Diversity of Ethnomedicinal Plants and Their Therapeutic Uses in Western Ghats Region of Kodagu District, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Kodagu district situated in Central Western Ghats embraces a rich biodiversity and is the treasure house of ethnobotanical wealth. The district has one of the highest densities of community managed sacred groves in the world with rich floral and faunal diversity. The tribal people of this region possess a plethora of traditional plant knowledge and health care practices. An ethnobotanical survey was made in the forests of Kodagu district in which a total of 205 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 72 families have been documented. Information about medicinal plants and their therapeutic uses was gathered by interaction with traditional medicinal practitioners. Of the total species documented herbs were predominately used (70 species) followed by shrubs (57 species), trees (51 species) and climbers (21 species). They are used to treat a wide range of diseases such as diabetes, jaundice, skin diseases, snake bite, dysentery, hyperacidity, abortifacient, anthelmintic, antiseptic, stomachic, piles, fever, cough and so on. The medicine’s formulation and mode of administration of these plants were recorded. The declining tribal population, impact of modernisation and pollution have threatened the indigenous knowledge even before the scientific validation of many therapeutic uses of these plants. This has necessitated protecting and conserving the medicinal plant diversity as well as traditional medicinal knowledge.