between man and sickness since time immemorial. Man has acquired methods oftreating sickness as rendered by his bio- cultural environment. In every society, whether technologically primitiveor not, there exists some sort of curative methods for health. It is difficult to separate the magico- religiouspractices associated with the administration of such prescriptions. The World Health Organization (WHO) haslisted 20,000 medicinal plants globally; India’s contribution is 15- 20 %. According to the WHO estimation,about 80% of the population in the developing countries depends directly on plants for its medicines (Gupta,1995, Singh, 2000). In India, about 2000 drugs used are of plant origin. In the last few decades over- exploitationof forest resources has led to species loss. As a result, 20- 25% of existing plant species in India has becomeendangered. Medicinal plants are now under great pressure due to their excessive collection or exploitation. Thedegree of threat to natural populations of medicinal plants has increased because more than 90% of medicinalplant raw material for herbal industries in India and also for export is drawn from natural habitat.   Plants are useful for man in many ways. They are the source of food, fodder, fruits, manure and medicine.Modern man depends on the advanced medical systems such as allopathy and homeopathy for healthcare. Butayurveda played major role in India and now it is in the path of revival and global acceptance.  MATERIALS AND METHODS    Our study site is situated in the Pachakumachi hill (9° 35’ to 9° 45’ N latitude and 77º 15’ to 77º 27’Elongitude) of Western Ghats, South India. The Pachakumachi hill is surrounded by Palani Hills in the North,Sethur and Sivagiri hills in the South, Cardamom hills and Kerala state in the West, the Varushanadu hills in theNortheast and Thekkadi hills in the Southwest. Vaigai and Surliyaru are the main rivers originating fromPachakumachi hill. Study area is showed in fig 1. Climatological data of the study site are collected fromPachakumachi estate Climatological station. Pachakumachi hill receives 2726 mm rainfall annually. June isrecorded as the hottest month with maximum temperature of 31°C and January is the coldest month with theminimum temperature of 17° C. Humidity is high (95%) during the months of June, July and August; and lowhumidity is noted only in the month of March (85%). In the 10,000 Acres of total area of Pachakumachi hill,2,000 acres are under the cultivation of cash crops such as cardamom, coffee and tea. These plantations areintermingled with the patches of Evergreen forests. The altitude of the hill ranges from 600 m to 2,000 m. Thevegetation ranges from scrub jungles in the foothill to evergreen and sholas at hill tops. Our study site is situatedat an altitude of 1,700 m. Our study site is defined as the tropical evergreen forest. Our study period was fromMay 2006 to March 2007. The phytosociological studies were carried out in 1 ha permanent plot which wasdivided into one hundred 10x 10 m2 subplots. Then, 5x 5 m2 and 1x 1m2 sub plots were laid within each 10x 10m2 for medicinal shrubs and herbs respectively. The diversity indices were calculated using the softwareBIODIVERSITY PRO BETA VERSION (Mc Aleece, 1997). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION   All in all, 16 medicinal plants were identified in our study area. Shannon and Simpson indices of the medicinalplants are 2.03 and 0.02 respectively. Among 16, 2 species are endemic. CONCLUSIONTo improve the status of the medicinal plants in Pachakumachi Hill, the local people must become aware of theproblem.  Figure 1. Map showing the study area. Figure 2: Evergreen Forest of Study Area (Pachakumachi Hill).   Figure 3: Tea plantation in study area.                                                         Table1. Medicinal plants in Pachakumachi Hill and their uses. S.No. Plant species Family Plants Parts Medicinal Uses1. Elaeocarpus serratus Linn. Elaeocarpaceae Leaves FruitsUsed in rheumation, antidote to poisonUsed in dysentery and diarrhea2. Cinnamomum zeylanicumBlumeLauraceae Bark Aromatic, astringent,stimulant, carminative,useful for  checking nauseaand vomiting3. Cinnamomum malabathrum(Burm.f.) Berchrh & Presl.Lauraceae Seeds, bark anddried budsAstringent, stimulant and carminative.4. Mesua ferrea Linn Clusiaceae Flower buds,leaves, flowers,fruits, seed.Root and barkForm poultice- head in severe colds. In decoction or infusion or tincture is abitter tonic- useful in gastritis andbronchitis.5. Gordonia obtusa Wall. Ternstrmiaceae Leaves Stimulant, similar to tea6. Commelina benghalensisLinn.Commelinaceae Whole Plant Bitter, emollient,demulcent, refrigerant,laxative, and beneficial inleprosy.7. Cynodon dactylon (Linn.)Pers.Poaceae Decoction of Root Infusion of root Crushed roots Juice of Plant   Diuretic, in dropsy insecondary syphilisFor stopping bleeding frompiles.Mixed with curds used ingleet.Astringent, used as application to freshcuts and wounds, diuretic, used in dropsyand anasarca, in hysteria, epilepsy,insanity, astringent in chrdiar anddysentery useful incatar opthalmia.8. Lantana camara Linn. Verbenaceae  Decoction given in tetanus,rheumatism and malaria,tonic much used in atoxy ofabdominal viscera.9. Loranthus longiflorus Desr. Loranthaceae Bark Astringent, narcotic usedfor wounds and menstrualtroubles and also as aremedy for consumption,asthma and mania,substitute for betel nut.10. Lycopodium clavatum Lycopodiaceae  Diuretic antiseptic in formof a decoction used inrheumatism and disease oflungs and kidneys.11. Ficus retusa Linn. Moraceae Juice of the barkPowdered leavesand bark          Root- bark andleaves In liver diseaseIn rheumatic headache Boiled in oil application forwounds and bruises.12. Lobelia nicotianaefoliaHeyne.Campanulaceae Infusion of leaves Leaves and seeds RootAntispasmodic Acrid, poisonous In Scorpion stingAntiseptic to asthma13. Michelia nilagirica Zenk. Magnoliaceae Bark Febge. Essential oil andbitter substance14. Polygonum chinense Linn Polygonaceae Whole Plant Tonic, Vulnerary, antiscorbutic15. Strychnos colubrine Linn. Loganiaceae Fruit Root    Fresh leaves  Bruised and applied to thehead in maniaRubbed down with pepper given tocheck diarrhea. Boiled with oil used asliniment for pains in the joints. Rubbed into a paste with cashenut kernelapplied to   suppurting tumors.16. Piper nigrum Linn. Piperaceae Fruit Used as aromatic,stimulant,in cholera, in weakness following fevers, vertigo,coma, as stomachic in dyspepsia and flatulence; asantiperiodic in malarialfever;  and alterative inparaplegia and arthriticdiseases; externally used asrubefacient and as localapplication for  relaxed sorethroat, piles and skindiseases.  REFERENCES Gupta,R. and Chadha, K. L., Medicinal and aromatic plants in India. In Advances in Horticulture, Medicinal andAromatic Plants (eds Chadha, K.L., and Gupta, R.), Malhotra Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995,1-44.McAleece, N. 1997. Biodiversity professional beta version. The National History Museum and ScottishAssociation for Marine Science.      

Medicinal Plants in Tropical Evergreen Forest of Pachakumachi Hill, Cumbum Valley, Western Ghats, India

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Medicinal Plants in Tropical Evergreen Forest of Pachakumachi Hill, Cumbum Valley, Western Ghats, India

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