Ethno-Medicinal Survey of Targeted Tribes in Idukki District, Kerala
Abstract
An ethnobotanical study was carried out among Mannan, Urali, and Paliyan communities at Kozhimala and Chakkupallom villages of Idukki dist, Kerela. Information on one hundred plants used by them as a source of medicine for various ailments was collected through a questionnaire. Totally 68 plant species were collected from the Mannan community, 16 from the Urali, and another 16 from Paliyan community. The plant parts used as sources of medicine by targeted tribes were, leaves (52%), followed by roots (29%), stem, and bark (20%) Fruit and seed (19%), Whole plant (14%) Latex and resin (5%), flower and other parts (6%). Among which, mostly preferred plant parts as a source of medicine by Mannan tribe was leaf (35%) followed by root parts (16%), stem and bark (15%), fruit and seed (11%), whole plant (6%) latex and resin (5%) flower and other parts (4%) whereas Urali tribes used root parts (9%) leaf (5%) seed and fruit (3%) bark (3%) whole plant (3%) and flower (2%) and Paliyan used leaf (12%) followed by whole plant (5%), seed (5%) and root parts (4%). Mannas mostly use herbs (32%) as their medicine followed by Trees (21%) also shrubs (15%) and climbers (5%). Urali tribes use Herbs (9%), shrubs (8%), climbers, and trees 3% each. Paliyan tribes mostly use Herbs (15%), followed by trees (9%), Shrubs (3%), and climbers (1%).
Keywords: Ethnobotanical study, Paliyan tribes, Mannan tribe, Plant parts, Herbs
