Documentation of medicinal plants used by the traditional healers, mayannur forest, thrissur district, kerala, india

Soja S Soja S,Saradha M Saradha M

doi:10.26524/krj.2021.14

Abstract

The study was carried out to document the medicinal plants used by the traditional healers in Mayannur Forest, Thrissur District, Kerala, India. In the present study, 107 plant species belonging to 46 families were documented in the Mayannur forest, Kerala. The informants of an age group ranging from 50-80 were selected for collecting data of the plants in the forest. The medicinal plants such as herbs (36%), shrub (19%), trees (27%) and climbers (18%) were mainly used by traditional healers for the treatment of fever, wound healing, skin diseases and menstrual problems. Saraca asoca was mainly in the traditional medicines to cure diseases and for treating menstrual problems. Medicinal plants used by the traditional healers were documented along with their scientific name, common name and medicinal uses. The present study shows that, the plant material mainly used was leaves for the treatment of diseases. Among the 107 plant species Rare Endangered Threatened (RET) plant species were also documented. Documentation of knowledge and conservation of the endangered plants helped for the sustainable development.

Highlights

Biodiversity is the variety of life forms on earth
The study was carried out to document the medicinal plants used by the traditional healers in Mayannur Forest, Thrissur District, Kerala, India
107 plant species belonging to 46 families were documented in the Mayannur forest, Kerala

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Biodiversity is the variety of life forms on earth. India is the richest country in biodiversity. Forests are dominant terrestrial ecosystem of earth, having 75% of gross primary production [2]. It is the storehouse of flora and fauna. Floristic inventory is a taxonomic study of a major division of flora in a particular area [3]. They are vital prerequisite for fundamental research in the tropical community, ecology such as modelling patterns of species diversity and understanding the species distribution. The forests are disappearing at alarming rates owing to deforestation for extraction of fire wood and other forest products. This study is a good source of botanical information of a geographical area, and provides a suitable

Study Area The Study was carried out in Mayannur

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

57 Gloriosa superba

74 Momordica charantia Cucurbitaceae

89 Premna integrifolia

CONCLUSION