Ethnomedicinal plants used for the treatment of snake bites by Malayali tribal’s and rural people in Salem district, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribes and rural people in the Salem district of Tamilnadu for the investigation of snake bite herbal medicines. Traditional botanical drug is the main way of health care for large population of this area. Periodic find trips were undertaken during October 2010 to November 2012 to various rural and forest areas of Salem district. The author has conducted an interview of total 150 informants. The highest number of medicinal species came from Acanthaceae (23.52%). The investigation revealed some unknown medicinal uses of medicinal plants. The botanical name, family, local name (Tamil), used plant part(s), mode of preparation and medicinal uses are provided and traditional practice of 51 plant species, 35 genera and 26 families are discussed here for the treatment of snake bite. The dicots are represented by 47 species of 31 genera and 22 families while monocots are represented by 4 species of 4 genera and 4 families. 92.15% dicotyledons and 7.85% monocotyledons were recorded. The most popular preparations were juice, decoction and paste. Different plant parts were utilized to treat snake bite. The indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants has large potential for investigation and the discovery of new snake bite drugs. Hence there is an immediate necessity to conserve the biodiversity as well as the traditional knowledge by proper documentation for further research in snake bite. Phytochemical constituents investigations of above plants demand to be taken up to find out the detailed ingredients that support in the snake bite.